Sneaking around you find a locked cupboard. Using your skills you soon have the cupboard open, discovering treasures wonderous and deadly. Maybe even for you.
(if an artifact/relic does not have a link, I haven't finished it's creation, although it won't be too far away. Keep checking "Whats New" to see when it has been added)
This golden grail is a simple cup weighing 40 pounds, and is beautifully engraved. It was used by the avatar of Tymora in Arabel during the Time of Troubles. After the goddess ascended the celestial stairs to Her home plane, the Grail gained its miraculous powers, and was declared a holy relic by the High Priest of Tymora in Arabel.
It was gold plated and engraved in Arabel. Intending the Grail to have gems affixed, the clergy sent the Grail, and two other relics - the Sceptre and Robe of Tymora, to Mirabar, home of the greatest jewellers and goldsmiths. On the way to Mirabar, the caravan guarding the Holy Relics was attacked by a mass of humanoids, forces belonging to a militant wizard who desired the relics. The wizard's home is somewhere in the Spine of the World, and divination spells have revealed that the wizard is now deceased. A few adventurers have gone looking for the wizards home, most have come back empty handed, some have not come back at all.
The Holy Grail of Tymora is a relic (an artifact for priests), and is to be used sparingly in a campaign. It would be the focus of a series of adventures, and would probably leave the party's hands on completion of the quest.
The Grail has the following powers at 24th level of ability. Evil aligned characters cannot activate these powers:
Side effects:
Annihilator
Dwarven Battleaxe of Annihilation
Characteristics: +3 Dwarven Battleaxe, +5 vs chaotic evil
Intelligence: 20 Ego: 16 Personality: 31
Alignment: Lawful Good
Languages: Dwarvish, Common, Undercommon, Goblin, Drow, Giant
common, Orcish.
Magical Properties:
Description:
This exquisitely crafted weapon has two walnut sized diamonds
in a engraving on the two headed blade representing the eyes of
the dwarven god. These gems (street value 10,000 gp each) will
glow when chaotic evil creatures are detected by the axe (as if
a loud shout of "Attack!" wasn't enough!). If the gems
are ever removed the axe loses its ability to detect alignments,
including chaotic evil. The gems lose their magic permanantly
if removed, but could be re-enchanted. The handle is also metal,
fashioned from a lightweight metal unheard of by other races.
It is reported to be the legendary "lightsteel" which
many dwarven heros of myth were said to possess and be able to
make into special weapons and items. The metal handle has a textured
two handed grip of durable leather.
History:
This two handed battleaxe was handed down to the Original Dwarves
by the Gods, and its use against dwarves of any kind is strictly
forbidden. Dwarven Lore states "Any dwarf using Annihilator
against another dwarf is barred from entering the Halls of the
Gods". Legend states that on the single occasion the weapon
was wielded against a dwarf, the user was slain instantly, and
the axe returned to the hands of the Gods. There it waited until
a suitable dwarf was found to whom the Gods would bestow the axe.
When it eventually came back into the world, Annihilator was handed
down from generation to generation, most often used in the underground
war against the drow.
Research indicates that the axe has been lost once more, and hasnt been seen for almost a millenium. Rumour has it that Annihilator is in the treasure hoard of a great wyrm, although the offical line from the dwarven priests is that the gods have claimed the axe once more, and are waiting to pass it on to the next champion of the dwarven cause.
This weapon can only reach its full potential in the hand of a dwarf - in the hands of any other race it functions as a +2 weapon with no special abilities apart from being able to speak (and it will continually demand to be given to a worthy dwarf, and may dominate the possessor to its will).
The personality of Annihilator is said to be boisterous and truthful. The axe cannot differentiate between types of untruths - a lie is a lie. If someone nearby utters a statement the axe knows to be false (dont forget its detect lie ability), it will loudly declare such, even if such an action would be tactically unwise.
It speaks dwarvish most of the time, relying on someone else to interpret if they desire. It speaks common only when necessary, and other languages to insult foes. Annihilator often laughs gleefully when in combat with chaotic evil creatures.
If wielded by an evily or neutrally aligned dwarf, the weapon attempts to force good behaviour upon the dwarf by personality domination, with all the penalties of alignment change incurred.