The Amethyst of The Dying Star is a dark maroon crystal of immense and malevolent power, created by the Night Mother Nyx herself from the essence of a dying star that was collapsing upon itself. This star, which had once burned brightly, was in the final stages of consuming itself, and Nyx, the goddess of curses and shadows, harnessed its cosmic energy to forge the amethyst.
Appearance
The Amethyst of The Dying Star is a dark maroon gem, roughly the size of a fist, with jagged edges that shimmer faintly in the light. Its surface is fractured, resembling the cracks of a dying star on the brink of implosion. Within the crystal, swirling patterns of black and deep purple create the illusion of a vortex, drawing the eye inward as though it is absorbing light, life, and energy itself. Those who have seen the amethyst describe it as unsettling, a gem that seems to pulsate with malevolent energy.
Cursed Creation
The Amethyst of The Dying Star is more than just a crystal; it is a conduit of Rift Energy and life essence. The amethyst has the power to absorb the life force of any living creature it touches, draining their vitality and the rift energy that flows through them. This energy is then transferred to its wielder, empowering them with supernatural strength, longevity, and dark magic.
However, as is Nyx's nature, this powerful artifact came with a sinister curse. Nyx bestowed the amethyst upon a legendary Valar pirate captain who had long worshipped her and carried out dark deeds in her name across the seas. In exchange for his devotion, the Night Mother gifted him the amethyst, granting him the power to ravage his enemies and absorb their strength. Yet the gift came with a dire condition—if the amethyst were to ever be lost, the pirate captain's name and identity would be forgotten by all, even those closest to him. His legacy, once feared across the oceans, would vanish into obscurity, and his very existence would be as though it had never been -- consumed by the crystal.
The Vanir Ambush
The cursed fate of the Valar pirate captain came to pass during an ambush in the The Silver Veil Sea. A fleet of Vanir ships, aided by the obscured weather that surrounds Aerenal, overtook the captain's ship and sank it beneath the waves. As the captain's crew was slaughtered, the amethyst fell into the hands of the Vanir warriors, and true to Nyx's curse, the captain’s name was erased from history. He became nothing more than a ghost of a legend, forgotten by all who had once feared and revered him.
The Amethyst of The Dying Star then fell into the possession of House Gwaithor, a noble house known for their cunning and ambition. Sealed away in their family vault for generations, the crystal lay dormant, its dark energy contained within the vault's powerful wards. The Gwaithors were cautious, knowing that the artifact held great power but fearing its curse.
The Amethyst Resurfaces
In recent times, the Amethyst of The Dying Star mysteriously disappeared from the Gwaithor family vault, causing great concern among the nobility. The disappearance was initially kept secret, as the loss of such a valuable artifact would have brought shame to the house and called their honor into question. However, soon after the amethyst went missing, a series of brutal murders began to plague the island of Aerenal, each victim showing signs of having their life essence and rift energy drained.
The murders are believed to be the work of a serial killer wielding the amethyst, using its dark power to siphon the energy of their victims and grow stronger. The bodies of the victims were found withered and decayed, their magic suppressed, leaving no doubt that the amethyst had been used in these grisly crimes. The crystal itself is described as having a fractured appearance, and within its structure, it seems to create the illusion of a black hole, swirling with cosmic darkness. Its ominous aura is palpable, and those who have glimpsed it claim to feel an overwhelming sense of despair and inevitability, as if staring into the very heart of a collapsing star.
Legacy and Speculation
Though little is known about the true extent of the amethyst’s power, scholars speculate that its connection to Nyx and the dying star grants it more than just the ability to steal life essence. Some believe that the amethyst holds a fragment of Nyx’s own power, enabling the wielder to manipulate darkness and curses.
As the amethyst continues to leave a trail of death and fear in its wake, the mystery of who now wields it remains unsolved, though suspicions grow stronger with each passing day. Whispers of a cursed legacy, a forgotten pirate, and the treachery of House Gwaithor have resurfaced, and the question remains—who will fall victim next to the Amethyst of The Dying Star?
The dark influence of the crystal looms, and the longer it remains unchecked, the more perilous its impact on the world becomes.