Monday, December 15, 2014

Three Sentient Magic Items: a rough draft.


I have noted before that I have an aversion to simple magic items, particularly ubiquitous +1 weapons and the like. I dislike how they provide an escalating pile of bonuses, how dull they are, and how they become part of the implied power economy of the game. 

That said, magic items are fun to write up. I have been thinking of bringing in some magic items to the campaign, and I have started writing up some basic descriptions. These are rough drafts for the items thus far. They are all three intelligent items, sort of mini-artifacts for my campaign.

Nimal Yaad, Trident of the Sea Lords

Weapon (trident), rare (requires attunement)
This was an ancient weapon of the Sea Lords of Kania, a symbol of their rule. The Trident marks its carrier as a ruler, the captain of his vessel, and a merchant lord among his people. The Trident came to Estarion with early traders when the city was a minor trading outpost, and was used as a weapon in battle against the Three Sisters by Abdeshmun Zinn, who fought alongside the Avatar of Astarte when the Three Sisters first sought to conquer the land. Nimal Yaad was lost decades later when Behdoun raiders destroyed the temple of Yam and took the trident as spoils of war. It was later recovered by priests of Poseidon, where it became a holy relic of Poseidon until the trident disappeared in a war with the Parsian invader Xanaton the Younger.

·      You gain a +1 to attack and damage rolls with this magic weapon.
·      You gain advantage on Charisma checks while holding Nimal Yaad.
·      You gain proficiency on Intelligence checks to appraise goods.
·      While bearing Nimal Yaad, you can use an action to cause your voice to carry up to 300 feet until your next turn.

Sentience: Nimal Yaad is a lawful neutral weapon with an Intelligence of 8, a Wisdom of 10, and a Charisma of 14. The trident has hearing and normal vision out to 60 feet and communicates by transmitting emotions to the creature carrying or wielding it.

Personality: Nimal Yaad was built for glory. It will drive its user to feats of combat and glory if possible. Made to serve merchant-kings, the weapon is less a powerful combat weapon than a useful symbol of leadership.

The Harvester

Weapon (greataxe), rare (requires attunement)
Forged, it is said, by Dagon, god of grain and field, as a weapon to defend his worshipers from raiding tribes, this axe is blessed by the virgin goddess of war and violence, Anat. The Harvester is a double-bitted long axe covered with runes and symbols. It came to the region in the hands of the Kanian Paladin Niqmad, who drove out a nest of goblins to help found Selindra. The harvester was passed to Niqmad’s sons, and only disappeared as the Aquilans came to rule the region.

·      You gain a +1 to attack and damage rolls with this magic weapon.
·      The Harvester is a vicious weapon.
·      The Harvester is made with cold iron, silver, and magic.
·      The Harvester whispers warnings to its users of danger, giving him or her a +2 bonus to initiative.
·      The Harvester acts as a ring of protection +1 (+1 saves and armor class) while it is wielded.
·      The Harvester is unbreakable.

Sentience: The Harvester is a chaotic neutral weapon with an Intelligence of 10, a Wisdom of 12, and a Charisma of 10. The trident has hearing and normal vision out to 120 feet and communicates by transmitting emotions to the creature carrying or wielding it.

Personality: The Harvester is has a love of battle and danger. It is always ready to guide its owner into conflicts, and to seek out the most powerful foe it can. It is easily bored and generally pretty impatient. It tends to be suspicious of strangers.

The Robe of Shadows

The Robe, it is said, was woven by Hecate, and given as a gift to the merchant Estarius. The black robe is woven of spider silk and enchanted to be indestructible, always clean, able to adjust to whomever wears it. The robe disappeared years ago, and it has always been assumed it was stolen long ago.

·      The robe acts as a Cloak of Invisibility.
·      The robe acts as a Cloak of Protection.
·      Gleaming: the robe never gets dirty.
·      Unbreakable: the robe can’t be broken. Special means must be used to destroy it.\

Sentience: The Robe of Shadows is a chaotic neutral robe with an Intelligence of 12, a Wisdom of 12, and a Charisma of 8. The trident has hearing and darkvision out to 120 feet and communicates by speaking, reading, and understanding High Aquilan.

Personality: The robe is haughty and demanding. It sees itself as a tool of great wizards, and has a disdain for non-wizards. It tends to push its master to preserve him or herself at any cost, sees non-wizards as expendable, and wants to see it and its master properly adorned and presented. It is ambitious for its master and, by extension, for itself.

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