Vermillion Quill
The Vermillion Quill has been used to sign every major treaty Gaelerad has been party to in the last 1000 years. Though its age predates this usage by quite some time - it is unknown when exactly the artifact was created. What is known however is its ability to hold those who use it to the pledges they sign. It is but one of many such quills, although it is the only one whose location is currently known. No others have been seen for over 800 years.
After hearing of their plan, the sorcerer set out and began to think of how he would ensure the magic needed would persist throughout the ages. To ensure that the instrument would be able to carry out the vengeance necessary upon breaking of a vow, he secured a small quantity of wrath-steel, known for its ability to hold disdain for its foes. He worked the metal for many nights - imbuing the steel with his own disdain for oath breakers. Next the search for a suitable quill began. It was when he learned of the death of the last of the vermillion pheasants that he knew he had found one capable of what might need be done.
He tracked down the hunters that had ended the bird and its kind and slaughtered them. He drained the blood from the pheasant and collected several of its feathers. He then gathered the blood of the hunters into a large bowl. He soaked the feathers in the blood of the hunters and left them to dry overnight.
At the light of dawn, he melted down the wrath-steel - mixing the blood of the avenged pheasant into it. Taking the twelve most vibrant of the feathers, he clips off the ends at an angle, and dipped them into the melted wrath-steel. He conjured a hard winters wind and pulled them out, instantly cooling the metal into perfect nibs. He took the feathers that were unused, placed one on each hunters body, and then set the last of the vermillion pheasants aflame.
The sorcerer returned to the nobles and presented them with the dozen quills, one for each of the houses represented. He let them know that to break an oath signed with the quills would end in misfortune and fiery retribution. Then he simply disappeared.
It is also known, although the specifics of how are murky, that the quill can differentiate between what kind of agreements are being signed. For instance, it can tell whether an agreement is solely between individuals - or between those representing whole nations. Its vengeance acts accordingly.
When an individual breaks their oath, their body ignites and they burn into ash, a single charred feather being all that remains of them.
Those who represent constructs greater than themselves however suffer a far worse fate. The interests they represent will meet great misfortune for the next four years suffering harsh weather, plagues, famine, and financial ruin. The oath breaker rarely makes it to the end of these four years, but if they survive until then - they too will burst into flames.
The quill, while it can be lost like its brethren have been over the years - is completely immune from damage or wear. Attempts to destroy it will trigger a response similar to if one had broken an oath signed with it.
Appearance
The quill itself is a feather from the last of the Vermillion Pheasants which give it its name. The tip of the quill has been cut, and then dipped in wrath-steel giving it a sturdy metal nib.Creation of the Quills
Bathed in blood of retribution, last one's great remains.While the exact timing of the quill's creation remains a mystery - much has been written about the method of its creation. In a time long after the departure of the Grand Divines, the fledgling nation-states of the world found themselves in a period of near constant conflict. Though many treaties of peace were signed - they were almost always broken before the ink had even dried on the parchment. After centuries of this conflict, eventually several of the noble powers came together to attempt to find a way forward. They concluded that the only way to ensure treaties were honored - was to ensure violating them carried a swift and devastating cost. With this in mind - they commissioned a sorcerer (commonly believed to have been Isaudorel) to fashion an instrument to carry out their plan.
Broken oaths - total destruction, to those who signed their names
After hearing of their plan, the sorcerer set out and began to think of how he would ensure the magic needed would persist throughout the ages. To ensure that the instrument would be able to carry out the vengeance necessary upon breaking of a vow, he secured a small quantity of wrath-steel, known for its ability to hold disdain for its foes. He worked the metal for many nights - imbuing the steel with his own disdain for oath breakers. Next the search for a suitable quill began. It was when he learned of the death of the last of the vermillion pheasants that he knew he had found one capable of what might need be done.
He tracked down the hunters that had ended the bird and its kind and slaughtered them. He drained the blood from the pheasant and collected several of its feathers. He then gathered the blood of the hunters into a large bowl. He soaked the feathers in the blood of the hunters and left them to dry overnight.
At the light of dawn, he melted down the wrath-steel - mixing the blood of the avenged pheasant into it. Taking the twelve most vibrant of the feathers, he clips off the ends at an angle, and dipped them into the melted wrath-steel. He conjured a hard winters wind and pulled them out, instantly cooling the metal into perfect nibs. He took the feathers that were unused, placed one on each hunters body, and then set the last of the vermillion pheasants aflame.
The sorcerer returned to the nobles and presented them with the dozen quills, one for each of the houses represented. He let them know that to break an oath signed with the quills would end in misfortune and fiery retribution. Then he simply disappeared.
Powers of the Quill
Made with a feather from the final member of a species, drenched in the blood of those who killed it - the Vermillion Quill is capable of enacting great vengeance upon those who use it to sign oaths they intend to break. The quill draws small amounts of the blood of the signatories when it is used to sign any agreement.It is also known, although the specifics of how are murky, that the quill can differentiate between what kind of agreements are being signed. For instance, it can tell whether an agreement is solely between individuals - or between those representing whole nations. Its vengeance acts accordingly.
When an individual breaks their oath, their body ignites and they burn into ash, a single charred feather being all that remains of them.
Those who represent constructs greater than themselves however suffer a far worse fate. The interests they represent will meet great misfortune for the next four years suffering harsh weather, plagues, famine, and financial ruin. The oath breaker rarely makes it to the end of these four years, but if they survive until then - they too will burst into flames.
The quill, while it can be lost like its brethren have been over the years - is completely immune from damage or wear. Attempts to destroy it will trigger a response similar to if one had broken an oath signed with it.
Item type
Miscellaneous
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