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Stunning Stones Many centuries ago, the princes of Shiafet brought their wealthy province into
a golden age of prosperity and engineering marvels. Aspiring to build the most
beautiful of temples, hundreds of skilled architects and artisans were gathered
and commanded to erect the broadest and most beautiful of domes. When it was
finished, the main dome of the temple complex was over 400 yards across at its
widest point. A breathtaking mural covered the ceiling, depicting the triumphs
and successes of their civilization. Four tons of gold were used to plate the
outside of the building so that it would shine brighter than the sun when orbs
of magical light were lit above it, illuminating the entire city in its
magnificence.
A debate arose of which god the temple was to be
dedicated to. The princes, believing that they were entirely responsible for the
temples glory and the rise of their civilization, declared the temple to only
be fit for worship of themselves.
Amat-Therat, a seer and religious leader in the
community, counseled the princes to humble themselves and give the temple a
more worthy patron. Six times he approached the princes, the last time warning
them that the gods were growing tired of their impudence and closed minds,
that soon there would be a reckoning. Infuriated, the princes had Amat-Therat
imprisoned. Lying to the public, the princes identified the seer to be another
man, cruel and responsible for a string of grisly murders. The crowd, afraid to
contradict what the princes said, hastily cheered and the seer was beheaded
before the public at sunset. Followers of Amat-Therat fled the city in fear
that they too would be executed.
The next morning, the sky was red, a strange
mist crept through the city streets, and wails of terror awoke the princes as
people came from their houses into the mist and succumbed to a terrible malady
which caused their skin to sweat blood and their bellies to rot from within
with bile.
At noon, a powerful heat overtook the city, baking
the dead in the streets. Warping the gold roof of the dome such that some said
they could see reflections of demons in its shiny surface.
The people rose and went to the temple to the
princes and demanded to know what evil had been done to bring suffering upon
them, to which the princes replied that it was the people's own fault for not
giving their achievements proper reverence. As it was spoken, the heavens
rumbled with thunder and a hail of stones fell upon the city until all were
dead and the great temple was ruined. It is said that the thunder of the gods
wrath could be heard even across the great Desert of the Sinnd.
These small stones are said to have originated from
the ruins of the province of Shiafet; that, in fact, they are the same stones
which fell from the heavens with a thunderous roar. Since that ancient time,
great quantities of the stones have been harvested and taken across the world
for use in making objects which project or protect from sonic effects.
Properly enchanted, then thrown or shot from a
sling, these emit a shockingly loud sonic boom. Creatures within 10 feet of
where the stone lands must make Reflex save (DC 15) or suffer 10d4 points of
sonic damage and be stunned for 1d10 rounds. Creatures that successfully save
take one-half damage and are not stunned.
Caster Level: 5th;
Prerequisites: Craft Magic Arms and Armors, a stone from ancient Shiafet;
Market Price: 1,500 gp;
Weight: -
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