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Mintiper's
Chapbook
Part 10: Chronicler's Compendium
By Eric L. Boyd
Mintiper
Moonsilver is one of the legendary bards of the Forgotten Realms, and
tales of his adventures have long been recounted around hearthfires across
the North in musical, poetic, and narrative forms. Transcribed in Silverymoon's
Vault of the Sages by the Keeper of the Vault, Mintiper's Chapbook is
a compilation of the Lonely Harpist's ballads, poems, and tales. Selected
pages of this chapbook have been annotated and passed into this chronicler's
hands and shall be revealed here in a periodic column.

Chronicler's
Compendium
Mintiper's
Chapbook and the accompanying Keeper's Annotations allude to a variety
of magic treasures that lie unused in caches and hoards across the North.
The following is a brief accounting of those items and spells (updated
for Dungeons & Dragons as necessary) that might one day be
recovered by a band of adventurers who dare retrace the footsteps of the
legendary Mintiper Moonsilver.
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Mintiper's
Chapbook Part 1
Talisman
of Spell Turning*: Fashioned of iris agate, silver, and powdered
dragon bone, the talismans of spell turning are the creation
of the orc adepts of the Thousand Fists tribe active in the Nether
Mountains. Kaanyr Vhok, a half-fiend formerly of Hellgate Keep,
and his legions of tanarukks (tiefling-orcs) actively engage in
spreading the secret of their design to tribes throughout the Nether
Mountains, Rauvin Mountains, Greypeaks, and Fallen Lands.
When
held directly against the skin, a talisman of spell turning
provides the protection of a lesser spell turning spell (see
below). The effect is triggered by the first spell to be targeted
at the bearer not the will of the bearer. Once triggered, the talisman
crumbles to dust.
*Special
Note: These items were formerly known as talismans of spell
reflection.
Caster Level:
7th; Prerequisites: Craft Wondrous Item, lesser spell
turning; Market Price: 2,800 gp; Weight: 1 lb.
Griffonlance
of Goring: The griffonlance of goring was borne into
battle by successive generations of Waterdhavian Silmerhelves until
it was lost during the Battle of Turnstone Pass in 1343 DR following
the death of Laerlos Silmerhelve II. This heavy lance is fashioned
of duskwood and inscribed with depictions of rearing griffons. It
is currently interred within the Cairn of Moonlight in Turnstone
Pass alongside the corpse of Laerlos II.
The
griffonlance of goring is a +1 thundering heavy lance
grants its wielder the ability to use the Spirited Charge feat.
In addition, it grants the wielder a +10 circumstance bonus on Ride
(griffon) checks.
Caster Level:
6th; Prerequisites: Craft Magic Arms and Armor, blindness/deafness;
Market Price: 36,310; Weight: 10 lb.; Cost to Create:
18,310 gp + 1,440 XP.
Nimoar's
Blazing Bulwark: Nimoar the Reaver, War Lord of Waterdeep from
882 DR to 936 DR, employed this shield during the First Trollwar
of 932 DR. After his death, a succession of wielders carried it
until the Battle of Turnstone Pass in 1343, when it was interred
in the Cairn of Moonlight alongside the body of Laerlos Silmerhelve
II of Waterdeep.
Nimoar's
blazing bulwark is a +1 bashing large steel shield that
has been fitted with +1 flaming shield spikes. In
addition to serving as a +1 large steel shield for armor
purposes, with the flaming property that inflicts 1d8 points
of damage (x2 crit) when used during a shield bash attack, no matter
what the size of the attacker.
Caster Level:
8th; Prerequisites: Craft Magic Arms and Armor, bull's
strength and flame blade, flame strike, or fireball;
Market Price: 12,480; Weight: 20 lb.
Silverhelm
of the Guardian: Considered a minor relic by the followers of
Helm, the Silverhelm of the Guardian has long been employed by the
scions of House Silmerhelve of Waterdeep. The silverhelm of the
Guardian was interred in the Cairn of Moonlight alongside the
body of Laerlos Silmerhelve II in 1343 DR, following the Battle
of Turnstone Pass.
This
visored helmet resembles the headgear of a suit of full plate. The
silverhelm of the Guardian gives its wearer a +5 sacred bonus
on Listen and Spot checks. Moreover, it grants its wearer darkvision
and the Improved Initiative feat.
Caster Level:
6th; Prerequisites: Craft Wondrous Item, clairaudience/clairvoyance,
darkvision, haste; Market Price: 20,000; Weight:
3 lb.
Starstaff of Tsaelynos: Tsaelynos of Everlund was one of
the brightest graduates of the Lady's College of Silverymoon in
his day and a member of the clergy at the Temple of Silver Stars.
Some believe that his legendary staff is interred alongside his
body in the Cairn of Moonlight following the Battle of Turnstone
Pass in 1343 DR. Crafted from the heart of a chime oak tree of the
northern section of the eastern starwood of Cormanthor and adorned
with a gleaming moonstone, the starstaff of Tsaelynos has
the appearance of transparent glass with a slight greenish tinge
but the properties of solid oak. The starstaff allows the
wielder to cast the following spells:
- fireball
(modified by Energy Substitution feat to inflict cold damage)
(arcane, 1 charge)
- dancing
lights (arcane, 1 charge)
- faerie
fire (divine, 1 charge)
- searing
light (divine, 1 charge)
Note
that some of the spells are available only to divine spellcasters,
while others are available only to arcane spellcasters. The starstaff
of Tsaelynos also grants the bearer low-light vision while held.
Caster Level:
5th; Prerequisites: Craft Staff, Craft Wondrous Item, Energy
Substitution (see Magic of Faerûn), dancing lights,
faerie fire, fireball, low-light vision (see
Magic of Faerûn), searing light; Market Price:
27,500 gp; Weight: 5 lb.
Lesser Spell
Turning
Abjuration
Level:
Adp 4, Sor/Wiz 4
Duration:
1 minute/level
As
spell turning, except only 1d4+1 spell levels are affected
by the turning. No resonating field is created between a lesser
spell turning and a spell turning effect. The latter
always prevails, wasting any levels turned by the lesser spell
turning effect.
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Mintiper's
Chapbook Part 2
Meerschaum
Eye of the Covey: Fashioned into the shape of an eyeball from
a fine, compact, white claylike mineral that is known as meerschaum
or sepiolite, the meerschaum eye of the covey functions only
in the hands of a covey of hags. If any member of a hag covey carries
the meerschaum eye of the covey, all three hags can employ
their normal spell-like abilities as long as they are within one
mile of the meerschaum eye of the covey, and not the usual
restriction of 10 feet from the other two hags.
Caster
Level: 9th; Prerequisites: Craft Wondrous Item, dream;
Market Price: 90,000 gp; Weight: -- .
Sacred
Bundle of Ursas Blueclaw: Crafted by an early shaman of the
Blue Bear tribe, this holy symbol of the Blue Bear totem of Uthgar
appears as a small swatch of bear hide on which three bear claws
have been sewn. Thrice per day, a bearer of the sacred bundle
of Ursas Blueclaw can cast polymorph self and change
the bearer into the form of a bear. The exact type of bear varies
according to the will of the caster, but is still subject to the
restriction that the form cannot be more than one size larger than
the bearer of the sacred bundle. (In other words, this item
cannot be employed by creatures of Tiny size or smaller.)
Caster
Level: 12th; Prerequisites: Craft Wondrous Item, polymorph
self; Market Price: 52,000 gp; Weight: 1 lb.
Stoneblade
of Athalantar: Carved from a block of black granite for King
Helm Stoneblade of Athalantar, this +1 greatsword acts as
a bane weapon against creatures constructed wholly from earth,
metal, or stone.
Caster Level: 9th; Prerequisites: Craft Magic Arms
and Armor, keen edge, soften earth and stone, summon
monster I; Market Price: 18,500; Weight: 30 lb.;
Cost to Create: 9,350 gp + 720 XP.
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Mintiper's
Chapbook Part 3
The
Hamagess' Staffsprout
Transmutation
Level: Brd
6, Sor/Wiz 6
Components:
V, S, M
Casting
Time: 1 minute
Range:
Touch
Target:
One magical staff
Duration:
Instantaneous
Saving
Throw: Will negates
Spell
Resistance: Yes
You
cause a branch to sprout from a magic staff and direct any one arcane
spell of 4th level or less contained within the staff into the branch.
Once the branch is broken off, it acts as a wand with one charge,
capable of casting that one arcane spell with a caster level equal
to that of the magic staff.
The
staff must contain a number of charges equal to at least one plus
the number of charges needed to cast the selected spell or the spell
is wasted. Casting this spell drains the number of charges needed
to cast the selected spell. If the branch is not broken off within
ten minutes of the casting of this spell, it crumbles to dust, wasting
both the spell and the charges expended to create the branch.
Material
Component: A magical staff standing in at least an inch of water.
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Mintiper's
Chapbook Part 4
Ederan's
Staff of Silverymoon: Every High Mage of Silverymoon since Aglanthol
the Red has crafted a unique, personal symbol of office known as
the staff of Silverymoon. The Brothers of the Black Hand
stole Ederan Nharimlur's first staff along with a number of other
priceless magical artifacts in 766 DR during the construction of
the High Palace of Silverymoon.
Fashioned
from duskwood and topped with the carved head of a cat, Ederan's
staff of Silverymoon allows the wielder to cast the following
spells:
- alter
self (1 charge)
- cat's
grace (1 charge)
- darkvision
(1 charge)
- globe
of invulnerability (2 charges)
- spell
turning (2 charges)
Caster
Level: 13th; Prerequisites: Craft Staff, alter self,
cat's grace, darkvision, globe of invulnerability, spell turning;
Market Price: 85,500 gp; Weight: 5 lb.
Chainmail
Glove of Taarnahm the Vigilant: Fashioned of tiny links of mithral,
this +1 gauntlet bestows a +1 initiative bonus. The chainmail
glove of Taarnahm the Vigilant also senses any creature within
120 feet who intends harm to the possessor, mentally alerting him
or her of the danger from an unfriendly creature. (It does not however
give any other clue to the identity of the threat.)
Caster Level:
3rd; Prerequisites: Craft Wondrous Item, alarm; Market
Price: 10,000 gp; Weight: 2 lb.
Tasmia's
Necklace: Thought to lie somewhere within the ruins of Hellgate
Keep, Tasmia's necklace is a string of four sapphires and
three beljurils once worn by the High Lady of Ascalhorn. Similar
in function to a helm of brilliance, each jewel in Tasmia's
necklace can perform a single spell-like power once:
Jewel
Effect
Beljuril
lightning bolt (10d6)
Sapphire summon monster V
Once
all of its jewels have lost their magic, the necklace loses its
powers and the gems turn to worthless power. Removing a jewel from
the necklace destroys it.
Caster Level:
10th; Prerequisites: Craft Wondrous Item, lightning bolt,
summon monster V; Market Price: 17,000 gp; Weight:
-- .
Jaluster's
Pipestaff: Fashioned of weirwood, this most unusual looking
quarterstaff has a small hole in the top and a 6 inch long pipe
stem emerging at a right angle about 1 foot from the top of the
stave. Jaluster was an Ascalhi wizard who was torn apart by fiends
during the fall of Ascalhorn as he tried to save that city from
their domination. He is said to have destroyed three liches and
at least five tanar'ri that day ere he died. Although his orizon
was spirited to safety by the bard Maerstar, the archmage's pipestaff
was apparently lost years before to the Brotherhood of the Black
Hand. It now lies hidden within the Crypt of the Black Hand, buried
beneath the ruins of Hellgate Keep.
In
addition to serving as a convenient pipe, Jaluster's pipestaff
allows the wielder to cast the following spells:
- flame
arrow (1 charge)
- flaming
sphere (1 charge)
- fire shield
(2 charges)
- meteor
swarm (3 charges)
Moreover, if
so commanded, the pipestaff begins to smoke in a fashion
identical to that of an eversmoking bottle. In the first
round, smoke pours forth, totally obscuring vision across a spread
of 50 feet. In subsequent rounds, the smoke spreads until it has
spread 100 feet. This area remains smoke-filled until a second command
is uttered, after which the smoke dissipates normally.
Caster Level:
17th; Prerequisites: Craft Staff, Craft Wondrous Item, flame
arrow, flaming sphere, fire shield, meteor
swarm, pyrotechnics; Market Price: 116,700 gp;
Weight: 5 lb.
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Mintiper's
Chapbook Part 5
Delimbiyra's
Shining Bow: Crafted of phandar wood ere the fall of Eaerlann,
this +1 mighty composite longbow (+4 Strength bonus) glows
with a silvery light equivalent to that of a torch (20-foot radius).
Nonmagical arrows shot from this longbow become silvered in flight.
Moreover, any creature struck by a nonmagical arrow shot from this
longbow, plus any objects within a 5-foot radius burst, are subject
to the effects of a silver-hued faerie fire spell.
As
"Delimbiyr" is simply the elven name for "Shining,"
it is believed that the common name by which this weapon is known
reflects a misunderstanding by the human bard who wrote of this
weapon. To the elves, it is simply "Delimbiyra" which
means "Shining Bow." In any event, the weapon has never
been recovered from fallen Myth Glaurach, and the weapon may still
lie within the City of Scrolls.
Caster
Level: 4th; Prerequisites: Craft Magic Arms and Armor,
faerie fire, silvered weapon; Market Price:
12,800 gp; Weight: 3 lb.; Cost to Create: 6,000 gp
+ 480 XP.
Dragontear
Crown of Sharrven (Minor Artifact): The dragontear crown
of Sharrven is a delicate diadem made of thin mithral chains
adorned with tiny diamonds. A large king's tear hangs across the
brow when worn, containing the image of a majestic silver dragon.
The dragontear crown of Sharrven has the properties of a
greenstone amulet, including protecting the wearer as if
under a mind blank spell. The wearer also gains a +4 resistance
bonus against necromancy effects or any effect that would transport
the wearer to another locale or dimension. If such an effect normally
does not allow a saving throw (such as the maze spell), the
user can attempt a Will save (DC 20) to negate the effect. Finally,
the dragontear crown of Sharrven renders the wearer immune
to magical and nonmagical fear and enables the wearer to speak,
understand, and write Draconic.
Caster
Level: 15th; Weight: 1 lb.
Shattered
Staff of Starsongs: Fashioned from shadow wood, which is known
for its propensity to split down its length under stress into a
splayed mass of fibers, this weapon appears to be a normal +1
quarterstaff. At will, the wielder can command a small piece
of wood to break off from the shattered staff and fly as
an arrow towards a target. When used in this fashion, the shattered
staff has a range increment of 60 feet and inflicts 1d6 points
of damage. Bonuses for high Strength do not apply. This use of the
shattered staff is considered an exotic weapon. Finally,
at the wearer's command, the shattered staff begins to sing
elven songs in the language of Seldruin dating back to the height
of Aryvandaar. The effect is akin to that of an enthrall
spell.
Caster
Level: 12th; Prerequisites: Craft Magic Arms and Armor;
Market Price: 32,300 gp; Weight: 4 lb.
Silvered
Weapon
Transmutation
Level:
Brd 0, Clr 0, Drd 0, Pal 1, Rgr 1, Sor/Wiz 0
Components:
V, S, M
Casting Time:
1 action
Range:
Touch
Target:
One weapon or projectile
Duration:
1 round/level
Saving
Throw: None
Spell Resistance:
None
You
transform a single weapon or projectile into a silvered weapon or
silvered projectile. A silvered weapon or projectile functions as
a normal item of its type, except that silvered weapons or projectiles
can hurt some creatures that can resist damage from normal weapons,
such as werewolves.
Material
Component: A silver coin.
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Mintiper's
Chapbook Part 7
Amber
Acorns of the Moonwood Circle: The amber acorns of the Moonwood
Circle looks like a necklace of four acorns strung along a string
of woven roots. Like a necklace of prayer beads, once the
wearer casts a divine spell, the item's true nature becomes apparent.
Each acorn actually consists of amber and contains a small piece
of elemental matter -- air, earth, fire, or water -- encased within.
Once per day for each elemental type, the wearer of the necklace
can cast summon nature's ally VI, summoning a creature of
that elemental type. (Each type essentially has one charge per day.)
This item counts as a necklace with respect to the limit on magic
items worn.
Caster
Level: 11th; Prerequisites: Craft Wondrous Item, summon
nature's ally VI; Market Price: 95,100 gp; Weight:
--.
Silver
Sickles of Soranth: The legendary druid Soranth forged the twin
silver scimitars known as the silver sickles of Soranth,
and they were wielded by six successive archdruids after his death.
Over a century ago, a druidic oracle prophesized that all of Aryvandaar
would be encased in fiery ice should the twin crescents shed the
blood of the seventh child of Soranth. It is unclear whether or
not the prophecy refers to the silver sickles or, if it does,
what it means, but no druid has dared wield them since. At present,
the silver sickles of Soranth lie hidden within the hoard
of Gildenfire the Druid Dragon for safekeeping.
The
silver sickles of Soranth are both +1 lycanthrope bane
sickles. When employed together, they grant the wearer the Ambidexterity
and Two-Weapon Fighting feats. As noted in Magic of Faerûn,
page 180, weapons forged of treated silver can damage creatures
whose damage reduction type is silver, and they deal +1 damage to
such creatures.
Caster Level: 8th; Prerequisites: Craft Magic Arms
and Armor, summon monster I; Market Price: 51,306
gp each; Weight: 3 lb. each; Cost to Create: 25,306
gp + 1,000 XP.
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Mintiper's
Chapbook Part 8
Spear
of Morgur: Plundered from Illusk by Uthgar Gardolfsson's raiders,
this duskwood lance is tipped with a spearhead fashioned from dragon
bone and bathed in rose-hued flames. Morgred Gardolfsson, brother
of Uthgar, claimed the weapon as his own until his death. It then
passed to one of the twelve sons of Uthgar, eventually becoming
the traditional weapon of the leader of the Red Pony tribe. In the
Year of the Sunless Passage (576 DR), the entire Red Pony and Golden
Eagle tribes vanished into the Underdark by way of a passage beneath
the One Stone ancestor mound. Over the course of many years of wandering,
both tribes degenerated into grimlocks, although they have maintained
debased traditions harkening back to their former way of life. Members
of both tribes now live near and worship at a subterranean ancestor
mound in the Cavern of Cloven Heads, and the Spear of Morgur serves
as the traditional weapon of the Red Pony chieftain.
The
spear of Morgur is a +1 brilliant energy longspear.
Any creature touched by the spear of Morgur is bathed in rose-hued
faerie fire for 1 full round.
Caster Level: 16th; Prerequisites: Craft Magic Arms
and Armor, continual flame, faerie fire, gaseous
form; Market Price: 54,305; Weight: 9 lb.; Cost
to Create: 25,000 gp + 1,000 XP.
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Mintiper's
Chapbook Part 9
Orb
of Starunes (Minor Artifact): The orb of starunes is
a massive black sapphire that has been carved in the shape of a
1 foot diameter sphere. Sinister runes dance in its depths, just
slightly out of focus.
The
orb of starunes is similar in appearance to a crystal
ball, but it does not function as a scrying device. Anyone who
stares into the orb and makes a successful Concentration check (DC
15) can decipher the runes, causing the orb to project its contents
into their mind. This effect is akin to reading from a book of
vile darkness. Handling the orb has similar effects to handling
a book of vile darkness.
Caster
Level: 19th; Weight: 7 lb.
Stave
of Turlang (Minor Artifact): The stave of Turlang is
a magical rod fashioned in the form of an oaken staff filigreed
with gold-flecked amber. Carved from the broken branch of the great
treant, the stave of Turlang transforms into a treant (as
the spell changestaff) if the end of the stave is
planted in the ground and the word "Turlang" is spoken.
Unlike the spell, however, the stave transforms into a true treant,
capable of conversing with other treants and controlling trees.
Caster
Level: 24th; Weight: 5 lb.
Writhing
Asps of Sss'thasine'ss (Minor Artifact): Carved from green marble,
the writhing asps of Sss'thasine'ss is a hideous statue approximately
1 foot in length and shaped in the form of a mass of writhing snakes.
The writhing asps of Sss'thasine'ss has lain undisturbed
in the Hall of Mists for millennia, undisturbed since the era of
the Creator Races. Who or what Sss'thasine'ss is or was has been
lost to history, although fragmentary lore known only to a few elven
sages suggests that he may have once been a deity venerated by the
sauroid creator race.
The
statue is not inherently evil, although it might easily be mistaken
otherwise. If even a single drop of blood is shed on it, the writhing
asps immediately animate into one hundred tiny vipers (see the Monster
Manual). In the round that follows, the snakes then attack any
creature within 5 feet of where the statue stood. Anyone bit by
one or more snakes receives the benefit of a heal spell (healing
the effects of the snake bites as well). The snake's venomous bite
has a most unusual effect as well; it permanently imbues the recipient
with the Snake Blood feat (detailed in the Forgotten Realms
Campaign Setting). While some might view this bonus feat as
a gift, to others it is a horrifying curse. After 1 round, the snakes
return to statuette form. Treat the healing effect as initial damage
with no save (as the spell has none), and the feat should be treated
as secondary damage (injury DC 18).
The
only way to destroy the writhing asps of Sss'thasine'ss is
to slay all the snakes before they return to statuette form.
Caster
Level: 20th; Weight: 50 lb.
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