- See also: Ring of the Ferryman
Codex text
Legend has it that prior to seizing powers as the first archon of the Tevinter Imperium, Darinius had a dream that he crossed a mighty river in a small ferry piloted by a man whose face was always in shadow. When he reached the other side, Darinus [sic] looked back and saw that the ferryman was himself.
When he took the throne, Darinius chose, as the seal of the archon, an image of a hooded ferryman. Every archon since has worn such a ring on the third finger of his right hand. A new ring is cast in gold for each archon with his name around the image relief. By tradition, upon his death, the ring is ceremonially crushed in front of the assembled magisters, so that no one may use the power of the archon until a new one is crowned.
But the tradition has been circumvented at least twice: a forgery can be substituted and ritually destroyed in place of the Ring of the Ferryman. This one bears the name of Archon Hadarius, but whether it's the true ring or the forgery is impossible to discern.
Notes
- The Ring of the Ferryman is based on the Ring of the Fisherman, a part of the papal regalia, which is also crushed after the death of a pope and worn on the third finger of the right hand.