Heart of the Obscure
This article is about the artifact. For the 
The Heart of the Obscure is a mysterious, magical object crafted by the kodan wizard Waiting Sorrow. The ancient magics within the artifact call out for a bond to be formed between itself and the wielder, and this process occurs naturally the longer the wielder spends time with the artifact in their possession.[1] It has primarily been used to both open and seal rifts,[2] although it possesses other abilities as well.
History[edit]
Some time after joining the Wizard's Court, the kodan Waiting Sorrow created the Heart of the Obscure. She left the artifact in her quarters in the Wizard's Tower after departing from the organization, and it remained undisturbed for many years.
Just before the Kryptis breached the defenses of the Wizard's Tower, the recent Astral Ward recruit Zojja found the artifact in Waiting Sorrow's quarters and began studying it, becoming one of its wielders along with First Hunter Rian and Second Hunter Kamilla.[1][2][3] When the Kryptis attacks grew in intensity and spread to Amnytas and Skywatch Archipelago, Zojja handed the Heart over to the visiting Pact Commander in 1336 AE while pointing out that she was still learning the depths of its power. With Rian and Kamilla's help, the Commander began learning more about the Heart and mastering its use while trying to push the Kryptis invaders back.
Powers[edit]
The Heart of the Obscure generally acts as the conduit for its wielder's emotional energy as a source of power that allows it to accomplish many different tasks. The artifact has the ability to both open and seal rifts from the Mists and elsewhere by following their astral frequency, using its wielder's desire to face the rift intruders as an emotional power source to help locate the rifts.[2] Using charms called motivations to strengthen the connection between the artifact and its wielder allows the Heart to attune to stronger emotions hidden within its wielder and lure out more dangerous enemies from rifts.[3]
It can cleanse people possessed by Kryptis or corrupted by other entities such as bloodstone ghosts by drawing out the possessive being or emotional energy such as angst from the affected person to then battle the possessors directly.[4][5][6]
It can translate certain languages such as mursaat script into the wielder's language.[7][8]
It can be used to neutralize bloodstone shards by draining magic out of them and dispersing it, thus freeing the ghosts trapped within and allowing the ghosts to move on to their designated afterlife.[9]
Gallery[edit]
The Heart of the Obscure scanning for rifts.
References[edit]
- ^ a b Mother of Stars
- First Hunter Rian: Your eagerness is welcome, but there remains one step before I teach you how to locate rifts. The Heart must be attuned.
- First Hunter Rian: The ancient magics within the artifact call out for a bond to be formed between itself and the wielder.
- First Hunter Rian: It should be a simple matter of spending time with the artifact in your possession, doing whatever you normally do. [...]
- First Hunter Rian: Thankfully that device of yours—the Heart of the Obscure—has given us a new windfall. In your hands? A blessing.
- First Hunter Rian: They found it in Waiting Sorrow's quarters just before we lost the tower...
- First Hunter Rian: Don't know what she made it for, but the Heart's ability to open and seal rifts by following their astral frequency is impressive.
- First Hunter Rian: I've not much more time with the Heart than you, but let me guide you.
- First Hunter Rian: The Heart of the Obscure is capable of astonishing things.
- First Hunter Rian: It can act as a conduit for your emotional energy, channeling it as a source of power.
- First Hunter Rian: Now, hold the Heart aloft and focus your thoughts on the demonic rifts, and your desire to hunt down these...intruders. [...]
- Story journal: Rian taught me how to use the Heart of the Obscure—the device that Zojja gave me in the battle prior that we used to close rifts at the Beacon of Ages. Apparently, it was crafted by a kodan wizard named Waiting Sorrow who has since left the Astral Ward (on somewhat precarious terms, I hear). Whenever I channel the device's power, strange waves of emotion seem to guide me forward. Though I can't describe why, I feel a strong connection to it already.
- ^ a b c Hell Breaks Loose
- <Character name>: What is this thing?
- Zojja: The Heart of the Obscure. We're still learning the depths of its power, but we know it can seal and open rifts.
- Zojja: Found it stuffed in— Not important, Zojja! We need to take control of this situation!
- ^ a b Into the Obscure
- Second Hunter Kamilla: When I first handled the device, I felt a yearning in it. It had curiosity for me, perhaps. As I, it.
- Second Hunter Kamilla: I followed this "pull" and melded a spell—a charm, of sorts, that would strengthen the connection between wielder and the Heart.
- Second Hunter Kamilla: I've taken to calling them "motivations." They should enable the Heart to attune to even stronger emotions, hidden within you.
- ^ Exorcise the possessed researchers
- ^ Help Narcisse purge corruption from the plants!
- ^ Help Gosta Contact the Restless Spirits
- ^ Ancient Scroll (object)
- ^ Researcher's Record
- ^ Finding Balance
- Waiting Sorrow: If the titans are siphoning energy from bloodstone, neutralizing the shards may nullify their advantage.
- Waiting Sorrow: Something the Heart of the Obscure should be more than capable of. [...]
- Story journal: Since the titans have been using the area's bloodstone to replenish their energy, Waiting Sorrow proposed neutralizing it with the Heart of the Obscure. Clever. But like any hypothesis, we had to test it. Our attempt at neutralizing the bloodstone was successful, but not without consequences. The magical blowback from the exploding bloodstone is quite powerful and must be handled with care.
