The Ruby of Life
A crimson gem forged by the Lord of Dreams to focus his power over the endless expanse of dreams.
The Ruby of Dream is a legendary jewel of immense power, deeply tied to the history and mythology of Dream's realm, the Dreaming. Unlike many magical artifacts that serve as weapons or tools for conquest, this ruby represents a focus for Dream's own authority. It does not sustain life itself, but rather channels the creative energy of the Lord of Dreams, acting as a focal point for his power over the dreamscape and its inhabitants.
Quick Facts
- Type
- Magical Artifact
- Realm
- The Dreaming
- Primary association
- Morpheus (Dream)
- Nature
- Focus of Dream's Power
- Current status
- Destroyed (later reformed as a dream)
Lore & Background
The gem's significance lies in its role as a tool for Dream's power, not as an anchor against any cosmic void. Created by Morpheus himself as a focus for his authority, the Ruby of Dream was never a sustainer of life or a counterbalance to entropy. Its history is marked by its theft by the sorcerer Roderick Burgess, who used it to imprison Dream, and later by its destruction at the hands of John Dee, who attempted to reshape reality with it. The ruby was eventually reformed as a dream within the Dreaming, a testament to Dream's enduring will.
Reader's Guide
The Ruby of Life originates from the primordial forces that shaped the Dreaming long before the Endless took their specific forms. Its primary power is to sustain and regenerate life within the dream realm, acting as a battery for the creative energy required to maintain the existence of dreams and dreamers. However, this artifact is not without limitations. It cannot create life from absolute nothingness outside the context of the Dreaming, nor can it resurrect those who have truly passed into Death's domain. Few have wielded the Ruby directly, as its nature resists manipulation by those with selfish intent. Those who attempt to misuse it often find their dreams turning into nightmares or their minds unraveling under the weight of raw existence. The consequences of tampering with such a fundamental artifact can lead to the destabilization of entire dreamscapes.
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Elsewhere in The Sandman
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