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The '''Crown of Horns''' is an evil, intelligent artifact of great power. Forged by a [[Netheril|Netherese]] arcanist and enchanted by [[Myrkul]], the former god of death, it carries with it a long history of corruption and tragedy.
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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}}
   
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==Description==
At one point, the ''Crown'' possessed Laeral Silverhand, one of the [[The Seven Sisters|Seven Sisters]], and was sundered by her husband, the archmage [[Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun]], who locked its pieces away within the heavily-protected walls of his tower. However, when Myrkul died at [[Mystra|Midnight's]] hand during the [[Time of Troubles]], the god tore the broken shards of the ''Crown'' from Blackstaff Tower, reforged it in a new shape, and infused it with the remains of his sentience before teleporting away. To this day, Myrkul, through the Crown, has been spreading evil through the Realms, tormenting members of the Church of [[Cyric]] as well as hapless innocents, avoiding allies of Khelben and temples of [[Mystra]].
 
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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==
The ''Crown of Horns'' appears as a silver circlet with a black diamond set on the brow and four bone horns mounted around its edge. It imbues the wearer with several considerable necromantic powers - including the unique "Myrkul's Hand" property - but has a tendency to strongly influence that action of the wearer, changing his alignment to neutral evil and gradually making him into an undead creature, among other things.
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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}}
   
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==History==
The ''Crown of Horns'' was last seen in the possession of a [[yuan-ti]] pureblood named Nhyris D'Hothek, who disappeared from his haunts in [[Skullport]] in 1370 [[Dalereckoning|DR]], after the ''Crown'' transformed him into a lich. People and creatures who have remained dedicated to Myrkul after, or have become dedicated to him since, his demise, devote themselves to him through the ''Crown of Horns'' by touching it and are known as [[Horned Harbingers]] - Nhyris included.
 
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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"/>
   
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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"/>
==Powers==
 
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The wearer of the ''Crown of Horns'' has the following powers:
 
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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"/>
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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>
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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)]]
   
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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}}
*Fear aura as if he were a lich of equivilant level.
 
*Spell resistance 25 against necromantic spells and effects.
 
*Rebuke or command undead as a 6th level cleric. If the wearer already has this ability, these levels stack with his cleric levels for this purpose.
 
*''Teleport without error'' once per tenday, affecting only the wearer and his equipment.
 
*''Cone of undeath'': Usable once every 10 minutes, this effect is a 40-foot cone. Creatures within the cone must make Fortitude saving throws (DC 20) or be slain and rise 1d4 rounds later as wraiths under the control of the wearer. A successful save means a creature takes 2d6+20 points of damage. This ia a necromantic death effect.
 
*''Myrkul's Hand'': Once per day, the wearer can invoke black flames that coverone of his hands. These flames are treated as a touch-spell. On a successfull melee touch attack, the target must make a Fortitude save (DC 20) or be instantly slain, rising 1d4 rounds laster as a spectre under the control of the wearer. A successful save means the creature takes 2d8+10 points of damage. This is a necromantic death effect.
 
   
 
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}}
The wearer of the crown suffers the following penalties:
 
   
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==Rumors and Legends==
*The wearer changes alignment to neutral evil while the crown is worn.
 
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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>
*The crown cannot be removed unless Myrkul wills it. Normally the only way the crown is removed is when it teleports itself away.
 
*The crown can use ''suggestion'' once per day on the wearer, and can possess the wearer for up to 20 minutes per day as if using a ''magic jar'' spell.
 
*The wearer slowly turns into an undead being over the course of two years. Use of the ''cone of undeath'' or the ''Myrkul's Hand'' abilities advances this process 1d4 months per use. When the transformation is complete, the wearer appears lichlike and his type changes to "undead", but he otherwise retains all his normal abilities. If the wearer reaches this state and the corwn teleports away, the wearer is instantly destroyed.
 
*The wearer is paranoid and possessive about the crown, keeping all others away from it.
 
*All beings within 100 feet of the crown while it is worn must make a Will save or be affected by a ''sympathy'' spell.
 
   
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==Appendix==
''Caster Level'': 20th; ''Weight'': 2lb.
 
 
===References===
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{{Refs}}
   
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===Further Reading===
==References==
 
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* {{Cite book/Magic of Faerûn}}
*Sean K Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, Angel McCoy, ''Magic of Faerûn'' (Wizards of the Coast 2001).
 
*City of Splendors boxed set (1994)
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* {{Cite book/City of Splendors: Waterdeep}}
*Volo's Guide To All Things Magical (1996)
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* {{Cite book/Volo's Guide to All Things Magical|101-102}}
   
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===External Links===
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{{Wikipedia|Crown of Horns}}
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[[Category:Crowns]]
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[[Category:Greater artifacts]]
 
[[Category:Artifacts]]
 
[[Category:Artifacts]]
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[[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]

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.[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. 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. 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.
  3. Jeff Crook, Wil Upchurch, Eric L. Boyd (May 2005). Champions of Ruin. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 126. ISBN 0-7869-3692-4.
  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. 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.
  6. Black Isle Studios (August 2002). Designed by J.E. Sawyer. Icewind Dale II. Interplay.

Further Reading

External Links

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