Doomed Crown of Warding
| Type | Accessory |
|---|---|
| Discovered By | (unknown) |
| Discovery Date | (unknown) |
| Discovery Location | Far East |
| Abilities | Prestige +3 |
| Current Owner | Velax de Vere |
Description
A simple, unadorned band of silver designed to fit over the wearer's helmet. Wearing it fills the user with a deep sense of foreboding, while at the same time pushing aside any missiles directed at the wearer. The crown glows softly with a red light whenever that happens.
History
Velax's horse picks its way through the outskirts of Nahad. The area was badly damage - large pieces of the damaged walls had fallen in the area during the initial attacks, crushing a number of houses, and the nearby streets had been the scene for heavy fighting as the defenders fell back.
A red glint catches Velax's eye and he dismounts to investigate. The glint appears to come from a damaged house; a chuck of rock from the battlements knocked a large hole in the wall. Stepping through, the young noble finds a small shrine just inside. It does not appear to be one dedicated to the Magna Aenilia Ecclesia - Velax does see any of the familiar holy symbols. Instead, the small shrine is covered with complicated red designs, each with a grinning figure in the centre. The language covering the shrine is also unfamiliar, but the word "Xunaotl" can made made out.
Coming closer, Velax sees what caught his eye - a band of unadorned silver rests on the shrine. Much too large for a ring, it appears to be designed to fit over a helmet. It is cold to the touch as Velax picks it up; much too cold to be natural. He shivers and steps out into the warm summer sun, but it does little to warm him.
Turning it over in his hands, Velax shrugs and places it on his head. Instantly a feeling of deep foreboding engulfs the noble - a sense that his doom approaches and nothing can be done to avoid it. Quickly he reaches up to take the crown off, but a noise startles him and he spins around. Three soldiers - Aenilians by their clothes; each tunic bears a black rose - appear from the other side of the street, arrows nocked and aimed directly at him. Velax glances over at his horse - his magical shield hangs uselessly from its saddle. He is in the middle of the street with no cover; they have him dead to rights.
The three archers loose their arrows almost as one and they whistle through the air directly at their enemy's chest. A second before the arrows can claim the young man's life, the band around his helmet pulses softly red, three times. The arrows' course changes ever so slightly and they streak past Velax, one tearing a small gash in his sleeve, to glance off the stone behind him. The three archers glance at each other, eyes wide, and quickly retreat back into some ruined buildings.
Velax stands stunned for a moment before reaching up taking the crown off. The sense of doom instantly disappears, although he is left shaking from its departure. He hesitates for a moment before pocketing the crown and slowly walking back to his horse.
