Throughout history, countless objects have become legends.
Some were forged by master craftsmen.
Some were blessed by the gods.
Some emerged from forgotten civilizations.
Others should never have existed at all.
Collectively these treasures are known as Relics.
No two relics are identical.
Many possess unusual powers.
Some are priceless.
Others are dangerous beyond measure.
Entire wars have been fought over their possession.
Relics associated with the High Court often embody the ideals of their patron deity.
Examples include:
Crowns of leadership
Diplomatic seals
Sacred banners
Living gardens
Scholarly tomes
Mastercrafted weapons and tools
Such relics often grant blessings connected to:
Leadership
Wisdom
Growth
Prosperity
Craftsmanship
Knowledge
Most are carefully protected by temples, kingdoms, and religious orders.
Relics associated with the Low Court frequently tempt their owners.
They often provide great power at significant cost.
Examples include:
Jeweled crowns
Obsidian mirrors
Forbidden books
Endless goblets
Bottomless purses
Living masks
Many appear beneficial at first.
Their true nature often reveals itself over time.
Theologians warn that Low Court relics rarely corrupt through force.
They corrupt through temptation.
Among the rarest treasures in Mythea are Starfire Relics.
According to legend, these objects contain fragments of the primordial energies released during the birth of creation.
Such relics often exhibit unusual magical properties.
Common signs include:
Unnatural light
Shifting runes
Impossible craftsmanship
Strange dreams
Unpredictable magic
Starfire Relics are highly sought after by scholars, collectors, and adventurers.
Relics associated with Vespera often reveal truths about desire.
These treasures are especially prized by members of the Order of the Gilded Rose.
Examples include:
Mirrors revealing hidden desires
Jewelry that enhances charm
Masks that reveal emotions
Musical instruments that inspire longing
Roses that never wilt
Such relics frequently influence social interactions rather than combat.
Their value often lies in what they reveal rather than what they do.
Relics linked to Vorathys are notoriously difficult to categorize.
They often awaken instinct, passion, ambition, or personal transformation.
Examples include:
Ever-burning flames
Living tattoos
Weapons that grow stronger with their wielder
Maps that reveal personal destinations
Masks that reveal one's true self
Many appear only when their future owner needs them most.
Some disappear just as mysteriously.
The greatest creations of Khaldur's followers are known as Masterworks.
These items represent the pinnacle of craftsmanship.
Examples include:
Legendary weapons
Peerless armor
Living constructs
Mechanical marvels
Architectural wonders
Masterworks are often passed through generations.
Many are considered cultural treasures.
Some lost Masterworks are still actively sought throughout Khazad-Dur.
Some artifacts are considered too dangerous for public knowledge.
These relics are often connected to:
The Veiled Depth
Ancient civilizations
Lost magical experiments
Unknown entities
Forbidden Relics frequently possess powers that challenge the natural order.
Many organizations seek to recover and contain them.
Others seek to exploit them.
Not all relics are objects.
Certain creatures, locations, bloodlines, and individuals are considered Living Relics.
Examples include:
Immortal guardians
Ancient trees
Sacred beasts
Star-touched bloodlines
Sentient magical constructs
Such beings often become the focus of myths and prophecies.
Entire professions have emerged around the pursuit of relics.
Examples include:
Treasure hunters
Archaeologists
Scholars
Collectors
Mercenaries
Religious orders
While some seek relics for noble reasons, many pursue them for wealth, influence, or power.
Competition between relic hunters is common.
Most legitimate relics are never sold openly.
Instead they are:
Inherited
Gifted
Earned
Discovered
Nevertheless, secret markets exist throughout Mythea.
These markets specialize in rare magical items, stolen artifacts, and questionable treasures.
Their authenticity is often uncertain.
Many kingdoms, guilds, and religious orders maintain secure vaults containing relics.
Some of the most famous collections are rumored to exist within:
Highforge Keep
Khazad-Dur
The House of the First Rose
River Consortium archives
Hidden Lantern Collegium repositories
Few outsiders are ever permitted access.
A common belief throughout Mythea states:
"Relics are never truly found. They choose when to be discovered."
Many stories tell of artifacts appearing at precisely the right moment.
Whether this is fate, coincidence, or divine intervention remains unknown.
No one knows how many relics exist.
New discoveries occur every year.
Old relics vanish.
Ancient legends continue to surface.
Entire categories of artifacts may remain undiscovered.
For adventurers, relics represent more than treasure.
They represent possibility.
Every relic carries a story.
Every story carries a mystery.
And every mystery may lead to an adventure.