Hemmilite
Precious Item, Magical Object -- Rare
Hemmilite, or simply Hemil - as it is known to the dwarves - is a somewhat naturally occurring gemstone that is usually found deep within mountains. It is reddish to deep purple in color, and apparently holds latent magical energy.
Hemil, meaning 'living', is an inherent part of the dwarvish creation myth, and is very closely guarded as a material. It is never traded to other civilizations, and it only used to adorn dwarvish works, with good reason. Hemil is created when a dwarf dies - this was ritually done for thousands of years, as dwarves would entomb their dead deep within the rock. Due to the underground pressure and the dwarvish physical makeup, their fallen bodies would solidify and slowly transform into Hemmilite. A process that once took many years can now be done quite efficiently with magical forges, and nearly every dwarf who passed away in a hall is cremated so that their bodies can be passed down their family line as any number of pieces of armor and jewelry.
Occasionally, dwarves who lose limbs may also choose to have the recovered body part cremated, and will keep the resulting gem. These smaller gems will often be worked into armor for the amputee.
Unfortunately, hemmilite is also sought after by dragons - the gemstone itself is extremely hard, and many dragons seek to consume it so that it may make their hides even tougher. This leads to many dragons of the past having invaded dwarven settlements, turning the inhabitants to Hemil with their breath, and eating those within, keeping the settlement for their new homes.
There is no set price for an item containing these gems, as many of them are family heirlooms and do not leave dwarven halls. On the chance that a buyer can be found, these are usually wizards or sorcerers who wish to tinker with the magical properties of the gems, and they may be willing to pay hundreds of thousands of gold pieces.