Carmine Heartstones

**Carmine heartstones**, or more simply **heartstones**, were incredibly powerful blood red crystals created to contain souls both mortal and immortal. Tormenting and twisting those unable to escape, they turned the latent power of souls into carmine energy, a cruel and immensely dangerous power that could not only extinguish life in an instant but also grant it back even to the deceased.

Heartstones granted their users vast reserves of tremendous power and dangerous abilities that were difficult to keep control over, and exhibited corrupting qualities that given enough time would turn any heart black. The power was not a permanent one, however, as the souls trapped within would slowly deteriorate and ultimately be destroyed as they were converted into raw energy.

They were first created by the Archangel Netheriel after his servant Zuriel successfully stole a large number of souls from the devils dwelling in Purgatory, using a crude version of their very own magic against them. Although Zuriel escaped with only a fragment of the original magic, it was enough for his master to create the foundation for what would become heartstones. Their ultimate emergence would set into motion the events of the entire Heartstone Crisis.

## Information

### Properties of Carmine Energy

Carmine energy was a fundamentally chaotic and cruel magic derived from that of the Devils, unable to be classified by the classical laws of magic and mana defined by many arcane schools which existed on Esria. As such, the effects it could have were often unpredictable and highly destructive.

When bonded with an object or a weapon, for example placed in the pommel of a sword or in place of a gemstone within jewellery, a heartstone would corrupt it entirely. Those wielding such objects would find carmine powers manifesting within themselves, though not without a grave toll on their own souls. Especially with regards to weapons infused with such energy, those powers could heighten natural abilities and allow even the most magically inept warrior to rival an experienced mage.

Additionally, and perhaps most gravely, heartstones were capable of resurrecting the dead, especially with regards to those who had only recently been deceased. They could take the place of a mortal heart, using the souls trapped within to create carmine energy capable of sustaining a body. This effect was also temporary, and a heartstone utilised in this way required a constant replenishment of souls as they were used up and destroyed to create carmine energy.

Those cruel carmine energies, and heartstones as a result, were also capable of resurrecting the dead on a much grander scale, but for a much shorter period of time. The resulting thralls and wraiths, however, were powerful and unerringly loyal to the one in command of the stone that raised them.

### Appearance

They appeared as blood-red crystals which varied in size, but even the smallest heartstone was capable of trapping hundreds of mortal souls and producing a staggering amount of power.

### Creation

The largest heartstones were created as a result of grand rituals, known by many names and interpreted differently throughout history. Particularly significant examples of such rituals are the Fire Ritual of Londorwyn in 381 A.E, which left the Arcadian heartlands decimated and empty of life, the Great Forsaking of Harbrook in 1358 C.E, which created the Heart of the Isles, and the Reaving of Arnheim in 1381 C.E.