Arena:Ebony Mail

Artifact: Ebony Mail (lore page)
Shares Appearance With	Ebony Cuirass
Statistics
Rating	-9 AC
Weight	16 kg
Enchantment
Spell Resistance: 100% chance, 5 rounds per level Resist Fire: 100% chance, 5 rounds per level Create Shield: 80 HP shield, +1 point per level
Map Dungeon Province
Black Marsh
Can be used by the following classes
Knight, Ranger, Warrior

Ebony Mail

"The Ebony Mail is an artifact created before recorded history, according to legend, by the Dark Elven goddess Boethiah. It is she who determines who should possess the Mail and for how long a time. If judged worthy, its power grants the wearer invulnerability to all common magical attacks that drain talents and health. It is Boethiah alone who determines when a person is ineligible to bear the Ebony Mail any longer, and the goddess can be very capricious..."
— Codex Scientia

The Ebony Mail is an ebony cuirass artifact that can be obtained by taking part in its artifact quest.

The Ebony Mail possesses the most effective spell resistance and fire resistance enchantments of any artifact in the game, with 100% protection against fire and magic even at level 1 and with a significantly longer duration for both effects than similar enchantments other artifacts possess, each lasting 100 rounds by level 20. On the other hand, the shielding component of its enchantment is rather lackluster; it is already 4 points weaker than the shielding enchantment Auriel's Shield carries at level 1, and it is vastly outstripped at higher levels - the Ebony Mail's shielding effect only reaches 100 points by level 20. However, even this modest Shield can still find its uses in the right circumstances, and the long-lasting duration of its other powerful enchantments allows for extended periods of exploration without having to worry about fire damage or other magical attacks. Though its description specifically highlights its resistance to draining spells, the Ebony Mail's spell resistance is a universally protective effect against magic-based attacks.

Quest DialogueEdit

Quest-starting Rumors

• "If you have aspirations toward going far,[PC race], you need to talk to a man I know who has information about getting the Ebony Mail. Go a bit [Direction] to the [Tavern name] if you want to see him, but remember to bring plenty of gold. He's not giving it away for nothing, that's for certain."
• "[Provincial exclamation], I know about something you'd be interested in, young [PC race]. Over to the [Direction] in an inn called the [Tavern name], you'll find a gentleman with a certain inside story about the Ebony Mail. I'm sure you've heard about the Mail? Makes you tougher than a troll, stronger, faster. Might have some use, you know?"
• "Now, keep this under your hat, [PC race], but I know someone who knows how to get the Ebony Mail, really I do. He's [Direction] of here in the [Tavern name]. If I were you, I get all the gold I have for payment and get there right away, before all the battle-hardiest of [Settlement name] and [Rival settlement name] are at the [Tavern name] looking for this guy."

Tavern Encounters

• "Good news travels fast, eh, [PC race]?" The brawny man on the next chair looks at you humorlessly. "I was wondering how long it would take before every adventurer in [Province] showed up to beg me to tell them the location of the Ebony Mail. Who wouldn't want to wear armor that makes you [sic] gives you such power, power no spell can take away from you? Well, you can bet I'm not going to divulge my secret for free. My current price is [Amount of gold] gold pieces. Take it or leave it." "Hey, [NPC name]!" the innkeeper yells, "This [PC race] wants to talk to you about the Ebony Mail!"
• You are joined by a sober young man. "You're not the first person to come here asking about the Ebony Mail," he says. "Lots of people like the idea of getting a legendary item that gives them such power, but few have even almost the [Amount of gold] gold pieces I need to tell the secret location. Do you have it?"
• A distinguished-looking man two seats away from you at the bar rises and joins you, his voice a low growl. "You can call me [NPC name], [PC race]. I'm the one who knows how to find the Ebony Mail, the lost armor of the Drow that could make even you a hero. Right now, I'm asking for [Amount of gold] gold for my information - a preposterously low price, but still more than most people in the [tavern name] are able to pay, it seems."

Negotiation

• "I can understand bargain shopping, but you're being ridiculous. I'm going to need a lot more than that."
• "Not a chance, pal. Try again." "I assume that was a joke. Please make me a legitimate offer, [PC race]."
• "What a disappointment. Goodbye then. I'll be at [tavern] for [number of] more days if you change your mind."
• "I've wasted enough time already. You can find me here for [number of] days if you get the money or change your mind. Leave me now."
• "Sorry we couldn't help one another, [PC race]. I'm staying here at [tavern] for [number of] more days, so if there's a change in your courage or your purse size, look me up. Goodbye."
• "Sorry, I can't justify that. [Amount of gold] gold seems fair. What do you think?"
• "You're a good haggler, [PC race]. I'm afraid I can't accept less than [Amount of gold] gold."
• "I understand your position, trying to get the best price you can. Let's say [Amount of gold] gold, shall we?"

New Encounter (after rejecting the quest)

• The door guard bellows into the rear, "[NPC name]! The [PC race] is back!" [NPC name] emerges from across the room. "You've reconsidered?" he asks. "If you have the [Amount of gold] pieces of gold we originally agreed upon, I'll tell you exactly how one 'might [sic] find the Ebony Mail. Agreed?"
• "Hello again, [PC race]," [NPC name] joins you at the bar. "Good to see it didn't take you long to change your mind about the Ebony Mail. I assume you're ready to pay the [Amount of gold] gold I mentioned before?"
• "I wasn't sure I'd see you again, [PC race]," says [NPC name], coming to the bar at the sound of your voice. "I haven't had any other takers yet, but my offer for sharing the clues to the Ebony Mail stands at [Amount of gold] gold. Is this agreeable?"

Location

• "Exactly what I hoped you'd say. The bad news is you'll have to go to Black Marsh to find the Mail, to a nasty little place called the [Dungeon name]. There lies the map to the spirit-forsaken dungeon holding the Ebony Mail. You'll find that the map points out the place where the Dark Elven goddess Boethiah hid the Mail after she took it from Helath Stormbinder, a warrior she no longer favored. Rather like Kynareth and Morihaus, but that's another story. I will inscribe the location of the [Dungeon name] onto your map of the continent. The map that will lead you to the Ebony Mail lies there. I doubt if Boethiah even cares after all this time, but I'll wish you luck anyhow. Goodbye."

GalleryEdit

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  Ebony Mail (female)