Ebon Lyre

Initially crafted by a mad bard to rescue her lover from the Abyss, the Ebon Lyre is an evil artifact made from the body and essence of a powerful demon. It has a number of fell abilities that include augmenting a user's Charisma, mimic certain bardic performance abilities, summoning ghouls and ghasts, and calling creatures from the Lower Planes. However, these abilities do not come without a price. The artifact itself is intelligent and Chaotic Evil; it attempts to corrupt its users. If one under the sway of the artifact should perish, he will rise again as an undead abomination.