![[Moonstone pic.png|250]] **Moonstone** was an opaque white form of  [feldspar](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Feldspar "Feldspar") found in the Realms ## Description Moonstones took on a milky bluish sheen when polished and were usually cut cabochon for jewelry and ornamentation. A typical specimen had a base value of 50 gp-75gp, but they had a spike in value during the [Spellplague](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Spellplague "Spellplague") era, typically selling for 100gp Moonstones were considered sacred by followers of [Corellon](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Corellon "Corellon"), [Eilistraee](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Eilistraee "Eilistraee"), [Hathor](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Hathor "Hathor"), [Sehanine Moonbow](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Sehanine_Moonbow "Sehanine Moonbow"), [Selûne](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Sel%C3%BBne "Selûne"), and [Sharindlar](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Sharindlar "Sharindlar")—appropriate for sacrifice, or to be consecrated for use, or recognized as boons or omens when found. ## Powers Moonstones captured light and would glow faintly in darkness after nearby light sources were extinguished. The [sorcerer](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Sorcerer "Sorcerer") [Pelathyon Hawkryn](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Pelathyon_Hawkryn "Pelathyon Hawkryn") of [Impiltur](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Impiltur "Impiltur") (whose family owned lucrative moonstone mines) was a proponent of what he called "moonstone magic"—the ability of moonstone dust to substitute for other non-organic components of spells, specifically various [abjuration](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Abjuration "Abjuration") spells, such as walls and barriers, and certain [evocation](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Evocation "Evocation") spells where powdered moonstone provided storage of magical energy and the quick release of that energy in a new direction. Careful research was required to determine the optimal amount of moonstone required for each substitution. Moonstones were essential in the making of items such as a _[moonstone mask](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Moonstone_mask "Moonstone mask")_, a _[lesser staff of Silverymoon](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Lesser_staff_of_Silverymoon "Lesser staff of Silverymoon")_, and the legendary _[moonblades](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Moonblade "Moonblade")_ of [Evermeet](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Evermeet "Evermeet"). The powers of a moonblade were dependent upon its moonstone and were nullified if the moonstone was removed. ## Reputation[](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Moonstone?veaction=edit&section=3 "Edit section: Reputation") Moonstone was a common stone among the drow, a gem worn by drow of average station. Wearing one was considered a bold choice and marked one as a rebellious youth or a very ambitious priestess. ## Rumors and Legends[](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Moonstone?veaction=edit&section=4 "Edit section: Rumors and Legends") Legends about [lycanthropes](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Lycanthropy "Lycanthropy") said that the mere sight of a moonstone would cause a were-creature to shift to animal form. Though this was not true (in fact, many lycanthropes wore moonstones in jewelry), magic items that affected lycanthropes or warded against lycanthropy often used moonstones in their creation and ornamentation. This may have been related to, or an outgrowth of, the fact that moonstones were considered sacred to [Selûne](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Sel%C3%BBne "Selûne") by her followers,7) many of whom hunted down evil lycanthropes.) If moonstones appeared in a dream, it was considered a warning of danger # Volo's Guide Moonstone is an opaque, white, semiprecious feldspar gemstone usually polished to a bluish sheen. Moonstone glows faintly with captured light for an hour or so in darkness after surrounding or nearby light sources (for example, a torch) are gone. Folk legends say (falsely) that merely seeing this stone forces a lycanthrope into his or her animal form, but magical items that control lycanthropy, affect lycanthropes, or protect against lycanthropy often use moonstones as ornamentation. To dream of moonstones, seers say, is a warning of danger. These semiprecious stones are also considered sacred to Selune in her faith. The only true magical uses of this gemstone are (in powdered form) as a material component in many spells involving barriers or abjurations, and in many evocation spells as a source of magi¬ cal storage and sudden, thrusting redirection of that energy. With careful experimentation as to amounts, a wizard can substitute moonstones for many of the nonorganic material components called for in such spells. (This is the so-called "moonstone magic" of the sorcerer Pelathyon Hawkryn of Impiltur, whose family owned rich moonstone mines.)