There has been some discussion about making Zosiel's circlet a legacy item (per the rules in Weapons of Legacy), partly to encourage PCs to retain it long enough to go through the sixth chapter with it. I've put together a list of abilities and costs, but I need some details for a good history and rituals.
Here's the abilities and costs:
5th — Comprehend languages (always on)
6th — nil (cost: 2 hp, 1st-level spell slot)
7th — Persuasion (as the item) (cost: 2 hp)
8th — nil (cost: –1 attack penalty, 2nd-level spell slot)
9th — nil (cost: 2 hp)
10th — Levitate (always on) (cost: 3rd-level spell slot)
11th — Protection from arrows (always on)
12th — nil (cost: 4th-level spell slot)
13th — Wisdom +4 (cost: 2 hp)
14th — nil (cost: 5th-level spell slot)
15th — nil (cost: 2 hp)
16th — True seeing 1/day (cost: 6th-level spell slot)
17th — Wisdom +6
18th — nil (cost: 7th-level spell slot)
19th — Summon greater air elemental 1/day (cost: 2 hp)
20th — Wall of force 2/day (cost: 8th-level spell slot)
End costs: –1 attack penalty, 12 hp, 1 slot of each level from 1st to 8th.
Ironically enough, I did just that in my own campaign. Note that I changed the name from Zosiel to Zathos in my campaign, inasmuch as I was trying to tie the AoW in with other events that had happened previously. BTW, very little of this (except the story itself) are original. I borrowed heavily from other sources. Also, the description below was not written with later AoW events in mind, since I didn't yet have the final issues of Dungeon. Here's what I came up with:
Circlet of Zathos
The Circlet of Zathos is a silvery band imprinted on the brow with the glyph of Zathos, its original wearer. The circlet is actually made of a strange extraplanar material, though it would take a skilled whitesmith to notice it is anything more than common silver.
Non-legacy Game Statistics: Periapt of Wisdom +2 in circlet form; Cost 4,000 gp; Weight --.
Omen: The Circlet of Zathos dislikes an inactive life. If the Circlet is kept indoors for more than a few days, it begins to move when no one is watching. The circlet cannot go through doors or walls, but if an opening is provided, the Circlet will move outside if possible, preferring to feel the wind on its surface.
History
The ancient Empire of Aaqa spanned more than worlds – at its height it encompassed entire planes. Sages have often pondered how such a vast domain could be held together, even by the powerful and disciplined Vaati. One of the keys to the Empire’s success, little noticed by most scholars, was the Imperial Messenger Service. Highly trained and resourceful imperial messengers crossed planets and planes daily, carrying missives that decided the fate of worlds.
The messengers themselves were renowned for their speed and reliability. The many dangers of planewalking required that each of them was a skilled diplomat, a mighty combatant, and a wise traveler. One such messenger was the Vaati Zathos, herald of General Icosiol during the Chaos War. Zathos carried this particular circlet, the symbol of his inviolability as a member of the Imperial Messenger Service. (DC 15)
Little is known of Zathos’s early days in the I.M.S. He was born to a minor house, entering the Service’s training academy as a means of fulfilling his duty to the Empire of Aaqa. When his training was completed he was stationed at a minor outpost in one of the empire’s farthest provinces. He served there with distinction for several years, faithfully carrying epistles of the empire’s will to various local nobles and imperial officials.
Those familiar with the lawful nature of the Vaati are often surprised to learn that they were quite adept at the finer art forms. Their disciplined philosophy did not interfere with their enjoyment of life and its many beauties. Zathos himself was a poet. His many long journeys allowed him ample time to write, and his few surviving works display a surprising degree of passion for the wonders he saw in his travels. (DC 18; Freedom of the Road)
Zathos fulfilled his duty to the I.M.S. faithfully for over two decades, eventually being promoted to one of the Empire’s more significant outposts on the Astral Plane. Just prior to the advent of the Chaos War he met his nemesis, a balor named Kizarvidexus. Unknown to Zathos at the time, the demon had been dispatched by the Queen of Chaos to disrupt imperial operations on the Astral Plane and, if possible, to intercept messages involving imperial military strength. Zathos and Kizarvidexus crossed paths numerous times, both directly and indirectly, with Zathos coming out on top each time. Kizarvidexus eventually developed a great hatred for Zathos, though Zathos never viewed him as more than an obstacle to be overcome in the pursuit of his duty. (DC 25; Sympathy for the Demon)
Zathos was eventually promoted to a position as personal herald to the great General Icosiol, leader of the Vaati armies. His was the duty of delivering the empire’s official challenge to the Queen of Chaos on the volcanic plain of Pesh. As the armies of Law and Chaos assembled for their greatest battle, Zathos dutifully strode toward the enemy ranks to deliver his final message. With thousands of demons looking on in bloodlust, he read the imperial proclamation to the enemy general Miska, consort to the Queen of Chaos herself. Miska, predictably, demonstrated his contempt for the forces of Law by attempting to destroy Zathos on the spot. Fortunately, the instincts Zathos had developed in years of serving the I.M.S. were still sharp and, sensing the Wolf Spider’s impending attack, he leapt clear and was able to return to Icosiol’s side, the demonic hordes hard on his heels. (DC 31, Courage in the Face of the Enemy)
Legacy Rituals
Three rituals are required to unlock all the abilities of the Circlet of Zathos.
Freedom of the Road: You must spend an entire week traveling, spending no more time indoors than is required to eat a meal or reequip yourself. Temporary shelters such as tents and caves are considered “indoors” for purposes of this ritual. Cost: 1,700 gp. Feat Granted: Least Legacy (Circlet of Zathos).
Sympathy for the Demon: You are required to face an intelligent opponent of at least your CR or greater and outwit him in a game of chance or similar contest. You cannot attack your opponent unless your opponent attacks first. If your opponent attacks you before the contest is complete, the ritual is considered a success if you defeat your foe in combat. Cost: 12,000 gp. Feat Granted: Lesser Legacy (Circlet of Zathos).
Courage in the Face of the Enemy: You must speak face-to-face to the leader a hostile force composed of multiple enemies. The conversation must last at least three consecutive rounds, and cannot occur during rounds when other actions – including combat actions - are being taken by you or the hostile leader. The enemy force must have an EL at least three times your own level, must be within hearing of the conversation, and you must escape the confrontation without attacking or dying. Cost: 40,000 gp. Feat Granted: Greater Legacy (Circlet of Zathos).
Wielder Requirements
Clerics, rogues, or wizards are the most likely wearers of the Circlet of Zathos, but any character that frequently takes lengthy journeys might find it a useful tool.
Knowledge (nobility and royalty) 4 ranks
Knowledge (geography) 4 ranks
Knowledge (the planes) 4 ranks
Survival 4 rank
Legacy Item Abilities
Experienced Traveler (Su): The Circlet of Zathos provides an enhancement bonus of 5 feet to your normal movement speed.
Wind in Your Face (Su): While you are wearing the Circlet of Zathos, light gusts of wind constantly stream from you, billowing your cloak or hair. At will on command, you can focus the wind to blow away or knock down smaller creatures, as the gust of wind spell. The save DC is 13, or 12 + your Charisma modifier, whichever is higher. Caster level 11th.
Wary Traveler (Su): While you are wearing the Circlet, you are never caught flat-footed.
Swift Traveler (Su): The Circlet speeds up your perception of time. While you are wearing the Circlet, you can activate haste for 1 round as a swift action, as though wearing boots of speed. You can use this ability up to five times per day. Caster level 15th.
Canny Traveler (Su): Once per day you can gain a +20 insight bonus on a single roll, as the moment of prescience spell. You must declare that you are activating the effect before you make the roll. Caster level 17th.
Emperor’s Authority (Sp): Once per day, when you issue the command word and touch the Circlet, you can force a creature to return to its native plane as the dismissal spell. The base save DC is 16, or 14 + your Charisma modifier, whichever is higher. Add your character level to this number and subtract the target creature’s HD to determine the final save DC. Caster level 17th.
Hardened Traveler (Sp): Once per day, when you issue the command word and touch the Circlet, you gain the benefit of the iron body spell. Caster level 17th.
Personal Costs _
Char Attack Skill Check hp Skill Point
Level Penalty Penalty Loss Loss Ability
5th -- -- -- -- Experienced Traveler
6th -- -- 2 4 +1 deflection bonus to AC
7th -1 -- -- -- Circlet of Wisdom +4
8th -- -1 -- -- --
9th -- -- -- 2 +2 deflection bonus to AC
10th -- -- 2 -- --
11th -- -- -- -- Wind in Your Face
12th -- -- -- 2 Wary Traveler
13th -2 -- -- -- Swift Traveler
14th -- -- 2 -- +3 deflection bonus to AC
15th -- -- -- 2 Circlet of Wisdom +6
16th -- -2 -- -- Canny Traveler
17th -- -- -- -- --
18th -- -- 2 2 Emperor’s Authority
19th -- -3 -- 2 --
20th -- -- -- 2 Hardened Traveler
Very nicely done. It's not quite what I was looking for, what with the variant history and theme, but it still gives me some ideas. Has anyone else beaten me to the punch?