Lily's Amulet

Jasttor was miserable. He bit down on his hand to keep from crying too loudly, afraid his father would hear and berate him again; his ribs still burned and made every sob feel like searing fire. He was so stupid. It always ended this way, with his willingness to assume the best of people hurting someone else. It always ended with someone coming to his rescue. He reached down and doodled aimlessly in the dirt with one claw, rubbing a few tears away with the other hand. He felt rather than heard his sister take her usual spot next to him, watching for a few minutes before speaking up softly.
“Are you all right, brother?” When she got no response, she let out a long breath. “Mom let me keep the missing tooth. Dad thinks it is ‘undignified’, but I think he secretly kind of likes it, too.” Lily relaxed next to her brother, watching her toes as she idly stretched them. “I hurt that guy a lot worse than he hurt me, you know. I think I am getting really good at fighting now.” She tilted her head towards Jasttor. “Are you going to give me the silent treatment the whole time, or do you want to talk?”
Jasttor sniffled petulantly. “It does not matter. Everything I do or say is a ‘lapse in judgment’ or ‘naive and stupid’,” he muttered, still doodling in the dirt. Lily gave him a thoughtful look, spacing out for a few moments as she mulled over what she was about to say.
“You know… I think I am actually a little jealous that you can do that,” she confessed. He furrowed his brow and looked over at her questioningly. “Trust people like that, I mean. Even when they hurt you again and again, you believe in them.”
Jasttor snorted. “Because I am incredibly stupid.”
Lily frowned at him. “No. I do not think you are stupid. I think…” She paused to find the right words. “I think you have incredible courage.”
“Me?” He stared at her incredulously. “But you are always the one jumping in and helping me, always… I do not know, fighting against people who do bad things,” he said, feeling embarrassment creep into his voice. Siblings didn’t just say this stuff to each other out loud, after all.
She laughed. “Maybe I am. But it is different. What you do… it makes me have hope. It makes me see people in a kinder light, I think. It is not easy, having faith in others.” Lily gave him a grin, sans one tooth. “Perhaps you could be the one to bring peace between the Venomclaw and Bloodmaw, one day.”
“Lily!” He shoved at her. “Now you are just being ridiculous,” he said, but a smile found its way into his voice.
“Seriously! It is not outside the realm of possibility,” she said, and gave him a mischievous look. “Hey, do me a favor. Close your eyes.”
He raised a brow at her. “Why?”
She laughed. “Just do it!” Jasttor obeyed, shooting her one last look before doing so. There was a quiet jingle of something metal, and then her hands went first to the front of his throat before fiddling with something at the back of his neck. A slight weight sat on his collarbone when she backed away. “All right. Open them.”
He did and looked down awkwardly to see her amulet sitting there. He picked it up with his hand, turning it over. “Lily… this is yours,” he said, scrunching his muzzle at her. Lily only grinned again, eyes crinkling underneath.
“Not anymore! I think you should have it.” Her voice was warm and just a little proud.
“But… dad said this was to go to the next leader of the clan,” Jasttor pointed out. “That is supposed to be you.”
“I know. But I think that is a really stupid rule, and as my brother I should be able to give you nice things. And that is the only nice thing I really have.”
Jasttor screwed up his face to try and stop the tears from coming, but he’d already been crying and they slipped out anyway. “Lily…”
“Oh, you were always the crybaby. Come here,” she said, and he leaned into her shoulder gratefully. They enjoyed the moment and took comfort in each others’ presence for a little while before Lily spoke again. “Hey, listen. I want you to promise you will never stop trying to see the best in people.”
Jasttor sniffed. “But, dad said…”
“Adults can be really stupid. I do not think he sees what I see. I tell you what--if there is ever a moment when you feel like you cannot trust anyone anymore, when you feel like there is nothing good left in anybody, you should absolutely find someone and trust them anyway. Trust them so much… trust them so much, you give them my amulet,” she said with an air of assuredness.
“What! But, what if they just run off with it and sell it?” He countered, and she laughed. “Well, then you better pick somebody really good.” Lily then promptly poked him in the ribs, making him yelp in pain. “Yep, I thought so. Come on, you moron, you need to get patched up.”

Significance

A Bloodmaw clan heirloom, this amulet was handed down through the generations until it was given to Lilothibra, Jasttor’s twin sister. When she gave it to him, she made him promise that he would never lose that spark of faith he had in people. She told him that on the day he thinks he will lose it, to find someone to trust enough to give the amulet to for safekeeping.
Many years later, Jasttor learns of a deep betrayal from a close friend and feels his hope start to fade. Remembering what Lily told him, he gives the amulet to Tally, a half-elf traveling with a small band of friends to help find a way to stop Tiamat and her agents planted all across the globe.
Heshan revealed that the amulet is one of many given to various dragonborn clans through Bahamut, who saw fit to try and unite the clans regardless of color. The split of clans and bloody wars in history have left that all but forgotten.
The bronze amulet, like the others, is enchanted with special, specific magic that helps the wearer achieve goals that align with Bahamut's. Tally found that the amulet could lead her to the scattered Great Gold Wyrms’ souls, loyal servants of Bahamut and a clue to reviving the great platinum dragon.
Lily's amulet serves to help the New Dawn adventuring party on their quest. It is currently still in Tally’s possession.

Item type

Unique Artifact

Rarity

Unique

Weight

2 lbs.