Glimmerings

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Glimmerings

Glimmerings are the most widespread currency used in the Free City of Excelsis, the greatest bastion of Sigmar's Empire in the Realm of Ghur. Glimmerings are harvested from the Spear of Mallus, a mountainous shard of Sigmarite that detached from the Mallus.[1a][5a]

Overview

Glimmerings are the standard high-end currency of the Free City of Excelsis, which are mined from the Spear of Mallus, a mountainous shard of Sigmarite that detached from the Mallus. Each glimmering contains within it unbridled celestial energy that can grant prophetic visions of the future.[8a]

Denominations

An Assortment of Glimmerings

Glimmerings are known to be traded in a wide variety of forms. Often they come in the form of shards mined directly from the Spear of Mallus and traded as is, these shards are much preferred by merchants and nobles, other times they are worked into rough-cut jewels.[1a][6a][10a] There are also Glimmerings that take the form of coins[3a], vaporous secrets kept in crystal vials[5a], and smooth pebbles[9a], these are often used by the common folk of Excelsis.[3a][5a][9b]

A single, unappraised, Glimmering is often worth as much as a hundred drops of Aqua Ghyranis.[6a][12a]

The Penny Glimmering is a smaller denomination of Glimmering.[13a]

Appraisal of Glimmerings

The value of a Glimmering can vary depending on its size, the nature of the prophecy within it, and other factors.[8a][9a] Prophesiers of the Prophesiers' Guild, the only organization within Excelsis legally allowed to appraise Glimmerings, have specialized devices that can appraise the exact nature, and therefore value, of each shard or stone.[9a]

After a Glimmering is appraised, a signed document stating its nature and value will be provided to the owner.[9a] If a stone proves to be of unique potency it and its owner will be taken to the guidhall of the Prophesuers' Guild to be appraised by the Ministers of the Convocation and Lords Obscurantist. In such cases twenty percent of the value of the stone is taken by the Guild as a commission.[9b]

As An Export

In addition to being the standard currency of Excelsis, Glimmerings are also the city's most well-known export.[10a] These are traded to far-off trade partners, sometimes via Realmgates, such as the Free City of Lethis in the Realm of Shyish.[11a]

History

Age of Sigmar

During the Time of Tribulations demand for accurate prophecy increased radically, as many began to see it not only as an avenue of profit but a necessity for survival, and as a result Glimmering shards tripled in value.[7a]

Magical Properties

The prosperity of Excelsis is largely tied to the Spear of Mallus and the Glimmerings harvested from it, for within each piece of that mountainous crystal burns the celestial power of pure prophecy.[1a][8a] Much insight has been gained from carefully studying the prophecies gleaned from glimmerings.[1a] Consuming glimmerings can grant the imbiber knowledge of future events, prophecies, and secrets, but not all of them are accurate and some may have been better left unknown.[5a]

Typically smaller shards grant their users small, often trivial images of the future. Whereas fist-sized chunks will reveal to the users many prophetic visions of futures that have not yet occurred.[8a] But potent and unique Glimmerings of varied sizes are known to occur.[9a]

Side Effects

Using Glimmerings to glean the future can be addictive and many Excelsians will consume the Glimmerings they make, in hopes of seeing a glimpse of a fortuitous future. This addiction can become as devastating as any other.[2a]

Other Uses

The Free Peoples of Excelsis use the prophetic powers of Glimmerings for both profit and safety. With their aid the fishing guilds of the city can trawl the sea for great hauls of fish while avoiding the dangers of Ghur's oceans. The leading figures of the city also employ Glimmerings to determine when the Realmgates of Thondia are safest to use.[8a]

See Also

Sources