Terciel's Bells

"Most think that the bells compel only the dead, but they can compel the living just as easily. They work on your soul, your essence, so as long as you have that, you can be manipulated by these cursed relics."

— Elricet, an old mage

 

The Seven

  There are seven bells, known simply as Terciel's bells, made of silver and mahogany, held in a dark bandolier. The bells are said to be the instruments of Terciel's greatest work: the art of controlling the dead, bending them to his will, and sometimes even erasing them entirely from existence. They are, of course, dangerous beyond reason, and few have ever dared to wield them, even fewer still to speak their names aloud.   Each bell is unique, its metal etched in runes that no mortal tongue can read without the risk of madness. They are small, yet their sound can stir the very foundations of the world, shaping the realms of life and death alike. When rung, the bells can break the barriers between the living and the dead, for good or ill, and their effects are never fully predictable. There are those who say the bells have their own will, that they have grown beyond Terciel's influence, and that anyone who seeks to control them might well become their servant instead.  

Silver Tolls

  The first and smallest bell, the Sleeper, with a sweet and low sound, brings sleep to those who hear it.   The second bell, the Waker, a harsh and rowdy bell, brings the dead to life and catapults the wielder into the border between life and death.   The third, the Walker, is a difficult and contrary bell of several sounds, capable of making others go where you wish them. Kept secure, as it is known to sound on its own and cause a weak willed wielder to walk where they would not wish to.   The fourth, the Speaker, a musical bell with a clear and pretty tone. It grants the power of speech to the dead who have lost it, and is equally capable of silencing those whose tongue moves too freely.   The fifth, the Thinker, a tricksome bell that seeks to ring of its own accord. It brings forth independence to the dead and can erase memories if wielded properly, making it the most scorned of the bells.   The sixth, the Binder, is the deepest and lowest of the bells, forcing the listener to obey the wielder's will. It holds great power in its toll, and despite its power does not wish to sound on its own.   The seventh and largest, the Weeper, which throws all who hear it, including the wielder, onto the very precipice of death itself.