Denuli Crystal
Also known as Denuli Gems, these are non-viable eggs of the Shrieker sophont species.
Description (Specifications)[edit]
The crystals or gems in question -- in fact Shrieker eggs -- are exceedingly beautiful unfaceted crystals. They are bright and iridescent, and give the impression of shifting colors that flow deep within. The crystals are a few inches in diameter, with a base dark blue or gray color.
History & Background (Dossier)[edit]
Denuli crystals are the non-viable eggs of the Shriekers of Denuli (567-908/Shvreeyiyi). Since they are unobtainable, prices are high, starting at Cr10,000 and going into the millions of credits for especially intense specimens.
In 1111, news of the source of the gems spread to unscrupulous traders across the Spinward Marches Sector. Both Naasirka and the IISS worked to secure legal protection for the Shriekers, but by the time either organization could put ships in the 567-908 system, hundreds of eggs had been stolen. By 1112, sale of the "gems" was made illegal within Deneb, and Emperor Strephon extended the ban throughout the rest of the Imperium soon thereafter. The Sword Worlds and the Darrian Confederation also made possession of Denuli crystals illegal.
It is almost certain that members of an underground "gem appreciation" society are providing support for both overt attempts to modify the law and covert attempts to hamstring enforcement of the laws against gem possession.
The Scouts don't have sufficient funding for anti-smuggling operations. The Ministry of Justice acts only within Imperial borders, and suppression of Denuli crystal smuggling isn't a major priority. There are private groups, however, who aren't satisfied with official lethargy, and make it their mission to stop the trade in Shrieker eggs by whatever means were necessary.
References & Contributors (Sources)[edit]
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