Tarnished silver armband
Prize item for Hunt for History.
a tarnished silver armband
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The tarnished silver armband was once an impressive piece, showing sturdy craftsmanship that, although ravaged by the sands of time, still allows for use to this day. An uncut ruby has been pressed into the band, its surface slightly scratched but its luster still brilliant. To each side of the ruby lies a faded inscription that is difficult to make out entirely: "Iss..ir O.r. Cl.n."
Said to date from the battle of Shadowguard.
Loresong
NOTE: Lines in italics show what the bard's reactions were during the loresinging.
Bestrix focuses his attention on his armband as a verse escapes his lips.
An image slowly paints itself into your mind as you focus your song on the armband. A battlefield stretches before you littered with the carnage of war: battle-scarred shields, bloodied weapons, horrifically mutilated bodies and a sea of scavenger birds picking at the remains. Looming over the scene like a lifeless sentinel in the distant background is a fortress.
Bestrix's eyes widen momentarily as he continues his song.
As your song intensifies, the scene zooms in to a closer perspective of the battlefield, granting enough detail to show a wide assortment of lifeless bodies. Elves, orcs, trolls, and a scattering of undead once laid to rest now lie together in a twisted mass -- a grisly reminder of the wages of war.
Bestrix focuses his undivided attention on his armband as he continues his song.
A band of muscular giantmen walk among the dead, slowly separating the departed elven soldiers from the other creatures. The giantmen do not speak or reflect emotion in the midst of this macabre scene, but their faces do show a mask of determination as they set about their business. Whereas they show respect in their handling of the elven corpses, the rest are simply thrown together in piles and set aflame.
Bestrix focuses his undivided attention on his armband as he finishes his song.
The battlefield transitions to a new scene, a field littered with multitudes of recently dug graves. Amongst this field are giantmen who wield not weapons, but shovels, as well as elven children, women, and men who weep miserably over the graves. The scene pulls away from the field until eventually no detail can be made out at all.
Reference
Unofficial documentation located here: http://members.aol.com/gs3augie/tarnishedarmband.html