Sunken Temple Key

The **Sunken Temple Key**, or simply known as the Key, is an artifact found within the Sunken Temple. Ownership of the Key is the defining qualification of the Director of the Echo Division. The Key gives the Director a limited ability to influence the Sunken Temple, though the power of the Key seems to come from an entity known as the Trust.

## History

The Key was first discovered in 1962 during expeditions into the Shallows. It was presented to Glenn Loggia by an unknown entity, effectively appointing Loggia as the first Director of the Echo Division. Loggia identified the entity as the Trust, beings that reside in the Sunken Temple but cannot be seen.

The Key passed into the ownership of Roman Yarbrough in 1983 after Loggia's death.

The third Director of the Echo Division was Ellen McCarry, elevated to the position in 1999 following the murder of Yarbrough at the hands of Tobias Vain, a Scholar of the First Sin.

## Appearance

The appearance of the Key changes to match the personality of the owner. Although the shape changes, the color of the Key remains the same: a dark grey to black color with a matte finish.

Loggia's Key had the appearance of a large handgun. It was particularly modeled after the Smith & Wesson Model 10 revolver with a 6-inch barrel. He kept the Key on him at all times, wearing the Key in a holster on his belt.

Yarbrough's Key appeared as a fingerless glove. He wore it on his right hand at all times, and the Key acted as a focus for his magic-casting.

McCarry's Key again takes the appearance of a gun, this time a Colt Mustang semi-automatic pistol. The Key is able to change its appearance and function into a variety of firearms, including a shotgun and sniper rifle, to suit the situation facing McCarry. Although McCarry does carry the Key at all times, she rarely uses it, preferring to use her magic instead.

## Attributes

The Key is capable of interacting with the environments of the Sunken Temple. The Key appears to work through miracles and is fueled by the ether present in the Sunken Temple.

The owner of the Key receives a heightened resistance to ether, enabling them to venture relatively safely into the Deep Sector, though the high ether levels are too dangerous for passage. The person's eidos is also fortified, and magic has a reduced effect on them. The person is not immune to the effects of magic, however, and the owner can be killed through either magical or mundane methods.

The Key also enhances the person's physical condition. The owner of the Key experiences a higher level of strength and endurance, and their ability to survive severe injuries is increased as well. However, fatal injuries will still kill a Director, such as in the cases of both Loggia and Yarbrough who died from extreme blood loss.

## Nature

The Key is an aspect of the Sunken Temple tied to the Echo, and only those who are chosen by the Trust are allowed to wield it. Should an applicant fail the selection process, they are killed by way of their eidos being permanently damaged. If the candidate in question is found worthy by the Trust, they are immediately elevated to the position of the Director of the Echo Division.

## Creation

The method of creating the Key is unknown. The Key appeared in the Sunken Temple's Shallows in its completed form and has never been seen in an incomplete state. Attempts to create a replica of the Key have failed without any measure of success.