Esiel's Chalice

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Esiel's chalice is a mythical relic from Euferist Religion said to belong to the Godling Knight of Fortune himself, Esiel the Gold.
In Euferist preaching, fortune is synonymous with water and famine with thirst. Esiel's cup, or chalice, is described as a mythical cup of carved jade stone that overflows eternally with water.

Origin

Though mostly a metaphorical symbol, the cup of Esiel did according to some historical accounts have some degree of accuracy. The son of Lisiel de Banquefort, a member of a line of royalty from the ancient kingdom of Molia which would later form the House of Sangrejue, Esiel was the first son of the Queen of Hymbia, the ancient matriarchal kingdom which in 1st century BGK while not directy situated on a war-front, was experiencing a long famine due to a few decades of bad harvest and the inability to import what they need due to the Thousand-Years War. Out of desperation, they sent Esiel to petition other nations for a solution. Esiel's journey along with the Godling Knights enabled him to come back with a filled cup, in terms of the wealth he was able to bring back, and in simple terms of just being able to keep his personal water cup or flask full.
Some tales say that when the Creator gave each Knight a piece of its power, it passed it to them in the form of a sacred relic, the symbol of which would become their epithet and divine icon. Esiel the Cup as he is sometimes known, was said to be given his power in the form of a chalice carved out of the 'most precious stone,' which at the time was thought to be Jade.

The crest of the Molian House of Sangrejue. Translating to "Joyous Blood" in Molian, House Sangrejue is famous for its full cup, joyful affect, and great wealth, all said to be inherited from its holy ancestor, Esiel de Banquefort. by Pfeffermin ( Using Microsoft Designer)

In folklore and religion

There has been much written of the Godling Knights and of the myths and legends surrounding them. Much of the early stories come from Eufer Lightbringer's own writings, but a healthy tradition of Molian Romances sprang up on Esiel's return, largely inspired by many of the bardic songs and Wyrdsmith ballads that originated its said from a Wyrdsmith who rode with the Godling Knights themselves. While most dismiss that claim as ridiculous, the Anonymous author of Travels with a Wyrdsmith claims to have found writings that are proof of it, though what that proof was or what those writings were it isn't known.
In variants of Euferism the story of Eufer's eternal cup has been used as a parable. In local myth and folklore, the idea of Eufer's chalice as a physical item or relic that can grant endless fortune once found is very popular. Some hapless treasure hunters have even tried scouring the coasts, oceans and sea-caves off of Western Meraqia in an attempt to find it.

Illustrial auspex card featuring "Esiel the Cup," hand-painted in Molia, late 14th Century. by Pfeffermin (Using Microsoft Designer)

Depictions in art and literature

The literary genre of Molian Romance flourished in the 3rd to 7th centuries AGK, largely due to the popularity of the Godling Knights. The inability of most common people to see a trained Wyrdsmith meant that several printed copies of popular ballads, stories and poetry about the Godling Knights were made, allowing them to be traded and sold locally, so that a town bard might be able to recount the tale. Due to the Hymbian printing press' invention, the stories popular in Hymbia and Molia at the time, as the young prince brought his father's culture back with him after his frequent travels, forging a strong relationship between the two countries, were printed and traded along all the trade routes of the world. Hymbian Romances, maintained a similar format, but almost always featuring a hero who goes in search of something he lacks, and while he returns with what he lacks, he also gains something he cherishes and a new worldly experience, based it is thought, from the original story of the Jade Chalice.

Symbolism and academic discussion

Esiel's chalice is generally regarded to represent eternal fortune, represented by the always full cup. However the overflowing of the chalice has been seen to represent the consequences eternal fortune or fortune in general might cause. In Traditional Euferism, Esiel came to visit Eufer in his new city Serevinium in around 400 AGK. The kingdoms making up the regions of modern Hymbia, Yagoye, and some of the other Alfabr countries were caught up in the Wars of Bloody Gold, a series of conflicts stemming, according to some historians, from the discovery of the Bagoloshu Gold vein after an avalanche which unearthed various gold, silver and platinum deposits in the country, as well as many other 'fortunate' discoveries, such as that of an ancient city of a lost civilization, and all the troves of jewellery, coinage and knowledge unearthed with it.
A war over these findings, as well as the miraculous sparing of only Hymbian citizens in the region after a bad plague that took out up to one third of the population of neighbouring countries, led Esiel to believe that it was his presence as the Knight of Wealth and Fortune, or the 'Overflowing Cup' that was manifesting such events and the consequences he caused by virtue of his simple presence. Traditional Euferism teaches that it was Esiel's sacrifice of locking himself in a cage underneath the ocean, where no human hand could reach it, would return the balance to the world, and prevent further conflicts fought in Fortune's name.

Other depictions in culture

Modern phrases and literature often use the story of Esiel's chalice as a metaphor, with overly loud, persistent or obnoxious people being referred to as having an 'overflowing cup' in several Meraqian languages. A Hymbian-originating phrase translating to 'Don't overfill your cup' warns of the potential dire consequences of seeking endless luck, and is often used to caution those seen to be often taking unnecessary risks. Illustrists who work with the bending and reshaping of precious stones are called Jadeworkers due to the sense of Jade being the most precious stone in the world, which can be traced to the depiction of Esiel's Chalice as being made of carved jade painted with gold leaf.