The Peace of the Grave

This statue was commissioned as a gift to be presented to the Adventurers' Guild of Skyhammer by a prominent daimyō in the Northern Safe Zone.

Commissioning

The daimyō's son had been en route to the Central Safe Zone when his travelling party was ambushed by monsters. Although he was capable of defending himself, a group of adventurers from Skyhammer were drawn by the clamour and offered assistance. They then offered healixirs to aid in recovery.
The son ended up remaining in Skyhammer for three years, during which time he made many friends and allies. Upon his return to the north, his father wanted to send a 'reciprocal gift' to demonstrate his gratitude for the hospitality shown.

The Piece

As is traditional, the identity of the artist was kept a secret. The statue itself was carved from a single piece of marble, in the shape of a young, strong man standing and relaxed, as if leaning against a wall. What marks this statue as different, however, is that the subject's skin is intricately carved with detailed scenes. Each scene shows a version of the same man being slain by monsters. There are over three hundred separate such small engravings.

Reaction

While the piece is visually striking, its meaning is a mystery, seemingly to both its recipients and the daimyō. Many magical messages were passed back and forth after the statue was successfully transported to Skyhammer, as the surviving copies in the Guild archives show. The likeliest explanation, according to art experts, was that the statue was a passive-aggressive rebuff to the daimyō from an artist who not refuse the honour of the commission and could not express his dislike of the daimyō openly. If true, this represents possibly one of the most elaborategestures of disrespect in history.

Item type

Art

Current Location

Skyhammer