Cluster of minds

Spiky, shiny, fancy, colorful. You could describe the Cluster of minds as such on first glance.
But hold one, close your eyes, and suddenly you stand face to face with 25 of the most skilled and knowledgeable people of the generation the Cluster was made in.
Ask them a question, and they will gladly help.

-History of Atocitera, and culture of its inhabitants.

Description

The cluster of minds is a roughly spherical artifact, made by numerous Soul crystals all coming from 25 various individuals.
Because all these crystals connect in the center of the sphere, the Cluster of minds can be described as "rather spiky".
The colors of the Cluster vary greatly, as they depend on the crystals themselves, and these change person from person.

Every Atocite wishes to own one of these Clusters, as they allow for free and easy access to the knowledge and experience of those used in the creation of the cluster.

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Creation

Cluster of minds is an artifact created by Council of Planners every 20 years from Soul crystals of 25 selected individuals from all over Atocitera.
These people deemed most knowledgeable are often willing to face Turgla pulse and crystalize into Soul crystal on request if they did not undergo the crystallization before. They know that if they will be one of the 25 selected, their knowledge will become available for the strongest Atocite of the generation.
The Council of Planners carefully select whose Soul crystal will be used in the Cluster of Minds, the selected ones have part of their crystallized skull removed, and then chiseled into a shape that can be used for the Cluster of Minds. The selected ones can be still alive and well, and the offer to become part of the next Cluster of Minds can be rejected, although many hope to receive such honor.
When the Crystals are collected and chiseled, they are carefully assembled. The minds stored in these crystals are bound by the shared honor and as long as every mind is grateful for being part of the cluster, the cluster holds together.

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Those who seek to posses the Cluster of minds prepare yourself, as you will face the most skilled and dangerous people from all across Atocitera. People who all wish to win this priviledge for their own people.

-Planner Kliago starting the Tournament for minds

Way to obtain

The cluster of Minds puts a certain strain on the population, as it essentially removes knowledgeable and sometimes still productive individuals. If something like that would happen every generation on a larger scale, the strain could paralyze the growth of the people and could even cause some Atocites to die out.
Due to that, the Tournament of minds is held every 20 years on the occasion of all main Atocites meeting at Mount Turgla.
Every Atocite is allowed to participate by sending a team of 5-7 members, which is made by announcing publicly each member in turn.
Atocites that do not participate will not fight for the chance to win the current generation's Cluster of minds.
After the teams go through various challenges and fights and successfully prove their superiority in the current generation, they receive the Cluster of minds indefinitely.

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Its main and only use

The fact that the minds of 25 great, skilled, and knowledgeable individuals are stored in each cluster, makes each cluster a valuable pool of ideas, unexpected approaches, and points of view. As each of the people stored in the Cluster did so to preserve what they learned during life, they are always willing to share their lessons with anyone who listens.
To consult the Cluster of minds, one needs to hold the Cluster and close their eyes. How one uses the available minds in the Cluster depends on what these minds have to offer, and what the individual seeks.
By touching a specific crystal with a forehead while communicating with the Cluster, one can communicate with the mind in that specific Soul crystal. This is mainly used for personal communication among relatives.
Due to the importance of the Cluster of minds, it is often kept safe, but still public enough to allow for its use.

Item type

Jewelry / Valuable

Creator: Council of Planners
Created: Every 20 years.
Materials: Forehead of 25 crystalized great people.
Obtained: By winning the Tournament of minds
Used to seek advice or consult the minds of the 25 people used in its creation.