![[Star Sapphire pic.png]] **Star Sapphire** was a very rare form of [sapphire](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Sapphire "Sapphire") that exhibited [asterism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/en:Asterism_\(gemology\) "wikipedia:en:Asterism (gemology)") ## Description Asterism is a reflective optical effect that highlights a white six-pointed star on the surface of cabochon-cut stones. Star sapphires were more opaque than regular gem-quality [[Sapphire]] . About one in a thousand sapphires was a star sapphire. A typical specimen had a base value of 5,000 gp or 1,000gp depending on market conditions. Star sapphires were considered sacred by followers of [Callarduran Smoothhands](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Callarduran_Smoothhands "Callarduran Smoothhands"), [Corellon Larethian](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Corellon_Larethian "Corellon Larethian"), [Deneir](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Deneir "Deneir"), [Gaerdal Ironhand](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Gaerdal_Ironhand "Gaerdal Ironhand"), and [Luthic](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Luthic "Luthic")—appropriate for sacrifice, or to be consecrated for use, or recognized as boons or omens when found. Base Value of 1000gp ## Powers Star sapphires were often used in making and decorating devices and objects to ward off hostile magic, such as _[globes of invulnerability](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Minor_globe_of_invulnerability "Minor globe of invulnerability")_, allowing them to be effective against stronger spells. Many spells could be enhanced by adding a star sapphire to the material component. For example, the duration of an _[antimagic shell](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Antimagic_shell "Antimagic shell")_ could be extended for more than two hours beyond the usual time limit. Star sapphires were considered prized gems among the [drow](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Drow "Drow"). They considered it somewhat of a lucky charm for those who could use [magic](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Magic "Magic") and a very bold choice for others. It was particularly used by old priestesses. Powerful [darkmasks](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Darkmask "Darkmask"), the [specialty priests](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Specialty_priest "Specialty priest") of the drow deity [Vhaeraun](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Vhaeraun "Vhaeraun"), could use black star sapphires to create _[+2 daggers of venom](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Dagger_of_venom "Dagger of venom")_. When they used particularly valuable gems, they could create _+3 daggers of venom_. ## Notable Star Sapphires - **Starym Sapphires**, a set of three star sapphires that were embedded in the hide of [Shadowfang](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Shadowfang "Shadowfang") until they fell loose sometime following his transformation into a [shadowslain](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Shadowslain "Shadowslain"). Individually they were worth 1,000 [gold pieces](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Gold_piece "Gold piece"), but as a group they were worth 5,000 gp.