Heart of the Winds

The Heart of the Winds is a translucent, yellow-gold heart-shaped gem of indeterminate composition, although it is likely a solidified form of Elemental Air. It appears to be the equivalent of a 500gp cut amethyst, but a skilled gemologist would easily be able to confirm it is not any kind of gemstone known to man. Its beauty is unquestioned, its facets unequaled and its true value inestimable.

It is a sister gemstone to the Heart of the Flames and the Heart of the Depths. When brought together with these other two gemstones in The Elemental Crown , the three Hearts fuse to become the Heart of the World.

The gem is approximately 5cm in diameter and weighs about 250 grams. There seem to be no flaws, and when peered into intently, one can barely discern a movement inside similar to the wind rushing against the clouds.

When possessed by a user, it bestows the following magical abilities and effects:

• Detect Emotions, at will (un-attuned or attuned)
  
• Detect Thoughts, 1/day (attuned)
• Gust of Wind, 1/day (attuned)
• Limited Wind Walk (user only), 1/day (attuned)

In addition, after 1 week of continuous possession, the user will notice vestigial wings beginning to grow from their back. After 1 month of continuous possession, the user's wings will fully develop into Mantis wings and allow the user to Fly at limited capability, for 60 seconds at a time at a rate of 60 ft/turn. After such time, the user will tire and must land or take falling damage. After at least a short rest, the user may Fly again. The ability and wings are lost and the time reset if the user gives the Heart to another person, it is stolen or destroyed, or it is left behind.

Significance

The Heart of the Winds was created by, and is consecrated to, the god Mantidae. As such, it is as much a part of the Elemental Plane of Air as it is of the Prime Material Plane.

History

Since its creation, the Heart resided with its two counterparts as components of the The Elemental Crown. As a result of the The Elemental Sundering, all three Hearts were removed from the crown and secreted away at the command of each god's High Cleric with a champion, who had instructions to hide it until such time as they could be reunited.


The High Cleric of Mantidism at that time was Rendra Kaelon, an elderly dwarven female from Aerost, and she selected as her champion a young cleric named Jos van Aalten. Jos accepted the Heart, drank the Potion of Longevity as agreed by all to ensure his ability to guard the Heart, and left to travel back to his home at the The Great Pantheon Library in Aerost.

Jos was accompanied on his task by his fellow adherents, Kaynar Cragfellow (Dwarf Male), Arabele Lotal (Air Genasi Female) and Galandros Jorten (Human Male). As they made their way back to Aerost, Galandros had secretly arranged for their group to be intercepted by a force of wizards from the The Wondrous Order. Kaynar and Arabele were killed, Jos was mortally wounded and Galandros slipped away into the night. Because his Potion of Longevity would not let him slip through Death's Door, Jos slowly recovered and made his way home empty-handed.

The wizards were supposed to turn the Heart over to Galandros, but they themselves were waylaid by a large group of bandits on the road and the Heart was stolen once again. Over time, the Heart made its way from group to group, finally ending up in the hands of the last Mantidism Cleric who oversaw the Alawa Shrine to Mantidae on the Alawa Ridge. He stored it away in the shrine's treasure vault and soon thereafter died. It remains hidden from the world in the vault even as the Shrine fell into disuse and ruin. As the years passed the Shrine was alternately a haven for Sundering refugees, a Frost Giant settlement and a hideout for a goblin/kobold bandit gang. None of the occupying groups have discovered the vault, so the Heart of the Winds remains hidden there till this day.

Item type

Religious / Ritualistic

Rarity

Unique

Weight

250 grams

Dimensions

5cm diameter

Base Price

500gp apparent, priceless actual