The Elemental Crown

Written by bwallace

The Elemental Crown is a simple, unadorned band of gold designed to be worn on the current head of the The Triad Pantheon, chosen from one of the three current High Clerics of Mantidism, Phoenism and Eachism.

The crown has three primary purposes:

1. The High Cleric who wears it is able to direct a commune between the three gods and their three High Clerics, to discuss, meditate, pray, beseech or whatever needs to be discussed. This can happen over great distances on the world, or even between the Elemental Planes and Prime Material.
2. Projects the magical and physical barrier that encloses all of the Laynan Empire, by sea, air and land.
3. At the time of greatest need, recalls the ancient Earth god and fourth member of the Triad, Nehebkau.

In reality, the crown is more closely related in size and shape to a diadem, but the name has persisted.

Origin

The crown was created in the year 112 at the end of the 2nd Laynan War, by the High Clerics of the Celestial Triad. The act of creating the crown and sealing in the Laynan Empire, protecting the rest of Melas from attack, transformed the religious organization into the The Triad Pantheon.

Historical Use

From 112 until 256, the crown was only used on special occasions, and then only by the High Clerics themselves. It was carried as part of their retinue wherever its current caretaker went, and when they were residing in a temple or other permanent dwelling, it was kept in a special enchanted chest. The chest was designed to transport the crown, at a word, to a secret secure location in the Kale Mountains, hidden from detection.

The Elemental Sundering

In the years and months leading up to the The Elemental Sundering, various clerics of each faith began to sense dark deeds and influence by possible demonic forces throughout Kryla and the Wildlands. As the wizards of The Wondrous Order began stirring up the population against the Pantheon and the clerics, the faith leaders knew to prepare a contingency plan against attack. When the overthrow began, the temples began to fall and clerics and adherents began to be killed, the three High Clerics met in secrecy with the Crown. Because they suspected the demonic involvement was through Laynan influence, they feared the crown was the true target of the unrest, seeking to drop the barrier enclosing Layna and allowing a full invasion by their old enemy.

Each cleric brought a champion, an acolyte of the their individual faiths whose loyalty to their gods was without question. The three Triad Hearts were removed from the crown and given to each champion to hide. The now-empty crown was then teleported to the secure hiding place for safe-keeping. The Clerics knew if the crown with the Hearts was taken by the Laynan Empire or its Wondrous Order servants, they could use the crown to lower the barrier and doom the rest of Melas. If the Hearts were kept separate from the crown, it could not be used and the barrier would be preserved.

Each champion was charged to hide the Hearts until a time someday in the future when they all could be reunited on the crown. The High Clerics were given a final vision by their gods to ensure such an event happened, for in doing so it would open a doorway to the Earth Elemental Plane and summon Nehebkau, their gods' Terran Master, who would ensure Layna's downfall, protect Kryla from the demon and bring peace to Melas. Because no one else could be trusted with this task, the champions each drank special Potions of Longevity that would allow each to live a never-ending lifespan until their protective task was fulfilled.

The current disposition of each Heart is described in their individual entries.

Mechanics & Inner Workings

When the crown alone is possessed by an individual, it imbues these qualities:

• Detect Evil, 50'
• Detect Magic, 50'
• Resistance (self)

When the crown is actually placed on an individual's head, the crown grants the wearer these effects:

• Shield of Faith
• Protection from Evil, 10' Radius
• Antimagic Field, 10' Radius
• Death Ward

When the crown is placed on an individual's head, they immediately hear inside their mind:

• "For untold eons I have awaited your arrival. I yearn to return to this world and lend my aid to all its children. Show me the world is ready for my return. Restore the Hearts to the Crown of the Elements. But beware, only the worthy shall be allowed to succeed where so many others have failed."

If all three of the Triad Hearts are placed into the crown, the user hears in their mind:

• (If the wearer is good) "My power returns. Bring the Triad together, and restore my life that I may help all the children against the darkness. Speak my name."
• (If the wearer is evil) "I warn thee, my power is great and my wrath complete. Those that would use The Crown and The Triad for their own ends will meet their true fate. Speak my name at thy own risk."

If the wearer speaks the name of Nehebkau:

• (If the wearer is good) "My children long for me, and I yearn to return to them. The world has languished for too long without my presence. The balance must be restored. I come."
  The wearer is bathed in a gentle blue, then red, then yellow light, which coalesces into a great emerald green flash. Nehebkau has arrived.
• (If the wearer is evil) "Thou summons me with pride, and vanity in thy heart. I am unmoved to return, and thou has disturbed my slumber. Thy fate is sealed."
  Immediately the wearer is enveloped in horrible flames, followed by chilling water and ice, then buffeted by hurricane-like winds, then finally they turn to stone, which cracks and crumbles into pieces. The crown rolls off, unharmed.

Significance

The Elemental Crown is the outward symbol of the unity of the The Triad Pantheon although its existence was known by few outside the inner circle of Pantheon High Clerics and assistants. It was never worn in public, and only intended to rest in the possession of whichever current High Cleric was currently deemed its custodian.

Item type

Religious / Ritualistic

Rarity

The Crown is completely unique. No other one exists like it in the world.

Weight

2lbs

Dimensions

10" in diameter

Base Price

Priceless, although the gold in the crown is worth 200gp

Raw materials & Components

The band is made of pressed solid gold.