The Casket of Shadows is a reputed magical artifact owned by the necromancers of
Deep Haunt. Whilst its origins and precise function are not well-known, the necromancer
Gretchen Herzogin gave an overview of the artifact to agents of the
Queensknife after she was captured in mid-1344. It is empowered by a number of necromantic constructs known as
bone altars or
skull pillars, which extend the range by which it can entrap souls.
Gretchen's Testimony
Gretchen had never personally seen the Casket, but was described it as residing within a heavily guarded chamber in the heart of
Nachtzahn, where it was surrounded by a number of plinths, each summounted by a humanoid skull. Each of these skulls belongs to one of a pair of twins; the other skull would be somewhere else in the world, and act as a sympathetic focus to extend the power of the Casket to a distant location when it was enshrined upon a desecrated altar of bones.
The primary function of the Casket was to capture the souls of all those who died within a mile of it, though those who were returned to life very rapidly after death, or whose souls were somehow protected against this fate, would not be captured. The captured souls would be forced into the Casket, where they would be imprisoned for use in whatever way the necromancer might intend. Should the Casket be opened, the souls within it would disgorge themselves into the surrounding area as malevolent shadows.
The Casket's effects were quite noticeable to those nearby. Those in close proximity to Casket would find that their dreams were plagued with nightmares, and those attuned to magical currents might be able to discern its malevolent magical aura. Additionally, those who died or came near to death whilst within a mile of the Casket would often have visions of chained souls marching slowly through the sky, in the direction of
Nachtzahn. All these effects were propagated through the bone altars in the same way as the primary effect.
Bone Altars
The number and location of bone altars is not well known.
It is believed that there was a bone altar in
Cameri at the time of the siege, but that this was somehow destroyed; it has been implied that
Duna Ysern van Ysberwaal and
Leonora Marivaldi-Zaal may have been involved in its destruction.
Another bone altar is believed to have been present at
Fianicci when it was
sacked by the retreating Alderni forces under the command of
Arturo Riddacci van Tuerbroek.
Most recently, a bone altar was found to have been installed in the
Foundry Tower of
Rostog by the
House of Amratosh, and was destroyed by adventurers in 1344AK.
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