The Sunstone is one of the four mystical Worldstones that anchor the fabric of reality within the Prime Plane and maintain the elemental harmony of the Continuum Crystal Cosmology. Each Worldstone embodies a unique elemental force, and the Sunstone represents the radiant power of the sun, stars, and celestial order. It is a conduit for the astral energy that sustains life and guides the cosmic balance.
Purpose and Influence
The Sunstone channels the energy of light and fire, maintaining the astral arrangement of the cosmos and influencing the celestial cycles that govern day and night, seasons, and the flow of time. Its presence shapes The Sun Realm, infusing the lands with warmth, vitality, and the eternal light of creation.
Through its connection to the Riftways, the Sunstone acts as a bridge between the Plane of Ignis and the Prime Plane, ensuring a steady flow of solar energy to sustain life and empower the natural cycles of the material world.
Cultural Significance
The Solir, the sun elves of the ancient civilization of Itela, revered the Sunstone as a divine artifact and symbol of their connection to the sun's eternal flame. It was the heart of their society, inspiring grand festivals and rituals to honor its radiant power. The Sunstone's light was channeled through their mastery of Sun-Rifting, a profound magic that allowed them to harness solar energy for creation, protection, and growth.
The Sunstone also inspired the architectural wonders of Itela, with sun-kissed towers of enchanted glass and stone reflecting the light of the heavens. It was a source of both spiritual and practical power, central to the Solir’s golden age of expansion and enlightenment.
Ember the Radiant Phoenix
The Sunstone’s consciousness is embodied in Ember the Radiant Phoenix, a primordial being of unparalleled beauty and power. Ember is both its protector and a symbol of its unyielding light. The phoenix’s fiery wings are said to illuminate the heavens, and its song inspires hope in the darkest times.
Helios, the god of light and creation, fashioned the Solar Drake in Ember’s image, entrusting them to safeguard the balance of the Sun Realm. Though many Solar Drakes were cursed into lesser forms during The Riftfire Rebellion, Ember remains a steadfast guardian of the Sunstone.
Song of The Sun
Since the beginning of the Third Age, the Sunstone has chosen a lineage of Avatars, mortals who embody its radiant essence and serve as stewards of the Sun Realm. These Avatars are chosen through the Inconnu, a sacred rite overseen by the Archon of the Sun, Ember the Radiant Phoenix.
Lineage of the Avatars
Avatar Rozan: The first Avatar of the Sunstone, Rozan unified the Sun Realm and established the Solir civilization of Itela. Rozan is best known for driving back the Fire Giant incursion and creating Rozan's Eye, a powerful artifact embedded within a solitary mesa beyond the southwestern shores of The Sands of Serrakhan. Rozan’s Eye is believed to amplify solar energy through ancient Sun-Rifting runestones, acting as a beacon of light and power.
Avatar Lumina: Lumina, the second Avatar, presided over a golden age of discovery and enlightenment. She forged a close alliance with The Earth Realm, particularly with Avatar Rok of the Earth Kingdom. Their bond transcended realms, and together they bore a child, Talyen, a union of elemental avatars. Tragically, Lumina’s love and loyalty were exploited by Malekith, who threatened Talyen’s life in exchange for the Sunstone’s power. After betraying and murdering Lumina, Malekith used the Sunstone to sunder the Sun Realm, curse the Solir, and scorch the continent of Osira.
Malekith: Malekith broke the cycle of avatars, corrupting the Sunstone’s purpose for his own ambitions. Using its power, he declared himself the Avatar of the Sun and unleashed devastation upon Itela, erasing the civilization of the Solir and leaving the survivors cursed to scorch under the very sun they once revered. This act left a lasting scar on the Sun Realm, and Malekith’s dark legacy continues to haunt its ruins.
Sons of The Sun: The Sunstone awaits a new Avatar to restore its balance and undo the chaos caused by Malekith. Prophecies speak of a chosen one who will reignite the light of the Sunstone and lead the Sun Realm into a new age of harmony.
Legacy and Mythology
The Sunstone’s history is a tale of light and shadow, of creation and destruction. Its radiant power brought forth the golden age of the Solir, but it also became a tool of Malekith’s devastating ambition. The Sun Realm, once a beacon of brilliance, is now a land of scars and ash, a reminder of the consequences of hubris and betrayal.
Despite this, the Sunstone endures, its light a symbol of hope and renewal. Its potential to heal the Sun Realm and restore balance remains, awaiting the day when a new Avatar will rise to guide the world back to harmony.
To wield the Sunstone is to hold the heart of the heavens in your hands. Use it wisely, or its brilliance will burn the world to ash.