| Name | The Dread Trove |
|---|---|
| Origin | Forged by the Daglan using the Cauldron |
| Age | Ancient — predates the Courts |
| Type | Magical artifacts of immense power |
| Components | Mask, Harp, Crown (primary items), Horn |
| Known Owners | Daglan, High Queen Theia, Nesta Archeron, Bryce Quinlan |
| Powers | Varies by item |
| Weaknesses | Corruptive influence; destabilizes magic; attracts powerful beings |
| Appears In | A Court of Silver Flames, House of Flame and Shadow |
Contents
Biography / History
Origins and Early History
The Dread Trove is an ancient collection of powerful magical artifacts originally created by the Cauldron and later refined and weaponized by the Daglan, a conquering race that predated the modern Fae Courts. Many Trove items were lost throughout the centuries, but three survived into the present age: the Mask, the Harp, and the Crown. A fourth, the Horn, existed in the distant past but was believed to be destroyed or misplaced long before the Night Court’s rule.
During the Daglan era, the Trove served as an instrument of domination. According to preserved vision-memory, High Queen Theia studied these artifacts while held under Daglan authority, secretly learning their functions and weaknesses. She and Fionn, the first and last High King of the lands around Ramiel, used this knowledge to orchestrate a rebellion against their oppressors. The Daglan frequently quarreled over control of the Trove, leaving its power underused — a vulnerability Theia and Fionn exploited.
In a pivotal act, Theia stole the Trove from the Daglan’s subterranean strongholds, transporting the Mask, Harp, and Horn through cave portals capable of spanning great distances in moments. She and Fionn also reclaimed the Cauldron, which the Daglan had warped into a tool of destruction. From it, Fionn drew the Starsword, linking the ancient weapon’s power to the Cauldron’s transformative abilities.
Using the combined force of the Trove, the Starsword, and the Cauldron, Theia and Fionn led a successful uprising that ultimately destroyed the Daglan and reshaped the magical order of the world. Their victory, however, left behind unanswered questions: the Trove’s deeper functions, the nature of its corruptive influence, and the full extent of the Daglan’s lost knowledge.
A Court of Silver and Flames
In later ages, the Trove artifacts resurfaced. They were used by various Fae rulers to consolidate power, then disappeared again into myth and legend. By the time of A Court of Silver Flames, the Mask, Harp, and Crown re-emerged, each carrying immense danger and the potential to destabilize magical systems across worlds. Their origins and connection to both the Cauldron and the Daglan remain central to understanding their destructive capability — and the threats they pose to Prythian and beyond.
The Dread Trove: Artifact Descriptions and Magical Powers
The Crown
A towering circlet of golden, spike-like prongs, the Crown grants its wearer the ability to control and bend the minds of others to their will. This artifact is exceptionally dangerous due to its corruptive influence and capacity for domination. It was most recently wielded by Queen Briallyn.
The Harp
A delicate yet powerful golden harp, capable of manipulating the very fabric of reality. Each of its strings corresponds to a different function, allowing the Harp to open portals, bridge realms, reshape environments, and alter the natural order.
The Mask
A golden mask etched with ancient, arcane patterns, endowed with necromantic abilities. When worn, the Mask can summon the dead, command them, and bind spirits to the wearer’s will. Its power ties directly to death-magic and forgotten rites older than the Courts.
The Horn
A lost Trove item glimpsed only in Lanthys’s vision, where Nesta saw it resting on a shadow-shrouded altar. Its form appeared to be age-worn bone, though its exact abilities remain unknown.
