| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| LordofBones |
Posted - 29 Dec 2012 : 17:44:47
Death Moon Orb (Major Artifact)
Price (Item Level): -
Body Slot: -
Caster Level: 20th
Aura: Overwhelming; (DC 24) Conjuration, Enchantment and Necromancy
Activation: Standard Action
Weight: 2 lb
This orb is a gleaming black and violet sphere whose colors swim uneasily, like oil on water, and which appears to actually absorb the light around it. When it is nearby, an aura of gloom and sadness descends. If looked at long enough, the negative image of the moon’s surface can be seen glimmering faintly on the orb.
The death moon orb constantly functions as a crystal ball of telepathy and true seeing. The possessor of the orb can invoke the following spell-like abilities:
5/day - charm person (DC 13)
3/day - create greater undead, dominate monster (DC 23)
1/day - finger of death (DC 20), mass charm monster (DC 22)
If the bearer of the orb is already capable of casting spells, calculate the save DC as though it was cast by the bearer.
Additionally, the possessor may summon one tanar’ri, yugoloth, or baatezu and compel it to perform one task. Only one such creature may be summoned at any one time. If the creature summoned is of 15 HD or less, the orb may not be used for summoning for another 1d10 days. If the creature is 15-30 HD, it may not be used again for summoning for 1d20 + 10 days; if it is of 30 HD or more, the orb may not be used for summoning for 1d10 + 2 months. Once the task is completed, the creature returns to its plane of origin.
Curse: The alignment of user of the orb eventually shifts to an evil alignment diametrically opposite to the alignment of the user. It also compels its user to greater and greater acts of evil, until the user is infamous as a monster of complete wickedness and cruelty. Such individuals invariably perish in some fashion unless, like Tam and Larloch, they continue on as undead creatures and don’t care what anyone else thinks of them.
Lore: Centuries ago, the wizard Larloch, sorcerer-king of Netheril, created a powerful artifact with which he intended to control the minds of his court, reveal his enemies’ plans, and summon powerful beings from the Outer Planes. The artifact served him well, and he ruled for many years, eventually becoming a powerful lich. (Knowledge [arcana DC 30)
Larloch even survived the collapse of his empire and lives to this day in the depths of Warlock’s Keep. No less than 16 Red Wizards have braved the depths of the Keep, seeking Larloch’s treasures and magic; so far, only Szass Tam has emerged unscathed. (Knowledge [arcana] DC 35)
At Warlock’s Keep, Szass Tam sealed a mysterious bargain with the extremely powerful lich and returned with several important enchanted items, among them the Death Moon Orb. He used the powers of the orb to free the tanar’ri lord Eltab, then to imprison him on Thakorsil’s Seat. Today, Tam uses the Death Moon Orb to battle his enemies for control of Thay. (Knowledge [arcana] DC 40; reveals all the artifact’s powers).
Suggested Methods of Destruction:
-The orb must be devoured by a tarrasque.
-The orb must be transported to Arborea or another Outer Plane of good and destroyed by one of the gods who dwell there.
-The orb must be used to summon an Abyssal Prince, a Lord of the Nine or a Yugoloth Lord. |
| 1 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| sleyvas |
Posted - 30 Dec 2012 : 14:23:26
Ok, its sad.... as much as I love Thay and its machinations.... I had absolutely forgotten the curse on the death moon orb and how it might be behind the sudden shift in Szass Tam's methodologies. |
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