Villains' Lorebook.pdf - Department of Political Science

The trigger activating a given dagger can be as
general as “attack all intruders,” or as specific as the
elaborate triggering conditions of a magic mouth
spell.
Flying daggers are usually enchanted to attack anything
that moves with a 60’ range. The spells that
allow a flying dagger to swoop, dart, and detect opponents
also protect the blades from rusting and brittleness
due to extreme heat and cold.
An average flying dagger has the following statistics
for combat: AC5; MV Fl 21 (A); HD l+l; hp 9
each; THAC0 17; # AT 2; Dmg 1-4; this item is
considered a magical weapon that can hit creatures
vulnerable to +2 weapons-though the weapon
gains no attack bonuses. Flying daggers are neutral,
non-intelligent, and cannot be affected by any type
of mental control. A dagger that successfully strikes a
moving arrow, thrown weapon, or like missile
deflects it, if a DM so desires.
Some flying daggers can be enchanted with special
abilities: immunity or reflection for certain spells;
their touch can rust metal items as a rust monster,
items struck must save vs. lightning or rust-a flying
dagger strikes metal when it attacks a target creature
carrying or wearing something metal, and its attack
roll misses by only one point; or perhaps the flying
daggers can even deliver a shocking grasp effect upon
contact.
Gargoyle Cloak
This dusty gray cloak confers +2 bonus on all saving
throws vs. petrification to the wearer. The gargoyle
cloak also can be called on once per day by the
wearer’s silent mental command to enact its major
power, which is to turn the wearer into a gargoyle.
The wearer can remain a gargoyle, as described
below, to a limit of one turn, or may return to normal
at any time before the turn is up. Once ended,
the power cannot be reactivated for 24 hours (144
turns). A gargoyle cloak must be worn to be activated.
When its major power is used, the cloak transforms
itself in one round into a gargoyle shape
around the wearer. During that round, the wearer
can do nothing but move. Application of a dispel
magic during this period prevents the cloak from
transforming for one turn, though activation of its
major power can be attempted again later; a 24-hour
wait is not necessary.
The cloak expands to cover the wearer’s body and
clothing with a stony overskin, wings, and a tail,
until the wearer resembles a gargoyle. Worn or carried
magical items are unaffected, but only objects
carried in the hands or worn on the fingers and
around the throat can be accessed while in gargoyle
form.
The wearer retains the ability of normal speech,
Dexterity, skills, and presence of mind. A spellcaster
still able to reach necessary material components
can cast spells normally. In gargoyle form, the wearer
becomes AC 5, has a MV of 9, Fl 15 (C), a THAC0
of 15, and four attacks per round (two claws at 1d3
points of damage each, a bite that inflicts 1d6 points
of damage, and a horn slash-and-gore that deals 1d4
points of damage). The wearer gains 90-foot-range
infravision and can be hit only by a +1 or better
magical weapon. A gargoyle cloak-wearer aloft or
swooping down to attack can only attack with its
horn or both claws. To use all four attacks, the cloak-
wearer must be on the ground.
Changing the cloak back from gargoyle form into
a garment requires one round. During that round,
the wearer can only move about and, if a spellcaster,
cast spells requiring only verbal components. Sememmon,
the commander of Darkhold, often wears
his gargoyle cloak when going into known combat
situations.
Halaster’s Teleport Ring
These plain brass finger-rings were once common in
the Realms, but are now very rare. They enable any
wearer to teleport without error from a current location
to a predetermined spot on the same plane, either
by speaking a command word or through activation
by force of will.
Teleport rings affect only the creature wearing
them. The few that are in Undermountain are
placed there by Halaster; unlike the more powerful
horned rings (see below) of his devising, all the teleport
rings found in the halls are cursed. They transport
the wearers to a single location upon the
wearer’s speaking of a command word: “athlas”
(which means “lost” in a Northern dialect of long
ago, familiar to the wizard). Their destination is
Room #70, the Cavern of the Throne on Undermountain’s
Level Three. The characters arrive facing
the throne itself from the bottom of the steps
leading up to it.
The teleport rings in Undermountain are further
tainted by Halaster’s cruel sense of humor: the user
arrives stripped of all clothing and belongings,
129