Malack's Book

[Turin_19]

Hi,

I've been rereading throguh BRitP, and I found that Durkon get's an "easily replaceable" book from Malack.
http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0739.html

Don't remember if that ever comes up again. Does it have any other meaning? Do we know which subject it is? Does Durkon use it later?

[Sinewmire]

Whilst we can't be certain, it seems highly likely to contain treatises on Negative Energy and spells based on it, as Durkon was looking at researching his Mass Death Ward spell, which he completed later with Malack's help.

Especially given Malack's health issues - he'd be intimately familiar with the subject material already!

[Kantaki]

That Mass Death Ward spell Durkon was researching at the time.
Or, more accurately, closely related topics to help D create the spell.

[Riftwolf]

Reading it again, I'm guessing the 'easily replaceable' part was bit of subterfuge to explain why Malack would be willing to give out a book of powerful unique researches. It's because that book had spells with backdoors, so it didn't matter to him if Durkon used that power against him (which he did) as Malack can nullify it (which he did).

[MesiDoomstalker]

Reading it again, I'm guessing the 'easily replaceable' part was bit of subterfuge to explain why Malack would be willing to give out a book of powerful unique researches. It's because that book had spells with backdoors, so it didn't matter to him if Durkon used that power against him (which he did) as Malack can nullify it (which he did).

I think you have it backwards. The book contained information that assisted Durkon in developing the spell, but the book itself did not contain any spells. Malack assisted Durkon in developing the spell and in the process, worked a 'backdoor' into the spell so uttering the right phrase would dismiss the effect even if one did not cast the spell.