Also referenced as: The Peacebringer, The Scales of Destiny
While not the oldest of the relics on this list (estimated at 4000 years of age -M), it is by far the most active, having dozens and dozens of hosts throughout the ages. It has appeared in the histories well over 50 times across a myriad of planes, each time arising during a time of great strife and being wielded by the greatest hero of its age. At some point during the conflict, usually at its height, a hero would rally against whatever forces threatened them and drive their enemy back, and once the threat had passed, regardless of the champion's fate, the artifact would fade once more into history, but rarely for long. Its ability to travel from one bearer to another is astounding, traversing the breadth of a world in decades in the shadows and flames of glorious war.

Though this raised my interest at first, it is when I first found references to a similar artifact on another world entirely that my intrigue was truly piqued. Since then, I have found tomes scattered across a half dozen worlds that bear some likeness to this artifact. Despite how often it has appeared, what abilities it actually grants are left mysteriously absent, usually lapsing into the figures of history rather than their seemingly supernatural weapon.

<Appendix attached: Worlds of known sightings>
<Appendix attached: Known carriers and eras of appearance>

The Hand of Light and Shadow is a deceptive name, as it is actually a pair of bangles, one said to be a brilliant silver and the other a dark iron. Upon each are a deep red gem (Marquee Cut -M) set at the back of the bands. While their appearance has seemingly changed over the ages, those details have remained constant, which raises mysteries about the nature of the bands.

The one thing that has seemed tragically apparent is that one must possess both of the bands, and those that bear only half of its power will be drawn to the other, which will inevitably lead to the death of both. There are a handful of tales where the artifact was split, and it always ended in tragedy, usually on a grand scale.

(Addendum: the bangles are without doubt mystic in origin, and further, obviously sentient. Aside from those facts though, I can't truly fathom what the relic is capable of, the description of their abilities are perplexing. I believe that the bangles enhance the wielder's natural abilities, pushing them to a state that they could never achieve without its assistance. Furthermore, and more importantly, I'd hazard the relic contains the accumulated experience of every bearer that has held it. While most of its hosts have been warriors, there have been a number of magic users who have carried the relic. I think that their knowledge, and more importantly the mana bonds that belonged to them, remain with the bands.

I've chosen to keep the knowledge from Raleris. His curiosity would likely be dangerous until we know what motives the artifact may have. At the end of the day, I cannot help but question what the artifact gets from its activities. Even more, though, I have to ask: Is the relic truly drawn to heroes, or does it craft them itself? If the latter, what goal could it possibly be trying to realize?
-Maral)