![[Garnet pic.png|250]] **Garnet** was the generic name for a variety of crystals that had the same properties but came in a wide range of colors ## Description Garnets came in many colors (see [gallery](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Garnet_\(gem\)#Gallery "Garnet (gem)")) but, as of the [Year of Wild Magic, 1372 DR](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/1372_DR "1372 DR"), the violet hue was the most valuable and called rhodolite while the other varieties and fallen out of favor and were valued in the [fancy stone](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Fancy_stones "Fancy stones") price range. In later years, even the violet hued stones dropped in value. Garnets formed isometric crystals with twelve or twenty four faces, though thirty six or forty eight face versions have been found. They were common across [the North](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/The_North "The North") and could be found in [marble](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Marble "Marble"), [granite](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Granite "Granite"), and other [metamorphic rocks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/en:Metamorphic_rock "wikipedia:en:Metamorphic rock"). A typical violet colored specimen once had a base value of 150gp-200gp but eventually joined the red and brownish-green versions at a base value of 250gp-500gp gp. ## Powers If mounted on a weapon and properly enchanted, garnets could double or triple the damage dealing potential of that weapon. The most propitious time of day to begin these weapon enchantments was [high morn](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Hours_of_the_day "Hours of the day"). ## Reputation In some faiths and folklore, garnets were considered the solidified blood of the divine avatars.) To the uninitiated, garnets had the reputation of being worthless for magical use. Garnet was a common stone among the drow, a gem worn by drow of average station. There was a distinction regarding color preference depending on the profession of the wearer. Deep red was favored by warriors, while the priestesses of [Lolth](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Lolth "Lolth") favored violet ones. ## History[](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Garnet_\(gem\)?veaction=edit&section=4 "Edit section: History") In [1479 DR](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/1479_DR "1479 DR"), [Renaer Neverember](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Renaer_Neverember "Renaer Neverember") created rings inlaid with garnets to give to all of his friends whom he wished to participate in an organization he created to replace the [Moonstars](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Moonstars "Moonstars") # Volo's Guide Garnets are general class of crystals ranging from deep red to violet in color. These precious stones are normally isometric in shape, with 12 or 24 faces to a typical crystal, though 36- or 48-faced crystals have been found. Garnets are found in granites and in metamorphic rocks, such as marbles, in a number of locations throughout northern Faerun. Thought by some fading faiths to be the hardened blood of divine avatars, garnets are gen¬ erally considered useless in magical work. They actually have the ability to double or treble damage done by weapons they are mounted on —when such weapons have been properly enchanted to call on this property. Such enchantments should commence at high morn. (Elminster: In this sense, "high mom" means a half hour centered on 11 a.m.)