From publisher blurb:
Twelve Lineages
Bismuth. When the Mother of Pearl found bismuth was too soft to endure life on the surface, she poured her power into the metal to compensate for its physical limitations. This great expenditure of magic is the source of bismuth Ghemed’s colorful appearance, which also marks them as the last of the Mother’s creations.
Topaz. When the Mother of Pearl made topaz Ghemed, she entrusted them with a glass bottle which shone with the first rays ever cast by the sun. To this day, the most talented topaz Ghemed serve as guardians of the treasure, which is also the source of their strength.
Garnet. The first garnet Ghemed made their homes in the most extreme environments the surface had to offer. As they banded together to survive, garnet Ghemed grew to believe that beauty lay not in looks or words, but in difficult labor for the sake of the community.
Moonstone. The Mother of Pearl created the hearts of these Ghemed out of moonlight, ensuring that no matter how overcast the night becomes, they can shine through the darkness.
Amber. Some find it ironic that the most changeable of the Ghemed are the most devoted to the study of history. The amber Ghemed do not see the contradiction, considering it impossible to separate the beauty of what is fleeting from the beauty of that which defies time.
Galena. Scholars have long debated how galena Ghemed are so durable despite being composed of such an easily weathered mineral, yet bear no trace of magic. For their part, galena Ghemed say that the Mother of Pearl told them not to worry about it, so they never have.
Peridot. From the rarity and relatively small stature of peridot Ghemed, the Mother of Pearl evidently had limited material for their creation. Some say this is because she had to recover it from below the deepest depths of the earth, while others say the strange green gems fell from the stars. Either way, even other types of Ghemed agree that peridot Ghemed come across as distinctly otherworldly.
Pyrite. Since pyrite is often passed off as gold by charlatans, many people assume that pyrite Ghemed are similarly duplicitous. Pyrite Ghemed typically take great offense at the implication that gold, which is only valued for its looks, could ever be superior to the mineral they’re composed of.
Emerald. The gardens cultivated by emerald Ghemed are without compare, given their devotion to the beauty of living things.
Blue Lace Agate. Long ago, the Mother of Pearl discovered a deposit of blue lace agate infused with the magic of the ocean. The Ghemed she created from this rare variety of chalcedony live by the shore, preserving the balance between land and sea.
Jade. ade Ghemed were exquisitely sculpted by the Mother of Pearl, and they therefore consider the act of creation to be inherently beautiful. Most jade Ghemed devote their lives to crafts so they can fill the world with such beauty.
Larimar. No one has ever been able to discover deposits of the specific variety of mineral constituting these Ghemed. Therefore, there has been much speculation as to whether the gem has unusual properties or whether the Mother of Pearl infused them with an unknown magic. For their part, larimar Ghemed respond to such inquiries by gently deflecting them.