Nether Scrolls

Nether scrolls were a set of ancient scrolls that described fundamental magical theory. Multiple sets were known to exist, one set older and more tarnished than the others.

Purpose

While Nether Scrolls had no direct magical powers, they provided a seemingly-limitless supply of arcane knowledge. The limitless nature was indeed only seemingly and a scroll could be read completely in a month of dedicated study. The tomb of Hsssthak once contained scrolls known to the ancient elves to contain a pair of spells that could allow lizardfolk to gain much power and prestige. Every mage, knowing or not, bases their magic on the theory of the nether scrolls and is unaware about knowing some part of the scrolls’ content. Reading the ten interrelated scrolls, that made up a chapter, gave a reader comprehensive and wholistic knowledge that expressed itself in special permanent capabilities.

Document Structure

Clauses

The content was written over 50 scrolls divided in five chapters, each consisting of ten scrolls. Each scroll was made of precious metal, gold or platinum, made flexible like paper with silvery letters floating upon the surface.

The five chapters were:
Arcanus Fundare The chapter “Foundations of Magic” was about fundamental magic, it gave the reader an instant boost to its spells effectiveness and the reader’s magical skill, matching and/or surpassing that of true masters, but no additional base magical power.
Magicus Creare The chapter “Spells of Creation” was about magic item creation, reading it provided the user the ability to create new magic items and the ability to create any magic item with less expenditure of one’s essence.
Maior Creare The chapter “Major Creation” dealt also with the creation of magic items but with the focus on constructs. Reading it made the reader not only understand how to construct constructs at all but also how to reliably create them at top quality without any fluctuation.
Planus Mechanus The chapter “Studies of the Planes” dealt with planes and allowed the reader to use “plane shift” and to not suffer any negative effects from other planes’ environments.
Ars Factum What the content of the chapter “Of the Creation of Artifacts”. Its contents were unknown, though naturally it was suspected to deal with what the title said to deal with. This chapter’s scrolls couldn’t be just read like the others and required some kind of key to be read. Said key was never discovered.

Historical Details

History

Humans from Netheril were the ones who found the scrolls among the ruins of Aryvandaar, a fallen sun elven empire. These elves however, had not dared to use the power of the scrolls themselves. After the discovery, the Netherese started to base their magic on the scrolls’ theory instead of the elves', for their magic followed inferior standards. After the discovery of the Nether Scrolls, the arcane might of Netheril increased immeasurably. They learnt to craft mythallar and left their former mentors, the elves, behind in power, albeit only for a short time before their fall due to Karsus’ folly.

−30,000DR The Nether Scrolls, or the Golden Skins of the World Serpent, were created in Oreme by the Sarrukh. They sought to gather all magical knowledge from their vast empire’s borders into one location, in order to consolidate their arcane power. This effort spawned its own secret society, the Ba'etith, and lasted thousands of years after the fall of the empires of the Creator Races. Their creation included magic from the batrachi and aearee (although not fey or humans, the two other Creator Races) as well.
−3533DR The @Netherese discover the scrolls amid the ruins of Aryvandaar.
−3095DR The elves of Cormanthyr steal one set of the Nether Scrolls and hide it away in Windsong Tower.
−1896DR A band of thieves steal 24 parts of the Nether Scrolls from the chambers of Ioulaum. Frightened of discovery, they mash the scrolls into golden lumps and sell them.
Unknown Date Tyvollus Aluviirsan transforms one set of the Nether Scrolls into Quess Ar Teranthvar.

Legacy

The Nether Scrolls were among the most influential artifacts in Faerûn. In fact, in the 14th century DR, a good portion of the sum of magical knowledge on Toril was based on the theory described in these scrolls. Shreds of its knowledge were known by every mage in one fashion or the other with varying completeness.

Type

Manuscript, Magical (Tome/Scroll)

Medium

Metal