Cup and Talisman of Al'Akbar
The Cup and Talisman of Al'Akbar are powerful artifacts, in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. They were gifted shortly after the Invoked Devastation by the Baklunish gods to their most exalted high priest, Al'Akbar, in what are now known as the Plains of the Paynims. The Cup and Talisman have great powers of healing.
Publication history
Dungeons & Dragons (1974-1976)
The Cup and Talisman of Al'Akbar were created by Neal Healey for The Strategic Review #7 (1976), where they were associated with Allah.[1]
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition (1977-1988)
The Cup and Talisman of Al'Akbar were also mentioned in the original 1979 Dungeon Master's Guide.[2]
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition (1989-1999)
The Cup and Talisman of Al'Akbar were further developed in 1993's Book of Artifacts.[3]
Dungeons & Dragons 3.0 edition (2000-2002)
The Cup and Talisman of Al'Akbar appeared in the Book of Exalted Deeds (2003).[4]
History
The Cup and Talisman were granted to Al'Akbar by Al'Asran, described as "a being bathed in light," shortly after the Invoked Devastation in order to help heal the suffering of the Baklunish people. Al'Akbar brought the artifacts with him to Ekbir, where they remained in an honored place in the Mosque of Al'Akbar in Ekbir City until 2878 BH (219 CY), when the Procession of Blessing was attacked by a group of "strange elves who were as tall as men" (probably valley elves), who escaped pursuit astride giant eagles, heading toward the Barrier Peaks (where the Valley of the Mage lies). The grand mufti was held responsible for this loss and exiled from Ekbir forever. In response, he formed the rival True Faith of Al'Akbar in the Yatil Mountains, claiming that without the authority of the Cup and Talisman, the caliph was no longer Al'Akbar's true spiritual heir.
The present location of the Cup and Talisman is unknown, although they have been reported in the southeastern Bandit Kingdoms, although some rumors insist they have been brought to the Pinnacles of Azor'alq.
References
- ↑ Healey, Neal. "Mighty Magic Miscellany." The Strategic Review #7. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, April 1976
- ↑ Gygax, Gary (1979), Dungeon Masters Guide, Lake Geneva WI: TSR
- ↑ Cook, David. Book of Artifacts. (TSR, 1993)
- ↑ Wyatt, James, Darrin Drader, and Christopher Perkins. Book of Exalted Deeds. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2003
Additional reading
- Grohe, Allan T., and Erik Mona. "All Oerth's Artifacts." Dragon #299. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2002.
- Hammack, Allen. Day of Al'Akbar. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1986.
- Holian, Gary, Erik Mona, Sean K. Reynolds, and Frederick Weining. Living Greyhawk Gazetteer. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2000.
- Ward, James. Greyhawk Adventures. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1988.