![[Fire Opal pic.png|250]] **Fire opal** was a rare [gem stone](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Gem_stones "Gem stones") usually found near hot springs and geysers ## Description **Fire opal** was a brilliant orange-red form of [opal](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Opal "Opal") that was usually solid in color but could have golden or greenish flashes. A typical specimen had a base value of 1,000gp. Rings with embedded tiny fire opal gems were typically valued at 500 [gold](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Gold "Gold") pieces. ## Powers They were the favored gems to use in _[helms of brilliance](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Helm_of_brilliance "Helm of brilliance")_. Their affinity for igniting, releasing, and controlling fire made them useful in formulating inks to inscribe scrolls, enchanting immersions for making items, and mounting on devices as a focal point of discharge. ## Reputation[](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Fire_opal?veaction=edit&section=3 "Edit section: Reputation") Fire opals were considered prized gems among the [drow](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Drow "Drow"). It was actually one of their favorites. ## Rumors & Legends[](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Fire_opal?veaction=edit&section=4 "Edit section: Rumors & Legends") Many sages believed that fire opals' glow was supernatural in nature and even that each gem held a tiny portal to the [[The Elemental Plane of Fire (TIP)]]  This theory was often debated by scholars who claimed that the glow was simply due to gems' light refraction. # Volo's Guide A brilliant orange-red type of gem, fire opals are usually uniform in hue or contain golden or greenish flecks. They are most often found near active hot springs and geyser activity. Fire opals are often enchanted and are an essential part of producing *helms of brilliance*. More broadly, they are used in the ink formulae, enchantment baths, or as a discharge point of spells or items that cause, release, or control fire. (Elminster: A whole, mounted fire opal adds 1 point to each die of damage done by any fire-producing magical item it adorns. This bonus is not cumulative if several fire opals are used.)