Relic is a term used by Wraiths to describe objects across the Shroud who are not formed by souls - things that inspired great passion in life, and which linger on in death.
Overview[]
No longer in existence in the Skinlands, a relic is a memory given shape in the Underworld that can survive for centuries. It is a term that can apply to any item or device which crosses the Shroud with an Enfant, and they can be anything of value to that specific wraith, but usually have a symbolic tie to an individual or group of individuals.
Most relics are ideals in some fashion - they will often replace expendable features (such as bullets) with Pathos, and generally won't break (unless they were originally broken), however, they often fade as time erodes their significance to the wraiths. Relics are generally tied to a wraith's self-image and may have special capacities associated with that.
These items are a significant source of wealth in Underworld society, and are commonly bartered between the dead. They can be acquired in a variety of fashions, most of them fairly brutal, although they often appear in the flotsam of the Tempest. Some of the most valuable relics have also been fashioned into artifacts.
The reverse object of a relic is a phylactery.
References[]
- WTO: Wraith: The Oblivion Second Edition, p. 44
- WTO/cMET: Oblivion, p. 24, 29, 41-42
- cMET: Mind's Eye Theatre: Dark Epics, p. 78