I was wondering if anything had been done with these outside of that book?
Zahyra Bardson-Ithal becomes the first Court Vizera of Tethyr. She creates the magical Shield of Silvam.
Beginning of the Eye Tyrant Wars: Calimshan allies with Tethyr and Iltkazar to fight the risen beholder powers of the Lake of Steam, which have pushed back Calishite aggressors and are now advancing into eastern Tethyr. Almraiven falls to beholders within the first three months of the year, and Suldophor follows by Greengrass. Though a longer struggle, the beholders control the Spider Swamp and the southern Forest of Mir by the end of Kythorn. This prevents much transfer of troops from western Calimshan save directly into beholder-controlled strongholds.
That comes from a Faerun Timeline not sure if that is what you needed or already had.
There is also this from my study at Candlekeep.
The Book of Weeping Eyes
By Chris Kobbe
Appearance
This tome is three hands tall and two hands wide (12" x 8") and bound by a front and back cover of the white dwarven metal Hizagkuur. The front plate is has a large eye surrounded by a ten smaller eyes, while the edge of the plate is bordered with an intricate design of crossed swords, starbursts and tears. The back plate has an etched depiction of King Silvam of Tethyr carrying the Shield of Silvam and battling two eye tyrants in a forest. (This metal reflects all magic cast at it 100% and causes 2d12 point of electrical damage per touch [or round of continuous contact] to all beings touching it).
The book itself contains 89 pages of now very brittle vellum. (There is a 5% chance that even careful study of any page will result in its destruction, anything short of careful perusal of the pages has a 50% chance per page of destroying that page. Certain magics may mitigate this, and DMs should remember to make items saving throws anytime the Book of Weeping Tears encounters danger).
History
At the end of the Eye Tyrant Wars in the Year of Seven Loves Lost (-166 DR), the first Vizera Zahyra Ithal commissioned this tomes crafting. Before returning to help rebuild the decimated dwarf-city of Iltakar, the great dwarven smith Matlr Stoneeyes agreed to craft the outer plates of the Book of Weeping Eyes, just as he had crafted the seven shields of Eyeblight. Meanwhile, her apprentice Sebra "EyeDeath" Belmore, a noted beholder slayer and sage specializing in the vile creatures, wrote down most of the information in the tome. While this tome was a treasured possession of the Ithal dynasty (even when magic fell from favor, the other tactics in the book were still valued), the rise of the Shoon dynasty soon after eventually resulted in the book being kept in the city of Shoonach, where it presumable remains to this day.
Contents
The first seven pages of the tome contain a brief history of the Eye Tyrant wars, including the actions of King Silvam, Vizera Zahyra Ithal, Matlr Stoneeyes, the Axe-Brothers of Iltkazar and the Eyeblight squad of Clan Ithal.
The next 24 pages contain a discourse on the anatomy, society, magical abilities and known beholder-kin of beholders. (This is essentially the information given in the I, Tyrant supplements, modified in whatever manner the DM wished).
The next 11 pages contain specific tactics of use in combating beholders.
The final 57 pages contain various spells specifically designed for use in the combat of beholders. These spells include Suppleskin, Detect Mold*, Lose Depth Perception*, Power Word Depetrify*, Beholder skin*, Eye Catcher*, Gas Spore Trap*, Instruct Spectator, Lockjaw*, Beam Curve*, Lesser Eyecap*, Greater Eyecap*, Wall of Blackstone, Control Death Tyrant, Immediate Mutagen*, and Prismatic Cap*.
Tactics: Devices
The Eye Blight Shields
In the Year of Smoldering Graves (-169 DR) the master dwarven smith Matlr Stoneeyes crafted this series of 10 shields from a cache of valuable darksteel, gained at much expense from the northern Ironstar dwarven clan, and Hizagkuur. Crafted in the smith's home city of Iltakar, center of much of the resistance to the beholders, these shield were bestowed to the Eyeblight squad.
The Eyeblight squad was a proven group of warriors from clan Ithal who survived many of the early skirmishes of the war. Because of the magical reflective properties of the Hizagkuur, First Vizera Zahyra Ithal was instrumental in training this special squad in how best to utilize this distinctive advantage over the beholders. This band is known to have slain close to 70 beholders in the next three years. While prestigious beyond words this highly trained group of warriors had a high turnover rate, with only one of the original members, Brotal Ithal, surviving through the entire war.
These shields are of a circular design roughly 2 and a half feet in diameter. They have an exterior covering of the white dwarven metal Hizagkuur, while the interior of the shield is a disk of darksteel. It should be noted that while normally the Hizagkuur naturally generate electricity, the darksteel neutralizes this property, allowing the shields to be safely handled by warriors. However, due to the amount of metal in the shield, they are extremely heavy weighing close to 45 pounds each. Even the greatest warriors tire quickly with such a load on their arms.
These shields will no longer be created in my campaign, although the PCs may acquire one on their quest. While I am sure the 2nd edition has fatigue rules somewhere (probable the DMG - which I haven't reacquired yet), right now I am just planing on applying penalties to dex and str the longer a person uses the shield. The rate at which these penalties will be assessed will be based on the PCs str and con.
To effectively use the shield, a character will have to learn a new nwp called spell deflection. It will only cost 1 slot, and the check will be at Dex -4. The character will be able to attempt to deflect up to 2 spells/beholder eye attacks per rounds. A successful check means the attack is deflected. A failure means the PC is hit, a 20 means the attack is deflected, but at a random PC/allied NPC. If the check is successful by 5 or more then the PC successful deflects and re-aims the attack. This attack is still subject to all the characteristics of the original attack so if it doesn't have enough range left to successfully reach the new target it will fail. The new attack will hit if the PC makes a successful attack roll at -2 to hit. It should be noted that while a warrior will always have at least 1 attack per round, while using the shield, 1 attack per round is lost for warriors with multiple attacks. The only way for a warrior to learn this skill is for a mage to shoot spells at him while he is using the shield (an arduous and dangerous process). Use of the shield without the spell deflection proficiency results in a check of Dexterity -14 and a -6 re-aim penalty.
This item can be extremely unbalancing, which is why I have built in quite a few limiting factors. It would be a major quest to have one made in the modern age. Darksteel is no longer made and Hizagkuur is extremely rare.
This item is difficult to use successfully and very tiring. Finally, once a character is known to have this item, every thief, mage, warrior or whoever will want it.
I know there is a generic 2e book...Items and Artifacts or something like that, that has a few Forgotten Realms specific artifacts. Might be useful. Ive used a couple from that book over the years.
-Indeed. Said book (I don't remember the exact name either) was a good book.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_major_artifacts_in_Dungeons_%26_Dragons
I'm reading Lands of Intriuge from the Wizards website (and let me say thank god the timeline has moved forward 100 years so I can say any inconsistencies between these splat books and my FR campaign is because of the 100 years that have passed), when I saw two artifacts mentioned. The Eye of Zahyra and the Shield of Silvam.
I was wondering if anything had been done with these outside of that book?
The third booklet in the "Lands of Intrigue" boxed set - Erlkazar and Folk of Intrigue - has a write-up for both of these items (in 2E terminology of course) - see p.26-27 of that booklet.
-- George Krashos