Portrait of Blue Clymene
An abstract work of art, the second diorama created by Loch Floe-Bogghurst for the curious goddess Blue Clymene. It's a large cube of jade and misty blue stone, with twisting landscapes and absurd creatures inscribed on its surface. The pattern defies description, as it's modular and subject to change: the cube is composed of many pieces, and can supposedly be assembled in more than 500 ways.
One piece of the sculpture is a tiny cubical gemstone, a magical jade cut with extreme precision. The other 73 pieces are engraved stones with a slightly rippled texture, each one seven times the volume of the gemstone, cut in the shape of a 2-by-2-by-2 cube with one cubit missing. When viewed from the corner, it resembles the symbol of Blue Clymene.
Like the other dioramas, Portrait of Blue Clymene was created for the purpose of an Imprisonment spell. The structure of the prison depends on how its sculpture is assembled, so it can be puzzling to navigate the building and locate the prisoner. For now the prison is completely inaccessible, due to the loss of some pieces.
The sculpture was kept at Gorytolos Castle before its destruction in 724. The stolen pieces were traded piecemeal for gold across the continent. All of them have been scattered, some destroyed, or lost at the bottom of the sea. But it's still possible for them to be recovered: each piece is considered a divine artifact, preserved by Blue Clymene's protection.
by Isometer
History
This sculpture was designed over the first few years of Loch's tenure with the adventuring party Marcia's Miscellany. Inspired by his new life of long-distance travel, Loch wanted to create a changeable mural which composes dozens of sketches from his long journeys and strange encounters. He was discovering the true depth and scale of the world, and he wanted to share that understanding with others. He dedicated the sculpture to Blue Clymene because of her intuitive knowledge of the continent's dynamics. Loch frequently asked Clymene for advice during this time, with the cleric Whorl Imetoctli facilitating the talks. Loch finished the project in 232 after six years of work, and he kept it for another two years until Marcia had use for it. Eventually they used it to contain a powerful creature whom they encountered somewhere in the eastern mountains. The creature's identity is unknown; he left no trace behind, and the only description of him comes from Marcia herself.Though he lived comfortably in the mountains, the odd sentry had the form of a sea-beast. His serpentine form was garbed in stone and mud, centuries' worth of acclimation to his cave hovel. The mad twisting of his tail couldn't be matched with weapons, and he conducted magic with an unearthly sensibility, as if he had fifty arms rather than none. He didn't have the snout and maw of a typical hunting beast; instead, his face brimmed with focus and understanding. He was like a genius loci, moving along the contours of the mountain as he slipped away from danger and dove into battle as though leaping out of water, his devilish snapping accompanied by a halo of dust and pebbles. We had a paltry few moments to converse with him; he expressed a trained eye for artistry and a stilted but concise way of speaking. He formed his opinions carefully and without bias, despite the fickle way he moved, sneaked, and bit.The creature proved difficult to kill; Marcia's Miscellany documented at least four separate encounters with him. When Loch imprisoned him in the Portrait of Blue Clymene, he intended for it to be a temporary arrangement, at least until the party was out of the mountains and able to parlay safely. The mountain guard had an encyclopedia of intriguing thoughts and a wonderfully detailed memory, and Loch wanted him freed as soon as possible. Nearly 500 years later, it seemed like that wish was finally going to be realized. Civilians were talking about marching into Gorytolos Castle, taking the Portrait, and releasing its prisoner, no matter who it turned out to be. The resurrected Loch was strongly in favor of this approach. But then the castle was destroyed, the sculpture was taken, and its pieces scattered across the continent. It seems like the mystery creature is now trapped forever; only the most idealistic travelers still hope for his escape.
Item type
Unique Artifact
Subtype / Model
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