Now That’s Magic!
Or what games/dungeon masters can “steal” from Charles III’s Coronation
Here’s a list (courtesy of the Guardian) of the items used in yesterday’s Coronation (https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/may/06/coronation-treasures-from-the-stone-of-destiny-to-the-sovereigns-orb):
St Edward’s Crown: Worn only once in a monarch’s lifetime, on the occasion of the crowning.
The Stone of Destiny: Block of red sandstone upon which Scottish kings were crowned, now contained within a wooden coronation chair.
Chrism Oil: Holy oil, scented with sesame, rose, jasmine, cinnamon, neroli, benzoin, amber and orange blossom, mixed and blessed in Jerusalem, used to anoint the monarch.
Coronation Spoon: Used to perform the anointing.
Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross: A gold rod made in three sections, featuring a 530-caret diamond. It symbolises the monarch’s temporarl power and is associated with good governance.
Sovereign’s Sceptre with Dove: A second sceptre.
The Sovereign’s Orb: A hollowed gold ball topped with a cross and decorated with emeralds, rubies, sapphires, diamonds, and pearls. Symbolises the monarch’s links to the Christian world.
Spurs: Gold spurs used to symbolise honour and courage.
Bracelets of Sincerity and Wisdom: Exact purpose is apparently unclear, but I’m guessing it has something to do with sincerity and wisdom.
The Supertunica and the Imperial Mantle: A full-length, sleeved gold coat (supertunica) covered by the Imperial Mantle, an overcoat made of cloth of gold and woven with a pattern of roses, thistles, shamrocks, crowns, eagles and fleurs-de-lis.
Coronation Glove: A single glove, put on, and then taken off.
There are five swords.
Sword of State: Symbolises royal authority.
Sword of Mercy: Has a blunted tip, symbolises mercy.
Sword of Spiritual Justice: Symbolises spiritual (religious) justice.
Sword of Temporal Justice: Symbolises temporal (secular) justice.
Jewelled Sword of Offering: Offered by the King (in this case it will probably go to the Royal Collection Trust).
Pretty much all of those are things that I could imagine as being magical items in a fantasy realm. How much more evocative are they than a +1 sword or a ring of protection?
Of course, whether they make any sense in a modern, 21st century Western democracy is a question left to the reader.
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