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| − | The '' |
+ | The '''Crown of Horns''' was an evil, intelligent artifact of great power.{{fact}} Forged by [[Trebbe]], a [[Netherese]] [[arcanist]],<ref name="WoN-87">{{Cite book/Netheril: Empire of Magic/The Winds of Netheril|87}}</ref> and later enhanced by [[Myrkul]], the former god of Death,{{fact}} it carried with it a long history of corruption and tragedy.<ref name="WoN-87"/><ref name="WoN-88">{{Cite book/Netheril: Empire of Magic/The Winds of Netheril|88}}</ref>{{fact}} |
| − | == |
+ | ==Description== |
| − | After its destruction and subsequent reformation, the ''Crown of Horns'' appeared as a silver circlet with a black diamond set on the brow and four bone horns mounted around its edge. |
+ | After its destruction and subsequent reformation, the ''Crown of Horns'' appeared as a silver circlet with a black diamond set on the brow and four bone horns mounted around its edge.{{fact}} |
==Powers== |
==Powers== |
||
| − | It is unknown what powers the |
+ | It is unknown what powers the artifact had before it was possessed by Myrkul other than its sentience and its capability to interfere with the minds of its wearers. After its possession however, the ''Crown'' imbued the wearer with several considerable necromantic powers—including the unique "Myrkul's Hand" property—but had a tendency to strongly influence that action of the wearer, changing his or her alignment to [[neutral evil]] and gradually making him or her into an [[undead]] creature, among other things.{{fact}} |
==History== |
==History== |
||
| − | The ''Crown of Horns'' was originally designed by the |
+ | The ''Crown of Horns'' was originally designed by the Netherese [[archwizard]] Trebbe, the founder of the flying [[Netherese enclave]] [[Aquessir|Shadowtop Borough]]. In [[-2237 DR]], while working on the ''Crown'', it exploded, killing Trebbe and destroying a block of the enclave. The ''Crown'' itself wasn't destroyed, but it was lost.<ref name="WoN-87"/> |
| − | In [[-1423 DR]], the ''Crown'' was seen again, this time in the hands of another archwizard |
+ | In [[-1423 DR]], the ''Crown'' was seen again, this time in the hands of another archwizard, [[Requiar]]. Requiar used it to slay 30 other archwizards and conquer Shadowtop Borough. The artifact drove Requiar mad though and he was rendered incapable. After the insensate arcanist was overthrown, his killers searched for the ''Crown'' but despite powerful divinations, a thorough search of the city, and many parties of adventurers scouring the [[Eastern Forest]] over the next 150 years, they failed to find it.<ref name="WoN-87"/> |
| − | In [[-644 DR]], the ''Crown'' was finally rediscovered by the archwizard Shadelorn. Shadelorn was working on a project to succeed where [[Ioulaum]] had failed in creating an improved [[mythallar]]. In [[-342 DR]], another archwizard, Shenandra, was working on countering the ''[[lifedrain]]'' magic of the [[phaerimm]] at the same time. As misfortune would have it, the two successfully completed their projects at precisely the same time on Shadowtop Borough. The ''Crown'', wanting revenge on the city for |
+ | In [[-644 DR]], the ''Crown'' was finally rediscovered by the archwizard Shadelorn. Shadelorn was working on a project to succeed where [[Ioulaum]] had failed in creating an improved [[mythallar]]. In [[-342 DR]], another archwizard, Shenandra, was working on countering the ''[[lifedrain]]'' magic of the [[phaerimm]] at the same time. As misfortune would have it, the two successfully completed their projects at precisely the same time on Shadowtop Borough. The ''Crown'', wanting revenge on the city for its previous defeat, had been imperceptibly corrupting Shadelorn's work and when he activated his new mythallar, it drained all magic and memorized spells from everything and everyone within a 20-mile radius. The enclave fell, its inhabitants died, the threat from the phaerimm persisted and the only thing to survive intact was the ''Crown''.<ref name="WoN-87"/><ref name="WoN-88"/> |
| − | At one point, the ''Crown'' was in the possession of the Netherese [[lich]] [[Aumvor |
+ | At one point, the ''Crown'' was in the possession of the Netherese [[lich]] [[Aumvor the Undying]], who wished to use the crown to make [[Laeral Silverhand]] his bride by leaving it for her adventuring band, [[The Nine]], to find. Laeral donned the crown in [[1337 DR]] but Aumvor's plot failed when the ''Crown'''s powers conflicted with Laeral Silverhand's [[spellfire]] power and drove her into madness.<ref name=CoR-p126>{{Cite book/Champions of Ruin|126}}</ref><ref name="GHotR-p139">{{Cite book/The Grand History of the Realms|139}}</ref> |
| − | The ''Crown'' was sundered by her future consort, the archmage [[Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun]], who locked its pieces away within the heavily protected walls of his tower, [[Blackstaff Tower]]. However, when |
+ | The ''Crown'' was sundered by her future consort, the archmage [[Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun]], who locked its pieces away within the heavily protected walls of his tower, [[Blackstaff Tower]]. However, when Myrkul died at [[Midnight|Midnight's]] hand during the [[Time of Troubles]], the god tore the broken shards of the ''Crown'' from Blackstaff Tower, reforged it into a new shape, and infused it with the remains of his sentience before teleporting away.<ref name="VGtATM-p101">{{Cite book/Volo's Guide to All Things Magical|101}}</ref>[[Image:CoH.JPG|230px|left|Original ''Crown of Horns'' (top) and reformed (bottom)]] |
| − | + | Myrkul, through the ''Crown'', continued to spread evil through the Realms, tormenting members of the Church of [[Cyric]] as well as hapless innocents, avoiding allies of Khelben and temples of [[Mystra]].{{fact}} |
|
| − | The ''Crown of Horns'' was seen in the possession of a [[yuan-ti |
+ | The ''Crown of Horns'' was seen in the possession of a [[yuan-ti pureblood]] named [[Nhyris D'Hothek]] in 1370 DR,<ref name="VGtATM-p101"/> who disappeared from his haunts in [[Skullport]] after the ''Crown'' transformed him into a lich. People and creatures who have remained dedicated to Myrkul, or who have become dedicated to him since his demise, devoted themselves to him through the Crown of Horns by touching it and were known as [[Horned Harbinger]]s – Nhyris included.{{fact}} |
| + | ==Rumors and Legends== |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| + | Following the fall of Netheril, a group of surviving arcanists fashioned the helmet ''[[The Black Hands of Shelgoth]]'' out of the remains of the [[lich]] [[Shelgoth]]. Later historians speculated that this was an attempt to create an item similar to the ''Crown of Horns''.<ref name="IWD2">{{Cite game/Icewind Dale II}}</ref> |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| − | == |
+ | ==Appendix== |
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| + | |||
| + | ===Further Reading=== |
||
* {{Cite book/Magic of Faerûn}} |
* {{Cite book/Magic of Faerûn}} |
||
| − | * {{Cite book/City of Splendors}} |
+ | * {{Cite book/City of Splendors: Waterdeep}} |
* {{Cite book/Volo's Guide to All Things Magical|101-102}} |
* {{Cite book/Volo's Guide to All Things Magical|101-102}} |
||
| + | ===External Links=== |
||
{{Wikipedia|Crown of Horns}} |
{{Wikipedia|Crown of Horns}} |
||
| ⚫ | |||
[[Category:Crowns]] |
[[Category:Crowns]] |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| + | [[Category:Artifacts]] |
||
| + | [[Category:Myrkulyte items]] |
||
Revision as of 19:56, 27 March 2019
The Crown of Horns was an evil, intelligent artifact of great power.[citation needed] Forged by Trebbe, a Netherese arcanist,[1] and later enhanced by Myrkul, the former god of Death,[citation needed] it carried with it a long history of corruption and tragedy.[1][2][citation needed]
Description
After its destruction and subsequent reformation, the Crown of Horns appeared as a silver circlet with a black diamond set on the brow and four bone horns mounted around its edge.[citation needed]
Powers
It is unknown what powers the artifact had before it was possessed by Myrkul other than its sentience and its capability to interfere with the minds of its wearers. After its possession however, the Crown imbued the wearer with several considerable necromantic powers—including the unique "Myrkul's Hand" property—but had a tendency to strongly influence that action of the wearer, changing his or her alignment to neutral evil and gradually making him or her into an undead creature, among other things.[citation needed]
History
The Crown of Horns was originally designed by the Netherese archwizard Trebbe, the founder of the flying Netherese enclave Shadowtop Borough. In -2237 DR, while working on the Crown, it exploded, killing Trebbe and destroying a block of the enclave. The Crown itself wasn't destroyed, but it was lost.[1]
In -1423 DR, the Crown was seen again, this time in the hands of another archwizard, Requiar. Requiar used it to slay 30 other archwizards and conquer Shadowtop Borough. The artifact drove Requiar mad though and he was rendered incapable. After the insensate arcanist was overthrown, his killers searched for the Crown but despite powerful divinations, a thorough search of the city, and many parties of adventurers scouring the Eastern Forest over the next 150 years, they failed to find it.[1]
In -644 DR, the Crown was finally rediscovered by the archwizard Shadelorn. Shadelorn was working on a project to succeed where Ioulaum had failed in creating an improved mythallar. In -342 DR, another archwizard, Shenandra, was working on countering the lifedrain magic of the phaerimm at the same time. As misfortune would have it, the two successfully completed their projects at precisely the same time on Shadowtop Borough. The Crown, wanting revenge on the city for its previous defeat, had been imperceptibly corrupting Shadelorn's work and when he activated his new mythallar, it drained all magic and memorized spells from everything and everyone within a 20-mile radius. The enclave fell, its inhabitants died, the threat from the phaerimm persisted and the only thing to survive intact was the Crown.[1][2]
At one point, the Crown was in the possession of the Netherese lich Aumvor the Undying, who wished to use the crown to make Laeral Silverhand his bride by leaving it for her adventuring band, The Nine, to find. Laeral donned the crown in 1337 DR but Aumvor's plot failed when the Crown's powers conflicted with Laeral Silverhand's spellfire power and drove her into madness.[3][4]
The Crown was sundered by her future consort, the archmage Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun, who locked its pieces away within the heavily protected walls of his tower, Blackstaff Tower. However, when Myrkul died at Midnight's hand during the Time of Troubles, the god tore the broken shards of the Crown from Blackstaff Tower, reforged it into a new shape, and infused it with the remains of his sentience before teleporting away.[5]
Myrkul, through the Crown, continued to spread evil through the Realms, tormenting members of the Church of Cyric as well as hapless innocents, avoiding allies of Khelben and temples of Mystra.[citation needed]
The Crown of Horns was seen in the possession of a yuan-ti pureblood named Nhyris D'Hothek in 1370 DR,[5] who disappeared from his haunts in Skullport after the Crown transformed him into a lich. People and creatures who have remained dedicated to Myrkul, or who have become dedicated to him since his demise, devoted themselves to him through the Crown of Horns by touching it and were known as Horned Harbingers – Nhyris included.[citation needed]
Rumors and Legends
Following the fall of Netheril, a group of surviving arcanists fashioned the helmet The Black Hands of Shelgoth out of the remains of the lich Shelgoth. Later historians speculated that this was an attempt to create an item similar to the Crown of Horns.[6]
Appendix
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 slade, Jim Butler (October 1996). “The Winds of Netheril”. In Jim Butler ed. Netheril: Empire of Magic (TSR, Inc.), p. 87. ISBN 0-7869-0437-2.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 slade, Jim Butler (October 1996). “The Winds of Netheril”. In Jim Butler ed. Netheril: Empire of Magic (TSR, Inc.), p. 88. ISBN 0-7869-0437-2.
- ↑ Jeff Crook, Wil Upchurch, Eric L. Boyd (May 2005). Champions of Ruin. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 126. ISBN 0-7869-3692-4.
- ↑ Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood (September 2007). The Grand History of the Realms. Edited by Kim Mohan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 139. ISBN 978-0-7869-4731-7.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd (1996). Volo's Guide to All Things Magical. (TSR, Inc), p. 101. ISBN 0-7869-0446-1.
- ↑ Black Isle Studios (August 2002). Designed by J.E. Sawyer. Icewind Dale II. Interplay.
Further Reading
- Sean K. Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, Angel McCoy (August 2001). Magic of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 0-7869-1964-7.
- Eric L. Boyd (June 2005). City of Splendors: Waterdeep. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 0-7869-3693-2.
- Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd (1996). Volo's Guide to All Things Magical. (TSR, Inc), pp. 101–102. ISBN 0-7869-0446-1.
External Links
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