Chapter 2 preamble

I live in a world where evil incarnate does exist.I'm not talking about immoral people, or goblins, who are usually evil, or even my kind, the dark elves, who are far more evil than goblins.All of these creatures have a ferocious quality, but even at their worst they must never be considered evil incarnate.No.This title belongs to other creatures, to those demons and demons summoned by wizards and priests.These creatures of the lower planes are evil at its purest and uncontrolled.They have no chance of redemption, no possibility of doing anything close to good in their long, almost eternity, lives of misfortune.

I wondered if these demons and demons could exist without the darkness that lurks within the heart of every rational being?Are they, like so many evil humans and drow, a source of evil, or are they just the outward manifestations of the corrupted parts of man, a consequence? I believe the latter is the correct answer.It is no accident that demons and devils cannot come to the physical world without being called upon by rational beings.I know that they are only a tool, only a tool made for the real source of evil. And what about Cerseibon?It is an object, an artifact.While it is conscious in itself, it also cannot exist without the intelligence attached to a rational being.Because the broken magic crystal cannot grow, cannot change, and cannot act independently.It can only keep trying to allow itself to be manipulated by different people, and to better attract the hearts of those around it in the process of continuous failure.It can't even consider what kind of results such constant attempts will eventually bring—no.Its purpose is always only that one.

So, is it utterly evil? no. I learned more about this dangerous artifact during my travels not long ago, but even then I wouldn't have thought so.Only recently, after reading a rich and detailed message from Cadderly Bonnardus, Senior Priest of the Goofy Spirit, have I seen the truth about the Crystal Shard and begun to understand the artifact itself is abnormal, its very existence is an error.No matter what the cost, it must satisfy its never-ending thirst for power and glory, and it is only because of the twisted will of its second creator, the Eighth Spirit, that has drilled into the very essence of the artifact.

According to information held by Cadderly, the Crystal Shard was originally created by seven liches, who originally intended to create a treasure with the greatest power.The undead king intends to conquer all other races, and to better achieve this goal, the liches designed this artifact as the opposite of the sun, the source of all life.When their powers converged into one, the liches were obliterated.Some mages believed that the power of the liches was absorbed into Crishshinebon and caused their destruction, but Cadderly insisted that it was actually the sun-like properties of the artifact that destroyed them.Thus, their intent to destroy other races resulted in their own destruction, and the last remains of these liches are nothing but ashes and crumbs of evil spirits.

The earliest history of this Crystal Shard is known to many, including the demons who were eager to get it.The next thing Cadderly discovered, however, was a much more complicated story, and pointed to the truth about Cresthinibon.It is an irreparable failure of misinterpreted good intentions. Hundreds of years ago, Crest Shinnibon first appeared on the physical plane on the distant continent of Zahara.At that time, although its power was very powerful, it was just a tool in the hands of a certain mage.Its function is only to launch powerful fireballs and lightning walls that can instantly incinerate people to ashes at the enemy.Its dark past was unknown until Crishshinebon fell to a sultan.The great leader - whose name has long been lost to the torrent of time - discovered the essence of the Crystal Shard, and with the help of his many mages, decided to complete what the liches failed to complete. Work.This is the "Second Creation" of Crishshnibon, in which its powers were increased and it gained limited consciousness.

The sultan had no dream of domination and conquest at heart, but only peace and tranquility among his warlike neighbours.Therefore, he harnessed the power of the artifact to create a series of crystal towers to guard the realm.These crystal towers connected his capital to his second largest city, which was often raided, and the distance between the two was about a day's journey.The total number of crystal towers is about one hundred.There is no doubt that an almost perfect line of defense has been formed. In doing so, however, the Sultan overused the power of Clashanibon.Although he himself believes that creating each tower will bring greater power to the treasure, in fact, his actions have greatly reduced the power of the magic crystal shard and the sturdiness of each tower.Shortly thereafter, a strong sandstorm struck and swept across the entire desert.This powerful natural disaster was only the prelude to the massive invasion by neighboring countries that followed.The defenses of those crystal towers are so weak.So much so that they were shattered like glass.While the crystal towers fell one after another, they also took away Sudan's illusion of peace and security.

The armies of the neighboring countries ravaged the territory of the sultan and killed all his family members in front of the sultan.However, the cruel neighboring chief didn't kill the sultan himself, he wanted the sultan to be haunted by painful memories for the rest of his life.But Crest Shinnibon killed the Sultan and got part of his soul. Little was known of the other events of those distant days, even Cadderly himself, who had reached the level of a demigod almost as much a source of power as his, knew only a fraction.But the young high priest of Durnei is convinced that this "second creation" of Crishshnibon is one of the key reasons why artifacts are now so hungry for power.If Crest Shinnibon reaches the highest power it can, if the defenses of those crystal towers remain as strong as ever, the barbarian legions will retreat, and the Sultan's family, his dear wife and beautiful children will not will be killed.Now impregnated with the vicious spirits of the seven liches, and the tormented soul of the Sultan, the artifact continues its fanatical quest for power to the limit, whatever the cost.

There are many hidden meanings in this story.Cadderly hinted that, while he couldn't draw firm conclusions, he believed that the creation of the Crystal Tower had actually been the catalyst for the invasion, as the chieftain of the neighboring kingdom feared that the Crystal Tower would soon cross the border and occupy his own territory.So, did the Crystal Shard teach us a big lesson?Excessive ambition, even when based on good intentions, is a very stupid thing to do.The sultan wanted to strengthen the defense of his territory, and in doing so he used excessive force. That's why he, his family, and his kingdom were destroyed.

So, what about Jarlaxle who now occupies the Crystal Shard?Should I track him down, try to get the artifact back, and give it to Cadderly to destroy it?The world would undoubtedly be a better place without this powerful and dangerous artifact. But after that, there would still be another tool used to carry out evil thoughts, another embodiment of evil, whether it would be a demon, a devil, or another creature as terrible as Cershenipon. No.The embodiment of evil is not the problem, since rational beings simply cannot exist or develop without the evil within them. Be careful, Jarlaxle.be careful.

— Drizzt Do'Urden