Relic

A holy object or portion of a holy object that maintained a mystical connection with the holy. There were many false relics pawned during the Middle Ages, forgeries no different from the art fakes now sold. Relics were often used to swear upon, perhaps the bones of a saint, a portion of the True Cross, or some such was touched in the impromptu ceremony of an oath. Relics were also incorporated into other objects with the hope that the connection with the holy would transmit something of that holy character to the larger artifact. Swords sometimes worked relics into the pommels and in churches, altars were contained some object thought to be a relic.