Collecting evil artifacts for fun and profit

[ShaggySpellsword]

Eldara's Ring

If this ring is worm for a full 24 hours it becomes attuned to the life-force of the wearer. Eldara's Ring can only be attuned to one wearer at a time, and remains attuned to whomever most recently attuned themself to it. Once attuned, if ever the wearer of this ring dies and is ressurected by any means, they lose one level (even for True Ressurection) and gain one level of Succubus/Incubus (See Savage Species). Every time a level of Succubus or Incubus is gained the wearer must make a Will save (DC 20+number of Succubus/Incubus levels) or change both aspects of their alignment one step toward Chaotic Evil. If ever they become Chaotic Evil then they lose all Racial Attributes and gain the base racial attributes of a Succubus/Incubus. If the wearer of Eldara's Ring has any levels of Succubus or Incubus and they gain a level, they must make a Will save (DC 20+number of Succubus/Incubus levels) or gain a level of Succubus/Incubus instead. If the wearer of Eldara's Ring is raised by a method that does not require the remains of the body, Eldara's Ring appears on the newly formed body. Whenever the wearer of Eldara's Ring gains a level of Succubus/Incubus whomever gained the most recent level of Succubus/Incubus that is not still attuned to the ring must make a fort save (DC 20+number of Succubus/Incubus levels that they have) or die and lose one Succubus/Incubus level(death effect.) If they succeed on their Fort save then they still are drained of one Incubus/Succubus level. Because of this, wearers of this ring are very protective of it and hunt down the current owner if ever they lose their ring. Eldara's Ring has a powerful masking spell placed upon it that obscures it's true nature. Like the Succubus Eldara who was sacrificed in the construction of this ring, it appears to be quite wholsome and wonderful, with no spell short of a Wish or Miracle to identify it's true evil nature. Any divination spell cast upon it reveals it to be a powerful ring that "Bolsters the spirit of those who are raised from death."

 

[grodog]

Jolly Giant---

You may also want to check Monte Cook's 3.0 adventure The Banewarrens, which shares some ideas with the concept you're batting around. Similalry, it's stocked with various vicious and evil artifacts.

Erik Mona and I also wrote up some Greyhawk artifacts in Dragon 294. Some of them weren't published in print, and Erik kindly allowed them to be posted to Canonfire! at http://www.canonfire.com/htmlnew/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=268 if you're curious.

 

[Jolly Giant]

Thanx, Grodog, I'll check it out!

 

[grodog]

De nada

 

[Jolly Giant]

Eh... bump.

 

[Li Shenron]

One of my favourite is "The Black Banner" from Mongoose's Encyclopaeda Arcane: Necromancy.

 

[qstor]

Check the Greyhawk supplement Ivid the Undying from the WOTC downloads area. There's a lot of good ideas for artifacts and evil area, which can be fleshed out using the BoVD. I like the Isle of Lost Souls, a lot. It begs for a high level adventure!

Mike

 

[Cerubus Dark]

Can't think of any names but I have a few nonconventianal suggestions (not directly related to combat)

a artifact that kills all non sentient plants in some large radius. It would wreak havoc on farmlands and forests, and cause massive starvation.

an artifact that could stop all the precipitation in an area, and cause a heat-wave. This would slowly kill everyone in the region, as they die from the heat if weak, and if strong from the lack of water when the drought gets really bad.

An artifact that corrupts all animals around it to harbor hatred of humanoids in their hearts. Would leave to many attacks on travelers, and towns, wreak havoc on industries that relay on woodlands and cause other such problems.

None of these will directly hinder a high level character, but they wreak havoc on the normal populance which keeps the heros busy and devastates a region.

Hehe, *swipe* here is a new toy, will work on more later as work permits.

Wailing Spear of Corruption: This unusual spear made of black metal is cold to the touch and decorated by small faces that apper to be crying. Anyone of Lawful alignment must make a will save (DC25) or drop the weapon and is over come by feelings of dispair and sorrow for 3 rounds. The Wailing Spear of Corruption can 3 times per day sing one of three songs:

Song of Muted Death: Treat this as Wail of the Banshee as cast by a 20th level caster, this song effects all living things within 45 feet of the caster.
Song of Dispair: This song forces everyone in a one mile radius to make a DC 35 will save or flee in terror.
Song of Corruption: This song causes crops within a 30 mile radius to wither and die. Plants that are sentient are not effected by the song.

 

[Hand of Evil]

Lich Stones - these round globes of black stone hold the life force of evil creatures, legends say they are the prision for crimes against the gods.

To bond: cause 1 HP of damage while in phyical contact with stone to bond. Bond with stone gives +3 to INT and CHR. Other powers?

The spirits of the creature that has bonded with someone will slowly take over that person's body, first while they sleep, then more and more based on actions taken. The stone gains 1 hour of control for every murder performed, when 24 hours have been reached every additional murder removes one (1) point of CON from host, when host reaches 0 CON he is dead and the body is taken over and changes into...

 

[Jolly Giant]

Keep up the good (evil?) work, everyone!

Here's another little nastie I just thought of:

Bloodletter: Huge +7 keen wounding scimitar.
This weapon originally belonged to an extremely powerful pitfiend, killed by the trio of legendary lillends known as The Coven of the Ash. The weapon reacts to blood in a unique way: Whenever blood is spilt on its blade, it becomes a bane weapon keyed to whatever type of creature the blood came from. A single drop of blood is enough to trigger the effect, but the blood must be completely fresh; coming directly from a wound. Any blood spilt on the blade disappears over the next 2d4 rounds, seemingly soaking into the weapon itself. The bane effect lasts only for as long as there is blood on the blade.

It is possible for Bloodletter to be a bane weapon against several creature types at the same time, if the wielder is quick enough and has enough enemies…

Creatures without blood, such as most constructs, oozes, plants and undead, does not trigger Bloodletter’s bane ability.