'''''Artifact of Evil''''' is a 1986 fantasy novel by [[Gary Gygax]], set in the world of [[Greyhawk]], which is based on the ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' [[fantasy]] [[role-playing game]].
==Plot summary==
''Artifact of Evil'' was the second novel to feature [[Gord the Rogue]]. Gord and his companions must stop a recently uncovered ancient artifact from falling into the wrong hands, as its power could destroy their world.
This was the first novel to feature the [[Drow (Dungeons & Dragons)|drow]] prominently. Other characters appearing in the book include [[Melf]] of the Arrow (who has sworn fealty to [[Mordenkainen]]), Anthraxus the Oinodaemon (who appears to the [[Horned Society]] as a messenger for [[Nerull]]), the [[Dwarf (Dungeons & Dragons)|dwarf]] [[Obmi]], and the losel (mixtures of orcs and baboons).
==Publication history==
[[Gary Gygax]] wrote ''Artifact of Evil'' as a continuation of his first novel, ''[[Saga of Old City]]'', and it was published in 1986 as the final novel under [[TSR, Inc.|TSR]]'s ''Greyhawk Adventures'' banner that was written by Gygax.
==Reception==
Dave Langford reviewed ''Artifact of Evil'' for ''[[White Dwarf (magazine)|White Dwarf]]'', quipping "At first glimpse within, my soul was purged by the brutalities visited upon the English language", and concluding that the story was nothing more than "an ''AD&D'' campaign write-up".<ref name="WD78">{{cite journal| last =Langford| first =Dave| authorlink =| title =Critical Mass| type = review| journal =[[White Dwarf (magazine)|White Dwarf]]| issue = 78| pages =11| publisher =[[Games Workshop]]|date=June 1986}}</ref>
The Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index (EGI) is based on previous work of Jason Zavoda through '08, continued by numerous other fans. The EGI article has a list of sources, product names, abbreviations, and a link to the full, downloadable index.