Vraille Darkfang
First Post
First,
The language used. I'd have the writing appear in Infernal or Ignan (see below).
Second,
I'd have the book appear really unique, more like a spell-book than an ordinary tome. Having it appear dirty and aged, but otherwise intact, will also let the players know something is up with this book. I'd cover it in some exotic reptile hide (similar to dragon, but unidentifiable by the players). I'd have the pages made of exceptionally well done calf skin, or thin sheets of metal (again see below).
Third, The Author.
1. (The Ignan with Metal Pages).
The book is actually an efreeti bound into book form by granting a long ago wish to a dead wizard. The Efreet (inadvertantly) cursed himself into book form when the wizard 'wished for a tome to guide my actions to my benefit'. Thus the efreeti was turned into the book & forced to use his powers to guide the wizard. The wizard eventually died when the efreeti 'directed' him to go to into a dragon's lair when he was seeking a powerful staff. The book mentioned the staff, but forgot to mention the dragon.
You would know have an NPC that helps the party, but only as much as it is forced too. The party would soon learn they have a valuable, yet uneven, resource at their disposal. (Plus, if you change things on the fly, well, its something the Tome just didn't feel was important).
2. (Dragon hide with human skin; I mean vellum; pages).
Very evil man died, sent to hell, did not pass go, did not collect $200. He's since worked his way up the chain o'devil command, but is feeling remorse at his actions in life (one of those rare demons contemplating changing alignment). Those he uses the Tome to rid the world he left behind of evil. Doesn't so much care whether the players survive, just so long as the evil dies. Or, maybe a rival Devil is trying to put the moves on your world, and the devil uses the book to thwart him.
This gives the players an honest ally. But one who really doesn't care about them, or what they want to do, and probablly isn't above stretching the truth here and there to sway the party into a course of action.
I have other ideas too,
Might just make brief list. If you like a certain one, I could then flesh it out.
The language used. I'd have the writing appear in Infernal or Ignan (see below).
Second,
I'd have the book appear really unique, more like a spell-book than an ordinary tome. Having it appear dirty and aged, but otherwise intact, will also let the players know something is up with this book. I'd cover it in some exotic reptile hide (similar to dragon, but unidentifiable by the players). I'd have the pages made of exceptionally well done calf skin, or thin sheets of metal (again see below).
Third, The Author.
1. (The Ignan with Metal Pages).
The book is actually an efreeti bound into book form by granting a long ago wish to a dead wizard. The Efreet (inadvertantly) cursed himself into book form when the wizard 'wished for a tome to guide my actions to my benefit'. Thus the efreeti was turned into the book & forced to use his powers to guide the wizard. The wizard eventually died when the efreeti 'directed' him to go to into a dragon's lair when he was seeking a powerful staff. The book mentioned the staff, but forgot to mention the dragon.
You would know have an NPC that helps the party, but only as much as it is forced too. The party would soon learn they have a valuable, yet uneven, resource at their disposal. (Plus, if you change things on the fly, well, its something the Tome just didn't feel was important).
2. (Dragon hide with human skin; I mean vellum; pages).
Very evil man died, sent to hell, did not pass go, did not collect $200. He's since worked his way up the chain o'devil command, but is feeling remorse at his actions in life (one of those rare demons contemplating changing alignment). Those he uses the Tome to rid the world he left behind of evil. Doesn't so much care whether the players survive, just so long as the evil dies. Or, maybe a rival Devil is trying to put the moves on your world, and the devil uses the book to thwart him.
This gives the players an honest ally. But one who really doesn't care about them, or what they want to do, and probablly isn't above stretching the truth here and there to sway the party into a course of action.
I have other ideas too,
Might just make brief list. If you like a certain one, I could then flesh it out.
