Aeon stone

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Aeon stone
Ioun stone1E
A blue rhomboid aeon stone is clearly seen above the head of Rashimos.
(Magic item)
Uncommon
Invested
Magical

Aura (1E)
Strong varied
Caster Level (1E)
12th
Item Level (2E)
1+ (varies by stone)
Type
Slot (1E)
None
Usage (2E)
Worn
Affiliation
Source: Core Rulebook (First Edition), pg(s). 520 (1E)
Core Rulebook (Second Edition), pg(s). 604–605 (2E)
SFW compass rose 150.png

This article might have further canon details available on StarfinderWiki.

Aeon stones, also known as ioun stones, are magically charged gemstones that, when activated by an intelligent creature, levitate in a spinning manner around the head of its user. They have various effects, depending on the shape and color of the stone.1

History

Little is known about the history of these magical stones, despite the fact that the Pathfinder Society has invested significant energy into uncovering their origins. The following scant facts are known about them:2

  • The Azlanti were the first civilization to use aeon stones.
  • The Thassilonians leveraged Azlanti lore to advance the art form, and developed new techniques around them.
  • No civilization since those two has made any advancements in the technique of creating or modifying these magical stones.
  • The Pathfinder Society has, however, created an exhaustive catalog of aeon stones.

Known facts

The Pathfinder Society has learned the following facts about these rare magical items:2

  • The stones work on intelligent creatures only, but it does not matter if the creature is living or dead—both intelligent undead and constructs can use them.
  • While levitating, an aeon stone cannot support any weight more than its own.
  • It must be able to revolve around the user's head to work, and so creatures without heads cannot use them.
  • While orbiting the user's head, an aeon stone will never collide with other stones also in orbit.
  • They are quite hard to strike during combat and benefit from any magical protections in effect on their users.

Classifications

Aeon stones can be classified in two primary ways: by shape and by color.3

They come in a variety of shapes, including cabochon, disks, ellipsoids, nodules, pentacles, prisms, pyramids, rhomboids, spheres, spindles, and trillians.3

They come in a wide variety of colors, including amber, clear, crimson, dark blue, deep red, dull grey, dusty rose, emerald, gamboge, lavender, onyx, white, orange, pale blue, pink, scarlet, and purpose. Each color/shape combination has its own unique powers and abilities.3

Common varieties

Although any combination of aeon stone shape and color are theoretically possible, the most commonly found include the clear spindle, the dull gray, the gold nodule, the lavender and green ellipsoid, the orange prism, the pale lavender ellipsoid, the pink rhomboid, and the tourmaline sphere aeon stone.4 Rarer varieties of aeon stones, such as black pearl aeon stones are found less frequently.5

Variations

Aeon stones implanted in a person's arm.

In addition to color and shape, stones can be delineated by the following characteristics as well:6

  • Advanced: advanced aeon stones are more powerful than regular stones, and fetch extravagant prices on the open market, between 10,000 and 50,000 gold pieces.7
  • Cracked: stones that have an obvious crack in them. They typically have weaker power than regular stones.
  • Flawed: these stones have flaws other than cracks, for example irregular faceting or impurities in the crystal. They can have unusual side effects on the user.
  • Scorched: These stones have somehow been depleted, and function less reliably than regular stones.
  • Cursed: little is known about cursed aeon stones, but there are rumors of stones that carry horrible curses.

Implanting aeon stones

The Thassilonians advanced the science of aeon stones by figuring out how to embed the stones directly into the user's flesh. Binding the stone to the user is a lengthy, dangerous process, but once implanted the stone cannot be sundered, targeted, or removed while the user is alive.86

Wayfinders and resonant powers

Aeon stones float around the head of Sorrina Westyr as she examines a wayfinder.

The Pathfinder Society has advanced the use of aeon stones greatly with the creation of their signature magic item, the wayfinder. All wayfinders have an indentation in them that has been specifically designed to hold a single aeon stone. Inserting an aeon stone in the indentation causes the aeon stone to work as if it were floating freely around the user's head and unlocks a magical resonant power specific to the exact type of aeon stone implanted. Only one such resonant power is possible per user, and attempting to use two wayfinders with invested aeon stones causes a destructive interference that cancels the powers of both stones.9

Aeon wyrds

An aeon wyrd is a constructed crystalline familiar that can carry and confer resonant powers of aeon stones to its owner.10

References

  1. Logan Bonner, et al. “11: Crafting & Treasure” in Core Rulebook, 604–605. Paizo Inc., 2019
  2. 2.0 2.1 Tim Hitchcock, et al. “Tools of the Trade” in Seekers of Secrets, 43. Paizo Inc., 2009
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Tim Hitchcock, et al. “Tools of the Trade” in Seekers of Secrets, 43–47. Paizo Inc., 2009
  4. Logan Bonner, et al. “11: Crafting & Treasure” in Core Rulebook, 605. Paizo Inc., 2019
  5. Erik Mona, et al. High Seas” in World Guide, 63. Paizo Inc., 2019
  6. 6.0 6.1 Tim Hitchcock, et al. “Tools of the Trade” in Seekers of Secrets, 46. Paizo Inc., 2009
  7. Tim Hitchcock, et al. “Tools of the Trade” in Seekers of Secrets, 43–44. Paizo Inc., 2009
  8. Tim Hitchcock, et al. “Tools of the Trade” in Seekers of Secrets, 45. Paizo Inc., 2009
  9. Logan Bonner, et al. “11: Crafting & Treasure” in Core Rulebook, 617. Paizo Inc., 2019
  10. Paizo Inc., et al. “Chapter 4: Pathfinder Society Options” in Pathfinder Society Guide, 122. Paizo Inc., 2020