"Exclusively, yes. It's usually begun with something well-crafted, and some smiths and such have the knack of making future relics better than others, but nothing gains magic until it's been used well and gloriously, enough times that it remembers its deeds and repeats them. Usually that means a generation or two to hold a sharp edge and avoid patina and so on, and a few more to burst into flame or rally the hearts of those around it or other such showy feats. And it improves with age and further deeds, usually. Being used for truly magnificent heroism can see it done faster; they say the Azure Shield was merely a symbol of tradition for centuries until the Tarnished Flag Betrayal, when the champion held off the assassins with it and they left untouched, the truce-breakers all dead or fled."

It would be utterly delightful to be able to create an item of raise dead by simply doing a lot of resurrections while holding it. It's probably not that simple, though, alas. 

"Your magic certainly has a flair for the dramatic. Does the power of an Archon seem to grow similarly with grand deeds? Can one invoke the history of a powerful item via sigils as one would an Archon?" 

"I've never heard of it, but that might be. Though, hmm, there's a good deal more great relics than Archons, even if you only count the most powerful like the Dauntless and the Sage's Staff of Hours. Some of them may come from Archons? I'm afraid I don't know, nor how Archons change over time; we never heard much detail about anyone but Occulted Jade and the occasional short-lived local like Thousand Embers."

"I shall add it to the growing list of questions for when I finally meet a Sage.

"In the meantime, politics. I would offer my services as a neutral mediator with the Unbroken. It may seem difficult to negotiate under conditions of such deep resentment, and I expect no one will be fully satisfied, but perhaps a peaceful settlement can yet be reached."

Straydus sighs, but what thoughts are behind it he doesn't share. "I would be thankful for your assistance in this way, for both Stalwart and myself." (True.)

"Speaking in that capacity, then: The Unbroken I spoke with seemed under the impression that your son was still alive, although this could be due to outdated information. They also claimed that your deaths would likely end the storm, and though I infer that this would not be true if any other Regents survived, it seemed to be a major source of resentment that you chose otherwise." 

"I don't know how they'd have had that impression; he was alive when the siege began, but it was a good month before the Edict when he fell. Near Duskwatch, too. There were only three of us left to hear the Edict, and not him; Sender* Cami, Sender* Florin, and myself. They both half-died on the walls as the storm hit, and so did our only mage with the Life sigil, so they're long dead now. I'm the last of the Regent families," (True.) "but our traditions are Stalwart. The people who made our blades Unbroken would never forgive me for surrendering, so I will endure." (False.) "My own life barely enters into it." (True.)

*(A name, not a title.)

Hmmm. He wonders which part was a lie, the lack of forgiveness or the determination to endure.

"That may prove a sticking point for the captains. Under what circumstances might you be willing to consider abdicating?" 

"If there is no Edict resting as a threat above me," (true) "and Stalwart's people are in charge of themselves," (false) "then I could be persuaded." (True.)

"What might it look like for Stalwart's people to be in charge of themselves, in the sense you mean?"

"If the Unbroken captains think they can lead in peace, let them. If the natives of Stalwart - I imagine some have left, and would return - have some other tradition to revive and alter, I won't stand in the way. My duty to Stalwart is to keep our culture and its proudest accomplishments, of defense against every assailant, more than to my line of ancestors, and if they want the Regents removed along with the invaders, so be it."

"In that case, I may see a path forward to the Unbroken reaching accord. Perhaps a representative from one side might consent to negotiate on their behalf. I can convey diplomats across the stormwall, and pledge myself to their safety."

"I and mine will start no violence against them. If they cannot say the same, I will make no promise protecting them from their foolishness." (True.)

There's a loud, fast knock on the door, and the knocker doesn't wait.

"Regent, sir, it's- Ah?"

"This is a poor time, Prunea. But I know what you mean. Is she in any danger?"

"She insists she is not, sir. But as you said..."

"I will be there within the hour, at most. Leave us, please."

He gives a wan smile. "I prefer soldiers who follow orders strictly to ones who are too lax, but it can be frustrating," he says, "and I apologize for the interruption. There's nothing for you to concern yourself about, a purely internal frustration." (That last sentence is false.)

How concerning. He is in fact concerned. "If I am keeping you from some urgent matter, it is no trouble to delay our conversation. I had hoped to spend some time with other inhabitants of Sentinel Stand, to seek a variety of perspectives. And if someone is ill or afflicted, I would be happy to help. My healing abilities are rather...comprehensive, and I can often counter curses and magical ailments as well." 

Yeah he didn't really expect that to work even without knowing about the lie detection.

"She would not ask for it, and specifically discouraged me from interfering, as Prunea suggested, a suggestion I did not take. She knows better than I; it is merely an old man's prerogative to let worry quiver my belly anyway, despite my heart understanding she will be fine." (True.) "There is really nothing to worry about." (False.)

"I see. Let us continue discussing diplomacy, then. Have you received any messages from the forces of Kyros since the invasion began, besides the few envoys? Do you have a means of communicating with them, or with the Disfavored in particular?"

"Since the Edict we have had no means of communication with anyone at all outside the walls; even messenger birds sent upward would be driven into the ground by the storm before they could cross the storm-wall. The Fatebinder who proclaimed the Edict - one of the senior ones; Fatebinder of War, I think - gave the hinterland a warning, the few days before, but didn't actually offer one to us, nor a parley."

"In that case, I propose that a priority of mine should be to speak directly with General Graven Ashe. I do not expect to convince him to stand down, but perhaps some agreement can be reached regarding the conduct of war and the treatment of prisoners. The Disfavored, at least, seem disciplined enough to hold to such an agreement if the Unbroken do likewise. Establishing communication before a fight begins again in earnest may also prove valuable if a chance arises to turn him against Kyros." 

"Of the many, many just insults to be made of the Disfavored, poor discipline is certainly not one. And a faint hope of opportunity is better than none. In your place I think I would place attempts to contact remnants of other Tiers governments as more important - the Sages are too tricky to not have some plotting rebellion whatever happened, the Apex guard I mentioned, and Azure was holding on alright with that three-way war with Beastmen and Kyros before our Edict hit. But Ashe is... respectable, for an enemy. And easier to find."

(He's been slightly more tense since the messenger came in, and this part of the conversation's made that slightly worse still. All true, though.)

Ipaxalon notices the tension, but doesn't comment on it directly. "Understood. When time permits, I'd like to sit down with a map and someone familiar with the Tiers capitals to collect best guesses about where active resistance might be headquartered. Once I know where to aim, I can bring a small delegation by teleport." 

"Our map room is good, but certainly out of date. We weren't the first Edict, and Cairn reshaped more than a few places even before Kyros decided to send his own words to attack us. The Vellum Citadel would have the best ones, if they let you use them."