The Screaming Tome of Vulthois

There is only one in existence now; the others having been destroyed by the followers of Aeroth in the First Age.  Possession of this relic will grant a priest two levels.   The book grants all users (whether a priest or not) the powers to summon a special altar, shadowy psionic powers, Shade servants, and other darksome skills.   The book has been lost for so long that the side effects are unknown, although rumor that a shadow mage in Ingara has found it has recently surfaced.

This book was written by Vulthois, the most infamous of Tenebrion's priests, as a companion piece to his copy of the Shadow Tome.  One of Vulthois' quests was to find the complete text to the Barrier spell referenced in the Shadow Tome.  The Screaming Tome details out Vulthois' quest.   The tome also lists several Shadow manipulating spells, as well as chants and meditation techniques to alter the mind, opening new psionic pathways.  The book contains several summoning spells, including spells to summon Shoggoths, byakhee, and other terrors.  The book also contains the Ritual of Association (Savage Species, page 148.  Gives the character the reptilian subtype), the Ritual of Unlearning (Savage Species, page 149.  Turns the character into a Yuan Ti pureblood, half-breed, or abomination), and the Ritual of Vitality (Savage Species, page 150. Turns the character into a Yuan Ti pureblood, half-breed, or abomination).   The last two rituals can also be used to turn the character into a Samat (Nyambe, page 225-226).  

There are a large number of spells in this huge tome.  Many are written in the book.  Others are simply known by the book, and the book will whisper those spells to those who ask.  It often communicates its spells via horrific, alien dreams while its owner sleeps.

The book can only be opened on consecrated altars to Tenebrion, and it screams when it opens or closes.  The cover is made from human skin and the face on the cover has its mouth opened in a perpetual scream of terror.

Rumors persist that the tome was enchanted with consciousness by Vulthois; that he imprisoned a traitor within it or that the book achieved consciousness much like a magic sword are two of many rumors surrounding the supposed consciousness of this tome.  The book does have a Shadow Knight guardian that can be summoned from within.  Wis 23, Cha 21, Int 16.  It can communicate via speech or telepathy.    It can read any language as well as magic.  It is of neutral alignment.  The item can Sense Motive +16, and has Spellcraft +13 and Knowledge (Arcana +13).  A reader can add 10 ranks to their own scores in those three skills while the book is open in their presence.  The book's purpose is to defend the servants and interests of Tenebrion.  To that end, the book can, at its discretion, give those it chooses to defend a +2 luck bonus to all saving throws, +2 deflection bonus to AC, and spell resistance 15.  Characters so defended by the tome must be within the book's line of sight.  The book grants its owner the power to Imbue Shadow 1/day (Relics and Rituals), Control Light 3/day (Relics and Rituals) and to Condemn 1/day (Relics and Rituals).  It has an Ego score of 32 (Will save DC 32 or the book can take control of the character if a conflict occurs).

The book is immune to mundane damage.

Examination Period: 2d12 weeks (DC 30).  Contains the following spells: Ritual of Association, Ritual of Unlearning, Ritual of Vitality, Shriveling (CoC, page 147-148), Pose Mundane (CoC 146), Summon Shoggoth (CoC 149), Summon Byakhee (CoC 149), Summon Chthonian (CoC 149), Voorish Sign (CoC 150), Create Barrier of Naach-Tith (Does not work), Call Tenebrion (CoC 132), Obedient Shadow (Dragon 261, page 61), Shadow Sight (Dragon 261, page 62), Hide Shadow (Dragon 261, page 62), Shadow Warrior (Dragon 261, page 63), Shadow Replay (Dragon 261, page 64), Transport via Shadow (Dragon 261, page 64), Shadow Trap (Dragon 261, page 65), Shadow Theft (Dragon 261, page 36), Scimitar of Shadows (Dragon 261, page 36), Shadow Blight (Dragon 261, page 35), Gloom Ravens (Dragon 261, page 32), and Shadow Twin (Relics and Rituals).  Sanity Loss: 1d12 initial and 2d12 upon completion, unless Yuan-Ti - then no sanity loss.  Cthulhu Mythos: +3 Ranks

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