Meteora, The Celestial Spear
In the tales told of the heretical religion that came before the arrival of the Tupaulian Church, it is said that the Star Worshippers possessed relics of great power that they crafted in the names of their celestial deities. Twelve were made in total, each with its own design and purpose. They have all been lost, however, all bar one. Hidden by those still loyal to the old ways, it is believed that most lie within the mountain range known as the Armoury, considering that these artefacts were inspired by the peaks. There is no concrete proof that they all reside in the mountains, beyond the fact that the Church was able to locate one there.
The relic that they possess is known as Meteora, The Celestial Spear. It is to be made out of solid gold, yet it is stronger than steel and twice as light. The shaft of the spear is designed to appear like a gnarled branch, with clear spots that make it comfortable to hold. Engraved into the shaft are runes that have been the subject of many studies by church scholars, none of whom can accurately decipher their meaning. Inlaid in silver, the runes are clearly visible against the gold of the shaft.
The blade of the spear, like the shaft, is also made of the same golden metal. Flaring out from the tip of the shaft, the blade tapers to a point, providing it with an almost leaf or teardrop like appearance. Razor-sharp, the blade is also capable of cutting at even the gentlest of touches. In all of the years it has been under the church's control it has also never rusted, nor has it needed to be sharpened. The spear as a whole also appears to subtly glow, which differs from the stories that tell of the bright, radiant light that it gives off.
While its appearance is indeed impressive, as is the material that it is made out of, it is the spears capabilities that are most impressive. Imbued with magic from a bygone age, the spear was capable of increasing the speed of any that wielded it to superhuman levels. Reports say that warriors have been able to cross acres of land in just a few steps with the spear in hand. When swung or jabbed, the spear will also release a blast of magical energy the colour of midnight, decimating any hit by the blast.
Despite its great power, the spear is rarely ever used. This is in part due to its heretical origins, which the church fears may discredit their own power. The main reason, however, is due to the dangers that it poses to whoever uses it. As the spear was originally designed to absorb ambient magical energy, the spear is forced to use a different source of energy in an age where magic is dead or dying. Even the blessings provided by the churches Spirits is not enough to power the spear. As such it will instead absorb the life force of the wielder, draining them more and more as they use it until they reach an early grave. Telltale signs of prolonged relic use include the user's hair turning grey, increased weight loss, and cracks in the skin that reveal blackened flesh beneath. These cracks begin at the dominant hand and proceed to spread across the whole body.
Mechanics & Inner Workings
Even with centuries of study, scholars across the continent have still been unable to discover how the spear works. Nor have they been able to discern the purpose of the runes that adorn the shaft of the spear. This has meant that any attempt to replicate the effects of the spear or lessen the burden on its current wielder have all been unsuccessful. It is believed that this may be due to the fact that there just isn't enough magic left on the continent, even with the blessings provided by the Spirits in the church, to power something so complex.
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