Basilisc Stone

Source: Adapted and expanded from CoTD:South pp.157

Basilisc Stones are bright red gems, hot to the touch, found embedded in the skulls of Desert Basiliscs, ferocious creatures native to the Deep South. They possess unusual properties valuable in forging works of artifice.

A Basilisc Stone may be mounted in a Hearthstone Socket. It is not a hearthstone, and can provide none of a hearthstone’s powers or mote respiration (including providing power to operate artifacts such as warstriders and Dragon Armour. The bearer of an attuned hearthstone socket in which a Basilisc Stone has been mounted is surrounded by a corona of flickering flame, uncomfortably hot to those who touch it but not hot enough to burn. However, the flames invigorate close combat attacks, adding +1L damage. If the bearer is a Fire-Aspected Dragonblood, this damage is also added to that produced by their anima banners. The bearer is not affected by this, nor the heat of their stone, an immunity extended to the heat of all other Basilisc Stones as well.

In artifice, Basilisc Stones are useful components in minor works of artifice, either weapons of red jade or those designed to produce flame or provide protection against heat through heating the bearer.