The Tears of Sarilia

A commotion fills the staircase resembling several large animals stampeding. Marsemble looked up from his study of the glowing blue sapphire that lies atop a small golden tripod amidst a jumble of scrolls and ancient tomes just in time to see a large white long haired cat charge past him and leap up on the book case next to the window. Only a moment behind the cat is his granddaughter. Her long blond hair frames a beautiful little face and spills onto a pink and yellow flowered dress. She stops dead in her tracks at the look from Marsemble as she knows better than to disturb him at his studies. Her trepidation lasts but a second and she blurts out, “What is that Poppy?” pointing at the glowing gem resting in a golden holder on his work desk. Marsemble smiles and motions for her to sit in his lap and she does so with glee. “They have many names, almost as many as there are peoples of Toril. Here they are known as gems of power. The dwarves call them Gronduka which means power stone. My favorite, I think, is what the elves call them; Touun Du Sarilia, the tears of Sarilia.” Ever inquisitive, Sunda asks, “Why are they called that and who is Sarilia?” Marsemble replies as he pats her thigh, “Sarilia was once the most powerful sorceress alive and quite possibly the most powerful that there ever was. She lived in a far off land called Thusk where she ruled from an alabaster palace. It is said that her people worshiped her as a god. As her power and the adoration of her people grew so grew the jealousy of the true goddess of magic, Mistra. Sarilia’s husband, Helm, was a powerful warrior and the general of the armies of Thusk. Mistra visited with Helm and promised to make him a god if he left Sarilia forever. Helm, though he loved Sarilia, was unable to decline such power and succumbed to Mistras desires. When Sarilia learned the truth it is said that she climbed to the tallest tower of the alabaster castle and began to cry. Her tears fell as glowing gemstones of all kinds. They fell from the tower like multi colored shooting stars and were scattered across the world. When the dawn came the servants went looking for Sarilia but she was gone. In the years to come Sarilia’s name fell into legend and she was never heard from again. To this day on certain nights it is said that her sobs can be heard coming from a certain tower in a certain castle in the lands of Thusk.”