Pillar of Doom

The Pillar of Doom is the remnant of a giant monolith of adamantite, created by Naar and sent to Magnamund to form the core of evil power that would become Naaros. It forms the core of the Night Spire in Naaros, keeping it upright, and forming a link to Naar, where he can direct his evil powers from.

History

During the Age of Chaos, the land around present-day Naaros was a vast, fertile plain, landlocked between verdant mountains and containing silt-filled rivers. It was inhabited by a peaceful, Old Race, and one that had managed to avoid the geological upheavals of the Age of Chaos.

Naar, like Ishir and the other Gods, was unable to influence Magnamund directly, and the vigilance of Kai and Ishir prevented him from sending his forces via Shadow Gates. Naar therefore decided to fashion a giant monolith using the land from the many worlds he had conquered, imbuing it with his evil power. He then sent this monolith through space towards Magnamund, where it collided with during the Age of Chaos, incinerating the land, vapouring the sea, and annihilating the inhabitants. From the dark mists it released, an army of mindless slaves was born, constructing a citadel — Naaros — from the destroyed surroundings, around the remnants of the monolith — the Pillar of Doom.

In effect, the Pillar of Doom serves as a channel for Naar to exert his power from. As a secondary effect, it keeps the Night Spire standing: Agarash's defeat involved untold amounts of destruction, involving the Scarlet Fire and distortion of the Planes of Existence, including the Pit of Eternal Pain where he was sealed away, yet Naaros remains standing, although its exterior is damaged and rotting.

After Naaros was built, the Pillar of Doom was converted into a stairway leading to Agarash's personal chambers. This stairway was designed for creatures larger than a human, meaning humans must climb using their hands (or use some form of levitation), and there are hundreds of steps. The Pillar sits in a chamber containing statues of the Children of Agarash, and the Pillar emits a grey light that causes the statues to seem as if they were alive. These statues all look upwards, indicating that even the Children of Agarash, some of the most terrifying beings ever to have conquered swarthes of Magnamund, bowed to a higher power. Near the top of the Pillar lies the floor to Agarash's personal chambers, but the top of the Pillar continues to advance through the ceiling.

At the very tip of the Pillar of Doom lies Agarash's Dark Throne, Agarash's seat of power.

Since it is composed of material not from Magnamund or even Aon, its very appearance is enough to cause Grand Master to revulse in the desecration of the Material Plane. The level of destruction it caused also leaves potent psychic residues of these events, which can be tapped into by beings that are sensitive to it (such as Kai Masters knowing Divination). Evil power is also emitted from the Pillar of Doom, enough to cause a Kai Grand Master serious damage, checked only by advanced Kai Grand Master skills or highly advanced Old Kingdom magic.

In the gamebooks

The Pillar of Doom is visited in one of the final arcs of The Dusk of Eternal Night. It is set in a chamber containing statues of the Children of Agarash, and the Pillar of Doom emits a light that makes them seem alive, inflicting a traumatic fear in the player, reducing their Endurance by 2 unless they have Astrology and have reached Sun Prince, allowing them to use the power of Burashos and his courage.

The player must then climb the Pillar of Doom using their hands, as the stairs are too tall for them to ascend through walking. The psychic residues trigger Divination, allowing the player to witness the circumstances of Naaros' creation. They will then be assailed by Evil Power, depending on a Random Number Table roll:

0 or 9

Engulfed by a cloud of pure Darkness, your strength bent to the will of Naar. Lose 5 Endurance points, unless you have Kai-screen and are Sun Thane or higher, or wear Cynxa.

1 or 8

Attacked by the power of death that attempts to turn you into an undead. Lose 8 Endurance points, unless you possess Grand Nexus (-4 Endurance instead), or wear Zaaryxa (no Endurance lost).

2 or 7

Attacked by a pestilent mist that triggers abscesses and buboes on your skin. Lose 6 Endurance points, unless you possess Grand Nexus and Deliverance, or wear Xenghora, allowing your Magnakai skills to overcome it.

3 or 6

Engulfed by magical flames. Lose 7 Endurance points, unless you possess Grand Nexus, a Platinum Amulet, or Cynxa.

4 or 5

Engulfed by a pink mist with the power of Chaos. Lose 4 Endurance and 2 Combat Skill, unless you possess Deliverance and are at Sun Prince, or wear Zhaaxa, allowing your Magnakai skills to stop the corruption. The Combat Skill points lost are restored at the end of the adventure.

Additionally, the climb takes several hours, and a meal must be consumed; not even Grand Huntmastery can prevent this requirement, as no resources can be found in Naaros.

Sources

• The Dusk of Eternal Night: §225