CreditsDesign: Kevin Melka & Bruce NesmithEditing: Bill OlmesdahlBased on Concepts by: Troy Denning & Timothy B. BrownCover Art: Mareninterior Art: Jesus RedondoCreative Director; Harold JohnsonArt Director: Bob GalicaPrepresss Coordinator: Dave ConantTypography: Tracey L. IslerGraphic Design: Don DanowskiThanks to: Bill Slavicsek for his help with the artifacts of Athas.

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2446XXX1501ADVANCED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, AD&D, DARK SUN, DUNGEON MASTER, DRAGON'S CROWN and the TSR logoare registered trademarks owned by TSR, Inc. All TSR characters, character names, and the distinctivelikenesses thereof are trademarks owned by TSR, Inc. © 1996 TSR, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in theUSA. Random House and its affiliate companies have worldwide distribution rights in the book trade forEnglish-language products of TSR, Inc. Distributed to the book and hobby trade in the United Kingdom byTSR Ltd. Distributed to the toy and hobby trade by regional distributors. This product is protected by thecopyright laws of the United States of America. Any reproduction or unauthorized use of the material orartwork contained herein is prohibited without the express written permission of TSR, Inc.

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Introduction , , , , , . , , , . . . . . , , , , . . 3The Lesson of Gulem the Cray 3What's Contained Within 4Notes on Artifacts 4Existing Artifacts 4

Chapter One: Artifacts of Afhas 5The Belt of Kings 6The Dark Lens 7Heart of the Drake 9The Heartwood Spear 13Ktandeo's Cane 14The Last Tree 15Orbs of Kalid-Ma !. ' ! . ' ! 17The Planar Gate 22

TABL6 OF CONTENT*The Psionatrix 24The Scorcher 26The Scourge of Rkard 28Artifact Random Powers Charts 30

Chapter Two: Life-Shaped Items 46Defining the Life-Shaped 47The State of Life Shaped Objects 50Adding the Life Shaped to Your Campaign 51Magic Effects onLife Shaped Items 53The Life Shaped: Products, Tissues, and Creatures 55

Chapter Three: Rhul-tal Life Shaped Artifacts 76The Centennial Brain 77The Corundrum Wormskin 78The Green Rhul 80The Jade Marquess 82The Ma-kat Mannequin 84The Arm of Radu 86Spirit Wombs 88The Tongue of Glib the Mad 91

Chapter Four: DARK SUN" Magical Items 92Fruits 92Oils 93Scrolls 93Rings 95Rods 96Staves 97Wands 97Miscellaneous Magic: Jewels, Jewelry, Phylacteries 98Miscellaneous Magic: Candles, Dusts, Ointments, Incense, and Stones 99Miscellaneous Magic: The Weird Stuff 100Psionic Items 101Unique Psionic Items 106New Psionics 108

Appendices • • ^ "Appendix I: Other Life Shaped Items 110Appendix II DARK SUN® Magical Item Tables 115

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The Lesson of Gulem the GrauGulem stood in the empty classroom, glancing out a nearby window while waitingfor the newest group of initiates to arrive at the Nexus—the hidden academy of theWay located deep within the mountain range northeast of Kurn. The powerful dwar-ven psionicist of the Order wondered how many of this group would perish beforegraduating from the Nexus. Though each initiate possessed the potential to becomeas powerful as he, many would fail to handle the pressure and "commitment" theOrder demanded of its members. Those who did not pass the rigors of Culem's trialswouldn't leave the Nexus alive, since none but a graduate could know the exactlocation of the isolated academy. A member of last year's class led the nine initiatesto their chairs, Gulem turned his attention to this newest group of students.

"Good morning apprentices," said the dwarf, "I am Master Gulem. For the nextyear I will instruct you in aspects of psionic power you have never imagined. Beforeyou can fly, you must first learn how to walk. In this first year we shall explore theaspects of psionically empowered magic artifacts, magical items, and. . ."

A student in the front of the class, a lanky elf dressed much finer than the rest ofthe initiates interrupted protesting loudly, "What?! I came here to learn how tobecome a powerful psionicist, not study insignificant magical items created by lowlydefilers! I wish to be moved up to the next cla . . .<urk>" The bold student's eyesrolled back in his head, and his body slumped unceremoniously to the floor. Severalstudents swallowed hard and turned their eyes back to Master Gulem.

"As I stated," continued Gulem, "before a psionicist can learn the extent of hispowers, he must study other aspects of the Way if he is to become a member of theOrder. Ancient artifacts created eons ago possess psionic power which even the mostpowerful members of the Order cannot duplicate. The study of these are essential tounlocking the keys to the power. Psionic magical items are a tool created by and usedby a psionicist in conjunction with the Way. The third topic of this class will be thenewly discovered "living" items created by the halflings of the Blue Age.

"The first we shall explore are the known artifacts ofAthas. Several of thesedevices were created by Rajaat, creator of the sorcerer-kings and. . ." Gulem's les-son would last for the remainder of the day, and well into the evening—all the whilethe body of the elf child would lie on the floor, as a reminder to the students not totake their master's teachings lightly. When the initiates returned the next day, the elf'sbody was gone and their lessons on the artifacts ofAthas continued.

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What's Contained WithinPsionic Artifacts ofAthas covers three subjects—powerful artifacts created thousandsof years ago, new psionic and magical items unique to the DARK SUN campaign, andthe rediscovered Life-shaped items created by halfling thousands of years ago.

Chapter One deals with the known artifacts ofAthas, including many powerfulitems created by the insane pyreen Rajaat thousands of years ago. Some of theseitems were used by his students, the 15 champions of the Cleansing Wars, whowould eventually become the sorcerer-kings of Athas. Many of the well known arti-facts of the Prism Pentad novel series are detailed in this chapter, allowing you touse them in your own campaign, as well as several new artifacts to introduce to yourplayers.

Chapter Two details the life-shaped. You'll learn where they come from, what theylook like, and more importantly what they do.

Chapter Three details new psionic and magical items found on Athas, includingrandom magic item determination charts specifically for DARK SUN. These chartsinclude the new items, and others from the DUNGEON MASTER Cuide—including theelimination of items which do not exist in this world (such as a potion of dragoncontrol).

Notes on ArtifactsMany of the artifacts presented in this product are extremely powerful. Items such asthe Dark Lens or the Psionatrix have the potential to severely unbalance campaign.In addition, several of the artifacts can have adverse effects on player characters withprolonged use. Distribution of powerful artifacts in a DARK SUN campaign should belimited to no more than one or two at any one time. Artifacts should be extremelydifficult to find, and are often safeguarded by deadly wardens who may themselveshave possession of the device—and access to its power.

Each artifact entry has a physical description of the device, its history, campaignuses, and a list of powers. An artifact's powers are listed as constant powers, invokedpowers, and additional suggested and random powers. Constant powers are abilitiesa character gains just from possessing the artifact. Invoked powers are special abili-ties unique to the artifact that can be preformed a certain number of times per day,week, or month. Suggested and random powers are additional abilities that can beinvoked by the artifact. The suggested powers are abilities most likely to be producedby a specific artifact. If a DM does not wish to use the suggested powers, a numberof random abilities can be generated from the Artifact Powers Charts.

Existing ArtifactsThis product does not cover four existing artifacts detailed in the Book of Artifacts.The Obsidian Man of Urik, the Silencer of Bodach, the Rod of Teeth, and thePsychometron of Nerad have been purposely left out of this product to give moreroom to new artifacts. Of the four, only the Silencer of Bodach is mentioned below.This is because of its relationship to the Scourge of Rkard and the Scorcher, whichwere also created by the evil pyreen Rajaat. Of these three swords only the Silencerof Bodach is capable of harming Hamanu of Urik, as was Rajaat's design. The otherthree artifacts remain unchanged.

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CHXPTEP. 1:

Artifactsof Ath

Lyanius moved slowly through the dimly lit underground passages of Kemalok, aflickering torch held firmly in his ancient hand. In truth he didn't need the torch, ashe had walked these passages countless times in the two hundred years since findingthe ancient city of the dwarves. However, his eyesight had begun to fail in the pastfew years, and the torch helped him find his way on this night. The light of the fierytorch flickered along the white marble walls as Lyanius passed through the streets ofthe lost city. The ancient dwarf was glad he could see his ancestral home one lasttime before the coming of Borys ofEbe. Squinting in the torch light Lyanius soonfound himself before the Tower of Buryn, home to dwarven kings for three thousandyears, from before the Cleansing Wars. Standing before the tower was a figure inblack plate mail trimmed in silver and gold, a rare sight on the world ofAthas. Atophis head sat a jewel-studded crown of gleaming white metal, marking him as a kingof the dwarved race.

"You have been waiting for me great Rkard?" asked Lyanius. In reply the figurenodded his head yes in a slow, fluid motion. "I've seen my death in a dream thisnight great king." continued the aged dwarf, "a death at the hands of Borys of Ebe. Icome to you for advice ancient king . . . how should I prepare for the coming ofyour ancient enemy?"

In reply the ancient king turned and entered the Tower of Buryn, Lyanius behindhim. Through the forgotten tombs of a hundred dwarved kings they walked, comingto the resting place of Rkard himself. On the wall behind the vacant slab hung asword and belt. The arm of the fallen king slowly raised to point toward the items,and Rkard's glowing yellow eyes turned back to the dwarven elder in answer to hisquestion. It was then Lyanius knew what was to be done.

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Trie 5elt of KingsThe Belt of Kings is a dwarven girdle constructed of hardened leather inlaid withgold, silver, and precious gems. The belt's buckle is engraved with the skull of afierce half-man in the center of a field of red flames. The Belt of Kings will fit anydwarf, mul, human, or elf. Half-giants are too big and most halflings too small towear the artifact as the item does not magically adjust to fit the wearer.

Historij

The Belt of Kings is an ancient symbol of the dwarven people, a sign of their oncegreat heritage before the Cleansing Wars devastated their race. Originally called theBelt of Rank after the first dwarf to wear the item, this ancient artifact was created bydwarven clerics 4,000 years ago to be worn by the leader of the dwarven armies—generals of great charisma and skill who were sworn to protect the dwarven race.

The artifact was passed from general to general over the centuries, finally being givento the dwarven king Rkard to use in defense of his race in the face of the Cleansing Wars.Rkard was killed in battle by Borys of Ebe, and the Belt of Kings was buried with him.Recently, this ancient artifact was given to Rikus of Tyr to assist him in retrieving thestolen Book ofKemalok Kings and defeating an approaching army from Urik. Though the

army was overcome, Rikus was unable to reclaim the book. The mul returned the Beltof Kings to the dwarves of Kled, where it remains hidden to this day.

Campaign UseThough it may be common knowledge in some circles that the Belt of Kings canbe found in the dwarven village of Kled, getting it from its guardian spirits (other

wearers of the belt) is another matter. A DM should present an adventuringparty with the Belt of Kings only in defense of the dwarves of Athas. The beltcould also have been the victim of a theft, as was the Book of KemalokKings, and involved characters could be charged with its retrieval.

PowersConstant Powers—Any dwarf donning the Belt of Kings has an effectiveCharisma of 18 to all dwarves. Non-dwarves wearing the belt gain an addi-tional +4 to all reactions with dwarves. Should the Belt of Kings be pilferedand summarily worn, all dwarves viewing the artifact will know it wasstolen and do whatever they can to retrieve it.

All non-magical missiles fired at the wearer of the Belt of Kings unerring-ly strike the artifact's buckle, inflicting no damage to the wearer. The belt

also allows the wearer to move normally if attacked by web, hold, or slowspells as a ring of free action.

Wearing the artifact greatly enhances the battle savvy of the character.Warriors wearing the belt fight as if they were four levels higher, and non-warrior classes fight as if they were warriors of an equal level. The belt wear-er is treated as if proficient with any weapon he or she chooses to fight with.The possessor of the Belt of Kings has the accumulated experience andknowledge of more than 40 centuries of dwarven kings to draw upon.

Curse—Should the possessor of the Belt of Kings ever unjustly take the lifeof a dwarf, the artifact will constrict to a diameter of four inches—effectivelycrushing the wearer to death. If the guilty party somehow survives or is

returned to life, the subsequent possessor of the Belt of Kings will suffer fromartifact possession and think of nothing but killing the previous owner. Thiscycle will continue until the dwarven killer is dead.

Suggested Means of Destruction• Submerge the belt in the blood of a hundred murdered dwarves.

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