Magic is a powerful tool and a deadly weapon. A powerful sorcerer can decimate a platoon of guardsmen. As a result, the ability to contain and control the use of magic is a vital resource. Since the beginning of the Last War, sorcerers and magewrights who have displayed a talent for abjuration or divination have been pressed into the service of the Brelish Crown.
The Blackened Book is a branch of the Sharn Watch, consisting of countermages who are trained to monitor and dispel magical energy. The mages of the Book may be called in to use detect magic to look for traces of mystical foul play, to use detect thoughts for difficult interrogations, or dispel magic to contain magic-using insurgents or criminals. The Blackened Book also keeps track of the most powerful spellcasters in Sharn, and they might approach an experienced PC wizard and deputize the character to assist on a case that exceeds their own skills.
The headquarters of the Blackened Book is in the Warden Towers district of Middle Menthis, within the garrison of the Sharn Watch.
Prominent NPCs
The commanding officer of the Blackened Book is Lady Warden Maira ir’Talan (LE female half-elf abjurer 5/telepath 8). Five years ago the Dreaming Dark suborned Maira, and she is actually a mind seed of the Inspired dominator Tirashana. Today Maira uses her position to provide the Inspired with information and to conceal the activities of the other agents of the Dreaming Dark. While Maira is a member of the ir’Talan line, she is from the Wroat ir’Talans and is only a distant relative of the Lord Commander of the Sharn Watch.
Most of the members of the Blackened Book are 4th-level arcane or divine spellcasters. Two notable exceptions are the chief countermage of the Book, Warden Balan Cord (LG male human magewright 12), and the lead investigator, Warden Hasal Dalian (LN male gnome diviner 6).
Adventure Ideas
Maira ir’Talan keeps an eye on powerful spellcasters within the party, and checks in occasionally to make sure they know that they are being watched. At some point, she offers to pay them a bounty if they eliminate a powerful magical beast living in the Cogs. But when the party investigates, they encounter more monsters than they expected. Was this an honest mistake, or was Maira sending them on a suicide mission on behalf of the Dreaming Dark?
When the party is framed for a magical crime they didn’t commit, the Blackened Book is the only force that can prove their innocence. But what if the Book was responsible for the frame in the first place?
An old friend of Maira’s returns to Sharn. When she doesn’t immediately recognize him (due to the mind seed) he becomes suspicious. He hires the party to investigate Maira—can they uncover and expose her connection to the Dreaming Dark? Exposing her is a major blow to the Dark, and the Dark seeks vengeance!