Wagering Against Death
Across the vast realms of Ertha, few artifacts evoke as much fascination and fear as Death’s Cursed Coin. Originating in the earliest days of the First Age, this relic transcends myth, standing as an enduring symbol of defiance and the irrevocable cost of bargaining with Death. Its legend is meticulously preserved by House Pleayashayne, the keepers of the Legends and Lore Guild, whose chronicles explore the intricate weave of fate, power, and consequence tied to this artifact.
The Tale
The origins of the cursed coin are traced to Silkstorm Citadel, where King Highchappel, renowned for his unrelenting boldness, faced his final moments. Death, a presence both impartial and inexorable, came to claim the king’s soul. Refusing to accept his end, Highchappel proposed a wager: his life in exchange for the vitality of his kingdom. Intrigued by the audacity, Death conjured the artifact—a coin of luminous gold and silver.
The terms were deceptively straightforward. A single toss would decide the king’s fate. If the coin landed with its golden face up, the king would live. If the silver side prevailed, he would die. The catch, however, was cunning—another life had to be willingly wagered to toss the coin.
A devoted serf cast the coin, praying for the king’s survival. It landed golden-side up, sparing the king but exacting a terrible price. The serf collapsed into lifelessness as Death claimed his vitality. This first wager not only altered the king’s fate but unleashed the cursed coin’s dark legacy across the ages.
The Curse and Its Terms
Death congratulated King Highchappel but revealed the sinister truth. Each toss would extend the king’s life at the cost of another’s, transferring their natural lifespan to him. Should the coin ever betray him, the king would die, while his wager would live an unnatural existence, suspended in the balance of Death’s cosmic justice.
For generations, the coin became both the king’s salvation and his torment. The legend of King Highchappel grew as he outlived his kingdom, allies, and kin, eventually wandering the lands as an immortal outcast.
Immortality’s Price
When King Highchappel finally met his match, it was not Death but a beggar. The beggar, possessing nothing to lose, challenged the king for his cursed coin. This wager marked the king’s final toss. When the silver side glinted in the light, the king collapsed, his curse lifted, while the beggar inherited his wealth, knowledge, and the weight of immortality.
Now known as the Wandering Profit, the beggar became the latest bearer of the cursed coin, traversing the eras with the artifact in hand. The story of the cursed coin serves as both a cautionary tale and a symbol of Ertha’s intricate cosmic laws.
The Coin as an Artifact
Within House Daemnos-Phtagroar, the esteemed keepers of the Artifacts Guild, Death’s Cursed Coin is classified as a “World-Shaper,” an artifact of immense power capable of altering the fabric of Ertha’s destiny. Its properties are as mysterious as they are dangerous, and those who seek the coin are often warned of its dire consequences.
The coin is said to disrupt magical readings, confounding even the most skilled diviners. Its surface shimmers with ancient etchings that seem to shift under scrutiny, reflecting the duality of its power. The bearer of the coin is tethered to an unnatural existence, aging only when another life is sacrificed. Its aura resists conventional tracking, appearing and disappearing across the ages, leaving behind tales of kingdoms toppled and lives irreversibly altered.
The Legacy of House Pleayashayne
Scholars of House Pleayashayne, the Legends and Lore Guild, dedicate themselves to preserving and interpreting such tales, ensuring the lessons of Death’s Cursed Coin remain accessible. The guild’s chroniclers debate the artifact’s origin, some suggesting it was forged by Death itself, while others believe it to be an amalgamation of ancient soul-bound magics.
House Pleayashayne holds extensive accounts of the coin’s appearance throughout Ertha’s history. Each sighting is accompanied by stories of power and ruin, as wielders succumb to the artifact’s curse or fail to comprehend its weight. The guild’s work ensures the coin’s legend is not merely a tale of folly but a lens through which the fragility of life and the perils of hubris are examined.
Guidance for the Curious
The cursed coin represents a confluence of the spiritual and material, a stark reminder of the eternal balance that governs Ertha. House Daemnos-Phtagroar, with their expertise in artifacts, caution that such items are not mere curiosities but embodiments of Ertha’s intricate cosmic forces. Misuse of the coin has been known to ripple outward, affecting entire guilds, communities, and even the natural order.
House Pleayashayne invites scholars, adventurers, and storytellers to explore the coin’s legend, encouraging thoughtful reflection on its place in Ertha’s mythos. Both guilds, through their distinct roles, ensure that Death’s Cursed Coin is not only remembered but revered as a cornerstone of Ertha’s lore.
GM Tips
For those crafting tales or shaping campaigns, Death’s Cursed Coin serves as a powerful narrative device. Its implications challenge characters to confront questions of mortality, morality, and the lengths they would go to defy the natural order. Whether used as a historical relic, a sought-after treasure, or a symbolic lesson, the coin’s legend enhances the depth of Ertha’s storytelling.
In the hands of House Pleayashayne and House Daemnos-Phtagroar, the legacy of Death’s Cursed Coin is more than a story; it is a testament to the enduring interplay between power and consequence.