Lantern charm

Lantern charms were released in 2010 Giftboxes commemorating the 20th Anniversary of GemStone. They can be used once per day to transport to the nearest town, and also to play with a ball of flame. Lantern charms are account-bound and thus cannot be transferred. If an unshuttered charm is handed to another character by the owner, the charms random ambients do work; however, when attempting to use the verb traps, the non-owner will receive the following messaging:

The light of the lantern charm dims and its metal surface chills, as if in rebuke against your touch.

The purple light of Person's lantern charm dims as she attempts to manipulate it.

LOOK

Wrought from thin panels of vaalin folded about a dark frame of invar, the delicate lantern is suspended from a chain of slender metallic links.  Patterns of sunset-hued lacquer parade over its peaked roof and squared base, their spirals repeated in frosting over the glass housing of the red light.  Languid cursive etching forms an inscription on the base of the charm.

>read charm
You focus on the languid script scrawled across the base of the lantern.  The words appear to blur for a moment before rearranging themselves into a stanza that reads:

  Long ago, I took a walk that turned into a ramble.
  O'er rushing stream and babbling brook, through forest, briar, bramble--
  And for a while, I, contented with brave places wide and wild
  forgot the dim and low-eaved place where I dwelt as a child.

  There came a day, far down that road, for me to glance behind,
  and, plaintive, call back to those hidden jewels in my mind.
  'Twas then I learned this lesson--wheresoever you may roam
  You're never but a thought away from long-departed home.

Usage

VERB	FIRST	THIRD
RAISE	You grasp your lantern charm by its chain and hold its light aloft. The flame within the lantern builds and brightens, escalating rapidly from bright to blinding. A heady rush overcomes you as the charm's radiance suffuses your flesh and falls, like a glowing veil, over your vision. Heat blossoms within your core, and a soft voice promises, "While hearth and home are firm in your heart, they cannot be more than a breath away from your lungs." All about you, golden fire dances, and you feel as if you are a part of the flame. Just as you are about to give yourself to the wild euphoria of the light, a gentle but firm presence pulls you back. The flame dims to embers, which become naught but cinders that pirouette away to reveal your changed surroundings. You look around and see... [Wehnimer's, Treehouse]	XXX grasps her lantern charm by its chain and holds it aloft. The flame within the lantern builds and brightens, escalating rapidly from merely bright to blinding. XXX's entire body is suffused with its red radiance. A sudden gout of heat is the sole warning before her form vanishes in flames, leaving nothing but cinders behind.
	Once per day transport to the nearest town. Drains all mana.
RUB	You gently polish the lantern charm, and experience an odd tingling sensation as the ora under your fingers seems to ripple and change, becoming cold and gelatinous before reforming into a solid silver frame.	XXX gently polishes her lantern charm. The invar frame under her fingertips ripples and changes, leaving the charm evidently crafted from silver.
	Randomly changes the metal: alum, brass, bronze, cobalt, copper, faenor, gold, imflass, invar, iron, laje, ora, silver, steel, vultite...
TURN	You twist a tiny ratchet lever on the side of the lantern charm, and its red flame flickers for a heartbeat, only to be replaced by a vivid yellow flame.	XXX twists a tiny ratchet lever on the side of the lantern charm, and its red flame flickers for a heartbeat, only to be replaced by a vivid yellow flame.
	Randomly changes the flame color: green, azure, orange, emerald, scarlet, purple, carnelian, rose, viridian, yellow, ivory, celadon, teal, niveous, silver, red, persimmon, golden, violet, aquamarine, crimson, lilac, white...
OPEN	As you unshutter your lantern charm, streams of yellow light spill forth.	Streams of yellow light spill forth as XXX unshutters her lantern charm.
	Activates ambient messaging. The messages will stop if you're not holding the charm in your hand and in some rooms with special properties, so people don't become a nuisance at merchants. Ambient messages are not seen while the holder is hidden.
CLOSE	You fiddle with a switch on the side of your lantern charm and its shutters close, concealing the yellow light source within.	XXX shutters her lantern charm, stifling its yellow light.
	Deactivates ambient messaging.
SPIN	You spin your lantern charm on its chain, and its yellow light shines upon you. 5 sec rt.	XXX spins her lantern charm on its chain, and its yellow light shines upon her.
SPIN Targeted	You twirl your lantern charm about on its chain, causing the metal surfaces to glint merrily. Without warning, a beam of yellow light arcs out and shines upon XXX. 5 sec rt.	XXX twirls her lantern charm about on its chain, causing the metal surfaces to glint merrily. Without warning, a beam of yellow light arcs out and shines upon you.
EXHALE (when open)	Raising your lantern charm before your face, you blow a thin stream of air into the flickering flames. A tight sensation tugs at your chest, as if something more essential than air is being fed into the fire. Sparks lick off of the violet light within the lantern, spiraling about in the air before coalescing into a floating orb of violet flame.	XXX raises her lantern charm before her face and blows a thin stream of air into the flame within. The glow of the fire brightens as sparks lick off of it, spiraling about in the air before coalescing into a floating orb of violet flame.
	Creates a ball of flame to play with for a limited amount of time. >look flame Soft light washes off of the translucent orb, which is wreathed in violet flames. The little globe of fire wobbles about, washing the surroundings in violet light as it drifts like an aimless vagrant through the air overhead.
WAVE <flame>	You fan air toward your violet flame. A brightly luminous floating orb of violet flame darts about through the air, giving a final wobble before shooting east!	XXX fans air toward her violet flame. A brightly luminous floating orb of violet flame darts about through the air, giving a final wobble before shooting east! Heat blossoms in the air as a brightly luminous floating orb of violet flame shoots in.
	Shoots the flame around.

Ambient Messaging

Lantern

Ambient messaging works for anyone if handed open to them by the owner.

A wash of red light spills forth from your lantern charm as the flame within it flares up.

The red light in your lantern charm lets out a spray of sparks like roving fireflies.

Light from your lantern charm colors the ground at your feet.

The luminous violet point floating within your lantern charm competes with the sun's light for brilliance.

Momentary dizziness overwhelms you as you become aware of a drawing sensation emanating from your lantern charm. (this draws one spirit point from the holder. This message is only seen by holder.)

Flame

A floating orb of violet flame floats overhead, its bulk wan against the sun's radiance.

Wobbling lazily, a floating orb of violet flame dims about its edges, although the core remains bright.

A dimly radiant floating orb of violet flame floats overhead, its bulk wan against the sun's radiance.

A dimly radiant floating orb of violet flame darts about through the air, giving a final wobble before shooting east!

Flickering tongues of fire erupt from the surface of a brightly luminous floating orb of violet flame as its light steadies.

The flame wobbles sullenly before going out in a tiny explosion of light.

Landing Locations

Incomplete list

• Icemule Trace/Rift/Pinefar: Thirsty Penguin
• Solhaven: Muffinsmith's Stall
• Ta'Illistim: Outside the Dais
• Ta'Vaalor: Annatto Bridge (Lich ID: 10495)
• Wehnimer's Landing: Treehouse
• Kharam Dzu: Adventurer's Rest

Resources

• Saved posts

See Also

• GIFTBOX (verb)
• Magical spider
• Translucent glaes spider charm