Archbinder Pin
An Archbinder’s Pin is more than just a symbol of authority. It contains the story of their journey. The whisper of their memories and the essence of their wisdom.
Author’s note: Hoist the Colors may eventually inspire fiction. Most likely will and I’ll gladly write it. But right now, it’s a role-playing game setting with what I hope is an interesting take and look at an “Alternate History” of Earth. It isn’t really “steampunk”, though I can see how someone would get that impression. For me, it’s more a “flintlock fantasy” set on Earth of 1722 in all it’s historical mess… that I’ve stirred up even more!
So, with that said, this time I’m pulling out an item in the setting. This item is valuable, but really it’s value comes more from what it represents. What it stands for and the ideas behind it. For some in the setting, it can even be considered a symbol of hope. It is absolutely in the roleplaying game for Hoist the Colors and will possibly show up in the upcoming serialized fiction!
Archbinder Pin
An Archbinder’s Pin is more than just a symbol of authority. It contains the story of their journey. The whisper of their memories and the essence of their wisdom.
- Lyndon Blackwood, Arcane Engineer and master artificer of the Cogworks House
There are many symbols of authority around the world. Some are granted, others are assumed, a few are inherited. The Archbinder Pin falls firmly in the first of those and is possibly both the most rare and most recognized.
The pin isn’t just a symbol of authority. It’s also a testament to a Wavebinder mastering their skills and dedication to pass on what they’ve learned. They’re far more than a piece of jewelry, but represent a pinnacle of achievement in the mystic arts.
Importance of Symbols
Archbinder Pins aren’t just a symbol or a badge of office. They represent history and lineage. Each one, though similar, carries layers of unique wisdom and meaning unique to each Archbinder that wears it. These pins embody a personal journey for an individual Wavebinder from their first moments of study to achieving the rank of Archbinder. It’s also a pledge to guide the next generation of Wavebinders.
Outside of anyone looking to master the mystic arts, the pin serves another purpose. A symbol of a person steeped in wisdom of the Etherwave Arcana and things that touch on that strange power.
Thayan, morasu, and grimling refugees from the shattered Otherworld have been an invaluable source of knowledge about the Arcana. Especially those that were already Archbinders in their own right. But even they are quick to explain they have barely scratched the surface of what is there. Since the disaster of Crossing’s Fall, the Archbinder Pin is a symbol to anyone in search of advice or council on the power, or even creatures touched by the mysterious Arcana.
A Deep Loss
Those reasons and more are what make losing an Archbinder Pin even more painful. It isn’t common, but Archbinders do lose their pin. Often the Archbinder is simply careless, but at times, enterprising thieves steal them. But at worst, this is both embarrassing and painful for the Archbinder. The embarrassment is simply losing such a valuable pin. Painful is because the Wavebinder that owns the pin is mystically attached to it by a silver cord. They feel the sharp tug of the pin pulling at them.
Perhaps the worst loss of all is when a Wavebinder is stripped of their title as ‘Archbinder’. True, this is a personal disgrace that resonates through the mystic community. But the pain goes much deeper than a sharp tug.
The moment that the Archbinder is sentenced for their crimes by their order, the pin cracks and shatters. Its silver cord that binds it to the former Archbinder explodes in the Etherwave Arcana like a lit fuse. The Wavebinder once tied to the pin, is scarred and burned. While the wound will heal, the scar will never fade, not even through the mystic healing arts.
Deeper Meanings
The symbols used for the Archbinder Pin were chosen long ago with great care. All pins use the same heraldic components of two owls with wings spread that are holding a sapphire. Simple imagery, but still heavy with meaning.
To start, the owls individually represent wisdom, knowledge, and keen insight. Guardians of sacred knowledge, such as skill in using Etherwave Arcana. Used together, this duality represents a balance of teacher and student, master and guide. The dual role of an Archbinder. At a deeper level, this also is said to represent the balance between academic knowledge and practical experience. Having them face each other displays mutual respect and a constant exchange of knowledge, showing that learning is a two-way process.
The spread wings are a subtle, but important aspect. Like most of the symbology used on the pin, the wings also have a dual meaning. The stretched, almost arcing shape, represents the protection and nurturing role an Archbinder has with a Tuyasha in their studies. But it also represents freedom and a readiness for action. Another of the dual role and dynamic nature of the Archbinder’s responsibilities.
Last would be the sapphire itself. This polished gemstone is the cornerstone of the enchantment placed on the pin. But the stone holds a meaning all its own. A sapphire is believed to represent wisdom, intelligence, and the ability to make wise choices. It also symbolizes that the Archbinder’s precious knowledge is shared. A quality that is at the core of any Archbinder’s teachings.
The pin itself - dual owls, spread wings, the sapphire - collectively symbolize balance, which is at the core of all studies of the Etherwave Arcana.
- Archbinder Lyra Valtor of the Dawnrunner Order
Craft and Artistry
Creating the pins is a meticulous process. It combines artisan skill with infusion of power from the Arcana. The enameled pins appear silver, but this isn’t the case. In fact, the pins are a unique alloy of metals. A precise combination that is another method to prevent forgeries. The alloy is a blend of copper, silver, and tin. Both the materials used and the amounts of each are critical to allow the item to house power from the Etherwave Arcana. But it’s also durable enough to endure the rigors of an Archbinder’s life and rough travels.
In the lower center lies the sapphire. This stone is polished using sandstones, olive seeds, and powdered volcanic glass. An unusual combination that gives the stone its lustrous sheen but also prepares the material for enchantment.
The above process isn’t entrusted to just any craft hall. Only select silversmiths, jewelers, Elementalists, and others specialize in this type of work. Those craftspeople work in close collaboration to weave together their unique skills in metallurgy, gemstone preparation, and the mystic arts. Many parts of the process, from exact amounts for the alloy to polishing techniques, are kept a close secret. Each member of the group is sworn to uphold both this protected knowledge and the highest standards of their craft.
Proof in the Forging
Once complete, and a Wavebinder has passed their Archbinder trials, the pin undergoes an enchantment ceremony. This is where the essence of the Wavebinder is woven into the pin. That channeling creates the ‘silver cord’ that binds Wavebinder to pin. A tether only visible to a fully trained Wavebinder. This is one of the primary methods to determine the rightful owner of an Archbinder’s Pin.
A second method is the sapphire itself. The stone is there for symbology but also as a storehouse of power from the Etherwave Arcana. The process of creating the ‘silver cord’ also captures a ‘living portrait’ of the Archbinder. An image that can speak, answer questions, or carry on basic conversation. This portrait is nothing more than a mystic duplicate that acts as a watchdog for the pin, and in some ways the Archbinder. Unlike the cord, the living portrait is visible to anyone who can see the sapphire.
If anyone other than the pin’s owner tries to wear it, the sapphire will glow a fire red and the living portrait will cry out in alarm. When not acting in its role as a watchdog, many Archbinders will occasionally use the living portrait as a sounding board. A willing listener to the Archbinder’s theories who will contribute critiques and suggestions on its own.
When a Wavebinder wears an Archbinder’s Pin, they carry the weight of history, the trust of the present, and a hope for the future. It’s a heavy burden, and one not suited to just anyone. But those that carry it wear it with humility as a constant reminder of the path walked by every Wavebinder.
- Archbinder Seraphine Elara, Author of 'Whispers of the Etherwave'
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- Kummer Wolfe
Another cool part of the amazing world you're building!!!