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Prison of Zagyg

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The prison of Zagyg was a minor artifact created by the Oerthian wizard Zagyg Yragerne that could imprison almost any creature. It was widely believed that there were only five copies of the artifact in existence.[1][2][4][6][7]

Description[]

All copies of the prison of Zagyg were nearly identical, having the appearance of a small, well-made brass birdcage,[1][2][4][6][7] studded with gems and sporting a padlock that had the appearance of diamond.[1] They weighed no more than 4 pounds (1,800 grams).[1]

Powers[]

These artifacts were only usable by wizards[2][4][6][7] and other arcane spellcasters.[1]

Both the interior and exterior of a prison of Zagyg were constantly under the effect of permanent anti-magic[2][4][6][7] and non-detection spells.[1][2][4][6][7] The former effect caused any supernatural abilities, spell-like abilities, spells,[8] and other magic possessed by a prisoner to not function within the cage.[2][4][6][7][8] The latter effect made these cages and their prisoners impossible to locate by magical means,[1][2][4][6][7] including by divinations of all sorts.[1] If detect magic was ever cast upon a cage, the spell had only a 50% chance of detecting its magic,[2][4][6][7] which was a strong abjuration dweomer.[1] Otherwise, detect magic would either not discern what class of magic it was or give a false reading.[2][4][6][7]

Additionally, any creature imprisoned within the confines of one of these cages was magically sustained, no longer requiring food or water.[2][4][6][7]

Prisons of Zagyg were nearly impervious to damage, harm, or otherwise being affected by all manner of physical force or magic.[2][4][6][7][8] However, each copy of the prison of Zagyg had its own weakness that could be exploited to cause its destruction. These methods were unknown, but guaranteed to be dangerous. If somehow one of these cages were destroyed, the creature imprisoned within them would be returned to their normal size.[8] Alternatively, the spells alter reality or wish could be used to open a prison of Zagyg.[2][4][6][7]

Operating a prison of Zagyg required attunement and knowledge of its four command words that activates it,[1][2][4][6][7] though with tremendous expertise in the arcane a spellcaster could bypass the need for them. A prison of Zagyg would function only for those attuned to it, even if the appropriate command words were spoken. They could only be attuned to one creature at a time and upon changing ownership the previous owner was immediately made aware.[1]

Each cage had own particular set of command words,[6] separated into: activation,[1][2][4][6][7] trigger[2][4][6][7] or target,[1] command spell[2][4][6][7] or imprison,[1] and freedom.[1][2][4][6][7]

Action
This command word had two effects. The first was to attune itself to whoever spoke it.[1][2][4][6][7] The second effect spoking it had was activating its padlock, sealing the door to the cage shut as if wizard lock had been cast upon it.[2][4][6][7]
Target
By speaking this command word the possessor targeted a creature for imprisonment within the prison of Zagyg.[1][2][4][6][7] According to some, this could only be done on creatures that were within 30 feet (9.1 meters) of the cage,[1] while others claimed it had no limiting range.[2][4][6][7]
Imprison
Otherwise known as command spell, for some sources told of it being a distinct spell or incantation that had to be spoken,[2][4][6][7] this command word teleported the target creature to the interior of the prison of Zagyg and shrunk their body to 3 inches (0.076 meters) in size.[1][2][4][6][7] Those who claimed it to be an incantation said that the possessor had to include either the personal name of the creature being targeted or a detailed recitation of their history.[2][4][6][7]
Freedom
By speaking this command word the possessor caused the imprisoned creature to be teleported out of the prison of Zagyg, instantly restoring their former size and abilities.[1][2][4][6][7] The possessor had control over where the the prisoner would be teleported to within 30 ft (9.1 m) of the cage.[1]

Creation[]

The methods and materials needed to create a prison of Zagyg were unknown, lost with their creator,[8] though some of Zagyg's tomes contained partial instructions on how to go about creating one.[9]

History[]

In the Oerthian year of 318 CY, Zagyg led the Company of Seven on an expedition to find the lost ruins of Veralos. Within its depths the wizard discovered a prototype magical cage that would serve as the basis for his prison of Zagyg.[10]

Notable Owners[]

  • Emelyn the Gray, a powerful archmage in the Bloodstone Lands of northeast Faerûn, possessed a prison of Zagyg in 1359 DR.[11][12]
  • Iggwilv, a powerful archmage from Oerth who had studied under Zagyg, stole one of his prisons[13] and stored it along with other treasures inside the Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth.[14] She had its command words written down in the Demonomicon of Iggwilv.[7][15] These and other powerful artifacts fell out of her possession during her captivity in Azzagrat.[16]
  • The government of Ravens Bluff held a prison of Zagyg within their vaults circa 1353 DR. This copy was stolen by the wizard Panese the Excitable, who hid it beneath 10 feet (3 meters) of water in the bottom of a well within his basement, with a serpentine owl stored inside it. His theft landed the wizard a ten year prison sentence. He was offered the chance to commute his sentence to five years if he revealed where he hid the prison of Zagyg, but the wizard decided he would remain tight-lipped until he had served five years of his sentence.[17]
  • A will-o'-wisp in the caverns of Deepearth was in possession of one of these in 1358 DR.[18]

Appendix[]

Background[]

The prison of Zagyg first appeared in the adventure module The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth (1982).[2] When that adventure was updated for 3rd edition in the pages of Dungeon #151 (October 2007), the prison of Zagyg returned with its effect carried over almost verbatim.[7] When the adventure was updated for 5th edition in the pages of Quests from the Infinite Staircase, the item was absent. In the prison of Zagyg's place the adventure featured a nameless golden birdcage that functioned similarly to an iron flask.[19]

Appearances[]

Adventures

The Mines of Bloodstone
Referenced only
The Bloodstone Wars • The Throne of Bloodstone

Organized Play & Licensed Adventures

Birds of a Feather

References[]

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 Jason Bulmahn, James Jacobs, Erik Mona (August 2007). Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk. Edited by Penny Williams, Beth Griese. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 221. ISBN 978-0-7869-4358-6.
  2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 2.21 2.22 2.23 2.24 2.25 2.26 Gary Gygax (1982). “Booklet 2: Monsters and Magical Items”. The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth (TSR, Inc.), p. 26. ISBN 0-935696-72-5.
  3. ↑ Gary Gygax (August, 1985). Unearthed Arcana (1st edition). (TSR, Inc.), p. 88. ISBN 0880380845.
  4. ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.19 4.20 4.21 4.22 4.23 4.24 4.25 slade et al (June 1995). Encyclopedia Magica Volume III. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 917–918. ISBN 0-7869-0187-X.
  5. ↑ Dale Henson (February 1993). The Magic Encyclopedia, Volume Two. (TSR, Inc), p. 113. ISBN ISBN 978-156076563.
  6. ↑ 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 6.12 6.13 6.14 6.15 6.16 6.17 6.18 6.19 6.20 6.21 6.22 6.23 6.24 6.25 Gary Gygax (August, 1985). Unearthed Arcana (1st edition). (TSR, Inc.), p. 102. ISBN 0880380845.
  7. ↑ 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 7.12 7.13 7.14 7.15 7.16 7.17 7.18 7.19 7.20 7.21 7.22 7.23 7.24 7.25 7.26 Ari Marmell, C.A. Suleiman, Edward Albert (2007-11-02). “Iggwilv's Legacy: The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth” (PDF). In Bart Carroll & Chris Thomasson ed. Dungeon #151 (Wizards of the Coast) (151)., pp. 51–52. Archived from the original on 2009-06-02.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 Jason Bulmahn, James Jacobs, Erik Mona (August 2007). Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk. Edited by Penny Williams, Beth Griese. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 222. ISBN 978-0-7869-4358-6.
  9. ↑ Jason Bulmahn, James Jacobs, Erik Mona (August 2007). Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk. Edited by Penny Williams, Beth Griese. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 166, 186. ISBN 978-0-7869-4358-6.
  10. ↑ Gary Holian (March 2002). “Places of Mystery: Spinecastle and Veralos”. In Jesse Decker ed. Dragon #293 (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 90–91.
  11. ↑ Douglas Niles and Michael Dobson (1987). The Bloodstone Wars. (TSR, Inc), p. 32. ISBN 0-8803-8398-4.
  12. ↑ Douglas Niles and Michael Dobson (1988). The Throne of Bloodstone. (TSR, Inc), p. 90. ISBN 0-8803-8560-X.
  13. ↑ John Rossomango (August 2012). “History Check: The Iggwilv‒Graz'zt Affair”. In Ray Vallese ed. Dragon #414 (Wizards of the Coast), p. 2.
  14. ↑ Gary Gygax (1982). “Booklet 1: An Adventure for Character Levels 6‒10”. The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth (TSR, Inc.), pp. 29–30. ISBN 0-935696-72-5.
  15. ↑ Gary Gygax (1982). “Booklet 2: Monsters and Magical Items”. The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth (TSR, Inc.), p. 21. ISBN 0-935696-72-5.
  16. ↑ John Rossomango (August 2012). “History Check: The Iggwilv‒Graz'zt Affair”. In Ray Vallese ed. Dragon #414 (Wizards of the Coast), p. 5.
  17. ↑ Wayne Straiton (July 1993). Birds of a Feather. Living City (RPGA), pp. 20–21, 24.
  18. ↑ Douglas Niles and Michael Dobson (1986). The Mines of Bloodstone. (TSR, Inc), p. 29. ISBN 0-8803-8312-7.
  19. ↑ Various (July 16 2024). Quests from the Infinite Staircase. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 154. ISBN 978-0-7869-6949-4.
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