A Soul Reliquary

A Reliquary vial (commonly referred to, simply, as a Reliquary) is a a small, glass container made to hold a Soul. They are made from Perdition Sand, collected by Perdition Sand Gatherers from the Raskvaerii Gate of Perdition. Reliquary vials are manufactured in Raskvaeric and are shipped to temples across the empire. They can only be operated by a Soul-Servant: an elite Saints-Servant who is trained to harvest Souls from the bodies of the dying.

History

Humans live with the terrible certainty revealed to them by the Saeric Throwbacks: that the cthonic godess, the Phoenix,has been overthrown by Raven. Her spiritual realm has been thrown into turmoil for the Souls She once cared for. Nothing but torment and torture await the Souls of mortals once they enter Perdition. The Raven's heart can never be changed. Humankind's only chance of redemption is to trap the Souls of their dead in life, and hope that, one day, the Phoenix will find a way to rise once more.
It is a common misconception that the Throwbacks revealed the secret of how to Reliquary a human Soul. Instead, the process was developed by Lormontai Illusionist, Zacharie Thévenet. He had used black sand from the Lormontai Gates of Perdition to create his initial vials, which were long with fairly thin glass. The creation of the vials via a secret form of glass blowing, has become much more refined, with Reliquary vials being made to various sizes and shapes.

Design

Carved Wood Reliquary Scene via Bing by Caitlin Wright

Reliquary vials are generally small (between 3-7cm), with thick glass. The stopper is made of the same glass, and is usually rounded or flat at the top. If pre-ordered by wealthier patrons, the vials can come in most sizes, ranging from long and straight, to round, square, heart, or tear-drop. The standard shape carried on Soul-Servants for 'emergency' cases and the poor are simple, straight vials, as they are easier to carry in large quantities.
People from old and new money in society tend to pay more for the casing that will be the finally resting place of their Reliquaried

Soul. This is usually a free-standing ornament, lavishly designed with jewels and precious metals. Some people opt for their casing to display religious motifs from the life of their Patron Saint, or important moments from their lives. Others choose to depict their family praying for their Souls.

Item type

Religious / Ritualistic

Reliquary Vial via Bing by Caitlin Wright

Jewelled Reliquary via Bing by Caitlin Wright