Tehthu's Bane
One evening, during a Freespirit meeting, Atman whispered to Ghazgkull, reporting a situation that required City Guard attention. Those Guards present at the meeting followed Ghazgkull to the Ring of Passage, to learn that an Elder named Ibn'Ghazi had given Atman a necklace called "Tehthu's Bane." Atman's brother, Xenogen, wore the chain and invoked its inscription, only to fall under its curse and assume the attributes of a Dark Mare.
Atman claimed that Tehthu's Bane had the power to heal his brother. Ghazgkull took it from Atman, bracing his will against its evil influences. Atman encouraged Ghazgkull to read its inscription. Ghazgkull, warily obliged and read aloud the inscription, only to discover upon completion that he had been foully tricked. The chain tried to paralyze Ghazgkull, rendering his arts and his blade useless. Atman and Xenogan turned on the Captain of the Guard in attack before the other guards took control of the situation. The brothers then rushed to the Caudal Rifts, yelling: "Our task is done, let us go to the Master." Meanwhile, the harder Ghazgkull tugged the necklace to remove it from his neck, the close it seemed to fit his neck, as if it had a will of its own.
The Darkmare Zuveri arrived shortly afterwards. Zuveri had made a connection with Ghazgkull, something that puzzled the mare-slayer greatly. After his defeat, Zuveri turned to Ghazgkull. "After having some of its speech translated, I later learned that when it saw the necklace, it assumed I had put it on knowingly and that I was a friend of Tehthu. Apparently Zuveri is opposed to Tehthu and so he was not pleased with what he saw… I was confronted a few more times by Zuveri… who, according to the translations I've heard, was trying to recruit me to help it against Tehthu."
Ghazgkull approached Thunberg, a former student of Ibn'Ghazi, and asked for his help in removing the necklace from his neck. They assembled in Paga's Room, in the Lower Ossuary of Dread. Thunberg, using dust from the Shrine of horron, leaves from the plants of the City, and the salts of sorrow from the Lake of Tears, mixed the ingredients in equal parts and placed them upon the edge of his blade, yelling: "I powerfully call upon you and stir you O ye mighty spirits that dwell in the Great Abyss! Come forth and give power unto this blade fashioned in accordance to ancient Lore. Give power unto my spell that this weapon bears the power to strike fear into the hearts of all spirits. Come forth Ibn'Ghazi, teacher of Elders!"
Ibn'Ghazi appeared from his slumber, dismayed with the gathering and angry with Thunberg for drawing him back into the City. Declaring the crystal was no concern of his, he warded the dreamers inside of Paga's Room, and summoned two statues to life: Ibn and Ghazi, to attack those who intruded on his study. After battling the two mares, and shattering the wards, they found Ibn'Ghazi once again and urged him to help. Finally the Elder agreed to remove the effects of Tehthu's Bane, if Ghazgkull's brother, Kage, defeated him in a duel. Ibn'Ghazi forged a special blade for the duel, but Kage victor-ed over the Elder.
The Elder kept his promise and pressed his fingers against the crystal, cutting deep furrows in their tips and letting blood run freely over its faceted surfaces. With the release of his blood, the crystal ceased pulsing and grew dull, rendering the powers of the curse dormant. He then advised the gathering: "I do what I must to ensure those who would do Underlight harm will be hampered, but I will not directly contest them." He warned all that Tehthu may come "to punish us all for what was wrought here today."
