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 Champions Valoris 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. While it may not be the first time the Abyssal Crests were used this way, they were wielded by the heroes of the Age of Dragons against the Burning Knight and his demonic minions. This event is depicted in a mural in the Temple of the Abyssal Guardians, a dwarven ruin on the southernmost mountain in the Spine of the World. The mural also shows six heroes using the Crests. 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, and Malino're, with one Crest remaining in Falas. However, the nature of the Abyssal Crests was not necessarily made clear to their recipients. According to Kain, Karseidon worried that the Crests being kept in one place made it more likely that they would be taken and used to unseal Alzrius. Possibly as a result of his actions, 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 Champions Valoris 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 Champions Valoris 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 Champions Valoris 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. In Atemcester, the Circle of Eight voted to entrust the Bands of the Archmagi to the Champions Valoris, reasoning that their ranks may be infiltrated at some point and the Crest would be safer in the hands of traveling adventurers. However, the Champions Valoris needed to pass a trial in order to prove themselves capable of protecting the Bands first, which they successfully did.

Before the party made their way to Aquos, they learned that the city had fallen to an attack led by a kraken and an aboleth, who were searching Coralpeak Citadel for something, deduced by the party to be the Abyssal Crest. Emperor Khavas and Empress Arlyn were able to identify the Wreath of Persana as the object in question. As a result, Khavas blamed Karseidon for the fall of Aquos. The party assisted Reides's family in repelling the invasion, reclaiming the city for the tritons. In the aftermath, Khavas told Reides the location of the Wreath of Persana, allowing Reides to claim it and remove it from the city.

Drape of the Cursed
The Abyssal Crest of Port Valor. The Drape of the Cursed is a blue cloth robe with a purple trim. It allows the wearer to summon undead creatures at the cost of some of the wearer's vitality. These undead have a notably fungal appearance. When Slumberjack applied the power of the soul orb to it, it was able to summon an undead bulette, although this is not within the normal capabilities of the Drape. The Drape also causes a trail of mushrooms to sprout and wither in the wearer's footsteps. If consumed before withering, these mushrooms have "various effects." When resonating with other Crests, it can summon more powerful undead creatures (although at a greater hit point cost) and can enhance the wearer's mental attributes. 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 was taken by the Burning Knight, who eventually bestowed it upon Slumberjack. However, when able to partially escape the Knight's influence, Slumberjack gave it to their former adventuring companions. It is currently in the Bag of Holding carried by the Champions Valoris.

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 two 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 Champions Valoris 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. The Bands of the Archmagi are a pair of silver wristbands with blue inlaid gems. Within each gem, the faint symbol of a shield emblazoned with a flame pulsates gently. The wearer of the Bands may cast any 2nd level wizard or sorcerer spell at will. This ability can be used once per day and recharges at dawn. Furthermore, the magical weave surrounding the bands enhances the powers of material components, and cost requirements for materials are reduced by 30% while attuned to the bands. When assembled with at least three other Crests, the Bands apply a bonus of +2 to their wearer's Intelligence or Charisma score, up to a total of 22. The level of spell usable at will is also increased to 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 Champions Valoris 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. Though Reides wore them for a time, he handed them over to Ashara upon finding the Abyssal Crest of Aquos. The Bands are currently in Ashara's possession.

Wreath of Persana
The Abyssal Crest of Aquos. The Wreath of Persana is silvery-blue in color and fashioned to look like coral. There is a blue gem inlaid at each ending of the Wreath, for a total of 15 gems. Similar to the gems affixed to the Bands of the Archmagi, the faint symbol of a shield emblazoned with a flame pulsates inside of each of these gems. The wearer of the Wreath may expend a spell slot to charge up one of the gems inlaid on the wreath, with one spell level corresponding to one gem. When a 1st level or higher spell deals damage, the wearer may use a bonus action to fire a burst of force damage along with the spell equivalent to as many points as are charged into the wreath. This burst may only target one creature at a time, but the points used can be adjusted as the wearer desires. When assembled with at least two other Crests, the Wreath applies a bonus of +2 to its wearer's Charisma, Intelligence, or Wisdom score up to a total of 22. In addition, when the Wreath is resonating along with these two other crests, the points charged in the Wreath can be reclaimed as spell slots by focusing on the Wreath for 10 minutes, though these reclaimed spell slots cannot exceed 5th level. In 588, the Wreath of Persana was gifted back to Emperor Khavas by Emperor Karseidon II, and its return was seen as a blessing at the time. However, the gift of the Wreath did not begin an era of improved relations with the surface, and Khavas put the Wreath into storage as he had no personal use for it. The Wreath of Persana was the target of an attack on Aquos in 598, led by Kal’dazzum and Ryl'dhagt of the Abyss, presumably associated with Alzrius or the Burning Knight. Alongside the Laverathian resistance that sought to retake the city, the Champions Valoris thwarted these two beasts during the Siege of Coralpeak Citadel. As thanks for the group's decisive role in saving Aquos, Emperor Khavas entrusted Reides with the Wreath. The Wreath is therefore currently in Reides' possession.

Blade of Lyvernia
The Abyssal Crest of Falas. The Blade of Lyvernia was wielded by Emperor Lyvernia herself in the continent's struggle against the chromatic dragons. It seems to have the ability to infuse its attacks with different elemental energies, changing its damage type. It is currently unknown if her sword happened to be an Abyssal Crest before she claimed it or if it somehow became one within her lifetime. It currently resides under the care of Emperor Eurystheos XIV.

Woodwalker's Stride
The presumed Abyssal Crest of Malino're. They seem to be a pair of boots that enhance the wearer's speed and may have once been used by the legendary hero Jorah. It is assumed that they were taken from Malino're by the hags who infiltrated the Council of Elders leading up to the Bloomshower Fest in 598 and are, consequently, in the possession of the Burning Knight and his allies. This seems to have been confirmed by Tyrian's comment that, if he took the party's Crests, there would only be one left for the Burning Knight's allies to claim. Regardless of the Crest's ownership, it currently resides in Villane.