Natural fantasy campaigns boast a massive variety of artifacts. In line with the themes of this genre, their value doesn’t necessarily stem from their power, but rather from their cultural and sentimental value, as well as what they represent for those who inherited them or received them as a gift.
Natural fantasy artifacts are often very ancient and impossible to replicate in the current era. They include clues about the epochs they came from and were often the epicenter of terrible disasters and tragic mistakes that humanity barely remembers. It’s very likely that, driven by ambition or necessity, we repeat the errors that these artifacts were intended to warn us against, misinterpreting what little information is available or reinterpreting it at our convenience.
Some natural fantasy artifacts have the power to transform creatures, places and objects. These can be divided between allegories of inevitable change (if the transformation is spontaneous and uncontrolled) and temptations of control (if it can be directed or manipulated). How people react to the presence of such artifacts is a key aspect of natural fantasy storylines.
More often than not, natural fantasy artifacts present a dynamic evolution: not only do we discover more about their role, but the artifacts themselves become progressively more powerful or take a new form, even in rule terms – they might become an ally or a vehicle, grant a new Skill, or create a Villain.
Fabula Ultima often portrays artifacts as dangerous items that the heroes have to find before the Villains do. However, natural fantasy artifacts tend to have a cultural significance – they don’t belong in a museum, but rather, exactly where they are. The heroes shouldn’t seek to replace Villains as the possessors of such items, but rather ensure their restitution or that nobody takes them. Sometimes, this means renouncing a great power and trusting that others will keep it safe in the PCs’ absence – after all, humility, hope, and trust are core elements of natural fantasy protagonists.