The Keystone

Mechanics & Inner Workings

Power

As a part of the lodestone Vode Crista, the keystone has the power to activate any dormant "streams" of crystal networks lacing their way across the continent. This activates shadow power in any people who bear the dormant gene expression for shadow power, as well as activating any magical creatures and environmental phenomenon. Activating the crystal networks restores balance to the environment where it had previously been thrown given the loss of the Vode Crista.

History

The keystone is a piece of the Vode Crista, chipped off by the final Umbraltan Queen Chryseia and fashioned into a piece of jewelry for its easy concealment and transport. When the Vode Crista was shattered, destroyed by Lucidae in the Solassi Conquest, priestesses kept fragments of the crystal and passed them down through the centuries in hopes of summoning the Vode Crista back from the Void one day and revive the Umbralti people.
The High Priestesses of the Umbralti Order preserved the keystone by passing it amongst its highest ranking members around the continent. However, the power it contained soon crumbled into myth, and it became instead a symbol of rank and channeling of shadow power. Until it passed into the hands of Galatea, who had infiltrated her way through the Light Court and rose to be the Highest Priestess of the Empire.
Hoping to disrupt the Empress of Light's power, Galatea gifted the ring to the Empress, causing her to become sickly. The Empress gifted the ring to Orithia who, upon touching the Lys Crista, the stone's opposite, the Lys Crista was destroyed.

Significance

The Keystone is a piece of the Vode Crista, or Void Stone, the lodestone for shadow power. Considering the Vode Crista disappeared hundreds of years ago, this piece is extremely valuable.

Item type

Clothing / Accessory

Current Holder

Orithia Lucidae

Related ethnicities

• Umbralti

Owning Organization

The Umbralti Order

Related Condition

Chosen

Rarity

Extremely rare; only one in existence.