Zyphus Stone

Zyphus Stone

(Magic item)

Aura (1E)

Necromancy (assumed)

Type

Minor artifact (assumed), wondrous item

Slot (1E)

Slotless

Origin

Oppara, Taldor

Affiliation

Cult of Zyphus

Source: Among the Living, pg(s). 3-4

The Zyphus Stone is a necromantic artifact dedicated to Zyphus, the deity of accidental death. Its main power is the creation of Zyphus zombies, undead creatures capable of spawning zombies by killing and consuming them. Its seeming intent is to allow followers of Zyphus to continue honoring their god after death. The Zyphus Stone is currently in the possession of the Pathfinder Society in Absalom.

History

Legend has that the Zyphus Stone was buried by Azlanti humans beneath what was then the village of Oppara in Taldor over 6,000 years ago. They hid it away for further study, intrigued by its power, yet fearing its ability to create a plague of zombies, but eventually abandoned it.

A cleric of Zyphus named Fel Bustrani recently learned of the existence of the Zyphus Stone, and determined that it was buried in a chamber below the House of the Immortal Son, a former temple of Aroden that had become Oppara's most famous opera house. He tricked the Pathfinder Bodriggan Wuthers to help him access the building and begin excavations beneath it. The two eventually accessed the Chamber of the Stone where the artifact was located in 4708 AR, whereupon Bustrani activated it and killed Wuthers, turning him into a Zyphus zombie.

Powers

Other than the creation of Zyphus zombies, the Zyphus Stone also has the ability to lock the doors of the building in which it is located and creating a dimensional anchor-type effect that bars extradimensional movement in and out of (but not within) the structure.

Destruction

Unlike most other minor artifacts, the Zyphus stone can be destroyed by conventional means, although its power gives it incredible hardness against all but magical attacks.