BOOK OF ARTIFACTS

ARTIFACTS INDEX

Introduction: The Silencer of Bodach

The Silencer of Bodach is one of the most legendary and mysterious artifacts in the world of Athas, the harsh and savage setting of the DARK SUN® campaign. This sword was forged by Rajaat, the first and most powerful sorcerer ever to walk the dying lands, and given to his loyal Champion, Irikos, who became known as the Left Hand of Rajaat. The Silencer of Bodach was a weapon of mass destruction, capable of slaying entire races with its deadly magic. But what is the origin and history of this sword? How did it end up in the hands of Irikos, and what happened to it after his downfall? And what secrets does it hold for those who seek to wield it or destroy it? In this article, we will explore these questions and more, as we delve into the lore and legend of the Silencer of Bodach.

Rajaat: The First Sorcerer and the Warbringer of Athas

Rajaat is the most ancient and powerful being in the world of Athas, the creator of arcane magic and the mastermind behind the Cleansing Wars that nearly destroyed all life on the dying planet. He is also known as the Warbringer, the First Sorcerer, the Enemy, and the Dark Lens. His origins, motives, and goals are shrouded in mystery, but his legacy is undeniable.

Rajaat was born as a pyreen, a race of benevolent and immortal beings that were once the guardians of Athas. However, he was different from his kin: he was twisted in body and mind, and he harbored a dark ambition to reshape the world according to his vision. He discovered the secrets of arcane magic, a form of power that draws energy from the living essence of plants, animals, and even people. He taught this magic to a select group of students, who became known as the Champions of Rajaat. He also forged powerful artifacts for them, such as the Silencer of Bodach, a sword that could kill entire races with a single stroke.

Rajaat’s ultimate plan was to cleanse Athas of all races that he deemed impure or unworthy, leaving only humans as the dominant species. He launched a series of wars against the other races, such as elves, dwarves, halflings, gnomes, orcs, and many others. His Champions led these wars, each with a specific target race to exterminate. The wars lasted for centuries, and resulted in the death of countless beings and the devastation of the land. The arcane magic used by Rajaat and his Champions drained the life force of Athas, turning it from a lush and fertile world into a barren and desolate wasteland.

However, Rajaat’s plan was not without opposition. Some of his Champions rebelled against him, realizing the horror of his scheme and fearing for their own fate once he achieved his goal. They formed a secret alliance and plotted to overthrow him. They managed to trick him into entering a trap in a place called the Hollow, where they used a powerful artifact called the Dark Lens to imprison him in a state of suspended animation. They then turned against each other, fighting for control over the remaining lands and resources. They also used the Dark Lens to transform themselves into immortal beings with godlike powers: the sorcerer-kings.

Rajaat remained imprisoned in the Hollow for thousands of years, until he was accidentally freed by a renegade sorcerer-queen named Sadira. He returned to Athas with a vengeance, seeking to destroy his former Champions and resume his Cleansing Wars. He was confronted by a group of heroes who managed to defeat him with the help of Borys, the last surviving Champion who had become the Dragon of Tyr. Borys sacrificed himself to re-imprison Rajaat in the Hollow, using his own life force as a seal. Rajaat’s current status is unknown, but some believe that he is still alive and plotting his escape.

Rajaat is one of the most influential and dangerous figures in the history of Athas. His discovery of arcane magic changed the course of civilization and ecology forever. His Cleansing Wars nearly wiped out all diversity and life on the planet. His imprisonment sparked the rise of the sorcerer-kings and their tyrannical regimes. His return threatened to unleash a new era of destruction and chaos. His legacy is still felt in every aspect of life on Athas, from the harsh environment to the oppressive society to the constant struggle for survival.

Rajaat’s appearance has never been clearly described, but some sources suggest that he looks like a pyreen with pale skin, white hair, red eyes, and a twisted body. He is also said to wield a staff made from a dragon’s spine. He is feared and revered by many as the ultimate source of arcane power and evil on Athas.

Timeline: The History of the Silencer of Bodach

The Silencer of Bodach is a sword with a long and bloody history, spanning thousands of years and many owners. Here is a brief timeline of the major events involving the sword, based on the information provided by the user:

• The Age of Rajaat: Rajaat, the first sorcerer and the warbringer of Athas, creates the Silencer of Bodach and gives it to his Champion, Irikos, who is tasked with exterminating the orcs. Irikos uses the sword to lead a massive army against the city-state of Bodach, a neutral power that resists Rajaat’s plans. Irikos destroys Bodach with the sword, but is killed by a powerful spell cast by the last sorcerers of Bodach. The sword is buried in the ruins of Bodach.
• The Age of the Sorcerer-Kings: About three Kings’ Ages ago (around 1,500 years ago), a wandering adventurer named Rimmon finds the sword in Bodach’s ruins and uses it to become a notorious bandit leader. She gathers a horde to attack Balic, but is defeated and killed by Andropinis, the sorcerer-king of Balic. The sword is taken by one of Rimmon’s lieutenants, an elf who escapes into the wilderness. The sword passes through various hands of slave tribes, raiders, and savages over the years.
• The Present Age: Twelve years ago, the sword is recovered by a patrol of Tyrian soldiers from a bandit lair and brought to Kalak’s armory in Tyr. After Kalak’s death, the sword disappears again. It is rumored that one of Kalak’s templars stole the sword and fled into the desert. The current location and owner of the sword are unknown.

Owners: The Succession of the Silencer of Bodach

The Silencer of Bodach is a sword that has been wielded by many different owners over the course of its history. Some of them were powerful and influential, while others were obscure and forgotten. Here is a brief timeline of the known owners of the sword, based on the information provided by the user:

• Rajaat: The first and original owner of the sword, who created it as a gift for his Champion, Irikos. Rajaat was the first sorcerer and the warbringer of Athas, who sought to cleanse the world of all non-human races. He was eventually betrayed and imprisoned by his own Champions, who became the sorcerer-kings.
• Irikos: The second owner of the sword, who received it from Rajaat as a reward for his loyalty and service. Irikos was one of Rajaat’s Champions, who was tasked with exterminating the orcs. He used the sword to lead a massive army against the city-state of Bodach, but was killed by a powerful spell cast by the last sorcerers of Bodach. The sword was buried in the ruins of Bodach.
• Rimmon: The third owner of the sword, who discovered it in Bodach’s ruins about three Kings’ Ages ago (around 1,500 years ago). Rimmon was a wandering adventurer and bandit leader, who used the sword to become a notorious raider and warlord. She gathered a horde to attack Balic, but was defeated and killed by Andropinis, the sorcerer-king of Balic. The sword was taken by one of Rimmon’s lieutenants, an elf who escaped into the wilderness.
• Various slave tribes, raiders, and savages: The fourth group of owners of the sword, who possessed it for various periods of time over the years. The sword passed through many hands of different factions and individuals, who used it for their own purposes and agendas. Some of them were killed or robbed by others, while some lost or abandoned the sword for unknown reasons.
• Tyrian soldiers: The fifth group of owners of the sword, who recovered it from a bandit lair twelve years ago. The soldiers were part of a patrol sent by Kalak, the sorcerer-king of Tyr, to secure his territory and resources. They brought the sword to Kalak’s armory in Tyr, where it was stored and guarded.
• Kalak’s templar: The sixth and current owner of the sword, who stole it from Kalak’s armory after his death. The templar was one of Kalak’s loyal followers, who served him as a priest and enforcer. The templar took advantage of the chaos caused by Kalak’s assassination and fled into the desert with the sword. The templar’s identity and motives are unknown.

Campaign Uses: The Silencer of Bodach as a Plot Device

The Silencer of Bodach is a sword that can offer many possibilities for adventure and intrigue in the DARK SUN® campaign setting. It is a weapon that can inspire ambition, greed, fear, and heroism in those who encounter it. Here are some possible ways to use the sword as a plot device in your campaign, based on the information provided by the user:

• The Sword of Conquest: The sword can be a tempting prize for any character who dreams of glory and power. The sword can grant its wielder incredible offensive abilities, such as slaying any creature with one hit, destroying magic items, and unleashing devastating spells. With the sword, a character can challenge the might of the sorcerer-kings, the Dragon, or any other enemy. However, the sword also has a dark side: it corrupts its owner with delusions of grandeur and righteousness, and it attracts the attention of powerful foes who seek to claim it or destroy it. The sword can be a catalyst for a rise-and-fall story arc, where the character builds an empire with the sword, but eventually faces a downfall due to his or her hubris and enemies.
• The Sword of Assassination: The sword can also be a potential weapon for good, if used wisely and sparingly. The sword can be the object of a quest for a group of heroes who seek to overthrow a tyrannical sorcerer-king or another villain. The sword can be the only weapon capable of piercing the defenses of such a foe, and thus the only hope for freedom and justice. The quest can involve tracing the history and location of the sword, finding clues and allies along the way, and avoiding or fighting enemies who also want the sword. The quest can culminate in a climactic confrontation with the target, where the heroes must use the sword to strike a decisive blow.
• The Sword of Mystery: The sword can also be a source of mystery and intrigue, as its origin and nature are shrouded in secrets. The sword was created by Rajaat, the first sorcerer and the warbringer of Athas, who had a mysterious and sinister plan to cleanse the world of all non-human races. The sword also bears a glowing rune of ancient design, whose meaning is lost to time. The sword can be a key to unlocking some of the secrets of Athas’s past, such as Rajaat’s motives, methods, and goals, as well as the fate of his Champions and their races. The sword can also reveal some hidden truths about Athas’s present, such as the identity and agenda of its current owner, or the involvement of some sorcerer-kings or other factions in its history. The sword can be a hook for a mystery or investigation story arc, where the characters must uncover clues and secrets about the sword and its connection to Athas’s history and destiny.

Powers and Curse: The Silencer of Bodach as a Magic Weapon

The Silencer of Bodach is not only a sword of great historical and legendary significance, but also a magic weapon of immense power and evil. The sword has several abilities that can make it a formidable asset or a deadly threat, depending on who wields it and how. The sword also has a curse that can corrupt and destroy its owner, as well as anyone who stands in its way. Here are the main powers and curse of the sword, based on the information provided by the user:

• Constant Powers: The sword is a two-handed sword +5 that swings like a long sword. The blade is incredibly sharp and can ignore any nonmetal armor, making it easier to hit and damage enemies. The blade can also cut through tree trunks or stone walls at a rate of 10 feet per round, making it useful for breaking through obstacles or creating openings. The sword also provides a +2 Armor Class bonus to its owner, making him or her more resistant to attacks.
• Invoked Powers: The sword has three powers that can be activated by its owner up to three times per day each. The first power is the ability to attack all creatures in a 10-foot radius by swinging the weapon in great, horizontal sweeps. This can be useful for dealing with multiple enemies at once, but it also requires making attack rolls against any allies within the radius, unless the enemies are very closely packed. The second power is the ability to release a mammoth blast of pure force at any target up to 20 feet distant. This has the effect of a 40-foot-square earthquake spell, which can cause massive destruction to structures and terrain, as well as inflict 5d10 points of damage to any creature struck. The third power is the ability to project a tower of iron will psionic power for up to one turn, which can protect the owner from psionic attacks or enhance his or her own psionic abilities.
• Random Powers: The sword also has four powers that are randomly determined from two tables in the Book of Artifacts (AD&D 2e). Three of these powers are from Table 21: Enchantment/Charm, which can grant the owner various abilities to influence or control other creatures, such as charm person, suggestion, or domination. One of these powers is from Table 33: Protections, which can grant the owner various abilities to resist or negate harmful effects, such as protection from evil, dispel magic, or globe of invulnerability.
• Curse: The sword has a dark and sinister curse that affects its owner in two ways. First, the sword thrives on bloodlust and drives its owner to seek glory and power through conquest and violence. Every week, the owner must save vs. death or permanently lose 1 point of Wisdom, representing the loss of sanity and morality. Second, the sword inflicts artifact possession, which makes the owner obsessed with the sword and its purpose. The owner will attempt to seize command of any group, of any size, and then lead his forces against any foe, especially those who would defy or imprison Rajaat, the creator of the sword. The owner will also develop a fanatical hatred of such enemies, and will not hesitate to kill them with the sword.

The Silencer of Bodach is a sword that can offer great power and peril to its owner and anyone who encounters it. It is a weapon that can change the course of history and destiny on Athas, for better or worse. It is a weapon that must be used with caution and wisdom, or else it will bring ruin and madness.

Powers and Curse: The Silencer of Bodach in Other D&D Editions

The Silencer of Bodach is a magic weapon that was originally created for the AD&D 2e Dark Sun campaign setting, but it can also be adapted to other D&D editions with some modifications. Here are some possible ways to convert the powers and curse of the sword to D&D 3.5e, 4e, and 5e, based on the information provided by the user and the web search results:

• D&D 3.5e: The sword is a +5 keen greatsword that ignores any nonmetal armor (treat as touch attack). It can also cut through any nonmagical material up to 10 feet thick per round. The sword grants its wielder a +2 deflection bonus to AC. The sword can be used to make a cleave attack against all creatures within 10 feet, but this also requires making attack rolls against any allies within the radius. The sword can also unleash a blast of force three times per day, as a ranged touch attack that deals 10d6 points of damage and has the effect of an earthquake spell. The sword can also project a tower of iron will effect three times per day, granting its wielder immunity to mind-affecting effects for 10 minutes. The sword has three random abilities from the Enchantment school and one random ability from the Abjuration school, as determined by rolling on the tables in the Dungeon Master’s Guide. The sword is cursed: every week, the wielder must make a DC 20 Will save or lose 1 point of Wisdom permanently. The sword also causes artifact possession, making the wielder obsessed with conquest and violence, and hateful of Rajaat’s enemies.
• D&D 4e: The sword is a +5 vicious greatsword that ignores any nonmetal armor (treat as AC 10). It can also cut through any nonmagical material up to 10 feet thick per round. The sword grants its wielder a +2 bonus to all defenses. The sword can be used to make a sweeping strike encounter power, as an area burst 1 within weapon range that deals 1[W] + Strength modifier damage to each enemy in the burst, but this also requires making attack rolls against any allies within the burst. The sword can also unleash a force blast daily power, as a ranged 10 attack that deals 5[W] + Strength modifier damage and has the effect of an earthquake power. The sword can also project an iron will daily power, granting its wielder immunity to daze, dominate, and stun effects for 10 minutes. The sword has four random properties from the Artifact Properties table in the Dungeon Master’s Guide. The sword is cursed: every week, the wielder must make a DC 20 Endurance check or lose 1 point of Wisdom permanently. The sword also causes artifact madness, making the wielder obsessed with conquest and violence, and hateful of Rajaat’s enemies.
• D&D 5e: The sword is a +5 greatsword that ignores any nonmetal armor (treat as AC 10). It can also cut through any nonmagical material up to 10 feet thick per round. The sword grants its wielder a +2 bonus to AC. The sword can be used to make a sweeping attack once per turn, as an action that targets all creatures within 10 feet of the wielder, but this also requires making attack rolls against any allies within the area. The sword can also unleash a force blast three times per day, as an action that targets one creature or object within 20 feet of the wielder that must make a DC 20 Dexterity saving throw or take 10d6 force damage and be affected by an earthquake spell. The sword can also project an iron will three times per day, granting its wielder immunity to psychic damage and being charmed or frightened for 10 minutes. The sword has four random properties from the Minor Beneficial Properties table and one random property from the Major Beneficial Properties table in the Dungeon Master’s Guide. The sword is cursed: every week, the wielder must make a DC 20 Wisdom saving throw or lose 1 point of Wisdom permanently. The sword also causes artifact obsession, making the wielder obsessed with conquest and violence, and hateful of Rajaat’s enemies.

Possible Means of Destruction of the Silencer of Bodach

• Melt the Silencer in the breath of a dragon
  • The Silencer can withstand normal fire, but not the magical flame of a dragon
  • Finding and convincing a dragon to help is very difficult and dangerous
• Break the Silencer on an anvil of meteoric iron
  • Meteoric iron is a rare and precious metal that can harm or destroy other magical items
  • Finding an anvil of meteoric iron is very difficult, as they are highly sought after by smiths and mages
• Dissolve the Silencer in the foam of the sea (suitable only on Athas)
  • The sea is the source of all life and magic, and its foam can cleanse any impurity or evil
  • Athas has no sea anymore, as it evaporated due to the high temperature and defiling magic of its sorcerer-kings
  • To bring back the sea, one would need to undo the damage done by centuries of tyranny and corruption.

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