TheNexusProject/StoneOfEbonBlood
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Stone of Ebon Blood
by LeumasWhite
- "You bring that thing near me again and you'll be the next thing on this anvil, you get me? Just toss it in a river or something, for Mela's sake."
- Blacksmith Gamin Redblind, two days before his death at the hands of his apprentice.
- "My, um, my momma... she, um... the Emissary took her. He looked angry, and, um... did I do wrong? I'm sorry, momma..."
- Gain Ar, daughter of Alin Ar, victim
For nearly a century now, the stories of the Stone of Ebon Blood been told in Nexus, but never openly. To speak of such in public is to invite the wrath of the Emissary - as sure a death as sleeping on Dorson's Doorstep. The red-veined shard of black jade always seems to be just beyond any seeker's reach - never in the hands of those who want it, never far enough away for those who don't.
The few victims of the stone that have been positively identified (their ranting can be rather incoherent at the best of times, and Nexus citizens are used to wandering crazies) have always been normal mortals before the change - simple folk, with simple lives. None have been able to say how they came upon it; nor do their friends and family know. The shock of the change often shatters the peace in a given community, something the Council is loath to have occur, which is why the Emissary quashes any mention of it so ruthlessly.
The change is quite terrible; the victim's bone marrow expands to twice its original mass, forcing bone outwards through the skin, and the blood turns thick as tar. They become possessed of a desire to scar themselves with the broken shards, and to do the same to others. Wandering the streets, they scream in an unknown tongue until their lungs burst and hearts give out, and only then do they stop moving. They seem unaffected by any but the most horrific damage, making eliminating them a dangerous task. No-one has yet managed to subdue a victim in time to prevent his death.
No cases have been reported in the last two months, leading some to believe that the stone has been destroyed - or perhaps it is simply being covered up.
Rumours
- Respected thaumaturge Black Lark's Song has been rumoured to possess this stone for some time now. Likely, this is simply one of the stories that follow any well-known characters, but anything is possible.
- A number of odd flyers have been posted in Cinnabar, requesting information on the gem. No contact details have been left, so it is unclear how the sender of these notes intends to gain the desired data. But naturally, the Wives of Gozen have plenty of theories...
Secret
- The Stone is the eye of the teodozjia, Ahunan, lost long ago as he stalked the Contagion-wracked city of Hollow. Copper Wind (owner of the Bale of Stars) cut himself on the gem, unknowingly awakening some hidden property within it that calls to Ahunan, driving its holder's soul mad with the lion's scripture. Perhaps thankfully, Ahunan finds them soon afterwards and grinds their hearts into powder for the affront of touching his precious eye.
