A Quest: To Look For What?

[Wiglaf]

Imagine you were going to write about a simple quest. Some characters are seeking a sort of secular relic. This would be a relic of the former ruler of a vanished empire. Once found, it would function like a secular military version of carrying a piece of the true cross at the fore of your crusader army. Something to inspire, raise morale, and with perhaps a touch of military genius that could rub off onto you.

I thought of an imperial seal, baut that would typically be in the form of a ring. Going to find a ring might not be as bad as having one that you are going to destroy. I still am cautious about using a ring as the focus of my quest.

Any suggestions?

[Thor_Doomhammer]

Hmmm....if it was the ruler of a former empire, you could always use a crown.

[Wiglaf]

Perhaps, or a septre or weapon. I just need to brain storm till I get something that sounds right. Something smallish(portable), durable(to have lasted all this time), and most importantly that would add legitimacy to someone who claimed power if they pocessed it. This last reason is the main point of searching for it; it exhibits no overt signs of supernatural power.

[Thor_Doomhammer]

Thus why I say the crown. Then whoever claimed power could wear it and everyone would ooooo and ahhhh and assume that they are the right one to have power....etc.

[Sephiroth]

The sceptre would do just as well there, however. Both are symbols of royal power.

As is an orb, the globus cruciger. You would need your own variation.


It could equally be a sword, or some other weapon, as you said, Wiglaf.

It's down to what feels right for you.

[Thor_Doomhammer]

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

It's down to what feels right for you.

I couldn't agree more.

[Culhwch]

A banner of some kind? Unseen in the land for generations until it is suddenly and majestically unfurled at the head of an army. Yes, not particularly durable, but if cared for and perhaps handed down generation to generation, or even locked away somewhere safe-ish...

[Wiglaf]

If I had a cart, I could steal the Stone of Scone and transport it to my world.
Or perhaps a document stating certain people have the right to rule something, like the Donation of Pippin, which gave control of the Papal lands to the Church. Of course, that's not durable and the Donation of Pippin was a forgery.

[Culhwch]

Originally Posted by Wiglaf

If I had a cart, I could steal the Stone of Scone and transport it to my world.
Or perhaps a document stating certain people have the right to rule something, like the Donation of Pippin, which gave control of the Papal lands to the Church. Of course, that's not durable and the Donation of Pippin was a forgery.

I don't know how he ever thought he'd get away with it... fool of a Took.

[The Curious Orange]

Originally Posted by Culhwch

I don't know how he ever thought he'd get away with it... fool of a Took.

Thanks - I've just snorted diet coke all over my keyboard - funniest thing I've read on teh intarwebs all year...

[Peter Graham]

Originally Posted by The Curious Orange

Thanks - I've just snorted diet coke all over my keyboard - funniest thing I've read on teh intarwebs all year...

You snort diet coke? I didn't know there was a healthy version. Do they cut it with saccharin rather than glucose?

Confused,

Peter

[dustinzgirl]

You know, it would stand to reason that since you don't know what your characters should be looking for, they wouldn't know either. How about something like an ancient tablet, or legend, to where the item has changed so much over history and myth that the only thing anyone knows for sure is that it is POWERFULL.

Then a lot of the quest should be figuring out what the item is. As you lead your characters through the quest, you will figure out what fits the quest the best.

[The Pelagic Argosy]

Originally Posted by Wiglaf

Imagine you were going to write about a simple quest. Some characters are seeking a sort of secular relic. This would be a relic of the former ruler of a vanished empire. Once found, it would function like a secular military version of carrying a piece of the true cross at the fore of your crusader army. Something to inspire, raise morale, and with perhaps a touch of military genius that could rub off onto you.

I, personally, would avoid rings, crowns, scepters, swords, and anything jewel-encrusted for being too obvious. I would try for something more unusual. (Maybe not "codpiece" unusual...) You could examine the themes of your story and look for something symbolic. Maybe it some sort of unusual weapon. (Maybe you can invent your own.) Or maybe to inject a bit of romance, it could be a scrap of lace from a wedding dress or a music box, etc.

Maybe everyone believes the relic must be a magnificent, jewel-encrusted Whatever, but it actually turns out to be something humble...a simple, rusty dagger, for example. Of course, you can't have your crusaders ride into battle with a fork or a holy (holey) sock either, unless you want your story to be funny.

[Jarshen]

How about a key?

You can find out what it is a key to later, might even be to a safe with the original Pepin document. Bet you glad you didn't buy that cart now.

[Wyvern]

Key is a great idea. That's portable; and coul always be use to give access to the jewel-encrusted bit at the end if you wanted. How about a metaphorical key? Not a literal stick it in a lock job, but something that could open something else... a horn or trumpet type thing that 'opens' the way through the mountains via causing an avalanche, or something... that's grasping at straws, but you see what I mean!