索引：【神器目錄】
簡介
| 鮑的象牙鏈Ivory Chain of Pao | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 基本信息 | |
| 【等 級】 | 神器Artifact |
| 【物品 類型】 | 奇物 |
| 角色關係 | |
| 【戰 役】 | FR／Kara-Tur |
| 【創 作 者】 | 鮑大師Master Pao |
| 【相關 角色】 | 黑豹Bauhei，九仙The Nine Immortals，銅魔特若斯Copper Demon of Tros，猴頭Monkey |
| 【簡 介】 | 「鮑鮑，我要鮑鮑！」——貝恩·血蹄，於半人馬娘 鮑的象牙鏈Ivory Chain of Pao 又名 縛魔繩Demon Binder 或 鎖魔鏈Demon Chain，由48個小人鏈環手牽着手組成，每個小人都對應了一位在世的英雄，據說所有英雄離世後，它也將崩潰。（不過考慮到這件神器已經有數千年歷史，所以其中有不少英雄應該已經升仙或以其他方式續命）。它的起源非常古老，故事非常曲折。 |
2e<Book_of_Artifacts.p046>鮑的象牙鏈Ivory Chain of Pao
鮑的象牙鏈Ivory Chain of Pao
這件神器的外觀非常獨特，它是一條鏈環被雕刻成張開雙臂的男人的象牙鏈。每個鏈環都被雕刻的異常精巧，以至於每個人的手指都與下一個緊緊相扣。與金屬鏈不同，這條象牙鏈的鏈環並不是閉鎖的，應當是可以一個個解下來的。然而，鮑的象牙鏈 並沒有任何要解體的跡象。鮑的象牙鏈 大約有12呎長。
This artifact is highly distinctive in appearance, an ivory chain whose links are carved in the fashion of men with arms outstretched. Each link is cunningly made so that the hands of one figure interlock with the next in line. Unlike metal chains, the links here are not closed loops and it should be possible to unhook individual links. However, the Chain shows no indication of falling apart. the Chain is approximately 12 feet long.
歷史History
鮑的象牙鏈Ivory Chain of Pao 在東土有着漫長而多彩的歷史，但西方的賢者對此幾乎一無所知。此處所述的是東方學者所熟知的故事的高度濃縮版。只有那些與東土有聯繫的西方賢者才會知曉這個故事的隻言片語。
The Ivory Chain of Pao has a long and colorful history in the lands of the east, but is virtually unknown to western sages. This is the tale, highly abbreviated, as it is known to those eastern scholars. Only those western sages with contact to the distant oriental lands would know any bits of this tale.
鮑的象牙鏈 的早期歷史非常模糊。傳統上一般認為它是在 易山小仙the Lesser Immortal of Mount Yei 鮑大師Master Pao 在 紅土時代the Age of Red Earth 所造，並贈予了集體統治帝國的 九先皇the nine First Emperors。據說，鮑的象牙鏈 象徵着他們的團結和他們帶給所有文明人（也就是帝國）的和諧。
The early history of the Chain is very vague. Common tradition holds that it was fashioned in the Age of Red Earth by Master Pao, the Lesser Immortal of Mount Yei, and given to the nine First Emperors, who ruled the empire jointly. The Chain, it is said, was to symbolize their unity and the harmony they brought to all civilized people (i.e. the empire).
不幸的是，它帶來了悲劇。在 九皇the Nine 統治下第七年的一個晚上，一位大膽的小偷溜進了金庫偷走了 鮑的象牙鏈（有些人說這位盜賊受到了 惡作劇之主the Lord of Mischief 猴頭Monkey 的啟發，其他人則說是某位邪神的影響）。在不久後，隨着一個新邪教崛起對 諸帝the Emperors 發起挑戰，帝國南疆的動盪異發劇烈。
Unfortunately, it brought tragedy. One night an audacious thief slipped into the treasury and stole the Chain in the seventh year of the Nine's rule (some say this thief was inspired by Monkey, the Lord of Mischief; others, by an evil god). Shortly thereafter, turmoil grew in the southern realms of the empire as a new cult rose to challenge the Emperors.
也正是在此時，九皇退回了天庭，將帝國交給了 第一皇朝the First Dynasty。隨着南方邪教的不斷壯大，皇帝開始尋找摧毀邪教的秘密。最後，他和他的詩人兄弟南下挑戰了這個邪教。
It was at this time that the Nine Emperors withdrew to heaven, leaving the empire in the hands of the First Dynasty. As the evil cult in the south continued to grow, the emperor sought the secret of its destruction. Finally he and his poet-brother went south to challenge the cult.
正是在那裡，他們發現 黑豹教the Black Leopard cult 高階祭司 南宮季Nan Kung Chi 擁有 鮑的象牙鏈。這位祭司用它捆住了這個邪教的大豹魔，並迫使它服從自己的意志。藉助他兄弟的智慧指引，秦帝the Emperor Chin 一矛擊碎了 鮑的象牙鏈，從而終結了黑豹教的恐怖。
It was there that they discovered that Nan Kung Chi, the high priest of the Black Leopard cult, had the Ivory Chain. With it the priest had bound the great leopard-fiend of the cult and forced it to his will. Guided by the wisdom of his brother, the Emperor Chin shattered the Chain with a single stroke of his spear, thus ending the terror of the leopard cult.
許多人宣稱這使 鮑的象牙鏈 的力量迎來了終結，但鮑大師比眾人想象的更為狡猾。據說，鮑的象牙鏈 隨着其中一個鏈環的分離而消失了，但這只是為了稍後的自我重塑。這個說法肯定是真的，因為 鮑的象牙鏈 陷入了另一個重大事件——銅魔特若斯Copper Demon of Tros 的隕落。如果說人們對黑豹教知之甚少，那麼對銅魔的記錄就更少了。眾所周知的是，這隻怪物在帝國的西北部崛起，奪取了幾個省份到自己治下。幾十年來，它以絕對的權威和恐怖統治着這些國家。最終這隻邪魔變得太過恐怖，皇帝呼喚來英雄們幫助他收復失地。斡邁Wo Mai 和他的同伴們，效忠於他們的皇帝，承擔下了這個危險的任務。目前還不知道他們是如何推翻銅魔的，但公認的說法是，鮑的象牙鏈 在將銅魔捆綁住並帶回朝廷方面發揮了重要作用。在那裡，它被關押進了 斡邁的橡子Acorn of Wo Mai 中。
Many would have assumed this to be the end of the Ivory Chain's power, but Master Pao had been more cunning than that. It is said that the Chain vanished with the parting of a single link, only to later reform itself. This must certainly be true, for the Chain figured into an another great event—the fall of the Copper Fiend of Tros. If little was known of the Black Leopard Cult, even less has been recorded of the Copper Fiend. It is known that this monster rose to great power in the northwestern reaches of the empire, seizing several provinces for his own. These it ruled with absolute authority and terror for many decades. Finally the horrors of the fiend became too great and the emperor called for heroes to help regain his lands. Wo Mai and his companions, loyal to their emperor, undertook the dangerous task. It is unknown just how they overthrew the Copper Fiend, but accepted stories say the Ivory Chain of Pao was instrumental in binding the creature and bringing it back to the imperial court. There it was imprisoned in the Acorn of Wo Mai.
在這一偉大事件之後，鮑的象牙鏈 從所有歷史記錄中消失了。一些學者說它被磨成了灰塵，然後被用來鑄造困住銅魔的 斡邁的橡子。還有人認為它一直被留在皇家寶庫中，直至 海朝the Hai Dynasty 在 六世皇帝the Sixth Emperor 出兵入侵鄰國時滅亡。據說，入侵艦隊在一場大風暴中沉沒後，它（連同六世皇帝）也隨之消失。當一位受僱於已亡的先帝、名曰 歐若可O'Rourke 的異域航海家找回它時，故事才得以繼續。他很可能將它帶去了西土——又或者他並沒有這樣做。
After this great event the Chain dropped from all accounts of history. Some scholars say it was ground into dust and forged into Acorn that holds the Copper Fiend. Others think it remained in the imperial treasuries until the fall of the Hai Dynasty, when the Sixth Emperor went to invade a neighboring land. There it was supposedly lost (along with the Sixth Emperor) when the invasion fleet sank in a great storm. The story continues that the Chain was recovered by a foreign navigator named O'Rourke, who was in the employ of the dead emperor. It is quite possible that he carried it back to the lands of the west—or perhaps he did not.
戰役使用Campaign Use
鮑的象牙鏈 對於一場普通冒險來說，並非是一件特別強大的神器。它的力量只能影響外層位面生物，所以除非有這樣的生物出現在戰役中，否則這條鏈子只能算一件有趣的奇物。不過，如果出現了強大的外層位面生物的威脅……
The Ivory Chain of Pao is not a particularly powerful artifact for common adventuring. Its powers only affect outer-planar creatures, so unless these figure into the campaign, the Chain is going to be nothing more than an interesting curiosity. However, should a great outer-planar threat appear....
DM應該圍繞着 鮑的象牙鏈 的力量展開冒險。顯而易見的可能性是，一些可怕而強大的東西闖入了 主物質位面the Prime Material 世界，需要 鮑的象牙鏈 來壓制它。雖然這個點子不是特別新穎，但如果執行得當，這條情節也可以非常令人興奮。
The DM should build the adventure around the Chain's powers. The obvious possibility is that something awful and of great power has broken into the Prime Material world and the Chain is necessary to overcome it. While not particularly original, this plotline can be quite exciting if well-executed.
當然，沒有人規定必須如此。沒有人說過主物質位面世界必須被威脅。玩家角色們可以因為各種理由而進入到了外層位面，在那裡他們將需要 鮑的象牙鏈 來俘獲某些強大生物。或許它是某道強大法術的必需品（這反過來又將阻止對戰役世界安全的另一項威脅）。又或許，任務來自某位狡猾巫妖的 指使術geas，或是向某位高階祭司支付的服務費。這支冒險隊甚至可能只是為了給某位強大的領主留下深刻印象而做出如此危險的事情。一位偉大的國王、哈里發或皇帝肯定會高度評價，那些僅僅是靠着一條象牙鏈就將強大邪魔折服作為獻禮的英雄。
Of course, it doesn't have to be this way. There is nothing that says there has to be a threat to the Prime Material world. The player characters, for various reasons, could journey to the outer planes where they would need the Chain to capture some powerful being. Perhaps it is needed for a powerful spell (that in turn stops a different threat to the safety of the campaign world). Perhaps the task is a geas imposed by a cunning lich, or payment to a high priest for services rendered. The group even might do something this dangerous simply to impress a powerful lord. A great king, caliph, or emperor would certainly think highly of heroes who presented a powerful fiend humbled by a simple ivory chain.
此外，由於 鮑的象牙鏈 可以被拆開，所以發現它的這項簡單任務可能會變得異常複雜。DM可以慢慢地引進這件神器。冒險隊可能會在寶藏中發現其中的一個鏈環。後來，他們又找到了其它的，且從未得到任何解釋。只有在找到相當多鏈環時，他們才能找到 鮑的象牙鏈 功能的線索。
Furthermore, since the Chain can be taken apart, the simple business of discovering it can become quite complicated. The DM can introduce the artifact slowly. The group might find a single link as part of a treasure hoard. Later they could find others, never with any explanation. Only after a considerable length of chain is gathered might they find clues to the Chain's purpose.
力量Powers
祈喚。鮑的象牙鏈 的使用方法有兩種，要麼作為整體使用，要麼作為單個鏈環使用。當整條 鮑的象牙鏈 纏上某個外層位面生物的手腕、脖子、腳踝或腰部（或同等部位）時，該生物將自動被 異界誓縛bound。被誓縛的生物將絕對服從於 鮑的象牙鏈 所有者的命令（下命令時，必須握住它的一端）。雖然它看上去脆弱不堪，但被誓縛的生物完全無力對抗 鮑的象牙鏈 的力量，並且除非在主人的命令下，否則這隻生物也不能使用自身的力量。
Invoked. The Chain can be used in one of two ways, either as a whole piece or by individual links. When the whole Chain is wrapped around the wrists, neck, ankles, or waist (or the equivalent) of an outer-planar creature, that creature is automatically bound. Bound creatures must obey absolutely the commands of the owner of the Chain (who must hold one end of it when giving these commands). Although it seems extremely fragile, the bound creature is utterly helpless against the Chain's might, nor can it use its powers except at the bidding of its master.
如果知曉扭曲滑動圖形的正確方法，就可以解開相連的鏈環。一旦整條 鮑的象牙鏈 斷裂（有48個鏈環），它將完全喪失異界誓縛的力量。每個鏈環都可以投擲到一隻生物上，施加 聖言術holy word 法術的效果。被擲出的鏈環將立即消失。
If one knows the right way to twist and slide the figures, the links can be unlocked from each other. Once the whole Chain is broken (there are 48 links), it loses all power to bind. Any individual link can be thrown against a creature, with all of the effects of a holy word spell. Links hurled instantly vanish.
詛咒。當被用來捆綁生物時，鮑的象牙鏈 有5%的可能性將斷裂並立即消失。新獲得自由的生物通常非常渴望以可怕且富有想象力的方式向他們曾經的主人復仇。此外，外層位面生物將派遣凡間代理人對抗 鮑的象牙鏈 的持有者。
Curse. Each day that the Chain is used to bind a creature, there is a 5% chance it will break and vanish instantly. Newly freed creatures are usually quite eager to extract revenge on their former masters, in horrible and imaginative ways. Furthermore, outer-planar creatures will send earthly agents against the Chain's owner.
建議的銷毀方法Suggested Means of Destruction
❖以一種秘密方法連接每個環鏈，使環鏈的手不相碰觸。
❖ A secret method of joining each link so that the hands do not touch must be used.
❖每個鏈環都匹配了一位在世的英雄。當他們全部去世，鮑的象牙鏈 將會崩潰。
❖ Each link matches a living hero (or heroine). When all are dead, the Chain crumbles.
❖它必須被送給一位 象神elephant-god，他將打碎象牙。
❖ It must be given to an elephant-god, who shatters the ivory.