Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-3030647-20170331102126/@comment-12180476-20170401220953

Sure, I will pull up that information now.

In regards to the artifact, it is balanced on the precept of life and death. The artifact is the reason why the town remains self-sufficient. Yet such power could inadvertently cause the destruction of many if utilized in a proper manner. It necessarily feeds upon the negative and positive emotions of the entity that wields it, bringing about their desires consequently. The artifact is designed as a conduit of self-fulfilling prophecy. In tangent with the virtue and/or vice of the wielder(s) and their latent magical prowess, it can bring forth destruction or salvation on a small to grand scale. Placed in the hands of powerful individuals, it could lead to order or chaos depending on the scope of their power.

This is the reason why it was placed in the isolated town that Dardariel had located it in. The anonymity and solitude of the location served as an ideal hiding place. More importantly, its amplifying qualities allowed for the location to remain self-sufficient, preventing the townspeople from starving as the existence of the artifact was generally lost to myth (in regards to the townspeople that benefited from its existence). Though the narrative was still passed on between village elders. However, its power was enough for a dark mage force to pursue leads that led them to this town. The result being the faceoff between them and Dardariel that resulted in the birth of her moniker and the protection of this place. More importantly, it was the actions that followed that ultimately determined her movement into this esteemed group. Once led to the artifact in question, she proceeded to take it and split into pieces, leaving a part of the artifact for the town that relied upon it. While bringing the rest to the magic council directly. Though it does not bear mentioning, it would have been rather simple for one to take that item and disappear, particularly given her capabilities at the time. Instead, she had the item placed in the care of the magic council, who began distributing portions of it to various Rune Knight squadrons as a way to bolster their offensive capabilities.