Lore: The Crown of Thorns is a provocative symbol originating from the high courts of Saṃsāra. Initially designed as a brand of shame for those banished for excessive arrogance, it has been ironically and defiantly reclaimed by a particular group of individuals who flaunt their ego as a badge of honor. These characters see arrogance not as a vice, but as a justified expression of their exceptional talents or lineage. The Crown of Thorns symbolizes an open challenge to both the gods and the social order, boldly declaring that the wearer is a force to be reckoned with.
Graphic Appearance: The Crown of Thorns is depicted as a ring of sharp, angular thorns encompassing a stylized, exaggerated human face, eyes lifted upward as if scorning the heavens themselves. The thorns are drawn in a jagged style, giving the impression that they are piercing through the arrogance of the person it represents, yet not completely subduing them.
Ideas Represented by this Symbol:
- Defiance against established norms
- Exceptionalism
- Open scorn for those deemed lesser
- Challenge to authority and the gods
Concept of Symbol: The Crown of Thorns is not just a symbol but an open declaration. It challenges the surrounding society to either prove the wearer wrong or bow to their apparent superiority. It represents a brazenness that few can tolerate but also a certain level of skill or talent that cannot be entirely discounted.
Type of Symbol: The Crown of Thorns is a heraldic symbol, often engraved onto armor, embroidered on banners, or displayed prominently on personal sigils.
Motivation: Those who choose to bear this symbol are making a calculated move. They either feel confident enough in their abilities to take on any who question them or are so consumed by their own arrogance that they do not consider the consequences. The Crown of Thorns represents a calculated or reckless form of hubris.
Use: The symbol is often engraved onto the most visible part of the wearer’s armor or garments. Some also choose to have it magically branded onto their skin as a permanent mark. The Crown of Thorns is also a common motif for personalized magical gear, often infused with elemental fire to signify the wearer’s burning ambition and scorn.
Tags: Arrogance, Defiance, Exceptionalism, Anti-authoritarian
Positives:
- The symbol can serve as a psychological tool to intimidate or unsettle adversaries.
- Those who bear it are often pushed to excel even further, lest they be proven unworthy of their own arrogance.
- It can serve as a magnet for others who share similar disdain for authority, possibly leading to alliances based on mutual interests.
Negatives:
- The symbol attracts significant negative attention, both from authorities and those who disapprove of its message.
- The arrogance it embodies can lead to underestimating opponents or overestimating one’s own abilities, leading to failures or even catastrophe.
- The very act of bearing the Crown of Thorns is often enough to make enemies, even before a word is spoken.
The Crown of Thorns stands as a complex paradox: it is a source of both empowerment and endangerment, representing the dangerous line that its bearers choose to walk. The symbol is not for the timid; it is a fire that can either forge legends or consume those who wield it unwisely.
The Folly of Emperor Valryx and the Crown of Thorns
Long, long ago, in the shrouded annals of Saṃsāra’s history, there emerged an emperor known by the name Valryx. His visage was said to be as striking as the midday sun, but it was his arrogance that truly marked him. Having conquered vast lands and defeated formidable foes, Emperor Valryx had the Crown of Thorns, the symbol of unparalleled arrogance, engraved onto his golden armor.
Valryx believed himself to be invincible, favored by the gods themselves. “Who dare challenge me, for I am the epitome of greatness,” he would boast, his voice echoing in his grand halls, reverberating through the marble arches and high ceilings adorned with precious gemstones. People whispered that his arrogance was like a fire, consuming every shred of humility that ever tried to approach him.
News of his insufferable arrogance spread far and wide, eventually reaching the ears of Zephyra, a goddess known for her wisdom and subtle power. Intrigued and concerned by Valryx’s brazenness, Zephyra appeared to him as a beguiling oracle. “Great Emperor, you have risen higher than any mortal, yet there exists a challenge even you have not faced,” she said, her voice a harmonious melody that contrasted sharply with the discord of his arrogance.
Intrigued and seeing an opportunity to further prove his supposed invincibility, Valryx took the bait. “Speak, oracle. What challenge do you speak of?” he demanded.
“A labyrinth lies hidden in the Valley of Echoing Despair, its walls whispering secrets known only to gods. No mortal has ever conquered it and lived to tell the tale,” Zephyra replied.
Valryx, filled with audacity, set forth to conquer this labyrinth. Armed with his enchanted sword and protected by his armor, bearing the Crown of Thorns, he ventured into the labyrinth. However, the walls of this divine maze were not mere stone; they were mirrors reflecting not just one’s visage but one’s soul. With each step, Valryx’s arrogance stared back at him, magnified a thousand times. He became lost, not in the labyrinth, but in the maze of his own inflated ego. Days turned into weeks, and yet he found no escape.
Finally, drained and humbled, Valryx fell to his knees. It was at this moment that his Crown of Thorns, once a source of pride, became a shackle of shame. Zephyra reappeared and spoke, “You sought to conquer, but have you not realized? The greatest conquest is mastery over oneself.”
As if by divine intervention, the labyrinth’s walls shifted, revealing the path to exit. Valryx returned to his empire, his armor devoid of the once proud Crown of Thorns. It had vanished, leaving behind not a mark, but a lesson that would forever be etched into his soul.
Moral of the Story: The heights of arrogance often lead to the depths of isolation; true greatness lies not in conquering the world, but in mastering oneself.
Suggested conversion to other systems:
Call of Cthulhu
Name: Crown of Thorns
- Type: Enchanted Symbol
- Effects:
- +10% to Intimidate skill
- Disadvantage on Persuade skill
- Advantage on SAN rolls against social judgment
Dungeons & Dragons 5e
Name: Crown of Thorns
- Type: Wondrous Item (Tattoo)
- Rarity: Uncommon
- Requirements: Attunement
- Effects:
- Grants +1 to Intimidation checks
- Disadvantage on Persuasion checks
- Grants advantage on saving throws against being charmed
Knave
Name: Crown of Thorns
- Type: Tattoo
- Effects:
- +1 on Intimidation checks
- -1 on Persuasion checks
- Provides immunity to first social based attack
Numenera & Cypher System
Name: Crown of Thorns
- Type: Cypher
- Level: 1
- Effects:
- Grants an asset on Intimidation checks
- Inflicts a penalty on all social interactions, except Intimidation
Pathfinder 2e
Name: Crown of Thorns
- Type: Magical Tattoo
- Level: 1
- Effects:
- Grants +1 item bonus to Intimidation checks
- Inflicts a -1 penalty on all Diplomacy checks
Savage Worlds
Name: Crown of Thorns
- Type: Magical Symbol
- Effects:
- Adds +1 to Intimidation rolls
- Applies a -1 penalty to Persuasion rolls
Shadowrun
Name: Crown of Thorns
- Type: Enchanted Symbol
- Rating: 1
- Effects:
- +1 dice pool modifier for Intimidation tests
- -1 dice pool modifier for Negotiation tests
Starfinder
Name: Crown of Thorns
- Type: Mystical Tattoo
- Item Level: 1
- Effects:
- Grants +1 to Intimidate checks
- Imposes a -1 penalty to Diplomacy checks
Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay
Name: Crown of Thorns
- Type: Enchanted Symbol
- Effects:
- Grants +10 to Intimidate Skill Tests
- Applies a -10 penalty to Charm Skill Tests