Difference between revisions of "Zal'Kazzir's Forbidden Lore"
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| − | Zal'Kazzir can hear what he calls the "Songs of Life"; this is his interpretation of the 'Black Speak', the words of true and utter evil. His name may seem incongruous with the nature of the words, but he identifies them Aeryth empowering those who will defend her; even those who would use evil to fight evil. Aeryth | + | Zal'Kazzir can hear what he calls the "Songs of Life"; this is his interpretation of the 'Black Speak', the words of true and utter evil. His name may seem incongruous with the nature of the words, but he identifies them as Aeryth empowering those who will defend her; even those who would use evil to fight evil. To him, Aeryth and her covenant represent life, both good and evil, while Izrador, with his fell and his draining of life and magic represents the death of all. |
=== The Black Speak === | === The Black Speak === | ||
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The Black Speak is the language of dark gods; the language of true evil. It is the root language from which the bastardized pidgin of the black tongue was derived, and a competent speaker can see many similarities. | The Black Speak is the language of dark gods; the language of true evil. It is the root language from which the bastardized pidgin of the black tongue was derived, and a competent speaker can see many similarities. | ||
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| + | The Black Speak contains no words for compassion, kindness or forgiveness, but with it, a skilled speaker can communicate concepts of destruction, revenge, corruption, torture and betrayal with a preciseness and eloquence no other language can ever match. The Black Speak contains more words for disemboweling than the Arunsil tongue contains words for snow. | ||
For the uninitiated, uttering even a single word of the Black Speak is certain doom; and such words of dark power are heavily draining even to those capable and willing to speak them. No being can be tricked or fooled into speaking the Black Speak; one must willingly and desirously pronounce it's dread syllables, or they are simply gibberish. | For the uninitiated, uttering even a single word of the Black Speak is certain doom; and such words of dark power are heavily draining even to those capable and willing to speak them. No being can be tricked or fooled into speaking the Black Speak; one must willingly and desirously pronounce it's dread syllables, or they are simply gibberish. | ||
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The Black Speak may be used in at least three major ways, and certainly countless other minor ways as well. | The Black Speak may be used in at least three major ways, and certainly countless other minor ways as well. | ||
| − | *Dread: The speaker may utter words of powererful dread, terrifying, demoralizing and disgusting good creatures, and cowing, charming and impressing evil ones. Speaking the words of Dread deals 1d4 points of charisma damage and causes 1d4 points of taint | + | *Dread: The speaker may utter words of powererful dread, terrifying, demoralizing and disgusting good creatures, and cowing, charming and impressing evil ones. Speaking the words of Dread deals 1d4 points of charisma damage and causes the speaker to gain 1d4 points of taint. |
| − | *Power: The speaker may intone words of might and wrath, increasing the effective caster level of an Evil spell by one, or increasing the efficetive caster level of a magic item by one without raising it's cost in GP or | + | *Power: The speaker may intone words of might and wrath, increasing the effective caster level of an Evil spell by one, or increasing the efficetive caster level of a magic item by one without raising it's cost in GP or XP. Any items thusly empowered by the Black Speak are forever tainted with evil. Speaking the words of Power deals 1d4 points of charisma damage and causes the speaker to gain 1d4 points of taint. |
| − | *Corruption: The speaker may whisper words of corruption and weakness, lowering | + | *Corruption: The speaker may whisper words of corruption and weakness, deteriorating an object and lowering it's hardness by half. An object may not be affected by this ability more than once. |
Revision as of 22:18, 24 April 2007
Zal'Kazzir can hear what he calls the "Songs of Life"; this is his interpretation of the 'Black Speak', the words of true and utter evil. His name may seem incongruous with the nature of the words, but he identifies them as Aeryth empowering those who will defend her; even those who would use evil to fight evil. To him, Aeryth and her covenant represent life, both good and evil, while Izrador, with his fell and his draining of life and magic represents the death of all.
The Black Speak
The Black Speak is the language of dark gods; the language of true evil. It is the root language from which the bastardized pidgin of the black tongue was derived, and a competent speaker can see many similarities.
The Black Speak contains no words for compassion, kindness or forgiveness, but with it, a skilled speaker can communicate concepts of destruction, revenge, corruption, torture and betrayal with a preciseness and eloquence no other language can ever match. The Black Speak contains more words for disemboweling than the Arunsil tongue contains words for snow.
For the uninitiated, uttering even a single word of the Black Speak is certain doom; and such words of dark power are heavily draining even to those capable and willing to speak them. No being can be tricked or fooled into speaking the Black Speak; one must willingly and desirously pronounce it's dread syllables, or they are simply gibberish.
Uses of the Black Speak
The Black Speak may be used in at least three major ways, and certainly countless other minor ways as well.
- Dread: The speaker may utter words of powererful dread, terrifying, demoralizing and disgusting good creatures, and cowing, charming and impressing evil ones. Speaking the words of Dread deals 1d4 points of charisma damage and causes the speaker to gain 1d4 points of taint.
- Power: The speaker may intone words of might and wrath, increasing the effective caster level of an Evil spell by one, or increasing the efficetive caster level of a magic item by one without raising it's cost in GP or XP. Any items thusly empowered by the Black Speak are forever tainted with evil. Speaking the words of Power deals 1d4 points of charisma damage and causes the speaker to gain 1d4 points of taint.
- Corruption: The speaker may whisper words of corruption and weakness, deteriorating an object and lowering it's hardness by half. An object may not be affected by this ability more than once.
