[Question] Okay, which one was it again?

[Black Aeronaut]

As you guys may know, my main character in DSKS dabbles a bit in runes. Trouble is that I've gone blank on the name of a particular mineral that comprises
one of my favorite sets of rune stones. The material is similar to marble, and has deep blue and black elements shot with a pure white element in a manner
that evokes lightning in a night-time storm. If anyone could help me or at least point me in the right direction, I'd apreciate it. I've already
googled for mineral sites, but they all go by the name of the mineral, which is what I don't have.

[bmull]

The first thing that came to my mind was Black Onyx: http://www.jewellery-art.co.uk/images/black-onyx2.jpg

[Sweno]

The black stones that I know of that could fit that description:
there is black alabaster (rare, couldn't find any pics of it)
Zebra marble
black marble
-Terry
-----
"so listen up boy, or pornography starring your mother will be the second worst thing to happen to you today"
TF2: Spy

[Black Aeronaut]

Thanks, but no. Those look nothing like it. I'll have to take a picture and post it online to show you guys... But later. Got Duty today, and ever since
that damnable USB Drive virus they've disabled memory storage recognition in USB ports throughout the Armed Forces.

[robkelk]

If you can get the photo up before tomorrow evening, I'll take it to the local museum of nature on Saturday and compare it to the samples they have on
display.

(The nice thing about living in a capital city is that most of the local museums are also the National Museums, so the collections are substantial...)
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."

- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012

[Black Aeronaut]

Thanks Rob! I doubt it's really anything that esoteric, though. (^_^

I'll try and have a picture up later tonight (local time, +9 GMT) - can anyone recomend a free image hosting site? Or at least one that's relatively
low price?

[DHBirr]

Imageshack is the one I use nowadays, and I've never had to pay them a dime. I used to use Imagevenue, also free of charge, but
then they started linking all the images to porn ads; as I complained in an edit to one of my previous posts, they ask if it's a
"family-friendly" image, and then they link it to porn.
-----
Big Brother is watching you.  And damn, you are so bloody BORING.

[Black Aeronaut]

Okay, here is what I am calling, for the moment, my Blue Thunderstone rune stone set.



Anyone think they can identify this stuff now?
Oh, BTW, stupidly-high res images here.  I used a 10.1 Megapixel camera.  Might be a bit of a load time for slower connections, but the degree of detail is worth it.

[robkelk]

Image saved; will look when I get back home tomorrow...
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."

- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012

[Black Aeronaut]

Hey, Rob. Don't mean to be a pill or anything, but did you ever have a look at what these stones are?

[robkelk]

Went to the museum on Monday to discover they're closed Mondays until next summer. Next chance to go look will be tomorrow morning...
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."

- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012

[Black Aeronaut]

*Snrt* Don't you just love life's little ironies? Mental Note: include as trope in DSKS.

[robkelk]

Without actually seeing the stones, I only got guesses - the "best" guesses were either aventurine or lapis lazuli.

(If they were green instead of blue, the best guess would have been malachite. If they were transparent instead of opaque, the best guess would have been tanzanite - blue zoisite. Either of those would have been much funnier for a Sailor Moon crossover fanfic. DSKS...)
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."

- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012

[Black Aeronaut]

Hrm... Same materials as Lapis Lazuli, but formation like Adventurine... I'll have to see if I can somehow get into contact with the proprietor of the shop
where I got them from. She's a friend of mine so she should be happy to hear from me just the same.

Malachite and Zoisite sets? An interesting idea. (^_^)

[Black Aeronaut]

YES! I got lucky and there was a beading/mineral therapy store in one of the malls nearby the base here! And they actually had my mineral in stock as beads!

The name of the mineral is Sodalite and it is actually a constituent of
Lapis Lazuli (hence the confusion). As for magical properties, this pagan
jeweler has this to say:

A stone of the higher mind, Sodalite helps the wearer to think rationally and form logical conclusions. It aids in releasing confusion as well as
over-emotionalness and creates a stable atmosphere in which to deal with intellectual challenges, and brings a feeling of competence and well-being to those
pursuits. Sodalite aids in understanding ones true feelings and helps to verbalize them. It is an excellent stone for working with groups as it helps the
members to create an atmosphere of mutual trust and self-esteem, enhancing solidarity and enabling the group to establish common purpose and work together
toward their goals. Calming and stabilizing, Sodalite stimulates thought and allows one to access their own inner knowing. It releases stresses, nervousness,
angers and fears. An excellent stone for meditation and a promoter of inner wisdom.

So it was actually an ideal stone to use for divination in that setting. However, for me it also brings a sense of energy - it simply reminds me
too much of thunderstorms. I guess we can call this rune set of Zeke's the Brain Storm set. Minor retconning to follow.

[Necratoid]

You know... that is one rock you can't give to the informed unless they need a study aid or have a memory disorder... seriously, giving that to a person is
like telling them they are crazy, hysterical, and a noticeably irrational thinker, while smiling at them. Its like giving them a rock and telling them to hit
you... a rock reported to help them figure that that is the only rational response.

[robkelk]

You know... that is one rock you can't give to the informed unless they need a study aid or have a memory disorder... seriously, giving that to a person is like telling them they are crazy, hysterical, and a noticeably irrational thinker, while smiling at them.  Its like giving them a rock and telling them to hit you... a rock reported to help them figure that that is the only rational response.

If they hit you with a rock, that'll certainly aid you "in releasing confusion as well as over-emotionalness"... because you'll be unconscious.
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."

- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012

[Black Aeronaut]

Oh no worries. In the retcon, when he comes to choose between the two sets, it will go something like this...

Hmm... My Sodalite set will work best here. The mineral is good for cooperative work and it encourages rational thinking, too... He then turned to see what the rest of the girls were doing, only to sweat-drop as Rei and Usagi got into an argument over something or other - he couldn't tell because the Japanese was flying far too quickly for him to pick up. Eeee-yeah, I better not say anything about it.

  

[Star Ranger4]

blackaeronaut wrote:

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I guess we can call this rune set of Zeke's the Brain Storm set. Minor retconning to follow.

OWIE.... DAMMIT BA, Coffee is not meant to shoot out my nose!!!
Hear that thunder rolling till it seems to split the sky?
That's every ship in Grayson's Navy taking up the cry-
NO QUARTER!!!
-- "No Quarter", by Echo's Children

[Black Aeronaut]

Star Ranger4 wrote:

---

blackaeronaut wrote:

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I guess we can call this rune set of Zeke's the Brain Storm set. Minor retconning to follow.

OWIE.... DAMMIT BA, Coffee is not meant to shoot out my nose!!!

*Blinks, points at the mess.* Did I do that?