Ilsundal’s Quill

This is a large feather with a sharpened tip, similar to the writing implements used in most civilised countries. The feather itself appears black from a distance, perhaps taken from a raven or other large corvid; close examination, however, reveals the Quill to be composed of many colours, rather like a dark rainbow.

Elvish legends concerning this item state that it once belonged to Ilsundal the Wise, and was used by him to record a journal (now lost) of the trials and tribulations suffered during the Great Migration from Grunland. Variant forms of this tale state that the Quill was manufactured by Ilsundal as part of his Quest for Immortality, or perhaps after reaching that state; the truth of the matter is unknown by any Elf still living.

Whatever its origin, Ilsundal’s Quill is a potent, if limited-scope, magic item. When used as a writing or drawing-tool, it requires no ink, creating it magically at the nib as it writes. The marks made by the Quill are invisible to normal sight, and can be read under only three circumstances: by creatures with Infravision (neither Detect Invisible nor Truesight can see the text, unless the user of those spells already have Infravision), by shining the light of the full moon upon the written page, or by grasping the Quill (or one of its copies - see below).

Ilsundal’s Quill can also be used to write one magic-user scroll per month, containing a single 1st-3rd level spell known by the writer, without recourse to expensive inks. For this power alone, the Quill is much sought-after. Of course, any such scroll will require both Infravision and Detect Magic to read.

Lesser versions of Ilsundal’s Quill have been manufactured by Elf-Wizards over the centuries; these possess all the powers of the original, but only a limited number of charges (from 2d6 to 5d4, depending on the manufacturer). Each charge allows the user to produce a single page of invisible writings. These "lesser" Quills lack the spell-scroll writing ability, and cannot be recharged.

Note: One final legend (now barely-remembered) states that if the original Quill is used in a particular ritual, it will draw a map showing the location of Ilsundal’s journals, which are also considered Relics of Ilsundal. The journals - most likely in the form of ancient scrolls, perhaps made of tree-bark - give a full description of the route taken, and note where various Clans dropped away from the Migration. As such, they would be invaluable for tracking down "lost" or otherwise mislaid Elf-Clans. It is rumoured that, with variant rituals, the Quill and the journals together might also provide directions to the lost Clans themselves - perhaps even to the site of the Elves’ original home...

The Winged Helm

This appears to be a normal iron helmet, slightly battered, of the type worn by warriors of the Northern Reaches since time immemorial. However, in place of the customary animal-horns, the Helm has a pair of stylised wings on either side, made of beaten steel. In contrast to the helmet itself, these are bright and shiny, and appear to have been added at a later date. The wings can actually be detached from the helmet if the wearer desires, and if he can determine how it is done.

The Winged Helm originated in the Antalian village of Novorodin, in the Hollow World; its original owner was Grunaf Starkadsen, also known as Grunaf the Righteous, a High-ranking militant Cleric of Donar. Grunaf had led many successful forays against the Northern Beastmen, but his latest had been nothing less than a disaster; fully two-thirds of his men had been lost when the pack-ice covering a frozen tarn had unexpectedly given way just as they were crossing it, leaving him badly undermanned when a Beastman raiding party attacked. The tattered remnant of his troop were gradually being picked off by hit-and-run tactics from the Beastmen, who used their knowledge of the local area to stage guerrilla raids.

As the end drew near, Grunaf prayed to his Immortal patron for deliverance - and was rewarded with a vision, in which Donar commanded him to remove the horns from his helmet. When Grunaf had done so, Donar handed him two sculpted wings of bright steel to attach in their place. When Grunaf donned the newly-customised helmet, he suddenly found himself rising into the air, and from his new vantage-point he could see the Beastmen hidden nearby. With a mighty blast on his war-horn, he directed his men to their location; the Beastmen, however, unnerved by the sight of a flying warrior, broke and ran.

Grunaf made good use of the Relic during his lifetime, as did his successors, until the Helm was finally lost during a raid on the Temple of Donar two centuries later. Donar has kept an eye on it, however, and it has shown up occasionally in Antalia, the Northern Reaches, Robrenn, in fact wherever he is worshipped on Mystara.

The Winged Helm grants its wearer the power to Fly, as per the Mage spell, for an unlimited duration, as often as required; however, its powers function only if worn by a Cleric of Donar (or Thor, or any other of the Immortal’s alternate identities). The Helm must be intact to use this power; the flight-magic is provided by the wings on either side of the Helm, but these do not function unless attached to Grunaf’s helmet. The wings, being of Immortal manufacture, are indestructible; the helmet is not, and is the weak point of the Relic. If the helmet-part is destroyed, a Cleric of Donar/Thor might be able to convince the Immortal to allow another helmet to be used in its place, but a quest or other service will be required by the Immortal first.

Finding the Winged Helm - for the Church of Donar/Thor, as part of a PC’s Quest for Immortality, or whatever other purpose the DM can concoct - might form the basis of a good medium-to-high level adventure. The Helm itself is not particularly powerful, but it does feature in numerous legends and sagas in both the inner and outer worlds, and has great cultural and religious importance as a consequence. If the Helm has been split into its three components, the adventure might even be expanded into a small campaign.

This material copyright 1999 Carl Quaif, based on material copyright TSR, Inc. All rights reserved. Webmastered by Jennifer Favia Guerra.