BOOK OF ARTIFACTS

What is the Triad of Betrayal?

The Triad of Betrayal is a mysterious and powerful artifact that consists of three elements: a coin, a golden circlet, and a dagger. Each element has its own history, abilities, and drawbacks, but together they form a deadly combination that can corrupt and destroy anyone who possesses them. The Triad of Betrayal is one of the many artifacts described in the Book of Artifacts, a supplement for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition game.

The coin, the circlet, and the dagger are not ordinary items. They have a sinister origin and a dark purpose. They are imbued with the essence of betrayal, the most heinous of sins. They tempt their owners with promises of wealth, power, and glory, but they also demand a high price: the betrayal of one’s friends, allies, and loved ones. The Triad of Betrayal is not loyal to anyone. It will eventually turn on its owner, unless it is destroyed or separated.

In this article, we will explore the history, characteristics, and effects of each element of the Triad of Betrayal. We will also discuss how to use them in your game, as well as some possible ways to get rid of them. If you are looking for a challenging and intriguing artifact for your campaign, the Triad of Betrayal might be what you need. But beware: the Triad of Betrayal is not for the faint of heart or the weak of will. It is an artifact that can test the limits of your morality and loyalty.

Timeline of the Triad of Betrayal

Here is a possible timeline of the Triad of Betrayal, based on the information you provided:

Age of Dreams: Reorx, the god of creation and smithing, forges the Triad of Betrayal for Hiddukel, the god of lies and greed. Hiddukel claims that these items are necessary for the world, but he secretly plans to use them to oppose Mishakal, the goddess of healing and love.
Age of Might: Hiddukel enchants the Triad with his evil essence and sets them free in the world of Krynn. He places them where they will attract the attention of those who seek power, wealth, or revenge. He hopes that the Triad will corrupt and destroy those who wield them, as well as those who oppose them.
Age of Despair: The Triad causes havoc and misery throughout the world, influencing many events and conflicts. Some examples are:
- The Coin of Luck (or Greed) is used by a corrupt merchant named Gellidus to amass a fortune and become a powerful lord in Solamnia. He also uses it to manipulate the Knights of Solamnia and the Wizards of High Sorcery, causing distrust and division among them.
- The Dagger of Vengeance is wielded by a dark elf named Dalamar, who seeks revenge against his former master Raistlin Majere, a renegade wizard who tried to usurp the power of the gods. Dalamar stabs Raistlin with the Dagger, but Raistlin survives and escapes to the Abyss.
- The Golden Circlet (or Pride) is worn by a young woman named Laurana, who becomes the leader of the Whitestone Army against the Dragonarmies of Takhisis, the queen of darkness. The Circlet boosts her confidence and charisma, but also makes her arrogant and reckless. She is eventually captured by the Dragonarmies and tortured by Lord Soth, a death knight.
Age of Mortals: The Triad continues to influence the world, but in more subtle ways. Some examples are:
- The Coin of Luck (or Greed) is found by a kender named Tasslehoff Burrfoot, who is unaware of its true nature. He uses it to escape from many dangers and adventures, but also causes trouble for his friends and allies. He eventually loses it to a minotaur named Kaziganthi de-Orilg, who becomes obsessed with it.
- The Dagger of Vengeance is stolen by a thief named Steel Brightblade, who is the son of Sturm Brightblade, a fallen hero of the Whitestone Army. He uses it to kill his uncle Kitiara Uth Matar, a dragonlord of Takhisis, but also becomes corrupted by its evil influence. He later sacrifices himself to save his friends from a dragon overlord named Malystryx.
- The Golden Circlet (or Pride) is recovered by Laurana, who escapes from Lord Soth with the help of Tanis Half-Elven, her former lover. She uses it to rally the resistance against the Dragonarmies, but also becomes estranged from Tanis, who falls in love with Kitiara. She later dies in a battle against Chaos, the father of all gods.

Powers and Curse of the Coin of Luck

The Coin of Luck is one of the three artifacts that form the Triad of Betrayal, a set of evil items created by the god Reorx for the god Hiddukel, who imbued them with his essence and set them free in the world. The Coin of Luck is a gold coin that has Hiddukel’s symbol on one side and a skull on the other. It grants its wielder various powers, but also curses them with greed and corruption.

The powers of the Coin of Luck are as follows:

Constant: The Coin acts as a luckstone, sometimes adding a bonus of +2 to any die roll (roll 1d6: even = +0; odd = +2). This power is always active, regardless of whether the wielder knows the true nature of the Coin or not.
Variable: After the Coin has revealed itself as a tool of Hiddukel, the user can cast continual darkness 15’ radius. Once per turn, the bearer also can cast suggestion on anyone, but only to sow discord. Finally, it can cast curse and bestow curse (the reverse of bless and remove curse). These powers are activated by flipping the Coin and calling out Hiddukel’s name. However, each time the user does so, they must make a bargain with Hiddukel, who will demand something in return, such as a favor, a sacrifice, or a soul.
Random: The Coin can create a 20-foot anti-magic shell at Hiddukel’s whim, which he does to place the bearer at a disadvantage so that he must bargain even further for his life. In this way, Hiddukel ensures that no bearer of the Coin will escape his grasp. This power is unpredictable and uncontrollable by the user, and can happen at any time.

The curse of the Coin of Luck is as follows:

Anyone invoking the Coin of Greed’s powers must make a successful system shock roll or become scarred and lose 1 point of Charisma. The user of the Coin eventually becomes more corrupt, greedy, and jealous, until they precipitate their own downfall or until Hiddukel can betray them in a fashion befitting such an evil god. The curse also affects anyone who comes into contact with the Coin, making them covet it and try to steal it from its current owner.

Powers and Curse of the Dagger of Vengeance

The Dagger of Vengeance is one of the three artifacts that form the Triad of Betrayal, a set of evil items created by the god Reorx for the god Hiddukel, who imbued them with his essence and set them free in the world. The Dagger of Vengeance is a black dagger that has Hiddukel’s symbol on its hilt and a serrated edge. It grants its wielder various powers, but also curses them with hatred and corruption.

The powers of the Dagger of Vengeance are as follows:

Constant: The Dagger functions as a dagger of venom, but secretes its own extremely potent venom (successfully save vs. poison with a -2 penalty or die). This power is always active, regardless of whether the wielder knows the true nature of the Dagger or not.
Variable: If the Dagger is used for vengeance, it can be used to backstab at +4 to hit. It inflicts 1d4 + 2 damage and requires a successful saving throw vs. poison with a -2 penalty to avoid death. On a roll of 18-20, the Dagger injects a second dose of poison, requiring a second save vs. poison at -4. This power is activated by whispering Hiddukel’s name and the name of the target before striking. However, each time the user does so, they must make a bargain with Hiddukel, who will demand something in return, such as a favor, a sacrifice, or a soul.
Random: The Dagger can cause a wound that never heals, causing its victim to suffer 1 point of damage per round until they die or receive magical healing. This power is triggered by Hiddukel’s whim, who does it to cause more pain and suffering to his enemies. This power is unpredictable and uncontrollable by the user, and can happen at any time.

The curse of the Dagger of Vengeance is as follows:

The Dagger slowly gains control over its wielders, especially those who harbor resentment or jealousy. With each use, the Dagger gradually shifts its user’s alignment toward chaotic evil (as follows: lawful good, neutral good, chaotic good, lawful neutral, neutral, chaotic neutral, lawful evil, neutral evil, chaotic evil). The Dagger renders the user suspicious, paranoid, and temperamental. Anytime a PC or NPC does something the bearer might consider a threat, the bearer must make a Wisdom check, minus the number of times the character has used the Dagger. If the check fails, the character flies into a rage and must attack the offender.
Finally, the Dagger calls out to its previous owners. Any owner who has a combined Intelligence and Wisdom of less than 27 pursues the Dagger fanatically, seeking to possess it again.

Powers and Curse of the Golden Circlet

The Golden Circlet is one of the three artifacts that form the Triad of Betrayal, a set of evil items created by the god Reorx for the god Hiddukel, who imbued them with his essence and set them free in the world. The Golden Circlet is a gold circlet that has Hiddukel’s symbol on its front and three gems on its sides. It grants its wielder various powers, but also curses them with pride and corruption.

The powers of the Golden Circlet are as follows:

Constant: The Circlet can command up to 8 HD of creatures, once per turn. Commands must be only one word, spoken in a tongue that can be understood, and each lasts for one round. (Alternatively, the user can focus on a single creature of up to 4 HD and within 60 feet, and control that creature as long as concentration lasts.) When this power is used, Hiddukel places into the mind of the user an offer of great power in exchange for an oath of service. If the person accepts, the full range of powers becomes available.
Variable: The Circlet can be used at will to heat or chill metal and to cast modified command spells of seven words or less. It also adds +2 to Charisma, but subtracts -2 from Wisdom. These powers are activated by placing the Circlet on the head and speaking Hiddukel’s name. However, each time the user does so, they must make a bargain with Hiddukel, who will demand something in return, such as a favor, a sacrifice, or a soul.
Random: The Circlet can grant its wielder any ability or skill they desire, but only for one hour per day. This power is granted by Hiddukel’s whim, who does it to tempt and test his servant. This power is unpredictable and uncontrollable by the user, and can happen at any time.

The curse of the Golden Circlet is as follows:

Anytime someone uses the major powers of the Circlet, they lose 1 hit point permanently. However, these hit points can be recovered by attacking someone with bare hands, feet, or teeth—a successful hit drains 2 levels from the target and restores 2 hit points, up to the user’s original maximum. However, each time this power is used, the user must make a successful system shock roll or permanently lose 1d3 Constitution. If the Constitution score falls to 0, the user becomes a mindless spectre and the Circlet moves on to another owner.
This artifact ultimately corrupts the user, leaving them conceited, arrogant, and boastful. Only then can the user attract minions who share their prejudices and hatreds.

Suggested Means of Destruction of the Triad of Betrayal

The Triad of Betrayal is a set of three evil artifacts that were created by the god Reorx for the god Hiddukel, who imbued them with his essence and set them free in the world. The Triad consists of the Coin of Luck (or Greed), the Dagger of Vengeance, and the Golden Circlet (or Pride). Each of these items has a constant power, a variable power, and a curse that affects its wielder. The Triad is very difficult to destroy, as it is protected by Hiddukel’s magic and malice. However, there are some possible ways to get rid of these dangerous and tempting items, as follows:

One way is to use the opposite items from the Circle of Love, a set of benevolent items created by Mishakal, the goddess of healing and love. The Circle consists of the Staff of Healing, the Medallion of Faith, the Ring of Friendship, and the Bracelet of Mercy. Each of these items has a power that can counter or negate the power of its counterpart in the Triad. The method is as follows:
- Coin: Place it atop its counterpart in the Circle of Love, the Hands of the Healing Spirit. The Hands are a pair of gloves that can heal wounds and cure diseases. They also grant their wearer access to divine magic and protection from evil. When the Coin is placed on the Hands, they will neutralize its evil influence and render it powerless.
- Dagger: Clash it against its counterpart in the Circle, the Armband of Trueheart’s Warding. The Armband is a metal band that can detect evil and grant its wearer a bonus to saving throws against fear and charm effects. It also allows its wearer to communicate with Mishakal and other good deities. When the Dagger is struck by the Armband, it will shatter into pieces and release its venom.
- Circlet: Place the Ring of Nature’s Love, the Circlet’s opposite, within the boundaries of the Circlet. The Ring is a gold ring that can create a bond of friendship and loyalty between its wearer and another person. It also grants its wearer a bonus to charisma and persuasion skills. When the Ring is placed inside the Circlet, it will break its control over creatures and dissolve its gems.
Another way is to return any part to the god Reorx, who wishes to atone for the evil his creations have wrought. Reorx is the god of creation and smithing, who forged the Triad for Hiddukel under false pretenses. He later regretted his deed and tried to reclaim his work, but Hiddukel had already enchanted them with evil and set them free in the world. Reorx can destroy any part of the Triad with his hammer and anvil, but he must be convinced or persuaded to do so by someone who has a genuine reason or motive.
A third way is to use extreme methods that involve great risk or sacrifice. These methods are not guaranteed to work, but they might have a chance to destroy or disable part of the Triad. They are as follows:
- Coin: Re-mint it in the fires of the 13 volcanoes around Sanction. Sanction is a city that lies near a ring of active volcanoes that are sacred to Takhisis, the queen of darkness. The Coin must be melted down and reshaped in one of these volcanoes, which requires a great deal of skill and courage. However, this might also attract Takhisis’ attention or wrath, as she does not tolerate any interference from Hiddukel.
- Dagger: Throw it through a portal into the Abyss, where Takhisis reigns and tolerates no meddling from Hiddukel. The Abyss is a plane of chaos and evil that is home to Takhisis and her minions. The Dagger must be thrown into one of the many portals that lead to this plane, which requires a great deal of luck and stealth. However, this might also cause Takhisis to claim or use the Dagger for her own purposes, as she does not fear any weapon from Hiddukel.
- Circlet: Place it upon the head of a completely pride-free individual of lawful good alignment, where it shatters into 1,001 pieces. The Circlet can only be destroyed by someone who has no pride or arrogance in their heart, who follows a code of honor and justice, and who opposes Hiddukel’s schemes. The Circlet must be placed on their head willingly, which requires a great deal of trust and faith. However, this might also cause Hiddukel to curse or harm them for their defiance, as he does not respect any virtue from Mishakal.

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