Nether Scrolls

The Nether Scrolls consist of two sets of 50 scrolls, one set older and more tarnished than the other, and are possibly the most powerful artifacts in the Forgotten Realms. While they have no direct magical powers, they provide a seemingly-limitless supply of arcane knowlege. After the discovery of the Nether scrolls, the arcane might of Netheril increased at least a hundred-fold. The Netherese found the scrolls among the ruins of Aryvandaar, an ambitious and evil sun elven empire. These elves however, had not dared to use the power of the scrolls themselves.

The creation of the scrolls was started by the sarrukh (a creator race of reptiles). Their empire was vast, and they sought to gather all magical knowledge from its boarders into one location, in order to consolidate their arcane power. This effort spawned its own secret society, and lasted thousands of years after the fall of the empires of the Creator Races. It included magic from the batrachi and aearee (although not fey or humans, the two other Creator Races) as well. Eventually the Golden Skins of the World Serpent were created, which are now known as the Nether Scrolls.

The "scrolls" appear to be sheets of gold or platinum, with arcane runes floating about the surface. Each time a scroll is read, different knowledge is gleaned. When a reader gains sufficient understanding, re-reading the scrolls provides new knowledge and information. There did not seem to be any limit to the amount of information one scroll could contain.

No destructive magics can affect the scrolls. They can be physically destroyed, but will always reform themselves eventually.