Relics (often used interchangeably with the word Artifacts) are historical remnants and items found across Halann, ranging from wondrous magic items to mechanical trinkets. Most relics have little practical use, except for their meaning and historical importance, artistic value, or archeological implications, and are often traded by collectors, museums, and artificers.
One of the most common misconceptions about relics, and relic hunting, is that they are found sporadically in small deposits. This is largely a romanticized view promoted by Skalds and pulp fiction novels. Relics are mostly found in giant deposits, like ancient warehouses or cities where they can be extracted in bulk.
Please note that even the most minor relic is eligible for the Chroniclers Grant, although the payment usually varies greatly depending on quality, origin, and importance. If you have a relic you’d like to appraise, please reach out to your closest order clerk.
Relic Origins[]
Human[]
Remnants from ancient human civilizations, such as the Damerian Republic, Castanor, ancient Bulwar, Kheterata, the Rahenraj, among many others. Human relics tend to be of mundane nature, usually consisting of pottery shards, religious idols or jewelry. Although more sophisticated machinery, art pieces, or magical enchantments of human origin have also been found, human relics are mostly valued for their craftsmanship and historical significance. Humans often tend to value the history and cultural status of a relic more than most other races.
Dwarven[]
Devices and items from ancient Aul-Dwarov, the Segbandal, or the Jade Mines. Dwarven relics and artifacts are largely mechanical in nature, although items infused with rune magic are not unheard of, and many have been found as trade items. Often sought after for their advanced mechanical engineering, the rare materials they are made from, or for the historical or genealogical value they possess to many Dwarven clans and individuals. Primarily studied for engineering and technological purposes, and have great value within the realm of Artificery.
Genie[]
Ancient Genie relics are for the most part composed of enchantments and magical components. Most of them have long since expired, and are completely mundane. Although some can be both functional as well as incredibly potent and dangerous, they are almost impossible to replicate or research as they are either the result of a reality altering wish spell, or made up of a single incredibly complex spell, rather than smaller pieces of magic or machinery working in tandem. Among the more rare and valuable finds are genie bound items. A high concentration of genie artifacts are also believed to correlate with the birth of planetouched in nearby regions.
Draconic[]
Incredibly rare and hard to come by. So few draconic relics have ever been found that we currently have no greater understanding of what they are or their nature, although all of them have been made from precious metals or encrusted with gems. It is believed many of the remaining draconic relics were captured by the Precursor Empire and lost during the Day of Ashen Skies. Although very valuable, their scarcity and apparent mundane nature makes them unsustainable for continuous study or research.
Giant[]
Giant relics, by their nature, are mostly confined to enormous ruins and large remnants of their civilization. Unfortunately, many of their relics would have consisted of materials that decay over time, such as ice, bone or wood. Although Fire Giant stone carvings have been encountered, and Sky Giant cities can still be spotted by airships above Uelos Lament to this day. An example of a giant relic that can still be found today would be ebonsteel or the mythological giant bones at the bottom of the Giants Grave Sea.
Precursor Elven[]
By far the most valuable and worthwhile finds, and the ones most people think of when talking about relics. Incredible feats of early proto-artificery, that still inspire and baffle the most skilled artificers of their respective fields.
Precursor artifacts are usually misinterpreted as incredibly advanced machines or arcane artificery. While they are incredibly sophisticated, they are not mechanical, industrial or technological in nature. A common example would be the invention of the motorised carriage. While the precursors had similar vehicles, their version would not be a machine fueled by damestear or oil, but rather a more simplistic wagon pulled by a caged air-elemental. Same concept, executed with different means. This is the reason for their incredible value. Their possible applications within artifice, as well as their sheer quantity all over Halann, make them the most valuable and most sought-after relics on Halann for artificers, collectors and mages alike.