Earth Crystals
Overview
Earth Crystals, referred to in ancient sources by the name Terravon, are one of several types of Crystal Magic known to have existed since the earliest ages of Areth. According to A History of Rislandia, "Terravon became the Earth Crystals, granting dominion over stone and soil." They are typically brown, gray, or dark green in color, and are associated with control over stone, soil, and seismic forces. Their applications have ranged from architectural reinforcement to the deliberate triggering of earthquakes.
A notable constraint governs their full use: according to A History of Rislandia, Earth Crystals "must be used by both a male and female simultaneously for full power."
Origins
According to A History of Rislandia, Earth Crystals were formed from the essence of Terravon during The Great Sacrifice. This event, described in the Song of Areth creation myth, gave rise to multiple crystal types, each tied to a divine or primordial source. Earth Crystals represent Terravon's aspect of dominion over the physical earth.
Description
Earth Crystals appear in shades of brown, gray, or dark green. They are found primarily in the Crystal Veins of the Devil's Range, alongside other crystal varieties. Deposits have also been recorded in Nightmen territories and scattered ruins across the continent.
Their known capabilities include:
- Shaping and reinforcing stone structures
- Raising stone walls
- Creating earthquakes
- Collapsing structures
- Raising islands or landmasses from the sea (attributed to the Giants in legend)
According to A History of Rislandia, the power of Earth Crystals had "faded significantly" by the time of the later empires, with elders able to shape stone "though their power was faint."
History
Age of Giants
The earliest recorded use of Earth Crystals is attributed to the Giants during the Age of Giants. According to A History of Rislandia, Giants used Earth Crystals to anchor bridges spanning great chasms. Some accounts further claim that Giants employed Earth Crystals to raise islands from the sea in the construction of the Great Bridge, though A History of Rislandia presents this as a claim rather than established fact.
The Stonemasons' Covenant
Earth Crystals were the defining tool of the Stonemasons' Covenant, enabling the stone-shaping abilities for which that organization was known. The Covenant's use of Earth Crystals represents one of the more organized institutional applications of this crystal type in recorded history.
The Ancient Empire and the Crystal Spire
Earth Crystals were a type of crystal magic known to The Ancient Empire. According to A History of Rislandia, the elders of that era retained knowledge of how to shape stone with Earth Crystals, though their power was already faint by that period. Earth Crystals were used for weak reinforcement in the deepest foundation levels of the Crystal Spire, reflecting their diminished but still functional capacity at that time.
Spoiler: The Crystal Conspiracy
This section reveals events from “The Crystal Conspiracy”.
The Battle at Carnait Cove
Zaira von Monocle and Ivan, the Iron Emperor used an Earth Crystal together during the Nightmen attack at Carnait Cove. Activating the crystal jointly — consistent with the requirement for simultaneous male and female use — they created an earthquake that caused the wedding grounds to sink into the sea, killing the Nightmen present. This event is also referred to as the sinking of Carnait Cove.
Known Users
- The Giants — used Earth Crystals for bridge construction and, according to some accounts, island-raising during the Age of Giants.
- Stonemasons' Covenant — institutional users; Earth Crystals were central to their stone-shaping craft.
- Zaira von Monocle and Ivan, the Iron Emperor — used an Earth Crystal together at Carnait Cove to trigger a catastrophic earthquake.
Legacy
Earth Crystals represent one of the oldest and most geographically widespread forms of crystal magic on Areth. Their power diminished considerably over the centuries, yet they remained capable of devastating effect in the right hands. The dual-wielder requirement — one male, one female — distinguishes them operationally from other crystal types and has shaped how they appear in both historical and contemporary accounts. Their presence in Nightmen territories and scattered ruins suggests that knowledge of their use survived outside mainstream Rislandian society long after the decline of the Ancient Empire.