Posted: Wed May 25, 2005 4:35 pm
Seal of State-Transmitting Power
The Seal is a legendary treasure, having been crafted for the first emperor of the Zhou dynasty, to commerate his victory over the corrupt Shang emperor. Since then, the seal served as a symbol of the "Mandate of Heaven," granting its owner the authority to rule over China. It has been passed down from emperor to emperor, from dynasty to dynasty, until it was lost during the Boxer Rebellion, around 1900.
The Seal of State-Transmitting Power is a 6-inch tall dragon carved of dark green jade. It gets its name from the literal translation of the inscription on its bottom, which reads either as "By The Authority of the Emperor," or "By The Power of the State."
FORBIDDEN LORE:
The Seal does indeed grant its possessor the authority of Heaven. By issuing a decree while holding it, or using it to stamp a written contract, the current owner may place a geas on any other sentient creature. If a being who has been commanded by the seal's owner refuses to obey, then he/she/it will literally wither away and die, unless they comply, or the owner relents.
As powerful as the Seal is, it is not a toy, and must never be abused. Those who use the Seal to command others to commit evil acts in their name must make a powers check for every such command issued. Furthermore, those who abuse the Seal's power risk being visited by dire calamities that culminate with the complete destruction of the owner, sometimes metaphorical, sometimes literal.
The Seal is a legendary treasure, having been crafted for the first emperor of the Zhou dynasty, to commerate his victory over the corrupt Shang emperor. Since then, the seal served as a symbol of the "Mandate of Heaven," granting its owner the authority to rule over China. It has been passed down from emperor to emperor, from dynasty to dynasty, until it was lost during the Boxer Rebellion, around 1900.
The Seal of State-Transmitting Power is a 6-inch tall dragon carved of dark green jade. It gets its name from the literal translation of the inscription on its bottom, which reads either as "By The Authority of the Emperor," or "By The Power of the State."
FORBIDDEN LORE:
The Seal does indeed grant its possessor the authority of Heaven. By issuing a decree while holding it, or using it to stamp a written contract, the current owner may place a geas on any other sentient creature. If a being who has been commanded by the seal's owner refuses to obey, then he/she/it will literally wither away and die, unless they comply, or the owner relents.
As powerful as the Seal is, it is not a toy, and must never be abused. Those who use the Seal to command others to commit evil acts in their name must make a powers check for every such command issued. Furthermore, those who abuse the Seal's power risk being visited by dire calamities that culminate with the complete destruction of the owner, sometimes metaphorical, sometimes literal.