Black Crown of Aerdy

This evil headgear was worn by one of the original Overkings of the House of Naelex in the ancient Great Kingdom. Whether the crown was enchanted by an evil wizard, or whether it merely became a receptacle for the Overking’s cruel spirit is not known. The powers of the crown exist only to recreate the greatness and wickedness of the fallen empire.

Once donned, the crown will not be voluntarily given up. It will raise intelligence by + 2 and wisdom by + 3 (to racial maximums) and confer one level of magical or clerical ability. Characters who aren’t magic-users or clerics can select one level of clerical or magic-user ability-player’s choice.

When the crown is put on, and each month thereafter, character must save once versus spell or become lawful evil, and then must save again versus spell or be overcome with megalomania. Once both of these are in effect, the character must make a saving throw versus spells each month or lose a point of constitution. Any character totally drained by the crown becomes a spectre guarding it.

The crown can be removed only by use of a wish or equivalent. While this removes the benefits of the item, only then can the alignment change be reversed by a remove curse and an atonement spell, while the character’s personality can be restored only with a heal spell.

X.P. value: -- x.p.

G.P. value: 2,000 g.p.