The Lost Crown of Calistrah

"We grant you this crown, a symbol of Etherea and all her peoples, to grace your brow. May the Circle bless you, and may your wisdom and compassion pass on to all who wear it hereafter."

— Godsinger Luran Fel, at the crowning of Queen Calistrah

The crown that was forged by a nelfyn mithran for Queen Calistrah and gifted to her at the first meeting of the Kingdom Council.

Appearance

A circlet of yellow and white gold, inlaid with a motif of each of the thirteen Council races along its band. On the sides and back are three gold trees set with tiny emeralds for leaves, representing the three World Trees, and in the front is a silver likeness of the Ethereal Spire with a star sapphire at its apex. The crown has a sheen of magic to it, a result of numerous enchantments that have been placed upon it over the years.

Function

The Calistri Crown serves as one of the main symbols of royalty in Etherea. It has been worn by every queen in the line descended from Calistrah, and is traditionally worn to every diplomatic engagement, especially meetings of the Kingdom Council. Some queens have worn it more frequently than others depending on their tastes.

History

The Crown of Calistrah, also called the Calistri Crown, was first worn by Queen Calistrah, who was responsible for the alliance with the King of the Wood and other leaders of the Enchanted Wood, thus forming the Kingdom Council. It was made for her by the nelfyn mithran Saiah Iivatel and blessed by a collection of godsingers to bring wisdom to its wearer. Calistrah wore it proudly every day, even when just walking through the palace. To her, it was a symbol of humanity's progress and the future prosperity of her kingdom. By wearing it in view of her people, she hoped to inspire continued acts of peace and unity with the elves rather than acts of aggression. Over the years, it was further enchanted by various mages and some of the queens themselves, giving it near mythical qualities.

There have been many attempts by other parties to acquire the crown. When Queen Serah I was killed during the War of the Sands , the crown fell into the hands of the The Zarglesh'aa. But while the slave lords fought over who had the "rightful" claim to it, the crown was retrieved by Etherean agents. A few decades later, the crown was damaged during the attempted assassination of Queen Shaenah, though another nelfyn mithran was able to repair it. During the reign of Queen Anyah, it disappeared for almost seven years after it was stolen by the same bandits who kidnapped and raped her. It was eventually recovered when it showed up in a Thali market. A Thali nobleman recognized it and immediately alerted Thali royalty, who returned it to its rightful owners.

Sadly, the crown was permanently lost less than a year ago, when Queen Taliah perished in a storm on Lake Tianylla. Both the Queen and her husband went overboard, and while Queen Taliah's body was recovered, both her crown and her husband were lost to the lake's depths. All attempts to recover the crown have failed, and a new crown was forged by the elves for their daughter Lorah. But without the blessings of the nelfyns, the new crown is a shadow of its predecessor.

Myths & Rumors

No one knows for sure the nature of all the enchantments on the crown, but there have been many popular rumors about its capabilities. It is commonly believed that it protects its wearer from harm, though the death of Queen Taliah went a long way to proving that false. It's also well-known that the crown is enchanted to prevent it from getting dirty or scratched. Some claim that it bestows beauty on its wearer, no matter how unattractive they were to start. More cynical rumormongers have claimed that the crown allows its wearer to control the people of Etherea with magic, forcing them to act against their will.

A more recent rumor - likely spread by Etherean lords who didn't like Lord Kithraen - claims that Lord Kithraen is still alive and killed his wife to steal the crown for himself. This rumor is largely scoffed at by Etherea's citizens, who loved and respected the late Lord Royal.

Item type

Clothing / Accessory