Box of Nicomenos

The Box of Nicomenos is a small, extravagantly decorated kryopyxis (Armaidan 'cold box') believed to have belonged to Emperor Nicomenos of Armaidas. Dating back to the 1st century, the Box is by far the most prestigious artifact brought to the Sunscald by Armaidan refugees fleeing the Empire's destruction, and has grown into a symbol of authority and continuity amongst the Armaidan-descended communities in the continent's north. The Box was originally brought from Armaidas to the great city of Medaris, however it was stolen by raiders in 867 and has ultimately ended up in the hands of Medaris's archrival city Argyria.
A relatively minuscule kryopyxis, the Box measures only roughly 9 centimetres on its longest side. Despite its small size, like all kryopyxides it is enchanted using arcanist magic to 'repel' heat. While it is believed kryopyxides were mostly used for food storage in the days of the Armaidan Empire, the Box's small size calls that purpose into question - it is possible that it was used to store small quantities of exotic or luxurious foods or liquids, though it is equally possible that it was intended purely for decoration and that its creators would simply never dare to 'slight' the Emperor with a non-functioning kryopyxis. The Box is ornately and extravagantly decorated: the outside is trimmed with gold and studded with jewels, and the ornate lid depicts a blue ouroborous (a symbol of the Armaidan Empire), itself studded with sapphires. Carvings on the sides of the Box depict warriors and monsters in the traditional Armaidan aesthetic. Even without its historic connections to the great Armaidan Empire, the masterwork Box would be considered priceless.
The Box of Nicomenos arrived in the city of Medaris among the waves of Armaidan refugees fleeing the collapse of their Empire and the expanding Great Fissure in its place in the fifth century. One refugee, a man named Apistos, claimed to be the great-grandson of Emperor Nicomenos's niece, presenting the Box as simultaneous proof of his claims and a gift to the city's leadership. The gift was graciously accepted by the Medarian elites, who compensated Apistos with a noble title, a sizeable estate and a large sugarcane field. Of all the artifacts that made their way to Medaris, the Box of Nicomenos was the most revered. Formerly owned by an Emperor, it provided continuity and legitimacy to the 'New Armaidas', and was sometimes credited for the hegemonic influence the city maintained from the fifth to the ninth centuries. Rumours spread that it contained some body part of the great Nicomenos, which had been preserved within the container, and that the Box destined its owners to rule the known world.
In 857, however, the Box was among the artifacts captured by the raider army of Leth Bloodaxe, who infamously sacked and razed the city of Medaris (at the time known as Nearmaidas). Following the sacking, any trace of the Box disappeared along with Leth himself. However, in 1345, the Box, along with several other items Leth had plundered, was discovered in shipwreck by the Argyrian diver and treasure hunter Marinus Alethe. Knowing of the significance of the artifact, and exploiting Medaris and Argyria's great rivalry, Marinus ultimately offered to sell the Box to his native Argyria in exchange for an exorbitant sum. Recognising the political implications of owning the artifact, the city's leadership agreed to purchase the Box in exchange for substantial riches and property in Argyria. The city also recognised Marinus's services in retrieving the artifact by ultimately ennobling him. The Box of Nicomenos is now proudly displayed in the Hall of Argyria, much to the chagrin of Medaris.

Item type

Trophy

Creation Date

1st century

Dimensions

~ 9 x 7 x 6.5 cm

Base Price

Priceless