D&D General Would You Sacrifice This Item? Eye of Selune (Artifact)

[Zardnaar]

So I have placed am artifact in my games. PCs will hit lvl 9. It will disappear around lvl 11 (they don't know this). The campaign was intended to wrap up at 11 but we might do Deadfall and I don't want this item around long term. Its possible we might just rebuild the party at lvl 11 essentially retiring the old PCs as well for Deadfall.

Eye of Selune (requires attunement)​

The Eye functions as a +3 wand of the warmage.

Moonbeam(lvl 6) 1/day.

Moon Blade (lvl 3, as shadowblade radiant damage) 1/short rest

Selunes Grace (Aura of Vitality) 1/Day.

Guiding Bolt (at will)

The eye was last mentioned AFAIK in 3.5. Unresolved plothook left over from the Shade story line. Witha remnant of them floating around the PCs have the choice of who the endgame villians are. its sandbox. The PCs will also have the opportunity to sacrifice the eye in order to summon the last Netherese enclave left from the Gates of the Moon (Selunes domain). For context I have been using dead magic zones and the shade remnants have the Shadow Engine (Anauroch Empire of Shade). Basically its a shadow weave mythallar. The eye functions in a dead magic zone, if they summon an Enclave they can use it as a floating base for the final act and use their spells via its mythallar. Shadow mutants and creatures infused with the mess of Nethese magic often have the Greater Spell resistance off the Rakshasa (auto saves, attacks auto miss)

Potential End Game Villians (depending on choices made). Probably 2 each factions worst enemies. If they pick no factions to ally with I'll make something up perhaps a 2 or 3 way battle.

Shades (goals create a safe remnant centered on the vale of Neo Shade).
Phaerimm (goals destroy the shades/any Netherese)
Netherse Lich (Aumvor, Larloch), (goalsrestore Netheril, prevent restoration)
Ioulaum. Manifestation or ancient Netheril. (goals timeshift his enclave to the present)
Sarrukh (teraseer)Liches/remnants. (Goals prevent Netherise abuse of the timestream/lvl 10-12 spells)
Karsus (vestige/cult), ancient Netheril (goals save Netheril/ complete Karsus avatar picking different deity)

Timetravel cannot be ruled out but they haven't been to interested in following up on the time gate hooks. If they turn down the shade offer of a truce they're the BBEGs at the end with influence from some others. Level 10 involves Nether scroll 11 will be final battle. Final battle will involve a Netherese Enclave, crashed, summoned, timeshifted or the PCs time travel back. Where, when, who and how is up to them. They may not face epic NPCs directly or a down powered manifestation.

 

[aco175]

If I have an artifact and there is dead magic zones and more of them coming up, I would not want to get rid of the item, especially after just a couple levels.

As a player I would understand if the DM came and told me that it has become too powerful and blah, blah story reasons and I will make it up and such. If the plot was to only sacrifice this and no other means to defeat the big bad guy, I would not like though.

 

[Zardnaar]

If I have an artifact and there is dead magic zones and more of them coming up, I would not want to get rid of the item, especially after just a couple levels.

As a player I would understand if the DM came and told me that it has become too powerful and blah, blah story reasons and I will make it up and such. If the plot was to only sacrifice this and no other means to defeat the big bad guy, I would not like though.

Its not required to sacrifice it. Theres other ways to cast in dead magic byt they're limited. Eg mythallar shards and are consumed.

Or items not connected to the weave. Eg shadow weave items. They cause exhaustion levels though.

They wont know what the sacrifice will get them and it will change the final act.

 

[EzekielRaiden]

Its not required to sacrifice it. Theres other ways to cast in dead magic byt they're limited. Eg mythallar shards and are consumed.

Or items not connected to the weave. Eg shadow weave items. They cause exhaustion levels though.

They wont know what the sacrifice will get them and it will change the final act.

If they genuinely don't know what it will get them, why would they sacrifice it? "It might give you something suuuuper good! ...but you can't know until you do it."

Players are cautious creatures by nature. (Hello, I'm a cautious player.) Some people are exceptions, but they're just that...exceptions. If they have a choice between a bird in the hand and two in the bush, they'll choose the bird in hand nearly always.

 

[Zardnaar]

If they genuinely don't know what it will get them, why would they sacrifice it? "It might give you something suuuuper good! ...but you can't know until you do it."

Players are cautious creatures by nature. (Hello, I'm a cautious player.) Some people are exceptions, but they're just that...exceptions. If they have a choice between a bird in the hand and two in the bush, they'll choose the bird in hand nearly always.

Its a morality thing. One of thems a Selunite and roll plays him as mostly faithful so if they get told to take the eye here and do a ritual he'll probably do it. If not they get to keep the eye. If the campaign is extended Selune will make it disappear.

They have to navigate around dead magic zones. They each have a mythallar shard as a battery and various other ways to cast in it. Each with a drawback (limited use, causes exhaution).

I've used them 3 times so far (tied to story mostly 3.5 meta stuff) but they've been in one twice. Impeded visuals and wild magic zones more common.

 

[Zardnaar]

Well they recovered it. Ended up on the druid. Joke going in the paladin was going to use it as he has the most items at highest rarity.

Another item was recovered as well. Shars book of dark secrets. Naughty word items. Knowledge cleric perused it and dodnt go mad, have her soul drained and its treated as a tome of clear thought. Shes decided further exploration of the book is to risky. Her other items are 3 uncommens now 4.

 

[Coroc]

So I have placed am artifact in my games. PCs will hit lvl 9. It will disappear around lvl 11 (they don't know this). The campaign was intended to wrap up at 11 but we might do Deadfall and I don't want this item around long term. Its possible we might just rebuild the party at lvl 11 essentially retiring the old PCs as well for Deadfall.

Eye of Selune (requires attunement)​

The Eye functions as a +3 wand of the warmage.

Moonbeam(lvl 6) 1/day.

Moon Blade (lvl 3, as shadowblade radiant damage) 1/short rest

Selunes Grace (Aura of Vitality) 1/Day.

Guiding Bolt (at will)

The eye was last mentioned AFAIK in 3.5. Unresolved plothook left over from the Shade story line. Witha remnant of them floating around the PCs have the choice of who the endgame villians are. its sandbox. The PCs will also have the opportunity to sacrifice the eye in order to summon the last Netherese enclave left from the Gates of the Moon (Selunes domain). For context I have been using dead magic zones and the shade remnants have the Shadow Engine (Anauroch Empire of Shade). Basically its a shadow weave mythallar. The eye functions in a dead magic zone, if they summon an Enclave they can use it as a floating base for the final act and use their spells via its mythallar. Shadow mutants and creatures infused with the mess of Nethese magic often have the Greater Spell resistance off the Rakshasa (auto saves, attacks auto miss)

Potential End Game Villians (depending on choices made). Probably 2 each factions worst enemies. If they pick no factions to ally with I'll make something up perhaps a 2 or 3 way battle.

Shades (goals create a safe remnant centered on the vale of Neo Shade).
Phaerimm (goals destroy the shades/any Netherese)
Netherse Lich (Aumvor, Larloch), (goalsrestore Netheril, prevent restoration)
Ioulaum. Manifestation or ancient Netheril. (goals timeshift his enclave to the present)
Sarrukh (teraseer)Liches/remnants. (Goals prevent Netherise abuse of the timestream/lvl 10-12 spells)
Karsus (vestige/cult), ancient Netheril (goals save Netheril/ complete Karsus avatar picking different deity)

Timetravel cannot be ruled out but they haven't been to interested in following up on the time gate hooks. If they turn down the shade offer of a truce they're the BBEGs at the end with influence from some others. Level 10 involves Nether scroll 11 will be final battle. Final battle will involve a Netherese Enclave, crashed, summoned, timeshifted or the PCs time travel back. Where, when, who and how is up to them. They may not face epic NPCs directly or a down powered manifestation.

So they got a big vs. Undead McGuffin and should consider sacrificing it to get a flying enclave powered by a mythalar, to fight the endboss who is also an undead. Did i get that right? Sounds quite epic btw. kudos for the storyline.

Are they aware of the powers they will get for sacrificing the item?
What is the drawback of the deal? Is the enclave a limited time / oneshot item? Is summoning it in any way a bit evil or so, where does it come from? the past? Does it come empty or with its denizens and if so are they alive or undead?

Edited, since read your OP only and insta replied instead of reading your answers to the other threaders.

So, they do not know what they get and one of the guys is devoted priest of Selune? If roleplayed right, that is the showstopper. He should defend it with his life, no matter what the rest of the party decides to do with it. The only way to realistically convince him, should be that its for the greater good. You got a Pala also and summoning the enclave is kind of evil? No way he should go along with this.

Maybe the party got too little knowledge also, on what they would gain out of it.

 

[Zardnaar]

So they got a big vs. Undead McGuffin and should consider sacrificing it to get a flying enclave powered by a mythalar, to fight the endboss who is also an undead. Did i get that right? Sounds quite epic btw. kudos for the storyline.

Are they aware of the powers they will get for sacrificing the item?
What is the drawback of the deal? Is the enclave a limited time / oneshot item? Is summoning it in any way a bit evil or so, where does it come from? the past? Does it come empty or with its denizens and if so are they alive or undead?

Edited, since read your OP only and insta replied instead of reading your answers to the other threaders.

So, they do not know what they get and one of the guys is devoted priest of Selune? If roleplayed right, that is the showstopper. He should defend it with his life, no matter what the rest of the party decides to do with it. The only way to realistically convince him, should be that its for the greater good. You got a Pala also and summoning the enclave is kind of evil? No way he should go along with this.

Maybe the party got too little knowledge also, on what they would gain out of it.

Druid and Paladin are Selunites.

Druid can use the artifact in a dead magic zone.

If the summon the last enclave Selunarra is summoned they gain access to its mythallar. Being an artifact it can power magic within 1 mile.

Today's session though sone more reveals.

1. They recovered a shattered statue. Mending spell its Karsus. Spitting image of recurring NPC they've encountered since lvl 1. Shades are looking for them.

2. Surviving Shades may not be big on Shar.

3. Phaerimm have returned. They fought some in ruins of Synod.

4. The Terraseer summoned them via portal. They ignored some sidequests. They learnt the truth about Netherils founding and the Nether scrolls.

5. There's a missing mythallar. Presumably Shades have it. Something something shadow stom.

6. Someone's interested in bypassing Mystras ban.

Sidequests.

Karsus. Big reveal he may be alive. Jergal told them his soul was never judged.

Aumvor. Wants to reestablish Netheril. Offered one PC a quest to rescue her ancestors from stasis vault. Aumvor put the there she doesn't know that.

Larloch. Wants to bury any attempts to revive.

Terraseer. Wants to retrieve nether scrolls, forestall revival of vl 10+ spells.

Ioulaum. Wants a mythallar, messing with time stream.

Phaerimm. Potentially big bads. They're laying eggs in human and session ended inside an epic spell someones cast. Theyre entering the far realm to face something there.

Shades have also invited them for truce negotiations in Shade (dead magic zone they have shadow weave).

Sacrificing the artifact or not will effect the final battle. Deciding who the go with will piss off at least 1 other faction.

They dont know what happens. Tgey xan find out based on decisions made.

No decision is essentially let DM decide.

Basically two endings with 2 variants and DM decides. 5 possible endings t9 the campaign no right or wrong. Where and when those battles happen yet to be decided

 

[GMMichael]

The PCs will also have the opportunity to sacrifice the eye in order to summon the last Netherese enclave left from the Gates of the Moon (Selunes domain).

Trade a magic item for NPCs? But NPCs belong to the GM. Heck no!

 

[Maxperson]

So I have placed am artifact in my games. PCs will hit lvl 9. It will disappear around lvl 11 (they don't know this). The campaign was intended to wrap up at 11 but we might do Deadfall and I don't want this item around long term. Its possible we might just rebuild the party at lvl 11 essentially retiring the old PCs as well for Deadfall.

Eye of Selune (requires attunement)​

The Eye functions as a +3 wand of the warmage.

Moonbeam(lvl 6) 1/day.

Moon Blade (lvl 3, as shadowblade radiant damage) 1/short rest

Selunes Grace (Aura of Vitality) 1/Day.

Guiding Bolt (at will)

The eye was last mentioned AFAIK in 3.5. Unresolved plothook left over from the Shade story line. Witha remnant of them floating around the PCs have the choice of who the endgame villians are. its sandbox. The PCs will also have the opportunity to sacrifice the eye in order to summon the last Netherese enclave left from the Gates of the Moon (Selunes domain). For context I have been using dead magic zones and the shade remnants have the Shadow Engine (Anauroch Empire of Shade). Basically its a shadow weave mythallar. The eye functions in a dead magic zone, if they summon an Enclave they can use it as a floating base for the final act and use their spells via its mythallar. Shadow mutants and creatures infused with the mess of Nethese magic often have the Greater Spell resistance off the Rakshasa (auto saves, attacks auto miss)

Potential End Game Villians (depending on choices made). Probably 2 each factions worst enemies. If they pick no factions to ally with I'll make something up perhaps a 2 or 3 way battle.

Shades (goals create a safe remnant centered on the vale of Neo Shade).
Phaerimm (goals destroy the shades/any Netherese)
Netherse Lich (Aumvor, Larloch), (goalsrestore Netheril, prevent restoration)
Ioulaum. Manifestation or ancient Netheril. (goals timeshift his enclave to the present)
Sarrukh (teraseer)Liches/remnants. (Goals prevent Netherise abuse of the timestream/lvl 10-12 spells)
Karsus (vestige/cult), ancient Netheril (goals save Netheril/ complete Karsus avatar picking different deity)

Timetravel cannot be ruled out but they haven't been to interested in following up on the time gate hooks. If they turn down the shade offer of a truce they're the BBEGs at the end with influence from some others. Level 10 involves Nether scroll 11 will be final battle. Final battle will involve a Netherese Enclave, crashed, summoned, timeshifted or the PCs time travel back. Where, when, who and how is up to them. They may not face epic NPCs directly or a down powered manifestation.

Do they know what will happen if it is sacrificed?
Have they spoken with the enclave to be summoned?
Do they know if the enclave will be an ally?
Do they know how the enclave's mythallar will help them?
Are they hard pressed without the enclave?
Insert many other questions here.

There's no way we can really answer your question without a hell of a lot more knowledge of what is known and happening in your game.

My answer right now is yes, no, and maybe.