The Great Crystals

The Great Crystals stand alone in their strength among all resonance crystals. They represent the highest tier of crystal power — above Common, Mature, and Champion crystals — and only seven have ever been discovered and formally classified throughout the history of Ardelûn.

A crystal's power is not determined by its size, but by the intensity and hue of its colour and the obvious force it produces. Weaker crystals display paler, more pastel coloration, while a Great Crystal radiates with a vividness and potency that is unmistakable. When a crystal produces power far beyond the average specimen of its type, it earns the designation of Great Crystal. Only one such crystal per type is known to exist.

These crystals are widely coveted and kept under heavy protection by those fortunate — or powerful — enough to possess them. Possession of even a single Great Crystal is considered enough to reshape the balance of power across an entire region.

All resonance crystals are classified into four tiers based on their strength and potential:

• Common — Roughly 80% of all crystals; useful for light sources, decorations, and minor applications.
• Mature — Around 15% of crystals; strong enough to power technology and gear.
• Champion — Only ~5% of crystals; powerful enough to be attuned to by an individual.
• Great — A category unto themselves. Only one per crystal type is known to exist, and only seven have ever been found across all of Ardelûn's history.

Of the eight resonance crystal types, seven have a known Great Crystal. No Great Crystal of the Lumenite type has yet been discovered — a search still very much in its early stages, given that Lumenite itself was only found in 1,436 DC.

See the Resonance Crystals overview for more on crystal classification and attunement.

The first resonance crystal — a Pyrothyst — was found in 1,134 BDC in Ashban, Kudrumark, by the Dwarves of the Golden Breeches. Just twenty-eight years later, in 1,106 BDC, the first Great Crystal was discovered, its overwhelming power immediately setting it apart from every specimen found before it.

The existence of these extraordinary crystals made them targets throughout Ardelûn's history. Wars broke out across Im'ran Dorei between approximately 300 BDC and 1 DC, driven in large part by competing factions seeking dominion over the crystals — Great Crystals chief among them.

The most infamous chapter in their history belongs to the legend of Cayin of Irenoch, a conqueror whose campaigns across Im'ran Dorei from 43 to 30 BDC were driven by a singular ambition: to seize all seven Great Crystals and imbue them into a suit of armor of his own creation — the Armor of the Earth — concentrating their combined power into one unstoppable force. Cayin succeeded in obtaining all seven during his conquests, but died in 2 BDC, and the crystals were scattered in the chaos surrounding the Dark Dawn. Their whereabouts since have been the subject of rumour, intrigue, and conflict ever since.

The Rose of Khatiir

The Great Tempestine crystal — a brilliant, deep-red specimen known as a Rubenard Tempestine, remarkable for its vivid crimson colouration. It was first discovered in Mount Khatiir, a volcano in the kingdom of Arranat. Owned and wielded by Cayin during his conquests, the Rose was given by King Tundalaya to an unnamed soldier of Hurran at the final battle at the foot of Mount Khatiir, moments before Tundalaya's death. Its current location is unknown. Long-standing rumours allege that the Broad Dais knows its whereabouts — or even possesses it — but keeps the fact concealed.

The Blue Stone of Shinnara

The Great Cryolite crystal — an ice-blue Glacier Sapphire of remarkable clarity. First discovered in Mount Zhimmu within the kingdom of Sinovanya. It was owned and wielded by Cayin, and later stolen by General Nebo. The Blue Stone is now mounted as one of the crown jewels of Sabala, set into a golden scepter known as The Blue Scepter, where it remains to this day.

The Eye of Fury

The Great Pyrothyst crystal — a deep, pulsing specimen known as a Coursing Cinnaburon, found on Mount Hazoria in the Heights of Salt, a mountain range in northern Canavania. Owned and wielded by Cayin, it was later given to Methuselah the Mechanari by a dying Narak at Mount Khatiir. The public — and supposedly even the Crystal Masters — believe the Eye was lost in the battle at Mount Khatiir before the Dark Dawn. Only Methuselah and those he has personally confided in know the truth of its current location.

The Spirit of Temujjar

The Great Aerolite crystal — an Opaloid Lifeseed, shimmering with the shifting colours characteristic of Aerolite, first discovered in a mountain known as the Sanctum of Nature within the kingdom of Temujjar. It was owned and wielded by Cayin, before being stolen by General Ulbaru following the murder of Narak at Mount Khatiir. It is currently in the possession of Silas Zorvex, a member of the Broad Dais.

Melancholbar

The Great Umbranite crystal — a silvery-blue specimen of extraordinary depth, first discovered deep beneath the volcano Mount Uvanti in the kingdom of Uscova. Owned and wielded by Cayin, Melancholbar was later held by King Tundalaya, who gave it to a different unnamed soldier of Hurran before his death at Mount Khatiir. It has since been found, and is currently in the possession of Evandra Whitehall, an older half-elf woman and head of the Broad Dais.

The Heart of Proterra

The Great Verdathyst crystal — a bright green Peridotesque, first found in Mount Turrabad on the borders of Temujjar and Hanbo, within the old kingdom of Lagalla — now a desolate wildlands region known as the Vale of the Jackals. Rumoured to have existed since the era of Proterra, when the world was a single supercontinent. Owned and wielded by Cayin, it is said he discreetly gave it to his daughter, Princess Pulabi, without the knowledge of her brothers. It is currently in the possession of Corin Merrigrove, a member of the Broad Dais.

Fellglass

The Great Necroshard crystal — and uniquely, not a naturally occurring one. It is rumoured that a figure known as Gambrard acquired the Heart of Proterra, carved it in half, and used the forbidden alchemical process of Stone-turning to corrupt one half of it into Fellglass — a Great Necroshard. When the Crystal Masters discovered what Gambrard had done, they pursued him, but he reportedly committed suicide before he could be apprehended. Neither his body nor Fellglass was ever found. Its current location remains entirely unknown.