Chalice

Legends speak of a silver cup
From which (if one should sup)
Powers mighty they should gain
Such as the ignorance of pain
Immortality perhaps, or eternal youth
Maybe great wisdom, to know the truth
Sent by the gods to aid mankind
For once they left we were left blind
'Twas guarded by the greatest men
For it is rumoured that if when
Into wrong hands the cup should fall
Darkness will reign, and threaten all

-Excerpt from 'The Chalice', by Werelyn Towarsen

The poem 'The Chalice' is generally not considered to have been one of the greater works of Werelyn Towarsen, a notable bard and playwright of the early first century PD (Post Deos).  In fact, it has been largely derided as a rather weak offering by most modern scholars.  It's content is accepted to be fictional, and has been classed as mythological, as no evidence of the eponymous chalice has ever been found or recorded.

- Excerpt from an interview with Dr Basil Browne, Professor of Non-Magical Literature at the Arcane Academy

With the recent troubles affecting the world, many causes have been offered as to the reason why the stable and civilised world has been plunged into turmoil.  One of these suggestions was easily tossed aside, that suggesting that the mythological Chalice had been found and was being put to malevolent use.  Of course, none of the people had ever really believed that such a preposterous notion could be true, and right they were in their ignorance.

A select few people knew that the Chalice truly existed, and even fewer knew of it's whereabouts.  Unfortunately, a traitor from this select band informed one of those from whom the Chalice had to be protected at all costs of it's location, and that one sent powerful servants to take the Chalice for it's own purpose.   They would have surprised those charged with it's protection, and could have even seized the Chalice, but for the fortunate discovery of the betrayal by one of those guardians. 

With the secrecy of it's location inherent in the safety of the artifact, the guardians decided that it had to be moved.  Thus began a desperate race to keep one step ahead of those that sought the Chalice for their own ends, for no-one truly knew what the Chalice was capable of - centuries of research had only discovered that the Chalice would disgorge it's contents if turned upside down, which was considered to be perhaps the most mundane of qualities.

The 'Chalice' thread will (once opened) follow the group who intend to protect the Chalice as it is moved to a safe location.