Ioun

Ioun Stones

Lore

Ioun - Ioun stones can grant an additional (maximum?) level, which makes these visible artifacts a source of conflict. They are simply referred to as "Ioun" (eye-yoon).

• They are old artifacts left behind by the Ancients.
• They are all made of a green glass-like stone called Laen, but do have a variety of shapes.
• There is a bit of a 'Highlander' vibe among the powerful individuals who have Ioun that add +1 level to an existing class.
• Some known Ioun properties:
  • Some Ioun are charged. As their charges deplete or if they suffer damage, their appearance degrades. When the last charge is expended the Ioun disintegrates into powder.
  • The Ioun powder itself is sometimes used as a currency and has magical applications.
  • Some grant enhancement bonuses to ability scores and skill rolls.

Ioun Ideas

Ioun Stones cannot be manufactured.

They are remnants from the Ancients and no known magic can duplicate the material.
However, they can be "tuned" by the jeweler's art, enhancing or altering their powers.

• Despite ruining many Ioun in the process the Jeweler's Guild (need a name or KISS?) is a wealthy and respected faction. They are paid handsomely by the elite for their services.

• A popular commodity is Jeweler Cut Ioun fashioned into a necklace or other jewelry to be immediately available. Spell storing is favored for its versatility.
• The Jeweler's Guild is a secretive faction, their influence based on their crafting secrets, so they have security and some members are assigned guards by the guild.
• They also fund expeditions to locate additional sources of Ioun.
• The shards of the Ioun also have value. A sufficient amount of them can be fashioned into a Power Stone.
• There are two Jeweler's Guild Main Guildhalls located in Erada and Gilead. There is a decent amount of traffic between the two locations. Erada is the core of the guild because more stones are found in the West and make their way to Erada. The Erada Guildhall also has the benefit of trade with the Dwarves of Khuzdul, who are both supplier and customer for cut stones of all types (the Jeweler's Guild are superior to Dwarven gem cutters? Maybe due to lore or magic the dwarves do not have and therefore covet...).
• I picture the Jeweler's Guild technique to be sonic (air) related, perhaps a specialty sorcerer class/subclass are the true craftsmen of the guild. Maybe even hints of psionic elements? What are rules for psionics like these days? They used to suck.

From Wikipedia

Ioun stones (pronounced EYE-oon)(for me it is 'eye-yoon') are based on similar artifacts from Jack Vance's Dying Earth series.[26] When functioning, they float in a circular pattern around their bearer's head, and grant various benefits based on their color and shape Two stones of the same type will repel each other, and when drained of power, a stone becomes a dull grey, but still possesses the characteristic floating. While useless to a mage, burned out stones can still yield a single psionic power point to a psionic character in 3rd and 3.5 editions. In the original Jack Vance stories Ioun stones are highly prized by arch-magicians, and are acquired from a race known as the archveults, who mine them from remnants of dead stars (in his book Rhialto the Marvellous). In 2E Dungeons & Dragons it had been conjectured in Dragon magazine that Ioun stones instead come from the Positive Material Plane. Dragon #174 featured an article that included many dozens of new types of ioun stone,[27] as well as an article about an elemental lord who hoards ioun stones on his home plane of radiance.[28] Under 3.0/3.5 editions of the rules they are instead manufactured by spellcasters in the same manner as other magical items.

Black Jewels Novels Ranks

Jewels fall into thirteen ranks with darker colors being stronger. They are: White, Yellow, Tiger Eye, Rose, Summer-sky, Purple Dusk, Opal,[a] Green, Sapphire, Red, Gray, Ebon-gray and Black.

Classic D&D Notes

• Absorption - reaction to cancel 4th or lower spell up to 20 levels before burnout
• Agility (Dex), Fortitude (Con), Insight (Wis), Intellect (Int), Leadership (Cha), Strength (Str) - +2 to ability, max 20
• Awareness - Cannot be suprised
• Greater Absorption - reaction to cancel 8th or lower up to 50 levels before burnout
• Mastery - +1 Proficiency Bonus
• Protection - +1 AC Bonus
• Regeneration - +15hp per hour, must have at least 1 hp
• Reserve - Spell Storning 3 levels
• Sustenance - No need to eat or drink