Numerous descriptions of the infamous Black Book of Hoarlag have been committed to parchment by many reputable scholars. The one presented below is attributed to the sage Braythorne, who despite the old sage’s propensity for dramatic embellishment, not to mention when it suits his own scheming, the omission of key details, this account is believed the most accurate.
The tome measures two hands tall and two wide while being only two inches thick. It is covered in hard, aged black leather which is cracked and polished to a bright lustre. Its thirty-two pages are wholly filled with the notes and mystical sigils necessary to cast the twelve spells laid down upon them.
The Black Book of Hoarlag was penned by the Veskian archmage Radiscan the Dark. In the tradition of the Veskian wizard slayers, Radiscan amassed a great deal of arcane treasure and wealth during his brief but, by Veskian standards, glorious career. He is credited with slaying more than twenty wizards across the North Kingdoms before running afoul of the Company of The Sage, an adventuring party headed by the bard Rendal Brightstar, and the half‑elven mage Arron Silverbrow.
Shortly after Radiscan’s death his fortified town house in the city of Ravarn was raided by the master thief Lamed Carrilion, himself a former member of the Company of the Sage. The book was removed from the townhouse and sold for the paltry sum of two hundred gold coins to a merchant travelling to the city of Lathen. It was in Lathen’s Magic Market that the true value of the book was discovered. The merchant was surprised to be offered eighty platinum coins by a young mage within minutes of setting up his stall. Looking to turn a quick profit the merchant sold the book, but not before raising the price a further twenty platinum. The eager purchaser was the wizard Balsharan the Red and it is from him that Braythorne obtained a catalogue of the book’s contents.
Eleven months to the day after acquiring the book, Balsharan and his companions found themselves at the third siege of Tarengore. During the hellfire and confusion of a failed attempt to retake the citadel, Balsharan was caught under a falling wall and knocked unconscious. His life was saved when a Ranger Knight of Derthillion dragged his unconscious body to safety, but the Black Book was lost in the castle ruins.
Balsharan led numerous expeditions to find the book to no avail. It may still lie in the rubble; be in the possession of a foul creature of the castle; or have been carried away by someone or something, good or evil, human, or otherwise.
The book contains the following spells in order; Read Aura, Sigil, Burning Hands, Enlarge, Invisibility, Verbal Haste (a rare spell), Slow, Dispel Magic, Phantom Rope (an uncommon spell), Firelance (a rare spell), Rune of Pain (a rare spell) and Alarm.
Enderrin 