Wondrous Item

Uncommon

A coin bestowed upon those who hath forsaken Raskirith in the eyes of the law, this grim token bears the mark of betrayal. Its surface, once gleaming with the luster of purity, is now thickly anointed in dark oil, a deliberate defilement to signify its bearer’s treachery. The oil clingeth to the metal, black and viscous, such that when light doth fall upon it, the coin's surface gleameth with an unnatural sheen, drawing the eye as a symbol of disgrace. It is said the oil may never be cleansed, for it is a stain both physical and eternal, a warning to all who behold it.

Celwyn:
"Dost thou not tire of it, Andrec? To sit amidst the Senate, thy voice but one of many, drowned in the tide of my dear brother’s ambition? He commands the hall as though it were his throne room."

Andrec:
"Thou speakest freely for one who hath no seat among us, my lord. Were these words overheard…"

Celwyn:
(raising a hand, his tone soft but unyielding) "Fear hath no place here, Andrec. We are but men speaking of truths too long unspoken. Is it not so? Hath Ellaher not tightened his grip upon thee all, wielding the Senate as his personal fiefdom whilst cloaking himself in noble ideals?"

Andrec:
(hesitant, his voice lowering) "He doth believe himself righteous, ’tis true. Yet what wouldst thou have me do? His words sway the masses, his deeds inspire. To oppose him openly is folly, and to conspire in secret…"

Celwyn:
(gesturing toward the chest, his voice turning almost casual) "There it lieth, Andrec. Enough to quiet the worries of thine estates for another season, and mayhap more. Yet thou lingerest, as though the weight of the coin doth trouble thee more than the weight of thine own conscience."

Andrec:
(voice tight, refusing to meet Celwyn’s gaze) "’Tis not the coin that troubleth me, my lord, but the risk it carrieth. Thou hast heard of Lord Winḧeln's fall, surely? His dealings exposed, his name now a stain upon the Senate’s honor. It was Ellaher himself who cast him down, and with such righteous fury as to scorch all near him. Tell me, Celwyn, dost thou think thy name inviolate should his wrath turn thine way?"

Celwyn:
(leaning forward, his tone cold and sharp) "Winḧeln was a fool. He took with one hand and squandered with the other, leaving his misdeeds plain for all to see. Dost thou liken yourself to him, Andrec? Are you as a man careless in his dealings?"

Andrec:
(hesitating, shifting in his seat) "Nay, my lord. Yet Ellaher’s light is everywhere, and his tongue cutteth like a blade. He hath already shamed thee in the eyes of the court. If this coin were discovered—"

Celwyn:
(cutting him off, his voice low but laced with venom) "If it were discovered, thou wouldst be no less tainted than already thee are. Think not that thou canst wring thy hands and wash them clean, for thou hast taken my coin before, and thou wilt take it now."

Andrec:
(visibly uneasy, his voice dropping to a whisper) "And what of Ellaher? He is not blind, my lord. His rebuke of thee was no mere posturing. If he doth suspect thee further, no amount of coin shall shield us."

Celwyn:
(leaning back, his expression softening into a calculated smile) "Ellaher’s warning was but the roar of a beast that knoweth its prey hath slipped from its grasp. He rebuked me not out of strength but out of fear—fear that I see what he refuseth to admit. Raskirith doth crumble beneath the weight of its own tradition. He clingeth to the past, whilst I strive for the future. His vision is rigid, unyielding; mine is flexible, enduring."

Andrec:
(frowning) "Yet thou speakest as though thou hast already triumphed. What, then, is thy plan, my lord? Wilt thou defy him openly, or skulk in shadow as others toil in thy stead?"

Celwyn:
(his smile vanishing, his tone turning icy) "I do what must be done, Andrec. When the time cometh, Ellaher shall see the limits of his reach. He may sit at the head of the Senate, but the Senate doth not belong to him. It belongeth to Raskirith, and Raskirith shall endure—with or without him."

Andrec:
(his eyes flickering toward the chest, curiosity and unease mingling) "Thou speakest as one who knoweth the weight of governance, yet thou art denied its reins. What purpose hath this discourse, my lord? If thou canst not act, why then dost thou linger at the edges of power?"

Celwyn:
(leaning forward slightly, his voice dropping to a near-whisper) "Because, dear Andrec, power oft lies not in the seat but in the whisper. Were I born of Aurelis, as Ellaher was, I would sit in thy Senate and shape it with mine own hand. But I am not, and thus I must shape it through thee and others who see as I see."

Andrec:
(hesitant, his brow furrowing) "What thou offerest treadeth a perilous path, Celwyn. To temper Ellaher’s will is one thing; to stand against him is another. And yet…"
(he glances again at the chest) "…thy token is generous indeed. More generous, mayhap, than prudence allows."

Celwyn:
(smiling faintly, his tone soothing yet firm) "Generosity, Andrec, is the mark of those who would see their allies prosper. Fear not my purpose, for it is clear: I ask thee not to stand against him, but for Raskirith. The Senate is its soul, not a mere tool of its heir apparent. Remember that, when the hour demandeth thy voice. When the moment cometh, will thy loyalty lie with one man or with the realm entire?"

Andrec:
(glancing toward the door, then nodding faintly) "I shall think on thy words, my lord, though I pray they lead not to ruin."

Celwyn:
(leaning back, his expression thoughtful as the light glows in his eyes) "Pray for wisdom, Andrec, not ruin. For wisdom, wielded rightly, hath oft forestalled the ruin of many a kingdom. Go now, and speak not of this meeting to any save thy conscience."

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