BOOK OF ARTIFACTS
Introduction: What is the Iron Flask of Tuerny the Merciless?
Imagine a flask that can capture any creature, even a powerful demon lord, and force it to obey your commands. Imagine a flask that can unleash a horde of fiends upon your enemies, or grant you the power to shape reality. Imagine a flask that can make you the master of the Abyss, or the doom of the multiverse. Such is the Iron Flask of Tuerny the Merciless, one of the most feared and coveted artifacts in the history of Dungeons & Dragons.
The Iron Flask of Tuerny the Merciless is a metal bottle that resembles a wineskin, with a stopper made of iron and gold. It was created by Tuerny, a human wizard who became obsessed with the secrets of the Abyss, the chaotic evil plane of existence where demons dwell. Tuerny used his vast arcane knowledge and dark rituals to forge the flask, imbuing it with the power to trap any creature inside it, regardless of its size, strength, or magical resistance. The only way to escape the flask is to be released by the wielder, or to make a deal with them.
The flask has two main functions: capture and release. To capture a creature, the wielder must point the flask at it and speak a command word. The creature must then make a saving throw, or be sucked into the flask. The flask can hold only one creature at a time, and if it is already occupied, nothing happens. To release a creature, the wielder must open the stopper and speak another command word. The creature then emerges from the flask and remains under the wielder’s control for one hour, unless it makes another saving throw. The wielder can also use the flask to communicate with the trapped creature, or to grant it wishes in exchange for its loyalty.
The Iron Flask of Tuerny the Merciless is not only a powerful weapon, but also a dangerous curse. The flask has a mind of its own, and seeks to corrupt and manipulate its wielder. It whispers lies and temptations into their ear, urging them to use its power for evil purposes. It also attracts the attention of other creatures who covet its power, especially demons. Many wars have been fought over the flask, and many lives have been lost or ruined by its influence.
The Iron Flask of Tuerny the Merciless has played a pivotal role in many epic adventures and campaigns in Dungeons & Dragons. It has been used by heroes and villains alike, for good and evil ends. It has been stolen, lost, found, destroyed, and recreated. It has been involved in some of the most memorable events in D&D lore, such as the Blood War between demons and devils, the Time of Troubles when gods walked the earth, and the Spellplague that reshaped magic and reality.
In this article, we will explore the history and legends of this legendary artifact, from its creation by Tuerny to its current whereabouts. We will also provide some tips and ideas on how to use it in your own D&D games, whether as a plot device, a treasure, or a challenge. Join us as we delve into the mysteries of the Iron Flask of Tuerny the Merciless!
History: The Rise and Fall of Tuerny the Merciless
Tuerny the Merciless was a human wizard who lived in the ancient kingdom of Aerdy, a precursor of the Great Kingdom of Ahlissa. He was born into the noble House of Cranden, and showed great talent and ambition in the arcane arts. He became a trusted advisor to one of the Aerdi princes, but secretly plotted to overthrow him and take his place.
Tuerny achieved his goal by assassinating the prince and his family, using his magic to charm or enslave his loyal generals, and summoning demons to aid him in his conquests. He declared himself the ruler of a new kingdom, named after himself, and sought to expand his domain by waging war against his neighbors.
Tuerny’s most notorious creation was the Iron Flask, a magical artifact that could capture any creature inside it, regardless of its size, strength, or magical resistance. Tuerny used the flask to trap an aspect of Graz’zt, one of the most powerful demon lords of the Abyss. He forced Graz’zt to serve him as a slave and a weapon, unleashing him upon his enemies or granting him wishes in exchange for his loyalty.
Tuerny’s reign of terror lasted for decades, but he faced constant opposition from other kingdoms, as well as from rebellions within his own lands. His use of demons also backfired on him, as he had little control over them and they often caused more harm than good. His kingdom grew little in size, but much in infamy and hatred.
Eventually, Tuerny met his downfall at the hands of his own slave. During a great battle, Graz’zt turned against him and used his power to transform him into a dretch, a lowly type of demon. He then dragged him into the Abyss, where he intended to torture him for eternity as revenge for his enslavement.
However, Tuerny did not give up on his quest for power. He survived centuries of torment in the Abyss, slowly gaining strength and evolving into higher forms of demons. He became a nalfeshnee, a judge of the damned, and earned a reward for his victories in the Blood War, the eternal conflict between demons and devils.
Tuerny’s story did not end there. He returned to the Material Plane several times, seeking to reclaim his Iron Flask and resume his conquests. He also crossed paths with other famous figures of the World of Greyhawk, such as Iggwilv, the Witch Queen of Perrenland, and Tenser, one of the Circle of Eight. His current whereabouts are unknown, but he remains one of the most feared and coveted villains in history.
Timeline: The Owners of the Iron Flask of Tuerny the Merciless
The Iron Flask of Tuerny the Merciless is a legendary artifact that has changed hands many times throughout history. Here is a brief timeline of some of the most notable owners of the flask and their fates:
- -266 CY: Tuerny the Merciless, the creator of the flask, captures an aspect of Graz’zt, the Demon Prince of Lust, and uses him as his slave and weapon. He rules over a tyrannical kingdom in what is now Ahlissa.
- -260 CY: Graz’zt rebels against Tuerny and transforms him into a dretch, a lowly type of demon. He drags him into the Abyss, where he intends to torture him for eternity. The flask disappears with them.
- -100 CY: The flask resurfaces in the hands of Luz, the demigod son of Graz’zt and Iggwilv, the Witch Queen of Perrenland. He uses it to imprison his enemies and rivals, such as Zuggtmoy, the Demon Queen of Fungi.
- 505 CY: Iuz loses the flask during the Greyhawk Wars, when he is captured by a coalition of forces led by Tenser, one of the Circle of Eight. Tenser takes the flask and keeps it in his hidden fortress on the Isle of Woe.
- 570 CY: Tenser is betrayed by one of his allies, Rary the Traitor, who steals the flask and flees to the Bright Desert. He uses it to bind an aspect of Obox-ob, the Demon Prince of Vermin.
- 581 CY: Rary is attacked by Iggwilv, who seeks to reclaim the flask for herself. She manages to take it from him and escapes to her lair in Ket. She uses it to spy on a gathering of demon lords in the Abyss.
- 585 CY: Iggwilv is confronted by a group of adventurers who are hired by Tenser to retrieve the flask. They manage to defeat her and take the flask from her. They decide to keep it for themselves and use it for their own purposes.
The current location and owner of the Iron Flask of Tuerny the Merciless are unknown, but it is likely that it will not remain hidden for long. The flask is a powerful and dangerous artifact that attracts the attention of many who covet its power, especially demons. It is also a curse that corrupts and manipulates its wielder, whispering lies and temptations into their ear. Whoever possesses the flask must be careful not to fall prey to its influence, or they may end up like Tuerny himself.
Campaign Uses and Adventure Ideas: The Iron Flask of Tuerny the Merciless
The Iron Flask of Tuerny the Merciless is a legendary artifact that can be used as a plot device, a treasure, or a challenge in your D&D campaigns. Here are some possible ways to incorporate it into your adventures:
- Seeking the Flask: The PCs are hired by a powerful patron who wants to acquire the flask for their own purposes. They must track down its current owner, who may be a hidden villain, a rival faction, or a mysterious figure. They must also contend with other parties who are after the flask, such as demons, cultists, or adventurers. The PCs must decide whether to trust their patron, or to keep the flask for themselves.
- Preventing the Flask: The PCs learn that someone is planning to use the flask to unleash a great evil upon the world, such as summoning a demon lord, starting a war, or destroying a city. They must find a way to stop them, either by stealing the flask, destroying it, or convincing them to change their mind. They must also deal with the consequences of their actions, such as angering the flask’s owner, releasing its prisoner, or attracting unwanted attention.
- Using the Flask: The PCs come into possession of the flask, either by finding it, inheriting it, or being given it. They must decide how to use its power, whether for good or evil ends. They can capture and release creatures with the flask, communicate with them, or grant them wishes. They must also cope with the flask’s influence, which tries to corrupt and manipulate them. They must also protect the flask from those who want to take it from them.
- Destroying the Flask: The PCs discover that the flask is a dangerous curse that must be destroyed. They must find out how to do so, which may involve a complex ritual, a powerful artifact, or a divine intervention. They must also face the wrath of the flask’s prisoner, who may try to escape or bargain with them. They must also weigh the costs and benefits of destroying the flask, such as losing its power, freeing its prisoner, or ending its corruption.
Powers and Curses: The Iron Flask of Tuerny the Merciless
The Iron Flask of Tuerny the Merciless is a powerful artifact that can capture and release any creature, regardless of its size, strength, or magical resistance. However, it also has a dark side, as it contains four types of tanar’ri, or demons, that can be invoked by the wielder, but also turn against them.
The four types of tanar’ri that are imprisoned inside the flask are:
- Nabassu: A large, winged demon with a leonine head and a humanoid body. It can drain the life force of its victims with its bite, and create undead servants from their corpses.
- Glabrezu: A huge, four-armed demon with a canine head and a pair of pincers. It can cast powerful spells, such as wish, polymorph, or power word stun.
- Marilith: A six-armed demon with a snake-like lower body and a female upper torso. It is a master of combat, wielding a weapon in each hand and striking with its tail. It can also cast spells, such as telekinesis, fire storm, or blade barrier.
- Nalfeshnee: A massive, winged demon with a boar-like head and a humanoid body. It can emit a blast of fear that paralyzes its foes, and cast spells, such as call lightning, dispel magic, or slow.
The wielder of the flask can invoke one of these tanar’ri once per day by pointing the flask at a target and speaking a command word. The tanar’ri then emerges from the flask and remains under the wielder’s control for up to 8 hours. The wielder can use the tanar’ri to wreak havoc upon their enemies, or to grant them wishes in exchange for their loyalty.
However, the flask also has a curse that can backfire on the wielder. There is a cumulative 5% chance each time the flask is used that the tanar’ri will be able to turn on the wielder. When this happens, the wielder is taken to the tanar’ri’s home plane, the Abyss, to serve as a dretch, a lowly type of demon. The flask also afflicts the wielder with artifact transformation, changing the wielder’s alignment to chaotic evil and instilling the desire to utterly conquer and destroy all known creation.
The Iron Flask of Tuerny the Merciless is not only a powerful weapon, but also a dangerous curse. The wielder must be careful not to abuse its power, or they may end up like Tuerny himself.
Powers and Curses: The Iron Flask of Tuerny the Merciless in Different Editions of D&D
The powers and curse of the Iron Flask of Tuerny the Merciless vary slightly depending on the edition of D&D. Here is a summary of how the artifact works in different editions:
- AD&D 2e: The flask can imprison any creature native to a plane other than the one the wielder is on. The wielder can release the creature for up to 8 hours to attack their enemies or grant them wishes. The flask contains four types of tanar’ri: a nabassu, a glabrezu, a marilith, and a nalfeshnee. Each time the flask is used, there is a cumulative 5% chance that the tanar’ri will turn on the wielder and drag them to the Abyss to serve as a dretch. The flask also changes the wielder’s alignment to chaotic evil and makes them want to conquer and destroy everything.
- D&D 3.5e: The flask works similarly to AD&D 2e, except that the creature released from the flask remains under the wielder’s control for only 1 hour, and must make a saving throw at the end of that time to avoid being trapped again. The flask also allows the wielder to communicate with the trapped creature.
- D&D 4e: The flask can imprison any creature native to a plane other than the one the wielder is on. The wielder can release the creature as an ally for up to 8 hours, or until it drops to 0 hit points. The flask contains four types of demons: an arcanaloth, a cambion, a marilith, and a nalfeshnee. Each time the flask is used, there is a cumulative 5% chance that the demon will turn on the wielder and drag them to its home plane. The flask also corrupts the wielder’s mind and makes them want to use its power for evil purposes.
- D&D 5e: The flask works similarly to D&D 4e, except that the creature released from the flask obeys the wielder’s commands for only 1 hour, and must make a saving throw at the end of that time to avoid being trapped again. If the wielder gives no commands or gives a command that is likely to result in the creature’s death, it defends itself but otherwise takes no actions. The flask contains one random creature chosen by the DM or determined by rolling on a table.
Suggested Means of Destruction: The Iron Flask of Tuerny the Merciless
The flask is very difficult to destroy, as it is made of a metal that is resistant to most forms of damage. However, there are some possible ways to destroy it, which may involve a complex ritual, a powerful artifact, or a divine intervention. Here are some suggested means of destruction for the flask:
- Imprisoning 99 Other Greater Tanar’ri: The wielder must use the flask to imprison 99 other greater tanar’ri, or demons of high rank and power, in addition to the four that are already inside it. This will overload the flask’s capacity and cause it to explode. However, this method is very risky, as it requires the wielder to face and capture many dangerous foes, and to avoid being betrayed by the flask or its prisoners.
- Filling It with the Tears of 1,000 Orphaned Children: The wielder must collect the tears of 1,000 orphaned children who have lost their parents to war, disease, or violence. The tears must be pure and genuine, and not obtained by force or deception. The wielder must then fill the flask with the tears, which will melt the metal and release its prisoners. However, this method is very cruel and immoral, as it requires the wielder to exploit the suffering of innocent children.
- Filling It with Earth from Every Battlefield Tuerny Fought On: The wielder must find out the locations of every battlefield where Tuerny the Merciless fought during his reign of terror. The wielder must then travel to each battlefield and collect a handful of earth from it. The wielder must then fill the flask with the earth, which will break the magic that binds it and release its prisoners. However, this method is very tedious and time-consuming, as it requires the wielder to research Tuerny’s history and visit many distant and dangerous places.
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