The basic theory is as such:

• Certain special gemstones have the same basic effect as chakras on energy.
  • Caveat: stones and human(oid) physiology are very different things. Existing traits of chakra color, for one, are not always the same in the world of gem lore.
• Stones of different color are suitable for different powers. See Colors.
• Stones of higher quality have a more powerful effect. For instance, a ruby is more powerful than a garnet.
• The stones are empowered by your energy. Thus, you bind them to yourself in some fashion, often as jewels, attached to various parts of the body. Thus bound, they absorb energy over time, empowering them for use.
• The effect of color on energy being what it is, only one stone of each color may be used at a time. (Short version: light splits into all colors, each a component of the whole; thus, using the same color twice is impossible, as that would require twice as much energy to exist)
• The stone has the power to shape energy into a particular form. This form is determined by you, as you slowly build up energy in the stone. Once "set", a stone will magnify energy, nigh-effortlessly creating complex effects with minimal input. It will continue doing this until the energy is re-shaped, or until the gem's binding energy is expunged.
• For a burst of power, you may "expunge" a gem, triggering the power it was formed to create, as if at maximum Energy, but, thereafter, the gem cannot be used until it is revitalized (game terms: daily).

In Game Terms

• You find or buy gems.
• You wear them on your body; location doesn't really matter.
• Each day, you select one gem of each color, assuming you have that many.
• Into each, you choose one custom power of this prime skill, whose effect matches the affinity of that gem's color.
• Thereafter, you may use those powers as normal, albeit with no verbal or somatic components.
• The major benefit of this is that you are essentially creating daily time-slot arrays, which reduce BP costs by 75%, allowing you to know many powers at less cost.
• Also, the gems serve as an emergency Energy reserve, as you can "blow out" a gem to manifest the power at maximum Energy without spending any.
• Furthermore, the value of the gems enhances your powers. Rank 1 gems add +1 Energy for free, rank 2 adds +2, etc. You may still add your own Energy, as you please. (Note: when you "blow out" a gem, you gain bonus energy equal to your normal maximum, plus this bonus, plus any you actually spend on the manifestation).
• There are "rank 0" gems that are basically free, which allow normal manifesting with no bonus.

Colors

• The primary colors of stone have the most basic powers:
  • Red: action, change, destruction. Good for offensive powers, but also any that affect the world in a powerful, visible way.
  • Green: growth, regeneration, enhancement. Good for healing, augmentation, modifying other powers.
  • Blue: stability, clarity, higher nature. Good for defense, or abstract powers (mentalism, spirit magic, etc).
• The secondary colors are combinations of two primary colors, and the inverse of the third:
  • Amber
    • As a combination of Red and Green, Amber has the power to project changing forces into the world, making it ideal for shaping powers.
    • As the opposite of Blue, Amber has the power to undo powers of stability or abstract energy, making it ideal for dispelling, removing defenses, disintegrating, etc.
  • Azure
    • As the combination of Green and Blue, Azure has the power to enhance the mind, and magic itself, making it ideal for metamagic uses.
    • As the opposite of Red, Azure has the power to resist and absorb forces and unwanted energies, making it ideal for countering offensive powers.
  • Violet
    • As the combination of Red and Blue, Violet has the power to impose order on abstract energy and thought, making it ideal for telepathic powers.
    • As the opposite of Green, Violet has the power to decay, to degenerate, to reverse health and integrity, making it ideal for powers of debilitation.
• The tertiary colors are combinations of three colors each, and hold ultimate power.
  • White
    • As the additive combination of blue, green, and red, white has all power to create, defend, heal, or any generally positive effect.
  • Black
    • As the destructive combination of amber, azure, and violet, black has all negative powers, and can deconstruct, destabilize, or destroy anything.

Elemental Affinity

Note on affinities

The elemental affinities are those which match most closely with the traits of the color. They exist in opposition, just as colors do; for example, red (fire) is opposed by azure (water/frost). Thus, a power shouldn't be "elemental-aligned" or "trait-aligned", but rather both. If it isn't, consider redesigning the power.

Special colors

Though the art was created by humans, it has been adapted by many, including elves and dragons, who see more and different colors than humans do. Could there indeed be Infrared or Ultra-violet gems? X-ray or Microwave? Indeed, what about Transparent? Or Rainbow? Intriguing...

• Gem Flash: You may cause any of your gems to emit light of its color at will. The light is as bright as a torch. You may focus it into a 60' cone, or have it shine radially in a 30' radius. Once per day (per gem), as an immediate action, you may cause a gem to flash quickly and brilliantly; if unexpected, this can blind subjects, as a gaze attack, Will ends. Doing so causes the gem to lose its Energy bonus for the day. Besides blinding light, additional effects apply in a burst 3, by color:
  • Red: enemies suffer push 5 plus 1d6+skill mod per gem rank in untyped damage.
  • Green: allies are healed for 10% of max hp per gem rank.
  • Blue: allies gain resist 5/10/25/50/100 (all), based on gem rank, for 3 rounds.
  • Azure: if interrupting an enemy attack, blocks the attack (as Block skill, using Gem Lore skill check, but +10% mitigation per gem rank, and total mitigation is as good as avoidance). If fired at the same time as a friendly effect, adds +1 Energy to that effect per gem rank.
  • Amber: refreshes duration and any limits on friendly defenses, ongoing healing effects, etc, up to 1 round or 20% of max per gem rank; removes like amount of duration or limit from effects beneficial to enemies.
  • Violet: enemies are stunned, Will ends; if they were in the process of casting a spell or power, they lose ability to do so for 1 round per gem rank. If interrupting a friendly spell or power, cooldown of that spell/power is not triggered.
  • White: all effects of red, green, and blue.
  • Black: all effects of azure, amber, and violet.