Crown of Earth

The first of three ancient gifts given to the descendants of King Deor for his voluntary sacrifice.

History
About 1,000 years before the book trilogy, the land of Deorthas was wracked with war. King Deor united the warring tribes and established the united kingdom of Deorthas, with himself as its king. Towards the end of his reign, a great famine swept through the land. Deor went to the priests of the old gods and asked for help. The priests said the gods would help in return for Deor's life.

After Deor's sacrifice, his son, King Brend, received the three ancient gifts: the Shield of Stars, the Sword of Waters, and the Crown of Earth. The crown was the first gift given, and it is what connects the king/heir with the land, allowing the king to sense the ongoings of his kingdom: weather patterns, plant growth, animal life and death, the workings of people, and so on.

The crown was lost with the reign of King Regalis. Not being a legitimate heir of the previous king, and not being concerned with the old ways, Regalis was never given the Crown of Earth.

Prince Edoran was the first in nearly 200 years to receive the Crown of Earth from Sandeman.

Artifact
Unlike the other two gifts, there is no crown artifact. The crown is made by mixing the blood of the new king with dirt from the ground, then smearing a line of that mud across the new king's forehead.