Tome of the Black Heart [Major Artifact]

This book was written by several evil magi, whose time of existance upon Oerth is not recorded, save that they dwelt near the Valley of the Mage. The Tome was lost during those years when the Mage of the Valley brought down a great ruin upon these evil ones. The Tome slipped from the ways of dread for a time, only to be located by Tomorast in a curio shop in the city of Greyhawk! The legends do not tell how it came to be there, but it was truly lucky for Tomorast that he found it, for it contained what he has always sought: power and arcane knowledge to procure still more power. He has read extensively from this book, although he is forced to offer a sacrifice to Kerzit every time he peruses its worm-eaten pages.

Through the use of the Tome and his own baleful spells, Tomorost has created and brought to life many of the objects that reside on the dungeon levels beneath Maure Castle. His greatest artificing was performed, using the knowledge imparted by the Tome, in the creation of the iron golem that protects the Great Hall. Through the use of the Tome, he has summoned many evil and knowledgeable spirits to guide him in acquiring knowledge of other planes, and how to traverse this realm while remaining in his physical body.

The Tome of the Black Heart is written in Abyssal, and is comprised of many and varied powers and summonings. Each area covered is listed hereafter. Anyone who can cast 6th-level arcane spells can make use of the rituals contained in this book; a Use Magic Device check to emulate a class feature (DC 20) also allows use of the rituals.

Pages 1-12: These pages describe the summoning of the guardian demon Kerzit. This conjuration requires 10,000 gp in crushed black opals, the sacrifice of an intelligent humanoid, and two weeks of preparation and meditation. Appropriate vestments must be worn (see area 96), and the words "Kerzit the Mighty, Kerzit the Strong, Kerzit the Guardian, Kerzit! Kerzit! Kerzit!" must be chanted. This chant protects the conjurer from Kerzit's attack. At the end of the ritual, which takes 10 minutes to complete, Kerzit appears in a blast of putrescent wind and black smoke. He is immediately affected by a binding spell cast at caster level 20, and gets no saving throw to resist the effects of the spell. Every time the Tome is used, a new sacrifice must be made to the guardian demon, and the precise ritual must be repeated. Until this binding ritual is completed, the other rituals in the Tome do not function.

Pages 13-50: These pages contain the history of the Tome as recorded by its unknown authors. Tomorast's scrawl can be identified, as he keeps updating the Tome as he learns from it.

Pages 51-129: These pages describe the making of a special iron golem identical to the one found in area 22. These instructions grant a +5 competance bonus on skill checks made to craft the golem's body; assembling the body requires a DC 24 Craft (metalworking) check or a DC 24 Craft (weaponsmithing) check. The ritual holds the necessary spells needed for the golem and effectively grants the builder the use of the Craft Construct feat. The ritual can be performed once a year and supplies the necessary XP for creating the golem. The builder must still spend six months of time and spend 200,000 gp in raw materials. The builder can incorporate two weapons of his choice into the building of the golem; doing so grants the golem Two-Weapon Fighting as a bonus feat, but binds the weapons to the golem so that they cannot be removed without destroying them.

Pages 121-200: These pages describe the construction of an item known as the Dagger Obelisk. This requires three months of preparation time and magical investigation and a 30,000 gp sacrifice to the deities Fharlanghn and Celestian.

The ritual provides the XP needed to create the dagger. The components required for the creation of the dagger include 1 lb. of hornblende, a teleport spell, an extended plant growth spell, and a sapphire worth at least 5,000 gp (the sapphire must also be at at least 95% flawless). Once complete, the Dagger Obelisk functions as a +5 dagger. It's primary function, however, is much different.

If the Dagger Obelisk is thrust into fertile ground up to its hilt, a rumbling manifests and the ground parts to make way for a green, spiraling, 30 ft. by 8 ft. plant stalk that pushes up out of the ground and stops in front of the character. A grotto near the front of the stalk appears to be a passageway. This is, in fact, a portal to the Lost City of the Elders. The Dagger Obelisk is consumed when it creates this portal.

Pages 201-268: These pages contain the names of four spirits that can provide information about other planes. The book itself does not grant the ability to contact the spirits, but if the book is us used as a focus for any spells to contact, call, or summon these creatures, the caster gains a +4 bonus to his effective caster level. Spells that this can apply to include and gate.

Rar-Tum is a spirit of the Elemental Planes. He appears as an admixture of fire, air, water, and earth.
Kesh-Gurh is a spirit of the Para-Elemental Planes, and appears as flowing dust particles filled with ice, heat, and vapor.
Sha-Duan, a spirit of the Plane of Shadow, appears as a 10-ft.-high shadow, and talks in low, sonorous tones.
Mezzik is a spirit of the Demiplane of Knowledge Concerning the 666 Layers of the Abyss and the Layers of Carceri. He prefers to appear as a vrock with bright red skin and green feathers. In fact, he is actually an imp with the ability to shapechange into a vrock for one hour per day.

Strong conjuration [chaos, evil]; CL 20th; 5 lb.