The crown was intricate, made from a metal that seemed to shift between silver and gold. Runes covered every surface, each one a complete spell in itself. It hadn't been meant as decoration—it was a tool, a focus for tremendous power.
The sword was simpler in design but no less significant.
A straight blade, perfectly balanced, with a hilt wrapped in materials that no longer existed in the world. It radiated potential, suggesting that in the right hands it could cut through more than just flesh.
"Draelusa's forces secured the crown," Wendelina continued.
"Despite our best efforts, they breached the inner sanctum and took it before we could stop them. The Blaedred Skull now possesses whatever knowledge and power that artifact contains."
Angry murmurs ran through the assembled Coven heads.
This was a significant loss, and everyone knew it.
