Spear of Destiny
The Spear of Destiny, also known as the Lance of Longinus, the Holy Lance, the Holy Spear, or the Bleeding Lance, is the lance that pierced the side of Jesus as he hung on the cross during his crucifixion. It is an artifact holy to Elys and Aslan.
The spear may also be used in place of a somatic component for spells, allowing a caster to cast through the spear rather than requiring a free hand to cast spells requiring a somatic component.
Description
The Spear of Destiny is a spear 6 ft. in length. The shaft is walnut, the bottom is capped with gold, the head is made of steel with a fitting of gold attaching the head to the shaft and then running the length of the head. The tip of the spear is covered in blood that never dries; on occasion the blood drips, but it disintegrates before hitting the ground.Powers
The Spear of Destiny is a +7 spear. It had the powers of a holy power weapon. Additionally, when the spear is used to stab a mortal, if the target has sinned against Elys, it leaves a wound that will not heal. Anyone afflicted by this wound suffers a permanent -10 drain to their constitution. This wound can only be healed by using the blood of the spear with the Holy Grail.The spear may also be used in place of a somatic component for spells, allowing a caster to cast through the spear rather than requiring a free hand to cast spells requiring a somatic component.
History
Biblical Mythology
The spear is mentioned in the Gospel of John (19:31-37), the Romans planned to break Jesus' legs, as a method of hastening death during a crucifixion, because it was the eve of the Sabbath and his follower needed to entomb him because of Sabbath laws. Before they did so, they realized that Jesus was already dead and that there was no reason to break his legs. To ensure he was dead, a roman soldier (later named Longinus, extra-Biblically) stabbed in in the side.
"But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water." John 19:34
Arthurian Legend
By account of Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur (which is the accounting of the legend closest to fact), a bleeding lance was used by Sir Balin to stab King Pellam of Listenois (better known as "The Fisher King") in what is known as the "Dolorous Stroke". Due to Pellam's sin, both the Fisher King and his land began to suffer for his sins. While Malory does not note his exact sins, Pellam, at the very least, tolerates his murderous brother, Garlon. Pellam is eventually healed by his grandson, Galahad, using the blood of the lance.
The wound caused by the spear cost Natasha much of her fortitude and left her in a deep depression. The lands of the Algafan Empire begin to feel the effects of the wound as well, allowing monsters that were once chased to the deepest recesses of the wilds to return to start wreaking havoc on the civilized areas of the Empire. A regency council tooks over the Empire as Natasha further loses the will to live. One day, she vanished along with her personal guards, Mathias Aust and Fiona Behrend. The only trace of her departure was that Excalibur was plunged back into its stone and on to the stone was burned an inscription that simply stated, "I will be back for my sword."
With renewed vigor, Natasha sets out for Jerusalem and goes to Calvary, the site of the Crucifixion. At the site, she feels an empyreal presence guiding her to a certain spot. The presence recedes and she drives the spear into the ground, unleashing a column of holy light that engulfs her, and leaving the surrounding pilgrims awed in its presence. Within the column, she sees visions of a lake in the desert, and glimpses of the path to reach it. Guided only by her vision, she journeys east, through Jordan and into Iraq.
Eventually, she finds the lake, and in its center is an island, Sarras. On the lake is moored an ancient ship, yet in remarkably good shape; she boards the ship and sails to the island. The empyreal presence returns and guides her to a mausoleum near the highest point on the island. Within the mausoleum lies three stone caskets, the tombs of Galahad, Percival, and Percival's sister. In the center of the burial chamber is a narrow stone orifice; she plunges the spear into the orifice opening a passage beneath Galahad's casket. Natasha descends further into the tomb and enters a chamber, and in its center, on a pedestal, sits a simple wooden chalice, the Holy Grail.
As Natasha approached the Grail, the blood on the spear began dripping more and more. She took the Grail and held it under the dripping blood; when the Grail was half-full, the dripping ceased and the blood in the grail changed color from red to burgundy as it turned to wine. Natasha dropped to her knees and held the Grail in both hands; she raised the Grail over her head and then drank the wine. In the moment she drank the wine, she felt sensations she had not felt in months: hope, strength, light; a great weight had just been lifted from her shoulders. The wound faded, though a scar remains, and she felt her strength and grace return to her. She then felt her spirit pulled before Elys and Selena again, they bid her keep the Grail and the Spear, as she would need them in the trials yet to come.
Pendragon's Bane
After being used to heal Pellam, the spear was lost to legend. Eventually, it was found by Angrunoth and Elinsya, servants of Zolena, and, through a dark ritual, was tainted. Angrunoth used the spear to stab Natasha Pendragon in the left thigh, and the taint caused a wound similar to that of Pellam's. Due to the spear's taint, the wound also created a paradox within her: she fell from grace, despite no wrong doing on her part since, by the logic of the affliction, she must have sinned against Elys to be afflicted. Having finished with it, Angrunoth cast the spear aside and Natasha took it with her.The wound caused by the spear cost Natasha much of her fortitude and left her in a deep depression. The lands of the Algafan Empire begin to feel the effects of the wound as well, allowing monsters that were once chased to the deepest recesses of the wilds to return to start wreaking havoc on the civilized areas of the Empire. A regency council tooks over the Empire as Natasha further loses the will to live. One day, she vanished along with her personal guards, Mathias Aust and Fiona Behrend. The only trace of her departure was that Excalibur was plunged back into its stone and on to the stone was burned an inscription that simply stated, "I will be back for my sword."
The Second Quest for the Holy Grail
Natasha, Mathias, and Fiona travel to Earth, where they arm themselves at Natasha's home and set off for England. They trek through the wilderness of Sussex, led only by visions Natasha was having. Eventually, they come to a castle, once thought lost to time, Camelot. In the great hall of the keep, they find the Round Table surrounded by 26 seats. Natasha circled the table looking for a particular seat, the Siege Perilous, the seat of Sir Galahad. She finds the seat and sits in it, holding the spear, after a moment her spirit is pulled from her body and is brought before Elys and Selena. Together, they comfort Natasha and speak of the Grail and that she must find it to restore herself. They restore some of Natasha's fortitude, but the rest of the wound, and her fall from grace, can only be undone by Grail. They give her a starting point for her quest, Jerusalem, and return her to her body.With renewed vigor, Natasha sets out for Jerusalem and goes to Calvary, the site of the Crucifixion. At the site, she feels an empyreal presence guiding her to a certain spot. The presence recedes and she drives the spear into the ground, unleashing a column of holy light that engulfs her, and leaving the surrounding pilgrims awed in its presence. Within the column, she sees visions of a lake in the desert, and glimpses of the path to reach it. Guided only by her vision, she journeys east, through Jordan and into Iraq.
Eventually, she finds the lake, and in its center is an island, Sarras. On the lake is moored an ancient ship, yet in remarkably good shape; she boards the ship and sails to the island. The empyreal presence returns and guides her to a mausoleum near the highest point on the island. Within the mausoleum lies three stone caskets, the tombs of Galahad, Percival, and Percival's sister. In the center of the burial chamber is a narrow stone orifice; she plunges the spear into the orifice opening a passage beneath Galahad's casket. Natasha descends further into the tomb and enters a chamber, and in its center, on a pedestal, sits a simple wooden chalice, the Holy Grail.
As Natasha approached the Grail, the blood on the spear began dripping more and more. She took the Grail and held it under the dripping blood; when the Grail was half-full, the dripping ceased and the blood in the grail changed color from red to burgundy as it turned to wine. Natasha dropped to her knees and held the Grail in both hands; she raised the Grail over her head and then drank the wine. In the moment she drank the wine, she felt sensations she had not felt in months: hope, strength, light; a great weight had just been lifted from her shoulders. The wound faded, though a scar remains, and she felt her strength and grace return to her. She then felt her spirit pulled before Elys and Selena again, they bid her keep the Grail and the Spear, as she would need them in the trials yet to come.
The Return of the Dragon
Natasha, Mathias, and Fiona return to Elysiar to find
Algafa under siege by Angrunoth, Dorvaan'Kaar, a number of Forsworn, and an army of Shadowspawn and Dreadlord. Natasha went to Heaven and rallied a heavenly host; every manner of celestial being flocked to her banner: agathions, angels, archons, and azata alike. She called Brin, her faithful Imperial Griffon mount, to her side, and astride him, she opened a gate and led the heavenly host to the Material Plane. Once she emerged she held aloft the Spear of Destiny catching it in the dawn's light and declared "The Dragon of Elys has returned." Natasha and her heavenly host then attacked the sieging shadowspawn army, routing the leaders and destroying most of the shadowspawn. Natasha returned the host to the heavenly planes and then returned to her fortress and reclaimed Excalibur and her throne. She now wields the Spear of Destiny alongside Excalibur.
Longinus piercing Christ's side with the Holy Lance by Gerrit De La Vallé
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