Ashen Crook

There are many powerful artifacts that call the Twin Worlds home, and the most powerful among them come from the hands of the gods, themselves. One such artifact is the Ashen Crook, an artifact of evil from the hand of Lesav. This is a symbol of her desire to slay the Twin Worlds, themselves.

History

The symbol of the goddess Lesav had long been a shepherd's crook to symbolize her stewardship over the dead. This object was called the Crosier of Lesav and it never left the goddess's hand. During her fall, the crook burned. The divine wood turned to ash, melted like metal, and fell from her hand. Thus, the Ashen Crook fell into the hands of mortals.
It passed from wielder to wielder, inevitably leading to their destruction. Its last user was the necromancer Mortis the Ashen, who spread a plague across Vald in an attempt to create an endless army of the undead. It was then taken by adventurers and destroyed by unknown means.
The horrifying legacy of the Ashen Crook lives on, however. Pieces are known to have survived the destruction of the artifact. A fragment, or Ashen Shard, is imbued with a portion of the crook's terrible power. It is unknown how many of these shards remain.

Significance

The powers of the crook are nothing short of the stuff of legend. It is said that with a simple wave of the staff even a layman could have an obedient army of the undead. If wielded in battle, it is said that the barest touch could bring death.
It also possessed a terrible curse. As it was held in Lesav's hand during her fall, it was imbued with her hatred. Anyone who wields the crook finds that each death and each reanimation is not enough. The wielder eventually finds himself nothing more than an unwitting pawn in Lesav's goal of murdering the Twin Worlds.

Item type

Unique Artifact

Rarity

Unique (destroyed)

Weight

8 lbs

Dimensions

5' long

Base Price

Priceless