Codex - Lucent Cabochon

Telvanni Peninsula Codex - Lucent Cabochon

• Reginus Buca Ebony Crossed-Sword Chain Ebony is a notoriously difficult material to work. But here the jewelsmith produced hundreds of fine links, interlocked in a martial pattern of tiny crossed swords. Ancient Dark Elf work, I think.
• Amalien Ebony Crossed-Sword Chain What exquisite craftsmanship! Strong as steel, yet supple. The sword motif suggests this was a necklace or pendant belonging to a noble military commander. An ancient Hortator, surely!
• Ugron gro-Thumog Ebony Crossed-Sword Chain You are both wrong. This chain dates back to the High Velothi culture. The sword-pattern honors Boethiah, Daedric patron to the ancient Chimer. The Hortators came later.
• Reginus Buca Gold Mandibular Cradle These curious prongs represent the mandibles of a large beetle, perhaps a shalk. It's a common design element in Dark Elf jewelry. This cradle secured a gemstone to a pendant or amulet.
• Ugron gro-Thumog Gold Mandibular Cradle A common design element, perhaps. But the workmanship is far from common, my friend. Nor is this your typical gold. It is a rare gold alloy invented by the jewelsmiths of ancient Morrowind.
• Gabrielle Benele Gold Mandibular Cradle Beetle motifs in Morrowind make me think of High Velothi mages. When Veloth led the Chimer to their new home, they drew inspiration from creatures they found there. Beetles came to symbolize knowledge.
• Amalien Gold Shalk Clasp How lovely and clever! The mandibles of this shalk-beetle chain clasp close and lock to secure a fine chain. The shalk is rendered in a beautiful red-hued gold. Something from Morrowind, I suppose.
• Ugron gro-Thumog Gold Shalk Clasp That red-hued gold is a Chimer alloy dating back to early Morrowind. It fell out of use by the War of the First Council. The stylized technique, however, reminds me of ancient Altmer work.
• Reginus Buca Gold Shalk Clasp Ancient Altmer design motifs rendered with alloys found in Morrowind point to the High Velothi culture. Why, this predates the Battle of Red Mountain and Azura's Curse by hundreds of years!
• Reginus Buca Ebony Shalk Mounting Ah. An amulet in the form of an ebony shalk-beetle, although it's missing the gemstone and the prongs or bridge that would have secured it. Clearly Dark Elf work, but old. Very old.
• Amalien Ebony Shalk Mounting Beetles symbolized knowledge to the ancient Chimer. And shalks, with their sharp mandibles and fiery spit, symbolized dangerous knowledge--magic. This amulet was meant to ward off pernicious spells.
• Gabrielle Benele Ebony Shalk Mounting Not quite. Ancient Chimer texts refer to "those who wear the shalk." Apparently, the most powerful mages of High Veloth had amulets in the form of ebony shalks, and were granted the title "Ur-Mage."
• Verita Numida Lucent Cabochon A strange, luminous gemstone unlike any I have seen before. The rounded face and flat back suggest it was once mounted on something like a pendant or amulet.
• Gabrielle Benele Lucent Cabochon I can identify the gemstone. It's a lucent, a crystal found in the planes of Oblivion. They have the curious ability to store and discharge magicka. Some Daedric devices make use of lucents.
• Amalien Lucent Cabochon High Velothi ur-mages, the most powerful sorcerers of the ancient Chimer, wore "a light upon the breast" for protection when dealing with Daedra. This lucent might be one of those very stones!