A Technical Treatise on Gems: Sapphires, Mostly Disappointing
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A Technical Treatise on Gems : Sapphires, mostly disappointing By Magus K. Firehart
This treatise covers the use of Sapphires in wand craft. I had a difficult time composing it dear reader not because the information was overly obfuscated but because sapphires aren't that useful to me; as such this treatise was more an obligation or a chore and less a joy. But for the sake of completeness I've penned for you this treatise.
Sorting
The first thing we need to do with sapphires is to sort them. There are a whole slew of characteristics that influence how you can use a stone for simplicity sake I am going to lump them all together into a singular category. As a master artificer there are only four categories I use and that is category 1 through category 4. Category 1 is reserved for sapphires that are only fit to be used in a wooden wand. Category 2 is reserved for sapphires that can be used in a steel wand. Category 3 is reserved for sapphires that can be used in ivory wands. Category 4 is reserved for sapphires that can be used in a gold wand. This category of gems happens to be my favorite and subsequent information will illuminate why.
Each wand also has a base ranking on the Flenken Power Scale and a certain number of castings that it can hold. If you are unfamiliar with this information I recommend you pick up a copy of A Technical Treatise on Wands, it covers this basic information. All gems can either modify this ranking, provide additional charges, do both, or provide other properties that make them useful. Sapphires are used to increase the Flenken Power Scale ranking by 50%; or more depending on the category of the sapphire used.
Wooden Wands
Wooden Wands have a base FPS ranking of 0.075 and provide 5 castings. Using a category 1 sapphire in a wooden wand will increase the FPS ranking to 0.1. Using a category 2 sapphire in a wooden wand will increase the FPS ranking to 0.15 and provides an additional casting of the spell; it will also offer a slight increase in the potency of the wand. Using a category 3 sapphire in a wooden wand will increase the FPS ranking to 0.175 and provides an additional casting of the spell; it will also offer a slight increase in the potency of the wand. Using a category 4 sapphire in a wooden wand will increase the FPS ranking to 0.225 (an increase of 200%!) and provide an additional two castings of the spell; it also offers an increase in the potency of the wand, roughly double that of a category 2 & category 3 sapphire.
Steel Wands
Steel Wands have a base FPS ranking of 0.15 and provide 10 castings. Using a category 2 sapphire in a steel wand will increase the FPS ranking to 0.225 and provides an additional casting. Using a category 3 sapphire in a steel wand will increase the FPS ranking to 0.25 and provides an additional casting. Using a category 4 sapphire in a steel wand increases the FPS ranking to 0.3 and provides 2 additional casting of the spell; it also offers a slight increase in the potency of the wand.
Ivory and Gold Wands
For the sake of brevity, I will cover both Ivory Wands and Gold Wands simultaneously; Ivory Wands have a base FPS ranking of 0.225 and provide 15 castings while Gold Wands have a base FPS ranking of 0.3 and provide 20 castings. A category 3 sapphire in an ivory wand will increase the FPS ranking to 0.325 and provide an additional casting of the spell. A category 4 sapphire in an ivory wand will increase the FPS ranking to 0.35 and provide an additional casting of the spell; a category 4 sapphire in a gold wand will increase the FPS ranking to 0.45 and provide 2 additional castings of the spell.
This concludes my treatise on sapphires. As with my other books this book is just a primer. It will take you decades of research and experimentation to truly master the skill of artifice as I have. I've given you shoes dear reader and set you upon the path of discovery. Now is time for you to leave the safety and comfort of what you know and start upon your lifelong journey of exploring the limitless expanse that is the vortex. Go forth budding artificer and burn brightly.