Director of Games
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RELICS OF WAR “ITEM CREATION” CONTEST
Relics of War is coming and now is your chance to unearth some of these forgotten treasures. Every week, from now until the set releases on November 23rd, we’ll post one magic item card from the set. To win all you have to do is design a magic item to go along with the card, using any currently published game system, and post it to the contest submission thread. Each week, we’ll pick the best one and the winner will receive one display box of Relics of War item cards. There will be 5 winners in all.
Entries will be judged based on originality, clarity, grammar, and adherence to the game system’s rules. Entries must be no longer than 500 words in length and must be posted before 12:00 pm PST on the day of the contest’s end. Relics of War is a set of 110 unique item cards for use with any fantasy roleplaying game.
WEEK 2
This week’s contest ends on 10/29/06.
Submit entries in this thread
To discuss the contest, see our messageboards.
Contest Rules
• Only one entry per person.
• Entries may be up to 500 words in length.
• Entries may conform to any current game system and should use the current format of that system. The name of the game system must be included in the entry.
• Entries are due at 12:00 pm PST on the final day of the contest period.
• The staff of Paizo Publishing, LLC, decides each week’s winner. All decisions are final.
• Contest winners will receive 1 display box containing 12 Relics of War booster packs.
• 1 winner will be announced each week, for a total of 5 winners at the contests end.
• All entries become the property of Paizo Publishing, LLC.
• Paizo employees and its affiliates are not eligible to win.
Ring of Unmaking (Dungeons and Dragons)
Lady Jasper arrived at the home of Obel Wendig, fully expecting this meeting to go poorly. She had no doubt that he would deny all accusations she made against him, and would simply send her on her way. But in case he tried anything, she thought, she had better bring her driver, Arturo, along. The man who parked the carriage and tied down the horses was handsome in a rough and unmannered way, but the way he kept staring at her, even after she took Arturo’s arm to be led inside left her unsettled.
As expected, the meeting was a bust and she left so angry she paid no mind to the hostler as he helped her into her carriage. It was only later, while lying bleeding in the mud, the shrieking of the wounded horses drowning out the sound of her own crying, that she would recall the ring he wore on the hand that he offered her. Normally, the sight of any kind of valuable on a servant would have her checking her own jewels, but she had been too flustered to bother. And now, as she cradled Arturo’s head in her lap, his lifeless eyes staring up at the darkening sky, she vowed never again to trust a man based on his nobility. And to never let a servant touch her again.
This bedraggled piece of jewelry is a boon to both those who revel in chaos and those who plot meticulously for the downfall of their enemies. It grants the wearer a +5 competence bonus on disable device checks and also allows the use of the shatter spell once per day, but only to break an object that the wearer touches.
Faint transmutation, evocation; CL 5th; Forge Ring, shatter, creater must have at least 5 ranks in disable device; Price 4500 gp.
Ring of Wrath
Initially appearing dull and tarnished, this ring becomes bright and attractive when worn.
First appearing among the elite troops of the last orcish horde, this ring is prized among melee combatants. With each charge, it grants a use of the rage spell, as if cast by a 6th-level sorcerer. While its use among fighters is obvious, it is in the hands of a barbarian that it becomes truly useful - a barbarian does not suffer fatigue when he ends a rage while wearing a ring of wrath.
The ring of wrath has 50 charges when first created. As the charges are used up, the inset gem slowly fades in color to a colorless gray, like blood emptying from a body.
Moderate enchantment; Forge Ring, rage; Price 23,000gp.
Unfulfilled Desire
A Call of Cthulhu Item
This strange ring was inadvertently created in 1497 by the famed Dominican priest and leader of Florence, Girolama Savonarola.
In truth, Savonarola’s crusade to purge items of vanity during the Bonfire of the Vanities was directed at the last remnants of the Medici’s foul worship of the Hastur. His servants went door to door, searching known Medici enclaves, in what could be considered one of the greatest seizures of Mythos related items - all thrown upon the fire at Piazza della Signoria.
What Savonarola did not know was that in his fervour to seize items of one dark god, he was serving another. Roberto di Pieri a fervent priest of the Carmelite order stood in the Studiolo of the Palazo Vecchio across the square, lost in frenzied words of ‘praise’. The crowd died down with the fire and di Pieri emerged from the Palazo, gingerly picking up the ring - one of the few things to survive the blaze intact.
In truth, di Pieri had placed the ring there the night before, at the behest of the tall, faceless man in a tattered robe whom di Pieri took to be a manifestation of Antonius of Florence (who ironically was canonised as the Protector of the Poor in 1523, partly for a similar divine appearance). What grand plan ‘Antonius’ had in mind was not revealed to di Pieri, who put on the ring and spent the rest of his short life selling woeful portraits of his mother.
The ring has the smooth likeness of a snake, with the words ‘senza sacrificio ci non può essere l'arte’ (literally, ‘without sacrifice there cannot be art’) engraved on the inside. When placed upon a finger, the tail of the snake (which is not apparent till in contact with skin) pierces the flesh of the wearer. This causes the slightest amount of discomfort, being no more than accidentally pulling out a hair on the knuckle.
The wearer finds that they are almost divinely inspired to paint, write, draw, compose – just about any artistic pursuit. However, the ring is in no way a blessing.
This fervour is so intense that it often drives the wearer to mania and self-neglect (causing a 1/1d3 SAN loss each week as their nights are filled with dreams of Lost Carcosa). The wearer also finds that whatever creation they set themselves to will never be completed. The muse simply leaves them.
However, it is never ‘the ring’s fault’.
Wearer’s who find themselves at 0 SAN are driven by a violent urge to destroy anything of aesthetic value – except the ring.
Unfulfilled Desire is currently a display piece in the window of New Elegance, a custom jewellery shop in Oak Brook, IL. The current owner, Tamsin Frewer, vehemently claims that she inherited it from her Aunt Gianna but in truth she stole it from poor Gianna’s coffin.
Flimble's Ring of the Rust Monster (Dungeons & Dragons v.3.5)
The gnomish illusionist, Flimble, was not only quite powerful, but also very mischievous, even for one of his race. Aside from the many complex illusionary tricks he played upon unsuspecting souls, his best practical joke was no illusion at all.
In his younger days, Flimble adventured in a group with a dwarven warrior by the name of Ragnal. Ragnal was easily the most condescending and humorless ally Flimble ever had the displeasure of knowing, which of course made him the target of many a practical joke.
During one particular adventure with the irascible dwarf, the party came upon a mated pair of rust monsters. Flimble took no part in slaying the beasts; he was too busy laughing at the comically frantic reaction of the heavily armed and armored dwarf to the metal-eating monsters.
Flimble now had an idea for a great practical joke, and, with some research, discovered that rust monsters were native to the outer plane of Acheron, and could therefore be summoned via a spell he already knew. And thus, he was able to create his most marvellous (some would say, most annoying) magic item ever....
This rusted iron ring, set with amber, allows the wearer to command the ring to summon a rust monster (as summon monster IV) as a 1 round action, once per day.
Moderate conjuration; CL 7th; Forge Ring, summon monster IV; Price 10,000 gp.
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Director of Games
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RULES UPDATE
Hey there everyone. Thanks for your entries so far. I wanted to make a small rules clarification, due to a recent question.
You cannot win the contest more than once. Although you can recieve the honorable mention, feel free to enter, but you will not be selected 1st more than once.
Thanks for your attention and good luck.
Jason Bulmahn
Item Card Lead Designer
The Lost Crown of Fyloria
Minor Artifact
Dungeons and Dragons v3.5
Deep in the sylvan glades of ancient forests,
Nestled between the mighty oaks that stand eternal,
Beneath a blood moon that boils with fear,
Rests the King of Ancient Fey upon his throne of fear…
An except from the Sylvan Songs of Shiaree
The courts of the fey people we once a merry place, full of jovial events designed to torment the larger races, festivals dedicated to drinking, feasting and dancing, as well as the weaving of magics that would construct things of great beauty.
The coming of a great beast of divine power lead to the downfall of the fey people’s King. The creature tore their courts apart, devouring their people and ignoring what little magic that the court could bring to bare on the beast.
King Shebynalear took it upon himself to delve deep into their forest home, into glades which no creature had stepped foot since the gods walked the lands and constructed their world around them. Within a glade where a blood moon shone, the King discovered an ancient construction which was built by no mortal creature.
The fey people celebrated the return of their King, for they feared for his life and they loved him dearly. But when they witnessed his wrath as he conjured terrible magics against the beast which had destroyed his home, they began to fear for his soul.
After the beast was dragged away he began to instigate measures to protect his people should another beast appear once more. Decisions were made in court without the lords and ladies approval, the King began to enforce strict rules on his people, ruling them with an iron fist as well as an array of magical abilities never before utilized by their people. For years the people watched their King introduce more rules and edicts, but none dare rebel for fear of his displeasure.
When the King declared that his people should form an army to strike out at neighbouring elven villages that his subjects saw his insanity and with the assistance of their elven neighbours they forged the Lost Crown of Fyloria.
Though it looks like a ring, the Lost Crown was designed to fit on King Shebynalear’s head perfectly. The crown re-sizes to fit the head of any creature of Tiny size or smaller, as well as fitting the fingers of Small to Large creatures. The Crown has duel functions, depending on how it is worn.
Worn as a crown, the item is cursed (removable only by a Remove Curse, Break Enchantment, Wish or Miracle spell cast at 18th level). The wearer is afflicted by the spells Feeblemind, Dimensional Anchor, and Antipathy (creature type identical to the wearer of the Crown) every round the crown is worn (DC 23, or DC 25 for creatures vulnerable to cold iron).
Worn as a ring, the item either enchants the wearer’s hand as a +1 cold iron fey bane natural weapon or treats the wearer’s held weapon as cold iron for the purposes of overcoming damage reduction.
Strong Enchantment; caster level: 18th.
Ring of Beinwe (Ring of the Lower Abyss) (D&D 3.5)
Minor Artifact, Unique
"Life to the Beast! Hail Baphomet!"
Eons ago, two of the most powerful amongst demon princes, Baphomet and Pazuzu, rivaled for the control of the mortal soul of Beinwe. Beinwe was an avariel that grew full of anger and bitterness against all mortal races, specially his kin, for reasons long lost in the mists of time. Soon he attracted the attention of the two demon princes, who wanted to corrupt once and for all his soul and make him a powerful tool of destruction on the Material Plane.
Beinwe was more than willing to sell his soul to one of them: because the ultimate end of Beinwe was power, no matter where it came from. Baphomet and Pazuzu promised him great presents and tempted Beinwe with power and treasures: but finally it was Baphomet the winner, and Beinwe sealed a dark pact with the Prince of Beasts. Baphomet made Beinwe one of his first Thralls, his unholy champions: for that was the power of the soul of Beinwe, capable of commanding even brutish creatures like minotaurs or giants, and make them call him Master.
Amongst the great rewards obtained from Baphomet, Beinwe’s most beloved was the Ring of the Lower Abyss. This was a simple black band of steel, infused with the dark powers of the Abyss.
Beinwe worn this ring through all his mortal life and after. He roamed the Material wreacking havoc wherever he was, killing mortals in the name of Baphomet and recruiting more an more beasts for his Demon Prince. When he died, his soul became a powerful demon in the Abyss, always in the service of Baphomet. Beinwe was permanently destroyed, though, on Acheron, fighting against a bunch of Baatezus in the Blood War. One of his lieutenants, one named B’reephil, retrieved the ring back to Baphomet. Since then, the Demon Prince hasn´t give it again to any of his servants.
The Ring of Beinwe confers a +7 deflection bonus to AC and a DR of 20/good. Also, three times a day, the ring can summon 1d6 Hamatulas as a free action. The ring only grants all its powers if worn by a Thrall of Baphomet. Otherwise, it confers a mere +2 deflection bonus to AC. If worn by a good user the ring forces a Will saving throw (DC 35): failure forces a change of alignment to Chaotic Evil (permanent until the ring is removed)
Strong Abjuration (if worn by a Thrall of Baphomet), CL 20th.
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I've cobbled together a quick entry, so here goes:
The Ring of Anbar Ferros
A magic item for Dungeons & Dragons 3.5
"As flies trapped in amber many a maid lost her virtue - and her life at the hand - of Anbar Ferros."
Anbar Ferros was a wizard of no small repute, though this owed more to his notorious appetites and personal habits than for his skill with staff, scroll or spell. Though he affected the air of aesthete and gourmand he was, in truth, nothing more than a glutton ruled by avarice and obsessed with satisfying the appetites of his bloated, corpulent flesh. He enjoyed both food and wine without measure, but it was the attentions of the fairer sex that he most coveted.
Though he was socially graceless and could charitably be called "homely" at best Ferros nonetheless was always to be found in the company of some of the most desirable women in the land. Though he was well-off he was never numbered among the truly wealthy - and despite his best efforts never able to brooch the silk-curtain of the aristocracy - yet he never wanted for the company of women. How he accomplished this was never known and it was said he took the secret to his grave.
Darker still were the rumors that circulated that many of the women seen with Ferros simply vanished when he tired of them. More than one investigation was conducted but all found Ferros to be utterly without fault, and indeed many of those who sought to seek the truth of the matter thereafter numbered among his staunchest allies and supporters.
The guess that Ferros took the secret to his grave turned out to be more literally true than anyone could have guessed, for it was in his tomb, on his desiccated finger, that an ambitious but ill-fated grave robber discovered the most singular ring that you now hold.
The dirt of years belies that subtle power that resides in this simple-looking item, which allows wearer to use the spells charm person or hold person on command.
Faint enchantment; CL 5th; Forge Ring, charm person, hold person; Price 29,700 gp.
Anthion's Signet
These rings provide their wearers with a number of pragmatic but limited magical abilities. Abilities that grant non-spell casters some of the luxuries of magical power without the need to study, and granting spell casters the ability to focus their study on spells of utility rather than tricks of comfort.
Description: Anthion's Signet is a heavy platinum seal ring deeply etched in a forgotten runic script vaguely reminiscent of serpentine dragons. It has one flat face (the seal) set with a vyngrim (a sky blue jade mined on the celestial planes) carved in the shape of a shield bearing the device of its wearer. When its powers are called on the device carved in the seal flashes with brilliant colored lightning.
Lore: Named for the wizard who crafted it, Anthion was a dedicated adventurer. Disciplined and dedicated he routinely chose to prepare spells that added to his utility on the road rather than those that improved his own convenience or comfort. However, after a particularly difficult campaign Anthion decided that he need not forgo all of the comforts of his art and forged the first of these rings for use as both signet and as a personal assistant.
Since the first of these rings was forged they have become enormously popular with nobles on the road (especially in battle). These rings allow them to keep their clothes in good repair, their bedding dry, their food properly seasoned, as well as enjoy many of the benefit of a valet when having one in attendance is not practical.
Activation: The special properties of Anthion's signet are always in effect.
Effect: This magical signet grants the wearer the ability to use the following spells at will, arcane mark, comprehend languages, dancing lights, detect magic, mage hand, mending, message, open/close, prestidigitation, and a special version of unseen servant that creates the equivalent of two (rather than one) of the invisible attendants outlined in the spell description.
Aura/Caster Level: Moderate transmutation and evocation. CL 15th.
Construction: Requires Forge Ring, arcane mark, comprehend languages, dancing lights, detect magic, mage hand, mending, message, open/close, prestidigitation, and unseen servant, 10,000 gp , 800 XP, 20 days.
Weight: --
Price: 20,000 gp.
Dungeons and Dragons 3.5
“Sometimes a rusty nail is just a rusty nail,” said the dwarf sniffing at the tiny puncture in Orjan’s foot. He dropped the appendage and a yellow puss splashed onto the table. Orjan winced but the dwarf ignored it pulling the heavy axe from his belt. “Other times, it is your death.” The dwarf dropped the axe before Orjan could even register that he’d raised it. The blade cut cleanly through the bone and muscle ending Orjan’s leg just below the knee. “Here, this will help to save the rest of it.” The dwarf slipped a yellow rock into his unconcious patient’s palm. Orjan’s eyes had rolled up into his head and he fell back against the table, unconscious.
Orjan was not the first to create the gems that bore his name, but he was free with the ones he did create as he roamed about the country side, healing the sick or the wounded. Orjan’s Amber--as it came to be known--always has some part of a blood sucking insect inside. When worn, the amber draws diseases, infection and other destructive mediums from the wearer’s blood granting a +4 luck bonus to resist disease, infection, and poison. After successfully preventing such an infection, Orjan’s Amber takes on a slightly red hue and loses this ability. Removing the jewelry for a week returns its original color and restores its ability.
Orjan was fond of placing the gems in jewelry that was tarnished as a reminder. “An ounce of prevention,” he would say tapping his cane against the wooden stick where his leg once was, “is worth a pound of cures.”
Moderate conjuration (healing); Caster Level 7th; Craft Wondrous Item; remove disease, neutralize poison; Price 7500 gp.
Ring of the Graven Snake (Dungeons and Dragons)
This ring is a cunning magical trap, forged by the conjurer Mezistralis and left amongst his many items of arcane power to ensnare those who would dare to steal from him.
Upon close examination, the iron band is engraved with a phrase in Common, partially obscured by the rust, which appears to reveal the ring’s powers and command word for activating them. The inscription is a ruse, however, and hidden within the words is a powerful variation of a sepia snake sigil known as a graven snake sigil. Anyone reading the inscription must make a DC 17 Reflex save or be struck by the graven snake which springs forth from the ring. A stricken creature becomes trapped within the amber stone of the ring for 1d4 + 15 days, or until it is released. The spell effect of this ring behaves in all other ways as that of a sepia snake sigil. A successful dispel magic, targeted upon the ring, will release the trapped occupant. The ring can bind within it only one creature at a time; if a second creature falls victim to the trap, the already-bound creature is released from the spell. There is a 10% chance that the ring has a creature bound within it when it is discovered. The ring has no effect when worn.
Strong conjuration; CL 15th; Forge Ring, sepia snake sigil; Price 6,000 gp.
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The Honeyed Ring (D&D 3.5)
The rusted iron and crude amber stone in this ring belie the mystic power it possesses. Crafted by a high shaman of the Tsugala tribe in the Many-Fingered Marsh, the honeyed ring exerts great influence over insects and arachnids. Such creatures will not antagonize the wearer except in the most dire circumstances (repel vermin, unlimited use, self only, 1 foot radius). Thrice per day, the ring will even summon a swarm of spiders (or insect vermin, at the DMs option) (summon swarm) to attack enemies. Lastly, the honeyed ring can cause a normal insect or arachnid to grow to huge proportions (giant vermin). This most feared ability is granted but once per day.
Moderate abjuration and transmutation, faint conjuration; CL 15; Forge Ring, summon swarm, giant vermin, repel vermin; Price 49,500 gp.
Ring of Thyris (DnD 3.5)
History: As the wizard Thyris began to age the subject of his mortality began to weigh on him. Having spent years as an adventurer Thyris had bested man and beast, staring down death and surviving to live another day. Now, however, it seemed his battle with time was coming to a clos. Still Thyris, known for his stubborn nature, began to plot on how to escape death's grip once more. Immersing himself into research Thyris found his solution, become a lich. For a phylactery Thyris chose an old ring, his first piece of treasure from his adventuring days. Having destroyed a lich in his youth, the wizard realized that the resting place of his life force was also his biggest weakness. In order to hide the rings true nature Thyris cast permanent nondetection. On top of this he imbued the ring with fire shield. At last Thyris had the final piece he needed in order to become a lich. He reveled in his immortality. Time passed and Thyris began to go out adventuring again, overconfident in his abilities. One day his luck ran out. Taking on what he assumed to be a mere elf, Thyris soon found himself face to face with a gold dragon. In a blaze of fire Thyris was no more... for a while. The dragon snatched some of the liches baubles to add to his horde, including Thyris's phylactery. When Thyris came back a week later in his study, he searched for his phylactery, but with one problem. The nondetection spell he imbued the ring with in order to hide its true nature also kept him from scrying it. Meanwhile the gold dragon, not realizing what he had and assuming it was only some minor magical item gave it to one of his hatchings to start off their horde. Thyris is still searching for the ring to this day.
Plot Hook: The party recently helps a young gold dragon out of a jam, he rewards the party with a very special trinket. He tells them it is a ring of fire shield and that it was given to him by his father. Meanwhile Thyris has been constantly searching for the ring and has employed a group of rogue's to scour the countryside for the ring. If a member of the party wears the ring one of the rogues sent by Thyris notices it and reports back to his employer. Thyris is now hot on the party's trail, hoping to reclaim his phylactery before anyone realizes what it is.
Description: When identified the caster can tell that the ring casts fire shield 3/day as if cast by a seventh level caster. The nondetection spell keeps most people from realizing that is also doubles as a phylactery.
Faint abjuration; CL 7; Craft Wondrous Item, Craft Ring, Fire Shield; Price 153,600 ( 120,000 phylactery + 33,600 fire shield 3/day)
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Dungeons and Dragons 3.5
Many different names, but usually Nystul's Revenge
It is told that there once was an unlikely pair of sorcerous adventurers that were ever trying to out do one another. One of wizards became convinced that his partner was withholding certain findings. Being particularly mischievous he crafted a rather unseemly ring and ensorceled it to fool the other. Unfortunately the trickery was too elaborate and the second mage traded all of his acquired treasures for this obviously powerful ring. Furthermore, the second chap became so sure that his ring held mighty arcane abilities that he bravely entered into dire circumstances and perished.
Detect Magic and similar divinations reveal a random aura of moderate intensity. Identify allows the caster to detect that the ring is in fact devoid of properties other than radiating a Nystul's Magic Aura if he succeeds on a Will save. However, even then the caster will be left with a nagging feeling that he missed something unless a pearl of twice the customary price is used as the component for the Identify casting. If he should fail on the Will save the caster will believe the ring to a random magic ring from the DMG, even if the aura does not match.
Moderate random (see above); CL 5; Forge Ring; Nystul's Magic Aura, Nondetection; Price 30,000 gp.