The Deathknell Resonator
The Deathknell Resonator is a dark and powerful artifact gifted by Ozraxis, The Infernal Architect, as a tool of control and fear. This unholy bell emanates a haunting resonance that commands the dead and instills dread in the living. It is forged from materials that seem to drink in the light, adorned with infernal sigils that pulse faintly with crimson energy. Though its original wielder fell to its corrupting influence, the artifact endured, buried in the history of the walled city of Nadena until rediscovered by its current ruler. Now, it serves as both a key to the Temple of Bhita and a grim reminder of the cost of power.
Mechanics & Inner Workings
When rung, all creatures within a 60-foot radius who hear the sound must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw (DC 17) or become frightened for 1 minute. Once per long rest, the bell can be rung with a specific incantation to cast control undead (as per the spell), allowing the wielder to command up to 10 undead creatures within range for 1 hour. The bell’s chime can reanimate corpses within a 30-foot radius as skeletons or zombies under the wielder’s temporary control for 10 minutes. This ability can be used once per day. The bell acts as a key to specific magical wards or locks, such as the barriers within the Temple of Bhita. When rung in proximity to such a ward, it dispels the barrier with a resounding chime.
History
The Deathknell Resonator was a dark gift from Ozraxis, The Infernal Architect, bestowed upon a mortal whose ambitions and cruelty made them a worthy recipient of such a sinister tool. The individual, whose name has been lost to history, used the bell to exert control over the restless dead and sow terror among their enemies. Their rise to power was swift, fueled by the artifact's unholy power, but their greed and hubris led to their eventual downfall.
The bell disappeared after their demise, lost in the ruins of their once-mighty domain, only to resurface centuries later within the walled city of Nadena. It was unearthed by the city's current leader Verona Laerin, who, through study and experimentation, uncovered its arcane secrets. The artifact has since become a closely guarded possession of Nadena, a relic of both immense power and dark heritage. It is both a symbol of the city's mysterious past and a key to its continued survival, wielded sparingly and with great caution.
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