Innumerable have been the Allorn Empresses, peerless Mages with the strength to move mountains and bend the Gods to their will, should they wish it to be so. Despite the recent return of the first and once-immortal to their throne, the history of the generations that presided after her has not been erased, and nor have the relics plucked from their tombs. Though the regalia of the Empresses of the many eras are heavy sought after, their diadems, crowns, sceptres and Arcane foci; often neglected are their shrouds, cloaks, and veils, themselves often enchanted with powerful hexes that ward against harm.
Origins
Meratar is a Middle Elven word that communicates an emotion that cannot be written in Common: "the longing for something that you never knew, but would like to know again, feeling a familiarity to it and desire to 're'claim it despite the lack of ever having witnessed its existence." Though in life this cloak cannot have been named that, and was likely not named at all, it is the emotion of 'meratar' that defined the rule of Empress Vinnalea and many Middle Allorn Empresses. Born just early enough to hold in eager memory the far-off days where Talea herself sat the throne and the Empire stood victorious in perfection with the Empresses, all three, at the undisputed head, but far too late to avert the course of affairs that unfolded as the legitimacy of the Estelley religion that made the bedrock of the Empire unraveled before her eyes and the factions of Void and Dragon worshipers grew ever more unstoppable at court. Despite this, Empress Vinnalea is commonly held to be the most powerful Archmage short of Talea herself that the Allorn line ever produced, capable of shattering cliffs with half a syllable, and reconnecting them in a fraction of an exhaled breath. She is mostly remembered by Allorn historiography, however, for being the Empress responsible for both the beginning of the Dregodar War and its end. Forced by the Void Worship faction at Court to outlaw Dragon Worship simply because it was their rival, she had to face the Dragon followers militarily, defeat them, and slay her traitor cousin Vaiellan who had converted and sought to pluck the throne from her in their name. Buried in a small crypt near Amontaar, most of her old artifacts were stolen by the provincial noblemen before her burial could even be held, but her cloak rests in her grave.
Appearance
Meratar is a pale gray cloak embroidered with intricate white and silver stitches. Circles, three fourths complete, split into patterns of twisting brambled vines which sprout from the missing portions and connect to other circles, an Estelley religious metaphor for the union of Order and Nature, the domains over which the faith presides. It is clasped over the wearer's right shoulder by a silvered pin of a swan illuminated by electrum in millimetered lines around its edges. Despite the years, the enchanted object has not lost its lustre or consistency. No matter how many times it is splashed with water or torn, it always seems to reconstitute itself in perfect order before long, in will of its imperial bearer's perfection.
Artifact Mechanics
Meratar is an Exist Magic Artifact. As Meratar is an Aritfact, there are several rules associated with Artifact Ownership, see Artifact page. Meratar also provides the following specials:
Permanent Mechanics
Meratar retains some of its original Elven Magics. The wearer gains one Lanlath heritage Mechanic of their choice, except Mechanic 2, which is forbidden.
Artifactspark Mechanics
Choose 2 Free Packs from the following Categories: Magic Point Buy, Adapt Point Buy, Command Point Buy
Even in its reduced state, Meratar is the safety of the Empress who bore it. If its wielder reaches 4HP, they gain 1 Block Token immediately. This can only happen once per combat scene.
Carrying Meratar is a choice that makes a clear social statement about one's allegiances. If the wielder identifies with the Allorn cause, it grants +4 Attack Stat (breaks cap up to 11) against anyone who speaks out against it. If the wielder does not identify with the Allorn cause, it grants +2 Defense Stat (breaks cap up to 9) when fighting alongside Estelley worshipers.
Legendary Artifactspark Mechanics
Choose 1 Free Pack from the following Category: Magic Point Buy
Furthermore, the user can mantle the Curse of Vinnalea, channeling the last powers of the vengeful Empress through the shroud she wore in life. Once per Combat Scene, spending the wielder's action, the wielder rolls /dice 1-3, and can hurt a number of enemies -2HP each, equal to the amount rolled on the dice. If there are Archon on the other side, the dice automatically rolls a 3, and also heals the wielder +2 HP. An enemy cannot be targeted multiple times by this.
The Legendary Artifactspark Armor grants the user +1 Attack Stat (breaks cap up to 11) and +3 Defense Stat (breaks cap up to 9), and sets the minimum for their Defense Dice Rolls to 5. When the user is KO’d, they can choose to instantly teleport them, and the Artifact, safely to their home. This can only be done once (and must be reported to Lore Staff). Subsequent uses of this teleport mechanic must sacrifice the Artifact’s Spark in order to teleport the user and the Artifact. The Artifact is considered de-sparked, and the Artifactspark is granted to whoever KO’d the user.
