Description
• Artifact Name: The Ember Crown (informally referred to as “the visor”)
Type: Symbolic and practical facial covering
Era of Origin: Ancient Edson, ~-10,000 AE
Crafted by: Thomel, the village ironsmith, with contributions from the villagers
The visor is a masterwork of traditional Edsonian craftsmanship—hand-forged from a base of burnished iron and fitted bronze, giving it both strength and an earthy, grounded tone. Fine veins of inlaid gold trace across its surface, drawn from old keepsakes melted down and recast as delicate filigree. At its heart, set between the bridge of the nose and the brow, lies the green crystal—alive with a slow, inner pulse. Through it, Vear perceives not with eyes, but with a mind sharpened beyond flesh. It is not merely protection.
The design is both elegant and utilitarian. The inner lining is padded with soft leather for long wear, while the outer curvature is molded to wrap smoothly around the upper face, fully covering Vear’s damaged eyes and the bandages beneath. The structure serves as both protective mask and symbolic crown, intentionally crafted to transform injury into authority. The villagers’ workmanship ensured the visor would sit securely, even during battle, movement, or intense exertion.
Functional Role
Though Vear sees without physical eyes—perceiving the world through heightened senses and mental acuity—the visor serves two important purposes:
- Social Protection: It shields others from the discomfort of staring into Vear’s damaged or sightless gaze, easing tension in gatherings or moments of leadership.
- Symbol of Unity: Every piece of the visor came from someone in the village—gold, stones, labor—making it a shared act of hope and allegiance. It is a crown of the people, not inherited but earned.
Cultural Meaning
Among the villagers and rebels of ancient Edson, the visor becomes a mythic object, inseparable from the image of Vear. Over time, it’s remembered not just as a mask, but as a mark of transformation—the moment a blind exile became a leader, a whisper of rebellion became a movement, and hope found a face.
Origin Story (Summary)
Vear lost his sight during a violent battle with Agent Thalos aboard a The Beta-Class Space/Time Ship, in orbit over Edson during the Middle Edsonian \ Era (~-1000 AE). Gravely injured but alive, Vear escaped aboard the Aetherion, flinging himself deeper into the past—10,000 years earlier. Now stranded in ancient Edson and learning to live without physical vision, he became a symbol to the people he protected. The villagers, led by Thomel, gift him the visor as a tribute and sign of trust.