Difference between revisions of "Moon Scepter"

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expand. more WOBs have clarified a few things
(expand. more WOBs have clarified a few things)
|books=[[The Emperor's Soul]]
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The '''Moon Scepter''' was part of the regalia of the Emperor of the [[Rose Empire]] on [[Sel]].{{tes ref|2}} It was on display in the [[Imperial Gallery]] of the [[Rose Palace]].{{tes ref|2}}
 
==Physical description==
The shape is similar to a Chinese scepter known as a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruyi_(scepter) ruyi] and it is pale blue in color, echoing the color of Sel's moon Oem.{{wob ref|3826}} It has [[Aon]]s written or inscribed on one side of it.{{wob ref|9626}}
 
== History ==
The origin of the Moon Scepter is unknown.
 
[[Shai]] wanted to swap the real scepter with her own [[Forgery|Forged]] copy as a test of her skill, because it was the most famous piece of art in the whole empire.{{tes ref|42}} After an elaborate plan that also included the theft and Forgery of a painting by [[Han ShuXen]], she was betrayed at the last moment by [[Hoid]], who she knows as the Imperial Fool, and imprisoned.{{tes ref|2}} Shai assumes that the Fool escaped with the original scepter and that her Forged version now sits in the gallery.{{tes ref|2}} Hoid does take the original scepter{{wob ref|9626}}{{bws ref|date=2014-03-31|name=tes-del|the-emperors-soul-deleted-prologue-imperial-fool|Deleted prologue from ''The Emperor's Soul''}} but it is not clear if he still has it.
 
== Use in Investiture ==
According to Brandon, the Moon Scepter is a "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosetta_Stone Rosetta Stone]" that can translate the symbols that are used to access [[Investiture]] in the various Selish magic systems.{{wob ref|5302}}{{wob ref|9626}} This is significant because Brandon has described Sel's numerous manifestations of Investiture as similar to computer programming languages.{{wob ref|1768}} A knowledgeable individual would therefore be able to use the translations to gain an understanding of the symbols that are integral to various types of Selish magic.{{wob ref|9626}}
 
Selish magic is particularly powerful,{{wob ref|10728}} but despite a common power source (the [[Dor]]),{{wob ref|7114}} each type of magic is usually only usable by people native to specific areas of Sel.{{wob ref|8516}}{{wob ref|1768}}{{wob ref|1473}} Brandon has stated on numerous occasions that Selish magic typically gets weaker as the distance from its homeland increases.{{wob ref|3920}} This does vary by the specific magic system,{{wob ref|5190}} but Selish magic generally does not work on other planets.{{wob ref|868}}{{wob ref|1473}}{{wob ref|6164}} This is a problem that some characters are actively trying to solve,{{wob ref|10728}} and thus far the Moon Scepter is the only thing that Brandon has indicated could make this task "less daunting".{{wob ref|868}}
According to a 2015 interview with Brandon, the Moon Scepter can translate symbols from one magic system to another.{{wob ref|5302}} He has also said that the artifact would allow using Sel magic outside the planet "less daunting".{{wob ref|868}}
 
The translation information on the scepter was the reason for Hoid's interest, and he has already gotten what he needs from it.{{wob ref|9626}}
== History ==
 
[[Shai]] wanted to swap the real scepter with her own [[Forgery|Forged]] copy because it was the most famous piece of art in the whole empire.{{tes ref|42}} She was betrayed by [[Hoid]], the Imperial Fool, and imprisoned.{{tes ref|2}} It is unknown if Hoid actually ended up trading the scepter with the Forged version. The scepter is important to Hoid for unexplained reasons{{wob ref|2850}}, though it likely has something to do with its symbol-translation properties.{{wob ref|5302}}
== Speculation ==
{{theory}}
The scepter presumably has other symbols written or inscribed on it that correspond to the Aons known to be on one side.
 
Brandon has only explicitly stated that the scepter can give someone an "understanding" of Selish magic, not necessarily access to the magic itself. However, access to the Dor is heavily symbol-based. Someone that is able to use at least one type of Selish magic would likely be able to use the information on the scepter to gain access to one or more additional types of magic (including [[AonDor]], [[Forgery]], [[ChayShan]], [[Dakhor]], Invested potions,{{wob ref|826}} [[Bloodsealing]], and more{{wob ref|3441}}{{wob ref|11244}}).
 
Brandon has not confirmed whether or not the scepter itself is Invested,{{wob ref|868}} but it is unlikely since it does not seem to have particular value to Hoid.{{wob ref|9626}}
 
== Notes ==
Editors, Keepers
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