D&D 5E Suggestions needed. Minor Magic Medals, and What's in the box?

[Not a Hobbit]

Dear ENworlders:

In my neverending quest to rely on the collective creativity of this forum to write my campaign for me, I will pose a couple more situations where suggestions would be appreciated.

First: My princess would like to give each of the characters a medal for saving her life (they are heirlooms which all belonged to her dead father). I would like for each of these to have some minor beneficial boon. For example: +5 Temporary hit points which the wearer can grant each morning to either herself or to another ; or some sort of temporary immunity to the effects of exaustion. I will need five all together, so more suggestions would be welcomed.

Second: From his backstory, one of my characters (a paladin of Kelemvor) was given a small box by his master to give to the master's niece (a cleric of Amauntor). The paladin doesn't know what's in it, and quite frankly, neither do I. I'm trying to think of something which would be useful and important perhaps later in the story, but doesn't have to be something which the character would see and say "Oh cool, I want that for myself." I'm thinking something like the jewels of Arwen which she sews into Aragorn's banner. Then I could bring it back later for the paladin to use with some cool effect (destroying undead with blinding radiant light from the banner, or some such). I know where the niece is, and the party seem to be going in the opposite direction, so it may be a while before it becomes an issue. But obviously I would like to be prepared when it does eventually happen.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions, comments, criticisms, etc. I really appreciate it.

--Scott

 

[mellored]

Since they are from a princess..
Medal of Noble Taste: As an action, you can turn any meal into a high-class meal. You gain no additional nutritional benefits, but it tastes a lot better and is socially acceptable. If the food is poisoned, this effect will fail.
Medal of Cleanliness: Dirt, grime, blood, and monster guts quickly slide off you, your armor and blade always remain polished, and your breath remains fresh. You gain advantage on diplomacy checks against creatures who have a lower CR than 1/2 your level.
Medal of Charity: If you hand a beggar a copper coin (or similar situation) this medal will create another identical copy of that coin in your purse. This effect does not work if you use the coin to buy, bribe, get information, or otherwise receive a benefit for it other than simple graditude. This effect will not trigger for that beggar again until you take a long rest.
Medal of Announcement: A magical voice announces your arrival wherever you go, while a soft spotlight illuminates you in brigh light upto 5'. As long as you take no hostile action, creatures will not immediately be hostile towards you. Creatures immune to charm are immune to this effect. This also prevents you from surprising anyone, hiding, or making stealth checks.
Medal of Rapunzel: As an action, your hair grows up to 1 inch up to a maximum of 30'. In addition, you can command it to tie itself into any kind of shape, knot, or style. Your hair is as strong a silk rope, and when cut will unravel and blow away into the wind after 1 day. A few short strands can be kept in a hankerchief, locket, or other similar container.

 

[aco175]

I think the reward depends on your style of play. While I like having a metal that changes a meal or keeps my clothes clean, my group does a lot of fighting and something that aids this may be better for my group.

Metal of Insight: 1/day you can add +1 to last roll. You can maybe have it add to any roll within 30ft.

Metal of Valor: 1/day you double the HP gained from 2nd wind.

Metal of Fortitude: 1/day you gain advantage to a saving throw.

These are no very powerful, but came in handy. More so in games that do not use inspiration.

 

[Demetrios1453]

The proper answer to "What's in the box?" is always "Gwyneth Paltrow's head"...




(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_(1995_film) for those who might be too young to get the reference)

 

[jgsugden]

Medals: Pick the 5 'worst' cantrips. Each medal allows the owner to cast one of those cantrips.

Box: Flip expectations a bit: Make it a threat that he is sending to the niece to get her to turn something over to the master... revealing that the master is not as holy as the Paladin thought.

 

[Ancalagon]

Well... It might be a bit too powerful but, from one of my campaigns:

"The SEA STARS: copper amulets. Grant +1 to saving throws (must be attuned). Know where the others amulet wearers are".

The box's content: Do you want something that will really nag at your players? A *key*.

 

[Lancelot]

Regarding the box...

The player is given clear and unambiguous instructions that they must not open the box under any circumstances. If they've already received the box, then a breathless messenger arrives (or an animal messenger or a sending) that conveys the same message. I'm assuming they haven't opened it yet, because you're still working out what to put in it.

This sort of thing also drives PCs crazy, and provides a nice test of their paladinhood. Do they give in to curiosity, or do they obey orders? It also creates some interesting potential encounters...

1) Someone attempts to steal the box. If they succeed, the party tracks them back to an inn room where they find the thief's dismembered body... and the box lying unattended.

2) The box rattles and moves slightly at night.

3) Undead are drawn towards the holder of the box in combat, and may even attempt to claw the item away from the holder.

What happens if the PCs open the box...? My preference would be for them to release a minor fiend of some kind (e.g. lemure devil). Not something too threatening, but also something that is alien and cannot communicate with them (avoid "cute" fiends like spinagons or imps, because the party will want to talk with it). Heck, it could be a black pudding or an intellect devourer. This sets up additional questions or possibilities. Is the sender evil, and wanted to use the party to kill an innocent person? Or, more interestingly, was the intended recipient meant to "purify" the creature within? Perhaps the creature was a good paladin trapped in hideous form until redeemed by the intended recipient. By releasing (and possibly killing) it, the party may have caused a tragic loss - simply because they let their suspicions get in the way of their trust and loyalty.

 

[Leatherhead]

For the medals:
The mark of [insert kingdom name here]: Grants advantage on social checks when talking to members of that kingdom.

There are more interesting options you could make, such as mementos of various war campaigns or alliances, but that would require knowing the history of the man who owned the medals.

As for the Box: It's a Betrothal note. Either the niece is being married off to some bigwig, or the Paladin is being given to the niece. The possibilities and consequences are numerous.

 

[Herobizkit]

The box contains a Slice of Heaven.

... a perfectly preserved Sun-themed sweet delight - some kind of pie or fruit with magic baked right in the filling. The box is actually an Ice Box which keeps the pie fresh and can be used indefinitely.

... or maybe a whole pie carved in the shape of a sun. It's tradition for such foods to be exchanged between lovers. In many cases, you'll see the ladies in the market on Midsummer's Eve, waving their goodies around and yelling 'Notice me Sun Pie!'

 

[Not a Hobbit]

I think the reward depends on your style of play. While I like having a metal that changes a meal or keeps my clothes clean, my group does a lot of fighting and something that aids this may be better for my group.

Metal of Insight: 1/day you can add +1 to last roll. You can maybe have it add to any roll within 30ft.

Metal of Valor: 1/day you double the HP gained from 2nd wind.

Metal of Fortitude: 1/day you gain advantage to a saving throw.

These are no very powerful, but came in handy. More so in games that do not use inspiration.

These are the kind of things I was looking for. Thanks aco175

The box's content: Do you want something that will really nag at your players? A *key*.

But then I'd have to start a thread entitled "What does the key open", to which someone will inevitably reply "A box"

The box contains a Slice of Heaven.

... a perfectly preserved Sun-themed sweet delight - some kind of pie or fruit with magic baked right in the filling. The box is actually an Ice Box which keeps the pie fresh and can be used indefinitely.

... or maybe a whole pie carved in the shape of a sun. It's tradition for such foods to be exchanged between lovers. In many cases, you'll see the ladies in the market on Midsummer's Eve, waving their goodies around and yelling 'Notice me Sun Pie!'

Interestingly, the party's first quest was a DMguild thing where they had to find the two parts of an apple pie recipe for a guy who wanted to start a pie franchise, so this idea just might work.