Apple of Discord

"For the fairest."
-Apple of Discord starting the Trojan War

Objects of power have always been coveted by mortals, and those left by the gods much more so. Still, none can claim to have caused the sheer mayhem the Apple of Discord has left in its wake. This seemingly simple thing has created such terrible wars, and once brought all of Polisia to its knees.

Appearance

This artifact catches the eye despite its simple appearance. It looks just like a perfect sculpture of a golden apple, as if it was grown instead of created. It shines in the light as if always in the sun. It is sometimes said that writing appears on it, making promises to those who look upon it.

History

The Apple of Discord has a very long and storied history. It is said that when the Olympians defeated the Titans, Atlas had one last attack against them. He gave one of the apples of his daughters, the Hesperides, to Eris, the goddess of discord so that she might put her power into it.
She wanted more than anything to use its power, but she waited until the perfect opportunity arose. During a divine wedding, she wasn't invited for fear of the destruction it could cause. In retaliation, she threw the Apple in between Athena, Aphrodite and Hera, claiming it was for the fairest of them.
Even the goddesses were overcome with its power, and threatened to fight over it. Instead, they went to Zeus to determine who would receive it. He was unable to choose between his wife, daughter, and the goddess of beauty, and instead went to the mortal prince Paris.
Each goddess attempted to bribe him, and he chose Aphrodite, who promised him the most beautiful woman in the world. This woman was Helen and she was already married to a king. Legions marched in her defense, starting a terrible war that raged for a decade and destroyed the entire city-state of Troy.
It is unknown just how Eris regained the Apple from Aphrodite, but it was eventually returned to her possession. She then attended the Enotitia Games in Polisia, looking to spread chaos. She "lost" the Apple there among the crowds, who tore each other apart in an attempt to claim it.
In the end, it was Aklistion, one of the two kings of Aresene, that ended up with it. When he returned to his home city, it sparked a civil war that destroyed him, and one of the thrones of Aresene with him. Even then, the presence of the Apple continued to destabilize Aresene.
This changed when a mercenary that would be known as Athiope the Swift, stole the Apple as she was hired to. As a hero, its power had no effect on her, as she noticed when she first laid eyes on it during the Games.
She continued to steal it for one Polisian leader after another. Invasions followed in her wake, laying waste to one city-state after another. This made her incredibly wealthy, so she continued doing this for years, profiting off of the pain of others.
It is unknown why she took the Apple away from Polisia or where she took it, but the artifact disappeared from all notice. The War of the Apple didn't end right away, as it still held many in Polisia in its thrall. They searched up and down for it, even killing Athiope. Still, none found it and it remains lost to this day.

Significance

Divine artifacts have a great deal of meaning-- as much meaning as the god whose power resides within. Eris is a goddess of destruction and chaos, and her golden apple is the purest symbol of the chaos and madness that follows in her wake. Its history reflects this, as the War of the Apple, and even the Trojan War are all too fresh in the minds of the Polisian people.
In addition, the Apple of Discord is known as one of the most powerful artifacts in the world. It whispers promises of power and fame to those that hold it, but none have been able to capitalize on it. All who look upon it desire it, but it hasn't offered anything to anyone else. Some have even suggested it is the greatest con artist in existence.

Item type

Unique Artifact

Rarity

Unique

Weight

1 lbs.

Dimensions

5 in. x 3 in.

Base Price

Priceless