Abyssal Crests

The Abyssal Crests are a set of objects that were used to seal away the demon lord Alzrius. They were crafted in a variety of forms, and the currently known ones resemble wearable magical objects. Judging from the Plate of the Ancestors, they seem to serve as powerful magical objects, becoming even more powerful in the presence of multiple other Crests. The Crests are currently sought by the Burning Knight and his allies in order to free Alzrius to terrorize Alethustria once more. The Pog Champions are currently also seeking out the Abyssal Crests to ensure they don't fall into the hands of Alzrius's followers.

History
Long ago, the Abyssal Crests were created and used to seal the demon lord Alzrius. This event is depicted in a mural in a dwarven ruin on the southernmost mountain in the Spine of the World. The mural shows six heroes using the Crests, although it is currently unknown if all existing Abyssal Crests were depicted in the mural, or if there are more. As shown in the wall carving, the Crests were separated after the sealing. Eventually, though, the Crests were gathered in Falas and held by the Falassian Empire's imperial family. Around 588, Emperor Karseidon II decided to return the Crests to the kingdoms that originally contributed them: Port Valor, Aquos, Atemcester, the Exeter, Malino're, and possibly Seaton and Arc-Delia, with one Crest remaining in Falas. However, the nature of the Abyssal Crests was not necessarily made clear to their recepients. It is unknown if Karseidon did this as a gesture of goodwill to these other kingdoms or if he worried that the Crests being kept in one place made it more likely that they would be taken and used to unseal Alzrius. In either case, Karseidon was assassinated within a year of the dispersal of the Abyssal Crests.

Involvement
One of Thorak Fireaxe's primary motives in destroying Port Valor was to access Corvus's treasury and retrieve a magical blue robe entrusted to Corvus by the Emperor. This was Port Valor's Abyssal Crest, and Thorak turned it over to the Burning Knight on the night of the attack. The Pog Champions were asked to retrieve the robe, but were too late, and only learned of its nature when the Burning Knight informed the newly freed Tyrian Vordt, who had also sought the Crest for the Knight during his life, of the situation. Soon after this encounter, Reides discovered a list of the locations of the Abyssal Crests, with Port Valor and Malino're crossed out, their Crests presumably already taken.

Back in Port Valor, the Pog Champions learned of the Crests' history from the Emperor and Kain, and were asked to travel to the remaining locations and prevent them from falling into the Burning Knight's hands. The first one they pursued was the Crest in the Exeter, as the Emperor and Kain were confident they could deal with the mole in Falas's court on their own and the Exeter was the next closest. Soon after their arrival, they identified the Plate of the Ancestors, a suit of armor in the royal armory chosen by Dunan Slagmeld as his gift during that year's Bequeathing Ceremony, as a likely candidate for the Abyssal Crest's identity. They eventually discovered that they were correct after confronting and killing Dunan before he could give the Plate of the Ancestors to the Burning Knight. The Pog Champions took the Plate for themselves and removed it from the Exeter to prevent it from becoming a target for the Burning Knight's minions in future Bequeathing Ceremonies.

Abyssal Crest of Port Valor
A blue cloth robe with a purple trim. The Falassian royal family entrusted this Crest to the ruler of Port Valor, Count Corvus, many years ago. Covus safeguarded it by keeping it locked within his personal treasury. The Crest presumably remained there until the Fall of Port Valor. This Crest is currently held by the Burning Knight, and its attributes and abilities are unknown.

Plate of the Ancestors
The Abyssal Crest of the Exeter. The Plate of the Ancestors is a set of golden plate armor, consisting of gauntlets, greaves, thick padding, and a breastplate emblazoned with the image of a shield with a flame across the chest. It is of obvious dwarven make. The Plate of the Ancestors provides its wearer with an additional +1 AC on top of the typical benefits of plate armor and reduces the effectiveness of effects that would move the wearer by 10 feet. Once per day, the wearer can also further increase their AC by 2 for one turn as a reaction. In the presence of three other Abyssal Crests, the Plate of the Ancestors also imbues its wearer with further additional AC and a constitution bonus. The Plate was kept outside of the Exeter for a long period of time, but was returned to the city in 588. It was locked away within King Thoros' royal armory until Dunan Slagmeld chose it as his gift in the Bequeathing Ceremony. While Dunan intended to turn the Plate over to the Burning Knight, the Pog Champions were able to intercept him and obtain it instead. It is currently in Kilwin's possession.

Bands of the Archmagi
The Abyssal Crest of Atemcester. They are a pair of silver wristbands with blue inlaid gems. The symbol of a shield with a flame on it glows within the gems. Once per day, the bands allow the wearer to cast any one 2nd-level wizard or sorcerer spell at will. They also reduce the required cost of material components for spells by 30%, as their magical weave enhances the components' powers. In the presence of three other Abyssal Crests, they also increase the wearer's intelligence or charisma (wearer's choice) and the spell usable at will may be 3rd-level. Upon being returned to the Circle of Eight, the archmages immediately recognized their significance and entrusted them to a gynosphinx named Esbat, who guarded them in her temple on another plane. As the situation around the Abyssal Crests developed in 598, the Circle voted to allow the Pog Champions to take the Bands from Atemcester if they were able to pass Esbat's trial. The party succeeded and Esbat presented them with the Bands of the Archmagi. They are currently in Reides's possession, pending the retrieval of Aquos's Crest.