I just saw a movie called Warriors of Heaven and Earth. In it, a group of warriors escort a much-sought-after Buddhist relic through the dangerous Western Regions of China to the capital city. After the movie, I came to a realization – it is reasonable to assume that if a religious object that endows the holder with great power is featured in a story, and there is a quest to bring this religious object to safety, it is reasonable to assume that the story will employ a deus ex machina.
