Divine Source

The Divine Source is an artifact of mysterious origins. Jacob found it long ago, and used its power to gain immortality and myriad supernatural powers. He then performed miracles and people started to believe it to be of divine origin. Jacob himself however believed it not to be divine.

After Kitezh was built, the Source was hidden away in the middle of the city. The Atlas was crafted to show its location. During the Mongol attack on Kitezh, Jacob used the Divine Source to give immortality to his soldiers, they became known as the Athanatoi, the Deathless Ones. For them the immortality worked differently. Once they died, smoldering ashes were left behind, and over time they reformed into a new body, and they lived again. The Deathless ones eventually buried Kitezh under a glacier to keep their power, and by doing so became the eternal guardians of the Divine Source.

The Remnants believe that the Divine Source holds a fragment of the soul of God, and believe that is the reason why the Divine Source is able to give immortality. Some believe the Divine Source takes away the soul of whomever touches it, thus making them immortal.

Richard Croft's search for the Divine Source led to his death, and later to the the events of Rise of the Tomb Raider, where both Lara Croft and Trinity were after the Divine Source. Their hunt was a success, with Ana making it to the artifact first; Lara however snatched it from her hands and destroyed it, releasing its grasp on all it had made immortal, killing all the Deathless Ones.