Endowing Scepter

The Endowing Scepter, later also called the Adept Scepter, is not a hand-held sceptre. It is the gigantic energy-reaction furnace at the core of Sky City, capable of sustaining the floating city and granting a one-time physical enhancement through its baptism.

History

Prize of the Virtuous Sky Sages

Leylin learns that contact with the Endowing Scepter is traditionally reserved for Virtuous Sky Sages. Its reputed baptism can strengthen a Magus’s physique without side effects, making it a possible solution to the imbalance between his rapidly growing soul force and body. He travels to Sky City intending to earn access through its scholarly appraisal. (Chapters 583–592)

An unofficial baptism

The Monarch of the Skies offers Leylin direct access, but Leylin initially insists on following local custom. Events force him to leave early, and Weyers arranges an unofficial baptism instead. The contact increases Leylin’s vitality by about twenty points, after which he recognises that the “scepter” is actually Sky City’s central energy furnace: damaging or removing it would imperil the entire floating city. (Chapters 595–600)

Powering Thultanthar

Leylin later recalls touching the core in Sky City and judges its direct benefit obsolete for him. By the final war, the Adept Scepter has been taken from the Monarch of the Skies and added to the high-energy sources powering Thultanthar, greatly enhancing the fortress. (Chapters 922 and 1128)

Abilities and properties

• Functions as the energy core that keeps Sky City afloat. (Chapters 597 and 922)
• Grants a one-time bodily baptism that raises a qualifying Magus’s vitality without the usual side effects. (Chapters 583–584 and 597)
• Is a vast looped reaction furnace rather than a portable rod or ceremonial hand-held sceptre. (Chapter 597)
• Can serve as a large-scale power source for a mobile fortress. (Chapter 1128)

Ownership and custody