The Book of the Dead

Galanus was the God of the Dead, until the massive numbers of the dead during the Storm Wars provoked the god to give up his portfolio, and retreat into solitude, becoming the God of Stealth. His most powerful artifact-relic, the Book of the Dead allowed whomever read the book to control any and all undead. Liches, death knights, ghosts, wraiths, vampires, and all manner of undead were forced to do the bidding of the reader, so long as he controlled the book. The reader also gained the ability to raise large numbers of undead (up to 1,000 hit die of undead per day).

The Book of the Dead was guarded by the spirit of one of Galanus' former avatars on Gaeleth. Demik Coruth, a necromancer, determined a way to defeat the hidden avatar, and obtain the book. Before Demik's death, he had raised nearly two and a half million undead minions, not counting his elite undead command. The book was returned to Galanus, and subsequently given to the mage of Agincoth, Ritarinne, for safe-keeping. Ritarinne, however, was slain, and her library turned over to the priests of Lul. The Book of the Dead masked itself, and the priests were unaware of its power. The book was then stolen from the library of Lul in Karmen.

Careful research has determined that Coruth's soul inhabits the book. Unable to free himself from the relic-artifact, he continually tries to place the books in the hands of corruptable people that would seek to use its powers. Though the Book of the Dead's power was significantly diminished after the Battle of the Undead, it still retains a mastery over the undead that makes the wielder powerful, indeed. Coruth's soul keeps a low profile, and only exerts his will when the caster might be powerful enough to free him from its confines (ego 32, in such cases).

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