Ioulaum's longevity was a transmutation spell of epic magic that extended the caster's lifespan, but at a terrible cost of a life for every year gained.[2][3][1]
History[]
This spell was developed and perfected by the powerful archwizard Ioulaum of Netheril circa 3185 NY (−674 DR), during Netheril's Shadowed Age.[4][5][note 1] He would spend much of his time focusing on improving it, among other matters.[6] However, Ioulaum's longevity often failed under the effects of the phaerimm's life drain and magic drain.[7] Regardless, he used it to extend his lifespan over the centuries before and after the Fall of Netheril in the Year of Sundered Webs, −339 DR.[5]
Ioulaum eventually perfected his spell[2] by the early 3rd century DR.[8][9]
At his hidden lair in the Northdark, Ioulaum taught his namesake spell to Tabra, his last human apprentice. However, he had also taken mind flayer apprentices from the neighboring illithid colony of Ellyn'taal, who formed a dozen-strong cabal of illithiliches known as the Alhoon.[5] Then, in Ellyn'taal in the Year of the Closed Scroll, 329 DR, Tabra witnessed what she thought was a spell-battle in which the Alhoon turned on and slew Ioulaum.[2][3][5][8][9] (In fact, Ioulaum had betrayed the Alhoon, conducting a rite to turn their minds into an undead elder brain into which he merged his own sentience, killing his body and most of the illithiliches in the process.[5]) In the aftermath, the mind flayers of Ellyn'taal caught Tabra and tried to sacrifice her to some dark deity.[2][3] To escape and get revenge for her murdered master, Tabra cast his just-perfected, greatest spell, Ioulaum's longevity, and thereby massacred the city's entire population,[2][3][5][8][9][note 2] more than 2000 in number. By the time she was done, Tabra had gained a lifespan of over two millennia.[2][3]
Afterward, Tabra destroyed every last record of Ioulaum's longevity,[2][3][5] apart from her own and Ioulaum's hidden writings,[5][note 3] so that it could not be used by villainous mages who would not baulk at its terrible cost.[2][3] She then escaped to the surface world.[5]
In the Year of Lightning Storms, 1374 DR, Tabra disappeared from Bargewright Inn, her whereabouts unknown. The Shadovar of the returned Netherese enclave of Thultanthar had kidnapped Tabra and taken her to the City of Shade. The Princes of Shade and Telamont Tanthul himself sought information on Ioulaum's fate,[5] particularly his longevity spell. Over the following century and more, Telamont kept her captive, enslaved her, tortured her until her body was broken and scarred, and ransacked her mind until she lost all her kind nature and knew no joy ever again. When Telamont had no use for her, he kept her in magical stasis, so she knew no peace either. Yet she never gave up her secrets and still guarded knowledge of Ioulaum's longevity after her escape in the Year of the Rune Lords Triumphant, 1487 DR.[10]
Effects[]
Ioulaum developed two versions: initially one of the tenth circle of magic, then, after Mystra's Ban on such spells, an epic spell.[1]
The epic-spell version of Ioulaum's longevity used by Tabra is reported to have functioned as follows. When cast, Ioulaum's longevity instantly dealt massive damage to every creature within its area of effect. Any creature slain by this spell was reduced to fine dust. The spell also damaged constructs, objects, and undead, but only living creatures could contribute to the longevity of the caster. Each living creature destroyed by this spell permanently extended the lifespan of the caster by one year within their current age range. For example, a middle-aged caster would remain in middle age that much longer. It covered an area of 240 feet (73 meters) and functioned to a distance of up to 12,000 feet (3,700 meters).[1] One version was instead reported to require the death of a mage specifically for each year gained.[2]
Components[]
This spell required verbal and somatic component s to cast, but without live creatures within the radius of effect there would be no benefit.[1]
For a true master of spellcraft, it took some 27 days and 1,368,000 gp worth of resources to develop, and the epic spell seeds destroy and fortify.[1]
Appendix[]
Notes[]
- ↑ Page 9 of The Winds of Netheril states that Ioulaum developed his longevity spell just as Karsus was becoming the youngest archwizard ever at the age of 22. Calculating from his birth year gives this date.
- ↑ Volo's Guide to the North p. 222 says that Tabra used the spell to escape being sacrificed by illithids, while Lost Empires of Faerûn pp. 99 and 100 have her attack them in revenge. This article attempts to merge both versions. Furthermore, the former implies a single casting slaying over 2,000, while the latter says Tabra slew only a few survivors and made many repeated castings later. Taken together, and given the limited area of the spell, it may be that Tabra used multiple castings across the city.
- ↑ Again, Volo's says "destroyed all records" and "has no plans to recreate the spell", implying she even destroyed her own, while Lost Empires specifically has her retain her own.
Appearances[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Richard Baker, Ed Bonny, Travis Stout (February 2005). Lost Empires of Faerûn. Edited by Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 43–44. ISBN 0-7869-3654-1.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Ed Greenwood (1993). Volo's Guide to the North. (TSR, Inc), p. 222. ISBN 1-5607-6678-6.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 slade, et al. (April 1996). “The Wilderness”. In James Butler ed. The North: Guide to the Savage Frontier (TSR, Inc.), p. 72. ISBN 0-7869-0391-0.
- ↑ slade, Jim Butler (October 1996). “The Winds of Netheril”. In Jim Butler ed. Netheril: Empire of Magic (TSR, Inc.), pp. 9, 114. ISBN 0-7869-0437-2.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 5.9 Richard Baker, Ed Bonny, Travis Stout (February 2005). Lost Empires of Faerûn. Edited by Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 101. ISBN 0-7869-3654-1.
- ↑ slade, Jim Butler (October 1996). “The Winds of Netheril”. In Jim Butler ed. Netheril: Empire of Magic (TSR, Inc.), p. 101. ISBN 0-7869-0437-2.
- ↑ slade, Jim Butler (October 1996). “The Winds of Netheril”. In Jim Butler ed. Netheril: Empire of Magic (TSR, Inc.), p. 10. ISBN 0-7869-0437-2.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Richard Baker, Ed Bonny, Travis Stout (February 2005). Lost Empires of Faerûn. Edited by Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 99. ISBN 0-7869-3654-1.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood (September 2007). The Grand History of the Realms. Edited by Kim Mohan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 70. ISBN 978-0-7869-4731-7.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (June 2015). Spellstorm. (Wizards of the Coast), chaps. 4, 6, pp. 47, 80. ISBN 978-0-7869-6571-7.