The Whispering Reeds is a rare and dangerous magical tome bound in a skull-and-moss cover that visibly oozes magic. Fewer than ten copies exist worldwide, making it near-priceless. Its origins are double-edged: it was created to counteract the void-entity Nimbaloth but accidentally became a manual for channeling or summoning her instead, and followers of the empty death treat it as a holy text [S24]. The party discovered it in a secret room in the Temple of Nethys; someone was furious not to find it there, and the antagonists have made clear they want it [S27]. Mechanically, reading the tome grants a 5d6 positive-damage spell usable once per hour against incorporeal undead and a small common-spell list (including fear at 3rd level, up to 3/day), but every use exposes the reader to the empty death — a progressive madness and paranoia. Abus read it and passed the required Will save; Rin refused it outright and suggested burning it [S27]. The werewolf had previously been protective of the book, and Abus continued to carry it hidden [S26]. By S36, Abbas confirmed that simply obtaining the Whispering Reeds inflicts the empty death curse, and noted that its magic closely resembles Zarmadvian's spellbook — a detail with troubling implications for the dungeon's history [S36]. As of S51, the party has been actively reading it to understand Venris's affliction. The work is not without cost: Rin was struck by a backlash "wave" from the tome during this research. The text reveals that the empty death curse marks its bearer for Nimbaloth, and describes a worse adjacent affliction that consumes mind, soul, and body alike. Careful, moderated study can stall or prevent that fate and also serve as a weapon against Nimbaloth; completing it grants a +2 bonus [S51].
1 open hook remain on this record.