Gem of Tears to Poison

Aspect: Water
Rating: •  
Manses: 
Bearers:
Source: Based on original in Oadenol's Codex pp. 96

These smooth, teardrop-shaped gemstones transform the bearer’s tears into a mild poison (2B/1 hour, 3M, —/—, -3). If ingested or introduced into a wound, they can cause significant difficulty for the victim. The exact effects vary between individual hearthstones, as does the appearance of the stones: Gems of Tears to Poison which have an azure hue tend to cause shooting pains through the body, while those of greener tone induce severe nausea and vomiting, and Gems which intoxicate in similar fashion to potent alcohol can be identified by their deep purple colour.

Geomancers are divided on whether the Gems are in fact a single type of hearthstone at all, or several different ones merely sharing some common features. Most agree that the design of manses producing these stones is less important for the type of poison created than the surrounding landscape... at geomantic schools the Gem of Tears to Poison is often used as an example of how such factors must be considered alongside architecture in manse design, much as a vinter must consider the terroir of a vineyard in crafting her wines.

Tears do not become poisonous until they are shed, and have no effect on skin contact (though the stone conveys no immunity should its bearer ingest their own tears). Tears not ingested within one day of being shed revert to normal tears.