Fiction Activity Overview

The artifact is an urn, made of a smooth, black, polished obsidian. Embedded into the urn are four scenes depicted two male figures dressed in Sith garb. the first scene depicts one figure stealing an cylindrical object, speculated to be a light-saber or a holocron, from the other. The next scene depicts the sith who was stolen from laying a trap for the thief, preparing a pit for him to fall into. the third scene depicts the execution of the trap, with the thief being successfully lured into the pit. The fourth depicts the pit being set on fire, and the thief presumably burned alive. An inscription around the rim of the urn reads the following in the Old Tongue

Like a starving cat
You stalk what was mine by right
Steal away at night

The quiet spider
Sets a trap for its victim
Spinning silently

A crack of thunder
The trap is sprung, the thief caught
He struggles futilely

The Flames punish him
Till naught but grey ash remains
A resting place, here.

The form is a series of four haikus.

Description:
The tentatively named "Crown of Ruin" is an ancient headpiece akin to a tiara. It is crafted of stone and silver plated with ornamentation of white ceramic bordered with gold trim. Though it sits lightly upon the skull, it has a curious effect on individuals within close proximity of the wearer. Force using individuals have been found to be unable to feel or tap into the Force when the item is activated. By comparison, the wearer has an increased capability or potential with the Force while the item is activated. The inscription, which has been carved into the inside of the tiara, causes the item to glow briefly and begin to exhibit the effects described above. Otherwise, it appears to be a slightly gaudy but otherwise inoffensive or noteworthy artifact.

Poetry Form:
The chosen poem form is multiple-stanza haiku (the syllables sounded right when I sounded them out):

ancient artifact
grand source of power and might
clad in white and gold

crafted from stone grey
held by rings of bright silver
like a crown of old

no force beneath you
none influence on the world
the powerful bound

kings and lords as fools
warriors and knaves alike
all as but children

eternal hunger
I grant your will to consume
ancient sith magic

ruin in your wake
only one king to wield you
all else become weak

but one thing you ask
and I give you as payment
my life for power

The Face of Fire

Artifact:

The artifact is a bust of an ancient, masked Sith Lord. A cowl shrouds and surrounds the mask, and the mask itself is ashen grey with faded, yellowed vertical stripes upon it's cheeks and up over the eye sockets. When a Force Sensitive touches the mask, it feels warm to the touch. After a few moments the eye sockets and mouth fill with apparent flames. Though this seems like an illusion, heat emanates from them as if from a real fire, and the bust becomes scalding hot to the touch. When the incantation is spoken by a Force user, they can feel something "tugging" at their mind. The stronger they are, the stronger this pull is, and it seems to tug one toward the outer rim.

Poem format: Tanka (5-7-5-7-7 syllables, in 4 stanzas)

In the far reaches
There is one who dreams in space
His mind a wild place
He waits and watches for signs,
Of a time to strike once more

His touch burns the flesh,
His will is made manifest
Burn the unworthy
Scald those who show true power
Grant them the vision to see

The path is open,
It unfolds before my eyes
The return is set,
I will travel the right path,
To be determined worthy

The inferno burns,
But my power will shield me,
I am judged worthy,
I will take hold of his strength,
And return with the wild one

Augur Locke Sonjie
10311