True and False Phylacteries of Paladine

D&D 3e (3.0/3.5) Rules

by Valharic

Entry in the Holy Artifacts Challenge.

Before the Knights of Solamnia, before Vinas Solamnus, warriors of Paladine walked the land as paladins, champions of faith. The first paladin, his name lost to time, was granted a great gift from Paladine himself. The Phylactery of Paladine, forged by the hands of Reorx, and blessed by the Platinum Dragon. The Phylactery shone bright in the sun, with its five platinum triangles, bound together by a golden chain, each triangle representing good, law, nobility, protection, and the sun. It was said those who bore the phylactery inspired armies, resisted the supernatural powers of evil, and brought forth the power of good, among other abilities lost to time.

As the years passed the phylactery was passed down from paladins, to clerics, and to priests of the Valiant Warrior, thwarting the evil power of the land, especially those who were in the thrall of the Dark Queen. Eventually the Phylactery of Paladine came into the hands of the High Clerist, the spiritual leader of the Knights of Solamnia. There it remained for generations as a symbol of power for those who held that position.

Tahkisis, in her jealous anger bore a plot to bring down those who wore the Phylactery. She took the guise of Paladine an approached Reorx requesting an exact replica of the Phylactery. Using her charm, she played on his pride and spoke of his fine craftsmanship and how she (as Paladine) would like another phylactery to show the world. It is said that once Reorx discovered that this was truly Tahkisis, the term "False Metal" began to be used by the dwarves identify her. By then it was too late, Tahkisis had her Phylactery. She blessed hers twice over. Once with curses that would corrupt those who wore the phylactery and powers that would mimic those of the true phylactery. Then she disguised it, made to look like the true phylactery when divination was used upon it. So powerful in fact, that no known power could determine its true nature. She presented the artifact to one of her priestesses with the vision of corruption.

Upon a campaign of the knighthood, when the current High Clerist was in camp, the priestess, disguised as a peasant woman, found her way to his tent and seduce him. That evening she switched the artifacts and disappeared into the night, with none knowing the better.

In time, as the High Clerist don the false phylactery, he slowly began to change. He no longer inspired those around him but instead demanded action from them. His demeanor began to change also; his acts became more and more questionable. Until the day he murdered a fellow knight. Fleeing the scene, the High Clerist could no longer resist the call of the Dark Queen and became a servant of Tahkisis.

The phylacteries both became lost to time. Many Knights of Solamnia quested to find the true phylactery thinking they found the true artifact only to turn to evil once they bore it. Many good and brave knights were lost this way. Then in the time of the Beladonis both artifacts were recovered by the Wizards of High Sorcery. As a peace offering to the Kingpriest the wizards had hoped to present the true phylactery as a gift to the Kingpriest but the power of the Dark Queen was too great. No divinations of the most powerful of wizards could determine which one was the true artifact. So, not risking the ire of the Kingpriest, the wizards buried away the phylacteries in the Tower of Istar, forgotten and lost to time.

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