Holy water was water blessed by a good deity[3] that could damage undead and evil outsiders.[1] Evil clerics could create a similar substance called unholy water.[4]
The priests of Helm called holy water the "Tears of Helm".[5]
Properties[]
Holy water was infused with positive energy, which gave it its properties.[3] Unholy water, in contrast, was imbued with negative energy.[4]
Applications[]
Holy water acted much like acid against undead creatures and evil beings from other planes. If contained in a flask, it could be thrown as a grenade weapon against corporeal creatures, or it could be splashed or poured on incorporeal ones.[1] Unholy water instead damaged good outsiders.[4]
Holy water was used in the powerful resurrection spell, as part of the ceremony to restore life to the dead.[6]
Some users employed an instrument known as an aspergillum to spray holy water.[7][8] A larger version of an aspergillum, the heavy aspergillum, was also used as a weapon.[9]
Production[]
To create a flask of holy water required the flask of water, five pounds (2.3 kilograms) of powdered silver, and the ability to bless water. The process took one minute per flask.[3] The procedure was equivalent for unholy water, except that the water was cursed instead.
Temples dedicated to good deities usually sold holy water at cost to those who needed a defense against evil.[1]
Variations[]
Elven holy water was blessed by the god Rillifane Rallathil and often used when fighting against vampires.[10][11]
Notable Users[]
- Lessa Amyselnar, a priestess of Tymora.[12]
- Brianna Burdun, a priestess of Hiatea.[13]
Rumors & Legends[]
The plane of Celestia was said to contain an infinitely large sea of holy water from which Mount Celestia emerged.[14]
Appendix[]
Appearances[]
Adventures
Novels & Short Stories
Video Games
Board Games
Organized Play & Licensed Adventures
Gallery[]
External links[]
Holy water article at Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams (July 2003). Player's Handbook v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 129. ISBN 0-7869-2886-7.
- ↑ BioWare, Floodgate Entertainment (June 2003). Designed by Brent Knowles, Rick Ernst. Neverwinter Nights: Shadows of Undrentide. Atari.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams (July 2003). Player's Handbook v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 205. ISBN 0-7869-2886-7.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams (July 2003). Player's Handbook v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 216. ISBN 0-7869-2886-7.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb (April 1998). Cormyr: A Novel. (TSR, Inc.), p. 302. ISBN 0-7869-0710-X.
- ↑ Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams (July 2003). Player's Handbook v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 273. ISBN 0-7869-2886-7.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend et al (1992). Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue. (TSR, Inc), p. 31. ISBN 0-5607-6327-2.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 95. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
- ↑ Reynolds, Forbeck, Jacobs, Boyd (March 2003). Races of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 91. ISBN 0-7869-2875-1.
- ↑ BioWare (September 2000). Designed by James Ohlen, Kevin Martens. Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn. Black Isle Studios.
- ↑ BioWare (June 2001). Designed by Kevin Martens. Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal. Black Isle Studios.
- ↑ Matthew G. Adkins (July 1999). “Into the Nest of Vipers”. Dungeon #75 (Wizards of the Coast) (75)., p. 66.
- ↑ Dale Donovan, Paul Culotta (August 1996). Heroes' Lorebook. (TSR, Inc), p. 24. ISBN 0-7869-0412-7.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb, Bruce R. Cordell, David Noonan (September 2001). Manual of the Planes 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 132. ISBN 0-7869-1850-8.