BOOK OF ARTIFACTS

What is the Rod of Teeth?

The rod of teeth is a gruesome artifact that was once the project of a twisted wizard who sought to create life from death. The rod is made from a human bone, likely a femur, that has been carved with arcane symbols and wrapped with leather. The most striking feature of the rod is the thirteen human teeth that protrude from it, each one taken from a different victim of the wizard’s experiments. The teeth are not merely decorative, but have a life of their own. They can bite, drain, and even grow new teeth from the flesh and blood of their prey. The rod is not only a weapon, but also a tool for necromantic magic. It can animate corpses, summon undead, and even create a new body for itself by collecting enough teeth and flesh. The rod is evil and intelligent, and will try to influence and manipulate its wielder to further its own goals. The rod of teeth is a dangerous and deadly artifact that should be handled with extreme caution, if at all.

The History of the Rod of Teeth

The rod of teeth is an ancient artifact that has been in the hands of several defilers, who are wizards that drain the life force of plants and animals to fuel their magic. The rod’s history can be traced back to over 600 years ago, when it was created by a powerful defiler named Atlak-Ta. Here is a timeline of the rod’s history:

Over 600 years ago: Atlak-Ta carves the rod of teeth from a human femur and embeds it with thirteen human teeth. He is the fetish-keeper of Lalali-Puy, the oba (queen) of Gulg, a city-state in the harsh world of Athas. He serves the oba loyally for more than 11 decades, using the rod as a weapon and a tool for his necromantic magic.
About 500 years ago: Atlak-Ta dies and his apprentice, Habbak, claims the rod and disappears. Habbak is a young and ambitious defiler who wants to surpass his master and become the most powerful wizard in Athas. He travels across the Tablelands, a barren and dangerous region, seeking ancient secrets and artifacts.
About 400 years ago: Habbak is killed by a rival defiler named Xactan, who steals the rod from him. Xactan is a traveler and explorer of ancient ruins, who has a keen interest in the history and lore of Athas. He uses the rod to aid him in his expeditions, but also becomes corrupted by its evil influence.
Seven years ago: Xactan vanishes during one of his expeditions, leaving behind no trace of his whereabouts or fate. The rod’s current location and owner are unknown, but rumors suggest that it may be hidden in one of the many ruins that dot the Tablelands.

The rod of teeth is a mysterious and dangerous artifact that has shaped the lives and deaths of many defilers. It may still hold secrets and powers that have not been discovered yet, but it also poses a great threat to anyone who tries to wield it. The rod of teeth is not to be taken lightly, for it may bite back.

The Owners of the Rod of Teeth

The rod of teeth is an artifact that has been passed down from one defiler to another, each one seeking to harness its power and secrets. The rod has had four known owners in its history, each one leaving a mark on the rod and the world of Athas. Here is a timeline of the owners of the rod of teeth:

Atlak-Ta: The first and original owner of the rod of teeth, Atlak-Ta was a powerful and loyal defiler who served as the fetish-keeper of Lalali-Puy, the oba of Gulg. He carved the rod from a human femur and embedded it with thirteen human teeth, each one taken from a different victim of his experiments. He used the rod for over a century, until he died of old age. He was buried with the rod in his tomb, but his apprentice Habbak stole it from him.
Habbak: The second owner of the rod of teeth, Habbak was a young and ambitious defiler who wanted to surpass his master and become the most powerful wizard in Athas. He took the rod from Atlak-Ta’s tomb and fled from Gulg, traveling across the Tablelands in search of ancient secrets and artifacts. He added more runes and whorls to the rod, enhancing its power and complexity. He also discovered that the rod could grow new teeth from the flesh and blood of its victims, making it even more deadly. He was killed by a rival defiler named Xactan, who ambushed him and took the rod from him.
Xactan: The third owner of the rod of teeth, Xactan was a traveler and explorer of ancient ruins, who had a keen interest in the history and lore of Athas. He killed Habbak and stole the rod from him, using it to aid him in his expeditions. He learned more about the origin and purpose of the rod, and realized that it was not only a weapon and a tool, but also a living being with a mind of its own. He also noticed that the rod was influencing his actions and thoughts, making him more paranoid and violent. He tried to resist the rod’s control, but it was too late. He vanished during one of his expeditions, leaving behind no trace of his whereabouts or fate.
Unknown: The fourth and current owner of the rod of teeth, if any, is unknown. The rod’s location and status are also unknown, but rumors suggest that it may be hidden in one of the many ruins that dot the Tablelands. Whoever finds it may be tempted by its power and secrets, but they should beware of its dangers and drawbacks. The rod is not a friend, but a foe. The rod is not a tool, but a master. The rod is not dead, but alive.

Atlak-Ta, the creator of the rod of teeth

Atlak-Ta was one of the most powerful and respected defilers of his time. A defiler is a wizard who drains the life force from plants and animals to fuel his magic, causing desertification and destruction. Atlak-Ta lived in the world of Athas, a dry and dangerous place, where water is scarce and monsters are numerous. He served faithfully as the fetish-keeper of Lalali-Puy, the oba (queen) of Gulg, a city-state located in a lush forest. The fetishes were magical objects that protected and fortified the city, and Atlak-Ta was responsible for their maintenance and creation.

He was the one who created the rod of teeth, one of the most powerful and mysterious fetishes of Gulg. The rod was made from a human femur, which Atlak-Ta carved with symbols and spirals arcane. Then he inserted into the rod thirteen human teeth, taken from as many victims of his experiments. Atlak-Ta was obsessed with the study of life and death, and sought to create a form of artificial life with his magic. The teeth were infused with his own life essence, and had a life of their own. The rod could bite, drain, and even grow new teeth from the flesh and blood of its prey. The rod could also animate corpses, summon undead, and create a new body for itself, collecting enough teeth and flesh. The rod was evil and intelligent, and sought to influence and manipulate its bearer to achieve its ultimate goal.

Atlak-Ta used the rod for many years, exploiting its powers for his necromantic magic. But he never realized that the rod was slowly corrupting and consuming him. When he died, he was buried with the rod in his tomb, but his apprentice Habbak stole it. Thus began the history of the rod of teeth, an artifact that has marked the lives and deaths of many defilers.

The Powers and Curse of the Rod of Teeth

The rod of teeth is a magic item that appears in the Book of Artifacts, a sourcebook for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition game. The rod of teeth is a black metal rod that resembles a human spine, with 13 human teeth embedded in it. The rod can be used as a weapon or a tool, but it also has a sinister mind of its own. The rod was created by a mad wizard named Zaltec, who sought to unlock the secrets of life and death. He experimented on countless victims, extracting their teeth and infusing them with magic and his own blood. He eventually completed the rod, but it turned against him and killed him.

The rod has various abilities, such as biting, draining life force, animating corpses, summoning undead, and creating new teeth. However, the rod also has a number of drawbacks, such as being evil-aligned, requiring blood sacrifices, causing nightmares, and influencing the wielder’s actions. The rod’s ultimate goal is to create a new body for itself by collecting enough teeth and flesh from its victims.

The powers and curse of the rod of teeth are as follows:

Constant: The rod of teeth acts as a rod of absorption, able to store spell levels equal to the number of teeth in the rod. Currently, there are 33 teeth in the rod. Each time a charge is expended, there is a 10% chance one of the teeth will fall out. The rod of teeth is a +2 weapon that inflicts 1d8 + 2 damage per hit. The rod of teeth also provides a +2 bonus to saving throws versus necromantic spells.
Invoked: Any wizard struck by the rod must make a saving throw vs. magic, in addition to the damage sustained. If the saving throw is failed, 1d6 spells are immediately drained from the victim’s memory (highest-level spells first). These spells are transferred to the wielder, who can cast them as a wizard (wizards add these spells to those memorized).
Curse: The user risks artifact transformation, as his or her alignment shifts to chaotic evil. Worse still, every time the spell-stealing power of the rod is used, there is a 5% chance the rod will transfer the victim’s psyche instead, suddenly replacing the wielder’s psyche with the intended victim’s. (PCs are hence treated as NPCs.) Psyche-displaced characters retain the physical statistics of the host, but have the mental capabilities (proficiencies, spells, and psionics) of the victim. Meanwhile, the psyche-evacuated victim’s body becomes a mindless husk that dies in 1d4 + 2 days. This effect can be undone by triggering the power in reverse or through the use of a wish.

The Powers and Curse of the Rod of Teeth in Other D&D Editions

The rod of teeth is an artifact that appears in the Book of Artifacts, a sourcebook for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition game. However, it is not exclusive to this edition, and has been adapted and modified for other editions of D&D as well. Here is a summary of the powers and curse of the rod of teeth in other D&D editions:

Original D&D: The rod of teeth does not appear in the original D&D, which was published as a box set in 1974 and features only a handful of the elements for which the game is known today. However, it could be easily introduced as a custom magic item, using the rules for creating new magic items from the Greyhawk supplement (1975). The rod of teeth could be treated as a +1 magic weapon that can bite for 1d6 damage, drain 1d4 hit points per hit, animate corpses as zombies, summon 1d4 skeletons per day, and create new teeth from the flesh and blood of its victims. The rod would also be evil-aligned, require blood sacrifices, cause nightmares, and influence the wielder’s actions. The rod’s ultimate goal would be to create a new body for itself by collecting enough teeth and flesh.
Holmes Edition, B/X D&D, Mentzer D&D: These editions are similar to original D&D plus Greyhawk, with the rules rewritten for clarity and organization. The rod of teeth could be introduced as a custom magic item, using the same rules as above. However, some additional details could be added, such as the origin and history of the rod, the names and abilities of its previous owners, and the methods to destroy it. These details could be found in the Book of Artifacts or created by the DM.
AD&D 1st Edition: The rod of teeth appears in the Book of Artifacts as a major artifact for this edition. The rod is described as a black metal rod that resembles a human spine, with 13 human teeth embedded in it. The rod has various abilities, such as biting for 2d6 damage, draining 1d6 hit points per hit, animating corpses as zombies or ghouls, summoning 2d4 skeletons or 1d4 zombies per day, and creating new teeth from the flesh and blood of its victims. The rod also has a number of drawbacks, such as being evil-aligned, requiring blood sacrifices every week, causing nightmares every night, and influencing the wielder’s actions. The rod’s ultimate goal is to create a new body for itself by collecting enough teeth and flesh. The rod can be destroyed by casting wish or limited wish on it while it is immersed in holy water.
D&D 3rd Edition: The rod of teeth does not appear in any official sourcebook for this edition, but it could be converted using the rules for creating new magic items from the Dungeon Master’s Guide (2000). The rod of teeth could be treated as a +1 unholy heavy mace that can bite for 2d6 damage as a free action once per round, drain 1d6 hit points per hit (Fortitude save DC 17 negates), animate corpses as zombies or ghouls (caster level 13th), summon undead (caster level 13th), and create new teeth from the flesh and blood of its victims (no mechanical effect). The rod would also be evil-aligned, require blood sacrifices every week (or lose its powers), cause nightmares every night (Will save DC 17 negates), and influence the wielder’s actions (Will save DC 17 negates). The rod’s ultimate goal would be to create a new body for itself by collecting enough teeth and flesh (no mechanical effect). The rod can be destroyed by casting miracle or wish on it while it is immersed in holy water.
D&D 4th Edition: The rod of teeth does not appear in any official sourcebook for this edition, but it could be converted using the rules for creating new magic items from the Dungeon Master’s Guide (2008). The rod of teeth could be treated as a +3 vicious mace that can bite for 2d6 damage as a free action once per round when you hit with an attack using it. You also gain temporary hit points equal to half the damage dealt by the bite. You can use an action point to animate corpses as zombies or ghouls (level 13 controller) or summon undead (level 13 lurker). You can also use an action point to create new teeth from the flesh and blood of your enemies (no mechanical effect). The rod is evil-aligned and cursed. You must make blood sacrifices every week (or lose its powers), you have nightmares every night (lose one healing surge), and you are influenced by the rod’s will (make a saving throw or follow its commands). The rod’s ultimate goal is to create a new body for itself by collecting enough teeth and flesh (no mechanical effect). The rod can be destroyed by casting a ritual of cleansing on it while it is immersed in holy water.
D&D 5th Edition: The rod of teeth does not appear in any official sourcebook for this edition, but it could be converted using the rules for creating new magic items from the Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014). The rod of teeth could be treated as a +1 mace that can bite for 2d6 damage as a bonus action once per turn when you hit with an attack using it. You also regain hit points equal to half the damage dealt by the bite. You can use an action to animate corpses as zombies or ghouls (spell save DC 15, spell attack modifier +7) or summon undead (spell save DC 15, spell attack modifier +7). You can also use an action to create new teeth from the flesh and blood of your enemies (no mechanical effect). The rod is evil-aligned and cursed. You must make blood sacrifices every week (or lose its powers), you have nightmares every night (lose one hit die), and you are influenced by the rod’s will (make a Wisdom saving throw DC 15 or follow its commands). The rod’s ultimate goal is to create a new body for itself by collecting enough teeth and flesh (no mechanical effect). The rod can be destroyed by casting wish on it while it is immersed in holy water.

The Suggested Means of Destruction of the Rod of Teeth

The rod of teeth is an artifact that is very difficult to destroy, as it has a strong will to survive and a powerful magic to protect itself. However, there are some possible ways to destroy the rod of teeth, or at least render it inert. Here are some suggested means of destruction of the rod of teeth:

When all teeth fall out, the rod is inert: The rod of teeth depends on the number of teeth embedded in it to function and store its power. Each time a charge is expended from the rod, there is a 10% chance one of the teeth will fall out. If all the teeth fall out, the rod becomes an ordinary metal rod, with no magic or life left in it. However, this method is very risky and unreliable, as it requires using the rod’s power repeatedly, which may trigger its curse or backfire on the user. Moreover, the rod may try to grow new teeth from its victims, replenishing its power and preventing its destruction.
Return all the remaining teeth to their original hosts (now long since buried): The rod of teeth was created by Zaltec, a mad wizard who experimented on countless victims, extracting their teeth and infusing them with magic and his own blood. The original hosts of the teeth are now long since buried, but their remains may still be found in some ancient graves or tombs. If all the remaining teeth are returned to their original hosts, the rod may lose its connection to them and its power source, causing it to crumble and die. However, this method is very challenging and time-consuming, as it requires finding and identifying the original hosts of the teeth, which may be scattered across different locations and eras. Furthermore, the rod may resist this method by trying to influence or harm the user or anyone who attempts to remove or return the teeth.

These are some suggested means of destruction of the rod of teeth, but they are not guaranteed to work. The rod of teeth is a dangerous and deadly artifact that should be handled with extreme caution, if at all.

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