COTC > Artefacts

A number of magickal artefacts have been mentioned or depicted. For convenience, they are divided up into categories based somewhat on nationality. (Colours refer only to callout lines in the image of the Council Vault at right.)

The largest repository of magickal artefacts seems to be the Vault of the Council of Three. Certainly many artefacts are considered extremely dangerous and are stored in the Vault to keep them safely out of the hands of any people who might misuse them.

One presumes that some of the artefacts available to the Council of Three can be used to enforce its will and authority, but that’s pure speculation at this point. Given the power Lillith wields in her own right, it might also be superfluous.

Information on some of the spells available without recourse to the power of an artefact are listed under Magick Spells.

Ancient/Special (orange)
Keys to the Chambers	Current location: In each Councillor’s possession Previous location: Under guard by Waldemar Hercules Timon at his sanctuary Created: at Council creation in 8096 BCE Description: Disks of gold-coloured metal each inscribed with the symbol of the council member who should hold it. The Wizard Key has a goat’s head, the Horned God. The Vampire Key has an owl with wings outstretched. The Morph Key has a wolf’s head. As further security, each key must be placed in its appropriate keyhole by the correct Councillor. As Timon said, “If the wrong wolf inserts the key it will cause this cave to collapse and bury us alive.” See also Council, Location.
Unicorn horn	Current location: Vault of the Council of Three Description: Horn of the magickal one-horned beast. Folklore assigns the ability to detect poison in food or water, as well as purifying such contamination to unicorn horn.
The Holy Grail	Current location: (rumoured) The Vatican Created/Acquired: at the crucifixion of Y’Shua ben Yosep, 32 CE. Description: The cup used by Jesus Christ at the Last Supper. It is purported to be able to heal all wounds.
Excalibur	Current location: Vault of the Council of Three Previous location:Camelot, Britain Created/Acquired: 5th or 6th century CE Description: Sword of King Arthur, defender of Britain.
Merlin’s Crystal Ball	Current location: Vault of the Council of Three Previous location:Merlin’s sanctuary, Britain Created/Acquired: 5th or 6th century CE Description: A clear globe of crystal, possibly quartz, used by Merlin the Magician during his life.
Shaman Jaguar Mask	Current location: Vault of the Council of Three Description: A Shaman Jaguar Mask is used in ritual to evoke the spirit of the jaguar. It actually works. This is one of those rare cases in which the Spirit-Morph can actually transform into the totem animal. That’s why it is in the vault.
The Sword	Current location: In the possession of Corrine Melpomene Chattan Previous location: In the possession of Marcus Lupus Ferox Created: 1002 CE Description: Blessed by a priest, the Sword is purported to be the only weapon that can allow a non-pureblood morph to kill a pureblood morph. Certainly, Marcus Lupus Ferox (Deus Lupus) believed it. See also: How to Kill a Morph.
Gold Urn	Current location: Vault of the Council of Three Acquired: 1431 CE after her death Description: Contains the heart of Ste. Jeanne d’Arc (St. Joan of Arc), which was not consumed by the fire when she was burned at the stake as a heretic.
Brain of the Frankenstein Monster	Current location: Vault of the Council of Three Acquired: circa 1818 CE Description: Self-explanatory.
Silver Urn	Current location: Vault of the Council of Three Acquired: 1915 CE Description: Contains the ashes of Vlad Dracula Tepes. See also: Dracula Tepes, Vlad.
Chinese (indigo)
Golden Chinese Mask	Current location: Vault of the Council of Three Description: Very magickal mask of unknown provenance and powers.
Lotus Flowers	Current location: Vault of the Council of Three Acquired: circa 550 BCE Description: Given to the Council by the Buddha, Siddhartha Guatama, so that they may forever have a clear path to enlightenment.
Egyptian (yellow)
Sarcophagus of Im-Ho-Tep	Current location: Vault of the Council of Three Description: Ancient Egyptian priest who was the living mummy.
Greek (red)
Bow of Odysseus	Current location: Vault of the Council of Three Description: The bow which belonged to the Greek adventurer Odysseus; it was reported that only a virtuous person could draw it.
Golden Fleece	Current location: Vault of the Council of Three Description: Magickal fleece of the flying ram which carried Phrixus and Helle from the intrigues of their native land.
Pan’s Flute	Current location: Vault of the Council of Three Description: Multiple panpipes purported to belong to the Greek satyr-god Pan.
Pandora’s Box	Current location: Vault of the Council of Three Description: Box given to Pandora by Zeus; previously contained all known sufferings and plagues, now contains only hope.
Jewish (cyan)
Ark of the Covenant	Current location: Vault of the Council of Three Previous location: Solomon’s Temple of Yahweh, Jerusalem Acquired: 586 BCE after Babylonians razed the Temple Description: Original Ark lost since the Temple in Jerusalem built by King Solomon was destroyed by the Babylonians circa 600 BCE.
Tablets of the Ten Commandments	Current location: Vault of the Council of Three Previous location: Solomon’s Temple of Yahweh, Jerusalem Acquired: 586 BCE after Babylonians razed the Temple Description: The tablets of the Law inscribed by the Finger of God and given to Moses. They had previously been in the Ark of the Covenant.
Norse (magenta)
Odin’s Cauldron	Current location: Vault of the Council of Three Description: A Cauldron of Bounty, similar to the Greek cornucopia, from which Odin would distribute gifts to the world at Yule.
Odin’s Ring Draupnir	Current location: Vault of the Council of Three Description: According to myth it “drips” eight identical rings every ninth night. The ring is said to be exceptionally beautiful and a symbol of fruitfulness.
Thor’s Hammer Mjollnir	Current location: Vault of the Council of Three Description: The thunder-hammer.
Various (green)
Golden Plate	Current location: Vault of the Council of Three Description: Unknown provenance and significance at this time.
Various magickal writings	Current location: Vault of the Council of Three Acquired: At various times throughout history Description: Scrolls and tablets of various spells and secret writings. Merlin’s works are probably included (acquired in the 6th century CE). These probably also include the originals of the Scrolls of Hekate containing spells supposedly written by the gods (acquired circa 1461 CE). Curiously, they do not have a copy of the Book of Ba.
Dark Sun Necklace	Current location: In the possession of Wald Previous location: In the possession of Rose Wilson and before that in the possession of Tepes-Vampire Morana Muna (turned by Dracula himself) Created: circa 1765 CE Description: Allows a vampire to walk in the sunlight with impunity. It was created and ensorcelled by Morana Muna, through the selfish dark magick of Tepes-vampires.
Common tools or devices
Detecting stone	Description: Any of a number of “devices” which can detect the presence of magick. Where no magick is present it is black. Powerful magick is signified by it turning gold. See also Detecting Stone.
Voodoo soul jar	Description: Any of a number of different containers which are capable of holding, or trapping, a soul on the Earth plane after physical death. This is not a particularly dangerous type of artefact, and many exist, have existed, and will exist. See also Voodoo Soul Jar.

Magickal Artefacts

References