（瞬时之神The Momentary God，大奥术师The Archwizard）

　　主物质面半神力Demipower of the Prime Material Plane， 　　绝对中立N

　　神职PORTFOLIO：过度的自负与狂妄的野心相结合的愚蠢Folly of overweening arrogance and ambition，无尽的狂妄unending hubris 　　别名ALIASES：无None 　　神域名DOMAIN NAME：原先：托瑞尔星球Toril／费伦大陆Faerûn；现在：被困在 凶暴森林the Dire Wood，并漫无目的地飘荡在 星界Astral Plane 　　主神SUPERIOR：无None 　　盟友ALLIES：无None 　　敌对FOES：密斯特拉Mystra 　　徽记SYMBOL：无None 　　信徒阵营WOR. ALIGN.：守序中立LN，绝对中立N，混乱中立CN，守序邪恶LE，中立邪恶NE，混乱邪恶CE

　　卡尔萨斯Karsus（读作KAHR-sus），瞬时之神the Momentary God，他在获得一瞬间的神性、随即被自身过度的自负与狂妄的野心相结合的愚蠢毁灭前，曾是一位凡人。然而，不像被送达 星界Astral Plane 的大部分消逝神力，大奥术师the Archwizard 在以神性、静滞、毫无反应的魅影形式存在于星界的同时，亦保持以无生命的形式存在于 凶暴森林Dire Wood 的心脏中。从某种意义来说，他被凶暴森林的扭曲魔法困在了被毁灭那一瞬间。 Karsus (KAHR-sus), the Momentary God, was a mortal who achieved divinity for but a brief instant before being destroyed by the folly of his own overweening arrogance and ambition. However, unlike most dead powers who are transported to the Astral Plane, the Archwizard exists as only a sort of divine, unmoving, unresponsive phantom on the Astral Plane and persists in a form of unlife within the heart of the Dire Wood. In a sense, he is bound to the moment of time at which he was destroyed by the twisted magic of the Dire Wood.

　　身为凡人时，卡尔萨斯是位 心灵奥师mentalist（耐瑟瑞尔帝国Netheril 三种法师中的一种），是他创造了 卡尔萨斯的化身Karsus's avatar，一道永久改变了魔法运作机制12级法术。这道难以置信的法术，是被创造出过的唯一的一道12环法术，它被设计为能暂时窃取一位神祇的神力，而让施法者暂时成神。当卡尔萨斯释放出他的咒语时，他愚蠢地选中魔法女神 密丝瑞尔Mystryl 作为他的猎物。在野心勃勃的头脑中，知识总是压过了智慧，在卡尔萨斯身上也未例外。 As a mortal, Karsus was a mentalist (one of three wizard classes found in Netheril) who created Karsus's avatar, a 12th-level spell that forever changed the way magic functions. This fantastic spell, the only 12th-level spell ever created, was designed to temporarily steal the powers of a deity, allowing the spellcaster to briefly become divine. When Karsus cast his incantation, he foolishly chose Mystryl, the goddess of magic, as his target. Knowledge has always outweighed wisdom in the minds of the ambitious, and Karsus was no exception.

　　在大奥术师释放出他的法术后，他的身体被突如其来涌入的神力膨胀、他的头脑被难以想象的知识充满。卡尔萨斯立即意识到他做了一件多么可怕的事情，然而他也知道了无论他做什么、都无法停止这注定之事。大奥术师从女神那里窃取的神性披风、正是那需要她不断修复的 魔网Weave of magic 神职——耐瑟瑞尔和它滥用的魔法不断威胁着要将魔网瓦解。当密丝瑞尔失去了保持魔网完整的能力，卡尔萨斯却不足以代替她职责。魔网开始陷入剧烈的波动、而耐瑟瑞尔地区以及之外的地方被原始的魔法洪灾淹没，澎湃涨落的魔法潮汐其力量和破坏远胜于之前曾有。 After casting his spell, the body of the Archwizard swelled with the sudden influx of godly power, and his mind filled with unimaginable knowledge. Karsus instantly realized the horrible mistake he had made, but he knew there was nothing he could do to stop the inevitable. The Archwizard had stolen the mantle of divinity from the one power whose portfolio required her to constantly rework the Weave of magic—the Weave that Netheril and its glut of magic constantly threatened to unravel. When Mystryl lost her ability to maintain the Weave's integrity, Karsus was illequipped to serve in her stead. The Weave began to fluctuate wildly, and the lands of Netheril and beyond were inundated with a flood of raw magic which surged and ebbed with far greater power and destructive force than had ever been seen before.

　　在伤害变得不可挽回前，密丝瑞尔牺牲了她自己以拯救魔网。这自我牺牲暂时停滞了魔网的交互作用，使所有魔法停止运转了几分钟。失去了稳定的魔力注入，耐瑟瑞尔的浮空城骤然坠落在地。卡尔萨斯在密丝瑞尔自我牺牲时立即被杀，因为她的行为切断了联系他与她的魔法。 Mystryl sacrificed herself to save the Weave before the damage became irreparable. This self-sacrifice temporarily held interaction with the Weave in abeyance, causing all magic to cease functioning for a few minutes. Without a steady infusion of magic, the floating cities of Netheril plummeted to the ground. Karsus was slain instantly when Mystryl sacrificed herself, as her action broke his link to her magic.

　　在他死后，卡尔萨斯充满神力的身体立即变成了红色调的石头，而这位瞬时之神也随之从他的浮空城之巅陨落大地。当身体坠落之时，暂被赋予的神性视觉，在他的脑海中一遍遍地回放着耐瑟瑞尔城市坠入大地、粉身碎骨的景象。在意识到是他对神祇力量的贪念一手造成了他的家园、他的家庭、他的朋友、他的人民的毁灭后，他的心碎了。甚至在他死后，他的心仍然在流血。由于凶暴森林的魔法，卡尔萨斯被困在了永恒的折磨中，一次又一次地重温他终于意识到自己愚蠢的那个瞬间。 Upon his death, Karsus's power-engorged body immediately turned to red-hued stone, and the Momentary God plummeted from the heights of his floating city to the ground. As his body fell, Karsus replayed over and over in his mind the image of Netheril's cities plunging to the ground and shattering, a vision granted to him by his brief tenure as a divine being. Karsus's heart broke as he realized that his greed for the power of the deities themselves had caused the destruction of his home, his family, his friends, and his people. Even in his death, his heart still bleeds. Through the magic of the Dire Wood, Karsus is bound in eternal torment to relive repeatedly the moment he became aware of his folly.

　　卡尔萨斯作为神祇只持续了一瞬，因此没有创造过化身。如果他有，它应可以展现出他作为凡人被毁灭时的力量。作为一名41级心灵奥师他拥有以下属性值：力量Str 18，敏捷Dex 15，体质Con 19，智力Int 22，感知Wis 19，魅力Cha 23。（见《耐瑟瑞尔：魔法帝国the Netheril：Empire of Magic》战役设定集心灵奥师条目，这是现今巫师mage和专精法师specialist wizard的一种前身职业。） Karsus, having only existed as a god for an instant, never created an avatar. If he had, it would have likely exhibited some of the powers he held as a mortal at the time of his destructilkon. He was a 41st-level mentalist wizard with the following ability scores: Str 18, Dex 15, Con 19, Int 11, Wis 19, Cha 23. (See the Netheril: Empire of Magic campaign expansion for information on mentalists, who are one of the precursor classes to modern mages and specialist wizards.）

　　虽已消逝，但卡尔萨斯的不朽灵魂仍被困于凶暴森林的混乱魔法中。大奥术师的本质被巫妖 乌尔格瑞斯Wulgreth 的魔法困入一个单一的时间点、展现于三个地方。每个显现都包含卡尔萨斯三部分灵魂之一。只要他被分离的灵魂还未融为一体，凯尔萨斯被认为便无法从诸国度the Realms脱离。 Even in death, Karsus's undying spirit persists amidst the chaotic magic of the Dire Wood. The Archwizard's essence is ensnared in a single point of time by the magic of the lich Wulgreth, and it manifests in three separate pieces. Each manifestation contains one portion of Karsus's tripartite spirit. It is believed that Karsus cannot depart from the Realms until his sundered spirit is reforged into one.

　　卡尔萨斯的凡人身体仍然幸存，它嵌入了 至高荒原High Forest 东部的地面，形成了一座带红色石头组成的高大孤丘、饱受着着元素的侵蚀。该灵魂显现释放出的重魔法场是创造出凶暴森林的原因，象征作为卡尔萨斯的愚蠢的后果、而不断膨胀的魔法混乱。在动荡之年期间，一位强大的施法者，有可能是 阿祖斯Azuth，用一条白橡树组成的空心环作为标示，围绕着 迷魅森林Enchanted Wood 漆黑、令人恐惧的树木。作为结果，凶暴森林不能再扩张，但是依然继续存在。 Karsus's mortal body survives as a tall butte of red stone embedded in the ground in the eastern reaches of the High Forest and eroded by the elements. This manifestation of his spirit radiates the sphere of heavy magic responsible for the creation of the Dire Wood and represents the ever-expanding magical chaos resulting from Karsus's folly. During the Time of Troubles, a powerful spellcaster, possibly Azuth, encircled the black, petrified trees that marked the boundaries of the Enchanted Wood with an outer ring of albino oak trees. As a result, the Dire Wood no longer expands, but it does persist.

　　卡尔萨斯巨大、不断流血的心脏沉重地在孤丘中跳动着。这个显现基本上没有什么影响能力，但即便以某种方式击破将它的红色石牢，它也无法被破坏。卡尔萨斯的心脏不停地释放出一段附魔效应，类似于4级法师法术 控制情感emotion的悲痛效果。既不能通过豁免检定避免它的效应，也不能以魔抗抵御其效果。控制情感效果的影响范围半径似乎在从红石孤丘附近、下一刻到整个凶暴森林地疯狂涨落着。 Karsus's gigantic, ever-bleeding heart beats ponderously within the butte itself. This manifestation is essentially powerless, but it cannot be destroyed, even if its red stone prison were somehow sundered. Karsus's heart continuously radiates an enchantment similar to the sadness effect produced by the 4th-level wizard spell emotion. No saving throw to avoid its effects is permitted and magic resistance provides no defense against this effect. The radius of the emotion's area of effect seems to fluctuate wildly from the immediate environs of the red stone butte to the entire Dire Wood.

　　最后，在建立于红石孤丘顶上的神庙里，一尊有生命的石雕描绘了卡尔萨斯原本的样子。在这个显现的心脏上，胸部的创口流淌出超凡的、血一般的液体，汇聚成不竭的溪流。溪流的最终与 心血之河Heartblood River 汇流，给后者染上了一如它在凶暴森林内名字的颜色。这座雕像本身是一座乌尔格瑞斯以卡尔萨斯的一部分本质制造的石魔像。如果被毁，它总是将在24小时里重塑，完好无损地在神殿的地板上出现。 Finally, an animate stone statue depicting Karsus in his original form resides in the temple built atop the red stone butte. This manifestation bleeds an ever-flowing stream of otherworldly bloodlike liquid from the gaping hole in its chest above its heart. This flow eventually mingles with the Heartblood River, giving it the color for which it is named within the confines of the Dire Wood. The statue itself is a stone golem created by Wulgreth to hold one part of Karsus's essence. If destroyed, it always reforms within 24 hours, emerging intact from the floor of the temple.

　　神职人员Clergy：任何职业的世俗追随者，但不包括 祭司priests、圣武士paladins 以及 游侠rangers 　　神职阵营Clergy's Align.：LN, N, CN, LE, NE, CE

　　所有的卡尔萨斯世俗追随者，如果接受了这个熟悉那个时代、源远流长的教派团体的教育，将获得 古代历史（耐瑟瑞尔的阴影年代）ancient history (the Shadowed Age of Netheril) 作为非武器熟练奖励。 All lay followers of Karsus receive ancient history (the Shadowed Age of Netheril) as a bonus nonweapon proficiency if they are instructed by a well-established cult familiar with the era.

　　关于卡尔萨斯的愚蠢传说在岁月的长河中失落已久，在今日的诸国度瞬时之神已不为人所知。至高荒原的精灵和半精灵视大奥术师为人类傲慢与鲁莽品质的具现、和一座纪念人类一族之愚蠢的纪念碑。在耐瑟瑞尔毁灭后，一些 耐瑟瑞尔人Netherese 逃离了故国的毁灭，跟随着一系列“梦境dream visions”进入了被 叶尔兰王国Eaerlann 精灵宣有的土地。在矗立着卡尔萨斯之陨落形成的红石孤丘的地方，他们于-298 DR建立了这座名为 卡尔斯城Karse 的城市。卡尔斯城的居民建立了一个关于陨落的大奥术师的教派，并持续存在了略多于十年的时间。瞬时之神教派的追随者错误地相信卡尔萨斯能将耐瑟瑞尔人带回他们往日的荣光。靠着乌尔格瑞斯的秘密帮助，这个教派作为一场没有任何神祇守护的骗局被揭穿了。卡尔斯城的在随后的战斗和遗弃中被毁。 The tale of Karsus's folly has long been lost to time, and the Momentary God is all but unknown in the Realms today. The elves and half-elves of the eastern High Forest view the Archwizard as the embodiment of human arrogance and recklessness and a monument to humankind's foolishness. After the destruction of Netheril, many Netherese fled their nation's collapse to the lands claimed by the elves of Eaerlann by following a series of “dream visions.” At the base of the red stone butte formed where Karsus fell, they built the city of Karse in -298 DR. The inhabitants of Karse created a cult to the fallen Archwizard that persisted for slightly more than a decade. Followers of the Momentary God clung to the mistaken belief that Karsus could somehow restore the people of Netheril to their former glory. With Wulgreth's hidden assistance, the cult was exposed as a sham lacking any divine patron. Karse was destroyed in the ensuing fighting and abandoned.

　　陷入歧途的卡尔斯城居民它，一座献给瞬时之神的简单神殿被矗立在红石孤丘顶部，那是他们相信囚禁着其本质的地方。该教派的团队中包括一些各种各样职业的家伙，但大部分没有一丁点奥术的才能与天赋。在建立起正式的头衔等级结构体系前，这个教派便已消亡。卡尔萨斯的神职人员被非正式地称为 心之血Heartbloods。 The misguided inhabitants of Karse built but a single temple to the Momentary God on top of the red stone butte that they believed imprisoned his essence. The cult included many individuals of various classes in its ranks, but most were minor magelings with little talent or ability. The cult died out before a formal hierarchy of titles could be established. Members of Karsus's clergy were known informally as Heartbloods.

　　远古卡尔斯城的教派宣称，那个文明（换个说法，即耐瑟瑞尔）的陨落是愤怒的诸神惩罚人类一族愚蠢与傲慢的结果。卡尔萨斯在他的傲慢中毁灭了耐瑟瑞尔，但这一引起了耐瑟瑞尔毁灭的特殊行为将大奥术师转化为人性与神性共存的存在。卡尔萨斯，他们坚信，将带领人类一族进入建立在旧时代灰烬上的新魔法时代。 The cult of Karsus in ancient Karse taught that the fall of civilization (in other words, Netheril) was a result of humankind's folly and pride being punished by the wrath of the gods. Karsus in his arrogance had destroyed Netheril, but the very act which caused Netheri's collapse transformed the Archwizard into a being both human and divine. Karsus, they believed, would be reborn to lead humankind into a new age of magic built on the ashes of the old but tempered with experience.

　　瞬时之神的教派主要在管理卡尔斯城，挖掘 星之山脉Star Mounts 附近的金属矿，以及持之以恒、屡败屡战地进行仪式，企图唤醒卡尔萨斯、迎来预言中一定会发生的耐瑟瑞尔重生中度过。 The cult of the Momentary God primarily consumed itself with the administration of Karse, the mining of rich metal deposits in the neighboring Star Mounts, and an unending series of unsuccessful rituals designed to reawaken Karsus and usher in the promised rebirth of Netheril.

　　卡尔萨斯的追随者们举行着无穷无尽的仪式来唤醒他们的神。他们的仪式据说得到了教派领导者的“梦境”的启发，与那些指引耐瑟瑞尔人找到卡尔萨斯凡人形态的梦境相似。虽然仪式月复一月的变化，但大部分都涉及了极端情绪的表达和与卡尔萨斯心跳同步的起伏圣歌。 Karsus's followers performed an endless series of rituals designed to reawaken their god. These ceremonies were supposedly inspired by the “dream visions” of the cult leaders, similar to those that had led the Netherese to Karsus's mortal form. Although the ceremonies changed from month to month, most involved extreme displays of various emotions and rolling chants synchronized with the endless beating of Karsus's heart.

　　不朽之心神龛The Shrine of the Undying Heart，坐落于卡尔萨斯的凡人形态形成的红石孤丘顶上，由沾染了深红色调的粉红色大理石建成。神殿由36根支柱组成，每根直径超过10英尺、总半径达100英尺。半球形的屋顶显然由一整块石材凿成、覆压在圆栏柱上。在神社平台中心是一件栩栩如生的人类心脏雕像，看上去就像凯尔萨斯跃动的真正心脏陷入了安宁、覆盖上不断旋转的血色光泽。 The Shrine of the Undying Heart, located atop the red stone butte formed from Karsus's mortal form, is constructed from pink marble that has been stained a deep crimson hue. The temple consists of a circle of 36 pillars, each over 10 feet in diameter, with a total radius of 100 feet. A hemispherical roof, apparently hewn from a single stone, surmounts the circle of columns. In the center of the shrine stands a lifelike statue of a human heart that appears to undulate in harmony with the beat of Karsus's true heart and is covered with a continuously swirling sheen of blood

　　内殿一度被无关建筑包围，但它们消失已久。孤丘下并未挖掘过什么隧道或密室。改变卡尔萨斯的凡人形态，是被这个教派视为足以立即处死的异端行为。一座照着卡尔萨斯雕刻、包含着卡尔萨斯一部分本质的石魔像，漫无目的地在神殿范围里徘徊着。根据乌尔格瑞斯遗留的命令，它会立即攻击任何入侵者。 At one time a ring of outlying buildings surrounded the temple proper, but they have long since vanished. No tunnels or chambers have been dug into the butte. Altering Karsus's earthly form was seen by the cult as an act of heresy deserving of immediate execution. A stone golem carved to resemble Karsus that contains one part of his essence aimlessly wanders within the temple's confines. It immediately attacks any intruders, a legacy of Wulgreth's corrupting influence.

　　卡尔萨斯教派的法师建立了 咒法召唤师团the Order of Thaumaturgists。在密丝瑞尔在消逝中被唤醒、随后改变了魔法的天然运作机制后，一些成员研究了新的法术。他们的某些失传已久的法术，可能仍然幸存于分散在凶暴森林破败的塔中。 Wizards in the cult of Karsus formed the Order of Thaumaturgists. Many researched new spells in the wake of Mystry's demise and the subsequent transformation of the nature of magic. Some of their long-lost spell tomes may still survive in shattered towers scattered about the confines of the Dire Wood.

　　所有的心之血都被要求穿上血红色的长袍并以金、银掐丝。 All Heartbloods were expected to garb themselves in blood-red robes with gold and silver filigree.

　　卡尔萨斯的教派禁止使用任何类型的盔甲。神职人员只能使用法杖、匕首以及飞镖。 The cult of Karsus forbade the use of any form of armor. Only staves, daggers, and darts were permitted to the clergy.

　　（法师Wiz 12；祈唤/塑能Invocation/Evocation，附魔/魅惑Enchantment/Charm，转化Alteration）

　　专业Field：心灵Mentalism 　　距离Range：未知，很可能是0 　　组件Components：未知，很可能是 言语V，材料M 　　持续时间Duration：未知，有限 　　施法时间Casting Time：未知 　　影响范围Area of Effect：施法者 　　豁免检定Saving Throw：未知

　　作为曾被创造出的唯一一道第12级法术，这个魔咒将从一位神那里窃取的神力赋予卡尔萨斯。所有卡尔萨斯关于这道被施展法术的研发笔记与信息，都被 密斯特拉Mystra（密斯瑞尔Mystryl 的继任者）毁灭。即使它们被恢复，这道法术亦再不可能被施展，因为密丝特拉在之后改变了魔法运作方式，使得第11和第12级法术不再可能。 The only 12th-level spell ever created, this incantation enabled Karsus to steal the power of a deity. All notes and information developed by Karsus regarding the casting of this spell were destroyed by Mystra, successor of Mystryl. Even if they were recovered, this spell could never again be cast, since Mystra has since changed the way magic works, making 11th and 12th level incantations impossible.

　　这道法术需要无数独一无二、且目前不可能得到的材料。举例，卡尔萨斯曾把一头金龙的砂囊浸泡在 泰拉斯奎巨兽tarrasque 的血和 十二头蛇蜥12-headed hydra 的胆汁酿造的鬼玩意中，只为附魔施展这个法术的必须材料成分中的一个。 This spell required countless unique and currently impossible-to-acquire material components. For example, Karsus had to dip a gold dragon's gizzard in a brew of tarrasque blood and bile from a 12-headed hydra just to enchant one of the many material components required to cast the spell.