Note: This artefact is a new one. I only designed it recently but then retrofitted it (in a game and setting sense) as a secret artefact into my setting in Ghantik. It also in my opinion well conveys my personal theory that in-game magic should be difficult, dangerous, and wondrous.
As expressed in this thread. However it can also be argued that the Silkârjen is a form of magical-technology. And it is to a degree. Or it has the function of magic-tech to a certain extent, I wouldn’t argue that. But it does not operate like technology, it is very unreliable and inconsistent for instance, and no one is really even sure how it functions or the full range of its capabilities. And it has other capabilities and functions that I have not described here, because I am still working on developing it.
For background on how the Silkârjen developed see the
World's Apart.
Game Artifact – The
Silkârjen, or the
Kithverdünn (The Listening Posts, or the Collar of Kitharia). The Silkârjen (
the Listening Posts), or as they are known among those who operate them, the Kithverdünn (
the Collar of Kitharia) is the most recent artifact in the arsenal of devices used by the Kingdom of Kitharia to maintain the defense of the Realm and of many of the Eldeven peoples. The Silkârjen was initially invented and created by the Samareül after visiting the Kardġ fields and then sitting upon the Samarälear (Seat of Sacred Sight). The next morning upon arising he had shaped Kardġ brought to him and after striking it and pointing it in various directions he realized he could hear the conversations of others through the walls of the palace by touching the vibrating crystal to his ear. He then gave instructions to his best court inventors who set about experimenting with it and they discovered that when it was wrapped in a net or thin sheet of Cimmœlyn that the listening properties of the Kardġ were greatly amplified and clarified. In time it was found that if the Kardġ was shaped into Silkârj of various sizes, and then pointed and attuned correctly and emplaced in strategic locations that this allowed sounds to be heard from hundreds and even possibly thousands of leagues away. No one knows the real range of the devices.
– A large block of Kardġ is cut and then polished down into a three-sided obelisk of various heights and dimensions, usually varying from three meters to twenty meters in height. Some Silkârj weigh many tonnes. The obelisk is then fitted with a close woven, tight net of Cimmœlyn, usually in a lattice like or fishnet pattern. For the net to properly amplify the perceived sound the net must be complete, intact, and surface taut. The obelisk is then mounted onto a platform that allows it to be pointed at various angles and to be moved or repositioned as desired. A large and complicated network of these devices have now been built at strategic locations throughout the Kingdom of Kitharia and in allied lands and in some isolated and remote frontier areas.
How the Silkârj Works – No one is absolutely sure how the Silkârj works. It is the newest artefact of Kitharia. Many theories abound as to how it functions. Some think the crystal itself contains all the properties needed for proper function. Some that there are lines of Elturgical force in the atmosphere which trap and hold sound indefinitely which can then be later intercepted by the Silkârj. Still others that it amplifies and controls sound magically. Regardless of the exact means it can be used to “listen in” on sounds, noises, and even conversations from a great distance. What sounds are detected, and how clearly seem to depend upon which direction the Silkârj is pointed. Weather seems to have no effect upon the functioning of the artefact.
To operate a Silkârj one taps it vigorously with a large flat headed mallet of placoynn wood until it can be heard to ring (though no one is very sure if this is really necessary, for instance it can also be activated by elturgy, the mallet is thought by some to be simply a left over habit of tradition from when the Samareül first tested the Kardġ). Then one places one’s ear and hand to the vibrating Silkârj and one can hear things. With a good and new net of Cimmœlyn one can hear clearly and truly from a great distance. Various Elturgical and Eldarikan devices and techniques can also amplify and clarify the sound heard. However intercepted sounds are often muffled or incomplete, especially as regards overheard conversations, and without a clear and firm understanding of exactly what the Silkârj is pointed at or attuned to it is very difficult to know exactly what one is hearing, what it means, or from where it arises. To make matters even more complex and confusing if the Silkârj is pointed at the sky then at various times one can supposedly hear things occurring in the past, even the distant past. At night if the device is pointed outwards then sometimes weird and uncanny noises can be heard, and occasionally even apparent conversations can be heard in no language familiar to any of the Eldeven peoples. It is not known from where these conversations originate, if indeed they are actual conversations. Some think they are overheard sounds from other worlds, some that they are the lost speech of the Nephıařla who long ago seem to have abandoned Ghantik. Still others think that they may be overhearing the left over speech of an ancient and unknown race of beings.
In any case, over time, there has developed a complex network of listening posts and Kitharia uses this network to “overhear and spy upon” anyone they think might be a threat. The network of the Silkârjen is a closely guarded, though somewhat open secret of and about Kitharia. It is well known of by many of the Eldeven peoples because on several occasions the small yet superb Kitharian Army (perhaps the best in the world) and Navy has intercepted enemy armies on the march in surprise or ambush encounters, and because Kitharia often seems to possess valuable and secret diplomatic and political information which no-one can fully understand how they possess. This gives Kitharia, the Samareül, and the Court at Samarkand enormous military, political, diplomatic, economic, and in some cases even social advantage over their competitors and enemies alike. A large part of the advantages such as are enjoyed by Samarkand are derived from artefacts (inherited or newly created) and devices such as the Silkârjen network.
Still successfully operating and maintaining the Silkârjen network is a difficult, complex, confusing, and time and resource draining endeavour. Specially trained Sidelhin who are masters of numerous languages, some even dead or arcane languages, Sidelh who have exceptionally good hearing, and who are good at discerning exactly what it is they are hearing are used to listen to and monitor the Silkârj. But without a correspondingly complex web of advisors, analysts, interpreters, spies, and counselors to make sense of the overheard sounds and to fit what is heard to some useful or definite situation in the world, then the Silkârjen network would be of little use. It is at best still only partially effective and it can be very dangerous to employ. Sometimes operators go temporarily mad or suffer exhaustion and mental disorientation, troubled dreams, or waking hallucinations. This is especially true when tuning in to strange, alien, or weird sounds or conversations. The level of secrecy required to work on these artifacts is also straining and difficult for most individuals. Because of these dangers the Silkârjen is often called the Kithverdünn by those who use and operate it. Kithverdünn translates as the “Collar of Kitharia” and has a double meaning. It is a collar identifying and marking the Kitharians as being surrounded by the network of the Silkârjen, which helps to keep them safe, but it may also be a collar or a kind of constricting trap around the throats of those who operate it. Yet as time progresses the Kitharians get better and better at using this network which helps them to maintain an advantage of power over their enemies, and to defend their kingdom even when badly outnumbered in a strictly military sense.
Some of the Silkârj obelisks are now also being used to monitor for, and to help intercept the monsters or Korruhn that are becoming a more and more frequent occurrence in Ghantik. Because of this many monsters are now actively avoiding Samarkand and the inner parts of Kitharia, preferring either to inhabit the concealed frontiers, or other lands.
Explanation of Terms: Kardġ – the translucent crystal of Ghantik that cannot be spliced or split evenly but which can be polished into various shapes such as the Silkârj.
Silkârj – the three-sided obelisks of various sizes that form the Silkârjen.
Silkârjen – the network of the Silkârj obelisks used to hear things from a great distance.
Sym – Ghantikan Quicksilver, drinkable like water at cold temperatures, a green metal used in variety of medicines and for treating wounds and burns, said to increase longevity and virility. When exposed to Elturgy it becomes purple in color at room temperature and can then be melted in intense heat at which time it becomes yellowish, then finally afterwards hardens into a silver metal (thus transforming it into Cimmœlyn) than can be spun like cloth but is very hard and tough to break.
Cimmœlyn – Elturgical Quicksilver. Deep purple in cold or room temperatures. After heating it eventually hardens to become silver in appearance. Unlike Sym all forms of Cimmœlyn are toxic to most creatures.
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