Svefnþorn (SVEFN-thorn)
Svefnþorn, or Sleep Thorns, are a type of cursed magical object originating from the ancient Norse magic tradition. They are mentioned in a number of sagas, including Völsunga Saga, Hrólfs Saga Kraka, and Göngu-Hrólfs Saga. The Galdrabók Grimoire contains one of the earliest known descriptions of how to manufacture them.
When a properly prepared svefnþorn is stuck into the head of victim (usually into the skin of their scalp) the victim will fall into a death-like sleep, from which they can only be awakened if the svefnþorn is removed, or if the magic fades with time.
Use in Eichen House
Svefnþorn are used by P.T.H. to control and subdue supernatural patients and inmates.
Eichen house svefnþorn are unique, as they are made from splinters of The California Nemeton. The highly magical nature of Nemeton wood allows complex self-sustaining spells to be placed on the svefnþorn. This is used to enchant the svefnþorn to activate only if an inmate is away from Eichen house.
This is intended as a method of subduing escapees to allow them to be retrieved and returned to Eichen House. However, due to their power, once activated it is extremely difficult or even impossible to removed the svefnþorn from the victim. For this reason, there is a delay of two days between an inmate leaving Eichen House and the svefnþorn activating, to allow time for the inmate to be retireved by non-magical means.
Manufacturing process
A svefnþorn can be made of anything which can be carved. Wooden svefnþorn are by far the most common, with oak being usually recommended as the most powerful, but stone, metal, and even glass can be used, provided the caster has the appropriate tools.
They may be of any size, provided the caster can carve the necessary symbols small enough, but smaller svefnþorn are usually thought to be more succesful, as they are less likely to be detectd and removed. However the pay off for this is small svefnþorn usually cannot self-sustain strong or complex spells for any length of time.
Only a suitably sized 'thorn' has been selected, this must be engraved with the magical symbol known to modern archologies as the 'four harpoons'. This thorn should then be placed inside a dog's heart, covered in pickling brine, and left in darkness for 13 days.
Item type
Magical
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