The Skull Chalice of Ch’gakare is a legendary jeweled goblet crafted from the skull of an ancient Omuan king, serving as a symbol of royal authority for the Omuan dynasty. The chalice is named after Ch’gakare, a Chultan hero who, according to legend, was banished to the Nine Hells with his king’s prized mastodon, Ghom, as punishment for theft. After fighting through all nine layers of Hell, Ch’gakare returned home, beheaded the treacherous king, and fashioned the ruler’s skull into this ornate chalice.
Location
The chalice is hidden within the Tomb of the Nine Gods, specifically in area 67, the Hall of the Golden Mastodon. The hall features a life-sized golden mastodon statue and murals depicting Ch’gakare’s legendary journey through the Nine Hells. The chalice is presented as “Ch’gakare’s gift” to those who survive the hall’s deadly traps.
Political Significance
Princess Mwaxanaré, the teenage heir to Omu’s throne sheltered at Kir Sabal, considers recovering the Skull Chalice essential to her claim to power. She believes possessing this symbolic treasure will help her garner widespread support among Chultans to rebuild and repopulate Omu. She offers characters 250 gp worth of items from her treasury in exchange for retrieving it.
However, Mwaxanaré’s limited resources mean she cannot afford the chalice’s true market value. If characters sell it instead of returning it to her, she will harbor deep resentment toward them.
Value and Interested Parties
The chalice has a base value of 2,500 gp but can fetch up to 10,000 gp (four times its value) at auction in major cities. Three merchant princes of Port Nyanzaru express interest in purchasing it:
- Ifan Talro’a wants it for his private collection of Chultan relics
- Kwayothé intends to melt it down
- Zhanthi desires it for sentimental reasons
Refusing any of these merchant princes could result in receiving an ominous Ytepka Society token, suggesting serious consequences.
Role in Omu’s Future
With the Skull Chalice in her possession, Mwaxanaré could potentially unite Chultans eager to return to traditional ways and legitimize her claim to restore Omu’s fallen kingdom. However, even with the chalice, her path to power faces significant obstacles: the merchant princes won’t support her claim, and the yuan-ti occupation of Omu remains a formidable barrier to her ambitions.
Treasure Details
The chalice is one of four legendary “Fabled Treasures” that Acererak deliberately placed in the tomb as lures. Beyond the chalice itself, the golden mastodon statue in the hall contains 2,500 gp worth of gold leaf and fifty gemstones (100 gp each) embedded in its tusks.