Rel Mord, the ancient Nyrondian capital has witnessed one of the most profound events in Greyhawk’s long, illustrious history. Ironic also is the fact that at the ancient heart of the Nyrondian civilisation should bear witness to the fall of it’s king’s teachings. The art of the Black Hand assassin was not just a skill or ability but something far more incredible that took the intervention of the emperor of the Western States and the spirit of an ancient god to overcome.

Varn’s gambit would come as part of Phoebos’s primal experiments on the isle of Angros and would indulge the interference of such intrepid exponents such as Garrison Bujak, Karamatsu, Blackheart and even Mother Nature herself. Nature took no time in destroying all remnants of the vast array of Phoebos material - including Varn himself - until there was no legacy of Her terrible pact with Fate. All this to remove one man. The man most believed was a demon was something clearly far worse.

Blackheart’s days were numbered from the point when Nature and Phoebos conversed shortly after the meeting on the Man-o-Goats when She saved her druid from the clutches of Chaos. But Nature did not bargain for Varn’s own intervention, or clarity of thought and his ability to think beyond the normal lifespan of men. Nature, you see, could not destroy the product of her devious interference nor could she understand the nature of what would be left behind. Varn, on the other hand, knew much more than he allowed the Earth Mother to know. His knowledge and skill went beyond the normal span of such beings. Indeed, his superior intelligence brought a secret pact between Skarvik and Isulan that stated that neither deity would become involved directly with what Varn and Mother Nature were plotting. This allowed Garrison Bujak a free hand when entering Malkam Mallab’s temple and explains why Isulan himself did not intervene directly on his priests behalf.

Varn knew exactly what would remain after the destruction of every Black Hand adept on Greyhawk. Indeed, his Mind Transfer in the ice palace of Rel Mord was a deeply calculated and foresighted approach to a potentially destructive situation. The concentrated orb of Void was potentially the most destructive force on Greyhawk and would bring awesome power to any who came across it. By controlling the situation Varn increased the chances of dealing with the Orb in a way that would not upset Nature - as was Blackheart’s only mistake.

Varn used his unmatched talent with the power of Creation to alter the three men’s minds to accept, process and calculate information on a level that had been previously thought impossible by normal intelligence. Add to this the ability to manipulate and shape Primal magic and the legacy of Varn is complete.

Blackheart, like many Primal creatures before him, learnt quickly of the social consequences of his enormous power and strove constantly to avoid the class of beings greater than himself. It was a struggle he ultimately lost. Blackheart was a truly powerful man before he even discovered the power of Primal magic. Varn’s reasoning is simple: more humble, simple men would distribute and propagate such a power more effectively and efficiently. Give these men the ability to think and understand on a level that the power demands and you have the recipe for something exceptional.

imitations are not something that can be easily placed upon the Void. As Blackheart demonstrated there is little, if no, law or lore that cannot be breached by it’s widespread nature. That is not to say that what can be done should be done. On the contrary, Varn’s vast resources of intelligence teaches man the very essence of what makes him human - humanity.

Varn’s very existence depended upon the one fact that brought him onto the brink of life - that fact was that his spirit survived. A man that kills another is quickly forgotten but a man that creates a skill or special ability lives on through every exponent of that art. Blackheart understood this - Chael understood this. Every spell that is cast is testimony to the great skill of Chael. Thus his spirit survives.

The Void is in it’s purest form before you. One touch would mean oblivion to any creature. Yet with your expanded mind you can barely begin to understand the possibilities that lie before you. Make no mistake, the eyes of the Universe are with you, there to examine minutely the days that will follow. There have only been two other soul possessors of this extraordinary Primal object. One is known to you - Blackheart. The other is shrouded in the recesses of historical myth and legend - she is Lorimas.

here are several primary benefits to becoming the recipient of Varn’s extraordinary intelligence. The ability to reason was of paramount importance to the Son of Creation, since it aided the vast decisions that he and his brother, Fatal, had to make. For this task he devised the ability to (what is commonly referred to) compartmentalise the mind so that he could divide the brain’s thinking into separate analytical departments. Your mind is, effectively, sectioned into eight compartments. Each compartment can act exclusively from the other whilst having the ability to access any other part of the mind’s vast resources.

Varn’s thought processing was unrivalled - indeed he was always referred to as the smarter of the two sons of Creation - and because of this your body will react mentally and physically much quicker than normal. (Your dexterity is increased to 22) Any spells cast are instantaneous and will automatically defy lighting strikes and lighting draws (effectively acting as a speed roll of 01%). Because your understanding and reasoning powers are so greatly enhanced you will be 80% likely to detect the type, strength and nature of any spell caster within 100 yards. There is a 90% chance that you will be able to detect the nature of any Primal creature or power within 100 yards. You will never be fooled by any illusionary spell nor can any such spell harm or affect you in any way.

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