Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Stardog 11-22-04, 02:28 PM	I'm in a writer's block sort of thing. Right now I have a fairly good idea (at least I think) in which the Duergar and Drow bother to go to the surface to retrieve an artifact. The story would be something like: This ancient artifact (which was lost a long time ago) was traced near the City of Arabel by the Duergar. A Duergar troupe went to retrieve it, and on their way back they were captured by the Purple Dragons of Comyr. The Purple Dragons now have possession of the artifact, and the Duergar. Because of this, the Duergar wish to come to the surface to continue their quest for that artifact, and maybe rescue the foolish ones who let it become captured in the first place. This would create a series of raids by the Duergar in the City of Arabel. Though, the Drow, who caused the artifact to be on the surface in the first place, realize that instead of hiding this artifact from the Duergar again, they can use it to their advantage; thus, they come to the surface to retrieve it for themselves, encouraging the Duergar to put more force into the campaign, which does the exact same to the Drow. It would be a competition between Drow and Duergar over this artifact that the humans now have in posession. I think this might be a pretty fun concept, BUT the problem I have is: What is the artifact? And also, by answering that, it answers my second question: Why did the Drow hide it from the Duergar in the first place? I've been thinking left and right, and I honestly can't think up some artifact that the Drow and Duergar would both desire. So can anyone here offer me some help? :) Any ideas are helpful.
Mr. Domino 11-22-04, 05:31 PM	The artifact should probably be something very difficult to destroy that would be very beneficial to the duergar. Maybe a weapon that slays elves by the dozen. Maybe the drow lost it going on the surface to kill their fairer kin; something went wrong and they were forced to retreat without it? Or maybe it holds the key(s) to an ancient dwarven city that the drow can't get to but don't want their duergar foes to have either. If you want it to be duergar made artifact make it armor or a weapon or a set of both.
Hizar 11-22-04, 07:56 PM	Pick axw of mighty tunnelling: In addition to being a +5 vampiric, Pick Axe of pierceing and wounding, one blow from this pick axe aganst stone walls creates a passage way 20' X 20' X 200'. Usable only by Duergar. useless to the drow but dangerous to the drow in the hands of thier somtimes enimies the Duegar.
Chosen of the Dark Sun 11-22-04, 10:23 PM	The half-succubus sorceress in my campaign has a very simple but incredibly powerful artifact. In combat it acts as a Wounding Katana +3. But it's other ability is what has prevented the minions of Torm or Tyr from destroying her. All divine magic directed at the wielder of the Chaos Blade of the Founders (the artifact) that is not of at least epic level is nullified (harmful),as well as area effects. This also applies to all allies within 360 ft. of the wielder. Oooohhhh, yeah! It was created by a red dragon named Kalthondrogtrignoyth after being forced into slavery by a cult of Shar, called the Founders of the Loss. The dragon superheated the adamantine blade and then enchanted it after the cults elders blessed the metal. Not until after the enchantments were laid was the blade forged into shape, and due to the enchantments one side of the blade seems to absorb light, and the other reflects it. The hilt is in the likeliness of a red dragon holding a full moon in it's jaws. It was made 8,237 years ago. If you use this, feel free to substitute things, such as making it a cult of Lloth. This weapon wielded by a powerful duergar could be devistating to the cleric powerful drow.
Ramar Aulinvox 11-23-04, 05:40 PM	It could be a psionic artifact. The deurgar who worship Deep Derga have been on a crusade of conquest recently and they could have been useing the artifact against the drow when a mishap happened and the artifact was sent to the surface by accident. This artifact could be an artifact out of the psionics handbook or it could be an old artifact from house Obloud, don't know if i'm spelling that right, it was the psionic house in Menzobranzen before the time of troubles. perhaps a psicrystal of great power or a psionatrix (for those who remember dark sun).
Dagda Mor 11-23-04, 08:24 PM	How about some sort of holy artifact whose full powers are only usable by clerics of the duergar deity whose name I forget?