Wanderer's Lantern

Warding Light

Written by Endrise

Fasma gave us a light to guide those lost in the dark, but to also guide ourselves.

— Flamebearer

Amongst the Flamebearer's tools is the Wanderer's Lantern, a light source holding an ember of the First Flame. For centuries it has been viable in the journeys of the Church, providing protection and light while travelling through treacherous areas.

It has become the symbol of the clergy, the guiding flame of Fasma ensuring protection against the world's evils. A welcoming warmth to see at night, and a guide for the lost.

Guiding Light

The lantern by itself is nothing unusual: a common container made from metal and glass to hold a light source, adorned with the symbol of the church in its design. Most are manufactured within Luxaltar and sent out to local temples, with only those at remote towns producing their own.

While the rectangular design is the standard, the model has gone through a variety of shapes and looks depending on region and time period. As some of these get used for decades between flamebearers, it is not unheard of seeing different clergy use different looks.

Most are also fitted with a metal ring somewhere on top of the container, allowing them to be carried on a staff or belt while travelling around without needing to hold it themselves.

The Ember

Wanderer's Lanterns work by holding an Ember of the First Flame within them. Compared to the usual light requiring a wick or oil to burn, these embers maintain their light without a fuel source for long periods of time. On average, one ember can last a week.

Handling it is a difficult challenge due to its fragility, as being outside its container has it faded away in mere seconds. Through rituals amongst the church can a Flamebearer carry it from their shrine into a new lantern, requiring a decent amount of experience to pull off.

The Ember's nature also allows it to pre-emptively detect threats, shown by the way the light flickers. Flamebearers know how to read these signs, ensuring they avoid dangerous routes and ambushes. In the circumstance they do get attacked, the Ember can be sacrificed to emit a blinding light, disorienting any attackers while they manage an escape in the dark.

Item type

Tool

Manufacturer

Church of the Wandering Flame

Symbol of the Flamebearer

History

The expansion of the Wandering Flame's Church proved to be difficult on sichelan due to its unexplored territories, causing the death of several travellers during the early years. Common causes were groups getting lost or separated during long journeys, leading to them getting ambushed by local wildlife and whatever else lived on the continent. Reports of other travellers is how people learned of these issues.