The Pen of the Void

)   The Pen of the Void
Base item	athame
Damage vs. small	1d4 x2 + (special)
Damage vs. large	1d3 x2 + (special)
To-hit bonus	+1d5
Bonus versus	pen restored
Weapon skill	dagger
Size	one-handed
Affiliation	Gnostic Binder
When carried	(none)
When wielded	(special)
When invoked	see article
Base price	2500 zm
Weight	10
Material	iron

The Pen of the Void is both the Binder's first gift and their quest artifact.

Single-blade form

Before the quest leader is slain, the Pen is a normal athame, though it can be enchanted to only +5 max (attempts to overenchant the Pen simply fail). In this form, the pen can store one spirit (as detailed below) and has no #invoke effect. Reading the Pen will show that it was once a dual-bladed athame, but the second blade has been snapped off.

Dual-blade form

After the quest leader is slain, the Pen deals double damage, can be enchanted to +10, and can store two spirits. The effects of each spirit also increase. In this form the Pen can be #invoked to activate the Void Chime power. Reading the Pen will show that it now has both blades.

Void Chime

Invoking the restored Pen activates the Void Chime power. For the next 5 turns, any spirits stored in the blade count as being bound to the character as well, and all spirits bound to the player count as being in the Pen. While the Void Chime is sounding, breaking a spirit's taboo does not unbind it. The Void Chime also resets the cooldowns of all spirit powers.

Pen binding

If a Binder with no free slots attempts to bind a spirit while wielding the Pen of the Void, the spirit may instead be stored in the Pen. The spirit's binding timeout is set as normal, and its seal appears on the Pen. Spirits stored in the Pen do not grant their usual abilities, and the character is not subject to their taboos. Instead, each spirit modifies the Pen in some way. If the Pen is still single-bladed, you may only bind one spirit inside it. The dual-bladed pen can store two spirits. Reading the pen will tell you what spirits are inside it.

Spirit effects

Spirit	Single-blade Pen effect	Dual-blade Pen effect	Ritual modifications
Ahazu	20% chance of subtracting 3 movement points and +1d4 damage	20% chance of subtracting 3 movement points and +4d4 damage
Amon	+1d4 fire damage	+4d4 fire damage
Andrealphus	Can engrave teleport and teleport control wards	The Pen burns engravings
Andromalius	Sneak attack, resist theft of weapon	Extra sneak attack damage
Astaroth	+1d4 Shock	+4d4 Shock	The Pen must be rusty or corroded.
Balam	+1d4 Cold	+4d4 Cold
Berith	Can joust, +1d4 Blood Merc damage	Can shatter weapons, +4d4 Blood Merc damage
Buer	Heal 1d4 HP per hit	Heal 4d4 HP per hit
Chupoclops	10% chance of +1d4 and create web	10% chance of +4d4 and create web
Dantalion	10% chance of +1d4 and probing	10% chance of +4d4 and probing
Echidna	+1d4 Acid	+4d4 Acid
Eden	+Silver	+2×Silver
Enki	+1d4 Water	+4d4 Water
Eurynome	5% chance of counterattack	10% chance of counterattack
Eve	Pen can launch any projectile	Pen has unlimited range with projectiles
Fafnir	+2d4 vs golems, +1d4 vs nonliving	+8d4 vs golems, +4d4 vs nonliving
Huginn and Muninn	vs sighted: +1d4 and blind 1 turn	vs sighted: +4d4 and blind 1 turn
Iris	+1d4 Wilting	+4d4 Wilting
Jack	Pen is a light source	Pen gains the "Bright Light" artifact property
Malphas	5% of killed enemies become pet crows	10% of killed enemies become pet crows
Marionette	Pen can be applied like a polearm	Pen gets 2× Strength bonus.
Mother	5% chance of paralyzing	20% chance of paralyzing
Naberius	+1d4 vs peaceful or frightened	+4d4 vs peaceful or frightened
Orthos	10% chance of dealing +2d8 and knockback	10% chance of +8d8 and knockback
Ose	20% (or 100% vs telepathic monsters) chance of dealing +1d15 damage	20% (or 100% vs telepathic monsters) chance of dealing +4d15 damage
Otiax	+1 and 5% chance of theft	+1d4 and 5% chance of theft
Paimon	Gain 1 energy per hit	Gain 4 energy per hit
Shiro	Throw rock at melee target	Throw boulder at melee target
Simurgh	Stun target	+2d4 and stun target
Tenebrous	5% chance of draining level	25% chance of draining level
Ymir	Poison Pen	Set strength to 25