Boxes of Netheril

The Boxes of Netheril are a set of artifacts that border on myth. Said to be forged right before the end of the ancient empire of Netheril, the Boxes' contents are said to give their owner the "equity of the Gods."

History
Netheril was destroyed by their improper and downright careless use of magic. When the great mage Karsus attempted to make himself an avatar of the Goddess of the Weave, Mystra struck down the pretentious mage, destroying the magic weave surrounding Netheril, which led to chaos and its ultimate destruction.

Before its fall, however, Netheril made its power partly on its wreckless magic - Karsus and his followers made countless artifacts to further their power and dominance. An ancient parchment, which was found in ancient texts in Candlekeep, tells of a powerful Netheril necromancer who took it upon himself to create three artifacts of such power, such evil and nonevil, and such intelligence, that no mortal could stand to use them together and stay sane. The three artifacts are said to be "an equity of the very Gods."

The tale goes that this necromancer went mad when Karsus was killed, placed each of these artifacts in an ornate box, protected from the impending doom of his nation, and wisked them away from Netheril, hoping to retrieve them after the confusion. However, Netheril was destroyed, its last city sent to the Shadow Realm. The creater - who name was never given - was assumed sent with it.

The story of the artifacts ends there. It does not include any hints of the descriptions or powers of these artifacts, but claims that each box identifies its contents to "true" Netherese.

Current Whereabouts

 * The first box is thought to have been in the possession of one Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun in Waterdeep many year ago - its contents missing, with no one quite knowing what was in the box or where it went. It was thought to have been given by Khelben to the prophet Alaundo, who placed Alaundo's 42nd Prophecy inside of it.  Xarxes of the Circle of the Tome took this empty box to the kingdom of Halruaa, a nation founded by descendents of the Netherese, hoping to find a "true" Netherese there.  He suceeded, and when the Elder Councilman of Halruaa touched the box, the following text was revealed:

''Herein lies the First of three; ''Evil and the Undead are subjects to thee. ''Donning will take what is yours away; ''Only the Second will hold its sway. ''The Third is the impossible, the opposite pole; ''Together they give you power over the soul.

The box was left to the Councilman, where it was apparently destroyed. It has since been revealed by Laeral Silverhand Arunsun, Khelben's wife, that this box held the evil artifact called the Crown of Horns


 * The second box is thought to have spent the last several centuries in the libraries of Mage Academy in Cimbar, Chessenta. A young Chessentan named Xenon Theodike, Xarxes brother, is thought to have broken into the Academy, opened the box, and fled to parts unknown with its contents.  The second box, as far as it is known, is still in the Academy, under guard.  It is believed that this box held the neutral aspect of the three artifacts - The Scepter of the Neutral Spirit.


 * The third box's location and existence was a mystery until the Circle of the Tome discovered it in the vaults of Castle Perilous in the northern part of Vaasa. Its contents were the good aspect of the boxes, a mighty pair of guantlets, called the Gauntlets of the Seraph.  The box itself was buried under the collapsed Castle.

All three components were briefly joined by Xenon Theodike in 1376. Their combined power released the trapped Myrkul from the crown. The Circle of the Tome, however, released the combined power of good and Myrkul was defeated.

What happened to the three pieces is still a mystery, but the best guess of scholars is that the three pieces were thrown to opposite ends of Faerun - or beyond - waiting to be joined once again.