I like that. Nobody’s got magic but we encounter the artifact and it’s granted to them, and the magic each individual gets is unique to them, but perhaps it has some basis in elemental things. Air, water, force/gravity, light, connections to animals, maybe even shapeshifting, etc rather than like spells/incantations.

The emissaries find it, gain magic, and eventually one betrays them and steals the artifact with the intention of using it to gain either personal or national power, and it’s up to the remaining two to get it back. I  like it. 

What sort of price did you have in mind? 

Swords and castles it is! I’m thinking my character is going to be sort of a rogue class. Sneaky, dual wielding two big knives basically, sharp senses. And since it’s easier to have two players rather than three, we could have one of us play our villainous third, or we could sort of share them, whatever works best. Unless you’d prefer a third and we can try and recruit someone.