Bane of Avarice

The Bane of Avarice, referred to in some circles as Rahknolon, is an abyssal artefact dating back before the known age. So old is the item that some elves would look like mere children by comparison, and its ancient and sinful history has marked the surface of Eidos countless times. Forged by the rulers of the Abyssal Realms for their own nefarious deeds, it was at some point stolen from its place of origin and transferred to the mortal plane. There, it would wreak bloody havoc on hundreds or perhaps even thousands of lives. Looking to be simply a key, the Bane of Avarice hides a dark functionality, and beyond that, a dark temptation.

Dark Function

The trinket is something of an arcane skeleton key. By sacrificing one's own fortunes, it will meld and twist to fit any lock, obstruction, or barrier, and unlock it. Though primarily intended for use with ordinary lock contraptions, it can potentially dispel locking magics as well, though at a higher cost to the user. Once it has been used, it must be sated again with the sacrifice of something valuable to the owner. Gold is not its only appetite - for any item of significant personal attachment or value will feed the almost-sentient artefact. It trades hands often, making its way around rogueish circles, and then being sold by mystics, aware of the price it eventually exacts upon its user and thus not willing to use the power itself. Fundamentally powered by occult means, the key will make any individual attuned to the arcane uncomfortable in its presence; and only those without any innate sense of magickry are usually able to utilise it without being driven mad. Those who do have the potential to cast magic, commune with spirits, or other such otherworldly powers may eventually succumb to the appetite of the key and sacrifice their own abilities in an effort to please their new, inanimate master. Legends say that all these energies feed into the trinket's creator, who will one day reclaim the item from whoever is unfortunate enough to be using it at that time.

The Rite of Ownership

The key often kills those who inherit its use through the draining of their spiritual energies. Only an especially strong user or especially unarcane owner can resist or tune out this temptation to feed the key beyond its reasonable asks. Those individuals, should they not sate the key, will eventually one day find it missing - displeased by its owner's lack of vice. Then, it will turn up where it can be easily found by one who would be better suited to own and whet the key's appetite, but also easily ignored by those who have no interest in such trinkets. Thus the cycle will begin again - taking the life of its owner, or transferring itself to a new one, in time. It may take years for it to claim another life, or weeks, or perhaps even days, depending on the spiritual fortitude of the individual. Such is the nature of all artefacts of the abyss - easily lured, seldom kept.

Destruction

By chance, the Bane found itself in the hands of Runar Triand, a man who had survived Klaarta Dunn and would soon be roped into an enormous quest to enter the Abyss and destroy Baal'zurre's soul once and for all. It's a possibility the Bane knew of Runar's ultimate destiny and thus navigated its way to him; but regardless, it would see occasional use during its ownership, until at a pivotal moment in Ewrorin, it exacted a price on Runar's very soul. When he eventually entered the Abyss, the Bane was keen to return to its master - the Demon Forge-king, Drak'Kore. Presented few other leads and knowing Drak'Kore played a part in working for Baal'zurre in the Abyss, Runar and his compatriots would make their way to the 37th layer and to Drak'Kore's throne. Here, the Bane was destined to be reunited with its creator; but Runar realised the power that would be given to Drak'Kore from all the Bane's harvested souls would make him a threat to match Baal'zurre, and instead, he threw the key into the very abyssal magma in which it was forged - destroying it utterly and eradicating its stored souls. Then, he and the party escaped before Drak'Kore's wrath could be enacted, sealing the fate of the Bane. But Drak'Kore is patient - he has been to have waited centuries for the Bane to accumulate its power - and Avarice may once again find its way into the Mortal Realm, with fury renewed.

Item type

Tool

Raw materials & Components

Abyssal metals that take the appearance of gold in conventional light, but appear more like ruby or brass under closer inspection.