Editing Mithril Coin

The '''Mithril Coin''', or '''Tamaroth's Coin''', is an ancient artifact from the era of the Gods. It is in the possession of [[Erin Solstice]].

== Description ==
The palm-sized coin looked to be made of an odd metal, quite distinctly not silver but of a pale and reflective metal. It is light as a feather despite the size.

Originally, there was some sort of inscription on the coin, a rough border on both sides with faded imagery and possibly words, but all of that pattern was long gone and only the metal remained.<ref name="IL4" /> The delicate engravings of letters and sigils on the coin were only faintly visible as the coin was covered in dust and the outer layer had bonded with other stuff over the centuries<ref name="4.45" /><ref name="7.19">[https://wanderinginn.com/2020/04/26/7-19/ Chapter 7.19]</ref> - this effect is called a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patina patina], here possibly connected with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wear wear]. From the description it can be concluded that the "coin" is not actually a coin (which has to be usable as currency) but a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medal medallion], due to its size, inscription and lack of nominal value.

After partial restoration, the artifact showed symbols of an old empire or nation with a sun rising behind a shining city. Around the rim of the coin were the shining words: ''Tamaroth, Who Leads. The G— of Rulers. Protect Us in Our Weakness.''<ref name=":0">[https://wanderinginn.com/2020/05/03/interlude-a-night-in-the-inn/ Interlude - A Night in the Inn]</ref>

It was melted by Erin's invisible fire of hate.<ref name=":1">[https://wanderinginn.com/2022/06/11/9-02/ Chapter 9.02]</ref>

== Chronology ==
At the [[Winter Solstice]] in the year of Erin's arrival to Innworld, three mysterious travellers entered [[The Wandering Inn]] and emptied her food storages completely while Erin cooked for them - none of the Inn's other guests noticed anything. The food they consumed was estimated by [[Lyonette]] to be enough to feed all the guests for some days. The mysterious strangers - one of them known by the name [[Tamaroth]] - offered Erin three gifts, each of them artifacts of unheard power, in exchange for her soul. Erin declined the offer and the guests left. Cleaning up their table, Erin found a single, odd coin that they seemingly left as a form of payment. Erin only dimly remembered how she got the coin, but realized that it was special and thus kept it with her.<ref name="IL4">[https://wanderinginn.com/2017/12/30/interlude-4/ Interlude - 4]</ref>

Some time later, when Erin met a [[Dwarves|Dwarf]] for the first time, she asked [[Dawil]] about the coin. While Dawil protested not to be a [Blacksmith], he could reveal to her that the coin was made of [[Mithril]]. He called it “worthless or priceless”, announcing that it had no real value except as a collector’s item. After that identification, Erin started to clean it with water and cloth but eventually didn't dare to scratch the coin's patina.<ref name="4.45">[https://wanderinginn.com/2018/06/12/4-45/ Chapter 4.45]</ref>

Months later again, Erin commissioned [[Pelt]] to restore the coin for her, as he promised to be able to make all the inscriptions visible again. Like Dawil, he protested for not being a [Historian] so couldn't identify it. However, he noticed that Mithril shouldn't wear like it had on the coin, which indicated further how ancient it must be.<ref name="7.19" /> When Erin returned a few days later, Pelt had partially restored the coin but had been struck with a heart attack when he tried to restore the word "G—". Pelt claimed that the incident was just an accident and that he just needed a more quiet place to work.<ref name=":0" /> Erin felt the coin burn in her pocket and made a remark about [[Dead Gods]], suspecting that this was no accident.

During the Summer Solstice, with Erin hanging between life and death, [[Norechl]] would go to take her body for its own. It initially had difficulty finding her body in the [Garden of Sanctuary] because it was obscured by the Shadow Loaf buried there. However, the coin on Erin's body acted as a bright beacon to them, allowing Norechl to enter the Garden.<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2020/12/20/solstice-pt-2/ Solstice (Pt. 2)]</ref>

After being revived, Erin would melt the Mithril coin with invisible fire of hate. She would keep the remains, stating it's a potential curse component.<ref name=":1" />

== References ==
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[[Category:Artifacts]]
[[Category:Objects and Materials]]