Magic Items

Ring of Dissent (Ring of Vainglory)
This ring is usually flashy, gold and diamond studded. All seeing it must roll a Will save (DC=22), or fall under its influence. Its presence causes an intense desire to own it; those failing the saving throw find themselves fighting over the ownership of the ring, or even killing for it. Once it is mastered, however, it can be a valuable ally. Anyone who has not mastered his or her desire for the ring may take possession of it, but that person acts as if under a suggestion spell by the rings true owner. In order to master the ring’s power, someone who succeeds the initial Will save must make another against the ring’s ego. The true owner of the ring can suppress the rings greed ability, but at a danger to themselves. For each round the ring is suppressed the owner accumulates a –1 on the DC to control the ring. The check is made once the suppression is released. The owner must maintain concentration to keep the ring’s ego suppressed. (This means they must make a concentration check to cast spells while suppressing.) Should the ring ever not be controlled, it exerts its will to be viewed by as many people as possible. The greed ability is a supernatural mind-influencing, enchantment ability. Int: 17 Wis: 12 Cha: 18 Ego: 20. (Statistical values available upon request.)

Ring of Thieves
This is a simple gold ring with a diamond stone. Carvings on the inner band read in common “Never Create Anything Thieves Desire.” though it doesn’t appear to be part of the original crafting. The diamond of this ring is sharp enough to be used as a razor ring, and carries the following powers:

• +2 to all Rouge class skills (except craft, and profession skills)
• +3 deflection bonus to AC
• The wearer is unable to be surprised while wearing (a weak, but noticeable pulse in the ring alerts the user, enabling him to act in the surprise round as a regular round)
• 1/day, invisibility, detect thoughts
• 1/2days blink, alter self
• constant: detect snares and pits and detect secret doors
• Int 17 Wis 14 Cha 20 Ego 24

The Ring of Thieves can communicate with its wearer both telepathically and verbally, but prefers telepathy. It can speak Common, Thieves Cant, and, Butan. When worn by any other than a rouge, the ring seeks to wrest control from it's wearer and find it's way into the hands of a rouge with as much power as it has. When worn by a rouge, the ring helps him to achieve wealth and power by the fastest means possible, and if the wearer disagrees as to how that should be done a battle of wills ensues.

The Eldritch Staff
This five and a half foot staff is made of polished cherry wood, ironshod on the bottom. The top has a bronze-worked dragonhead clutching a three-inch diameter crystal sphere within its jaws. The Eldritch Staff acts exactly as a Staff of the Magi, with one exception: it does not have any charges. Thus, this staff cannot perform a retributive strike (the staff can still be broken and rendered useless). In order to activate the powers of the staff, the wielder must focus spell energy into the staff, with the level of the spell focused into the staff equaling the number of charges used. In order for a wizard to use the staff, he simply sacrifices a spell of equal level. Additionally, any arcane spell cast from the users own repertoire while holding the staff gains the benefit of any one Metamagic Feat the user knows, without the increase in level for memorizing/casting it. Only arcane spell casters can use The Eldritch Staff. For example: Rune has a 2nd level spell memorized. She can focus that spell through The Eldritch Staff to get 2 charges with which to cast a lightning bolt from it. Note: All of the spell levels focused into the staff must be used in that round. The wielder cannot focus a 5th level spell into it, hoping to use 2 charges in this round and the other 3 in later rounds, any extra levels not channeled are lost. (Statistical values available upon request.)

The Blood Syphon
This staff is five and a half feet of gnarled, dark cherrywood with an intricately carved skull at its top. The blood syphon staff emits a mighty necromantic aura.

When an arcane spellcaster first holds the Blood Syphon staff, it bonds to him or her, instantly draining one point of permanent Constitution damage unless the spellcaster succeeds a Fortitude save DC 30. Regardless of if the save is successful, there after the staff is bonded to the spellcaster and only that spellcaster can gain the benefits of the staff. All arcane spells cast while holding the staff are cast at +1 caster level. In addition, the staff allows the wielder to voluntarily take nonleathal damage in order to power spells at a rate of 2 damage per spell level. Each time the mage powers a spell in this manner, there is a percent chance equal to the subdual damage that the drain will instead be -1 permanent Constitution damage. The mage may only power known spells using the Blood Syphon.

Amulet of Undead Mastery
The Amulet of Undead Mastery is a shrunken human skull hanging on a black and silver chain. When worn by an evil cleric any undead in the area are under the affects of a desecrate spell, and will stack with the affects of an alter given in the spell's description. Additionally, evil clerics gain a +4 on their rebuke/command, bolster, and dispelling turning checks. Good aligned characters touching the amulet suffer one negative level until it is dropped. (Statistical values available upon request.)

Cold Candle*
These candles were created by Drow mages to allow their warriors normal sight while on the surface. These dark blue candles give off cold instead of heat and radiate darkness instead of light. The darkness extends in a 5’ radius from the user. This light prevents the use of low-light vision, but not darkvision. (Statistical values available upon request.)

Egg Shell of Petrifacation
This decorative egg shell depicts a cockatrice mating battle upon its surface. The user may throw the egg shell up to 20', and it explodes in a cloud of grey gas forcing a Fortitude save (DC=16) to any living characters (up to Large size) within 5'. Failure indicates they were turned to stone. (Statistical values available upon request.)

Dryad Cloak
A dryad cloak appears to shimmer with all the colors of the rainbow, but when worn will adapt itself to its wearer's prefered color scheme. These cloaks are rare due to the required components for making them: dryad blood. As such these cloaks are often only found in the hands of the morally corrupt. Druids and other tree huggers seek to destroy these cloaks; any character with at least 5 ranks in both Knowledge [Arcana] and Knowledge [Nature] will recognize one of these cloaks on sight, as will any creature of the Fey subtype. The cloak grants the wearer a +2 enhancement bonus to charisma and +2 to all saving throws.

Moderate transmutation; Caster Level 6th, Craft Wondrous Item, eagle's splendor, silk soaked in dryad's blood. Price: 8,000 gp; weight 2lb.

Nails of the Shrew*
The Nails of the Shrew were created by the mad mage Caltavaro so he could steal back his dark book of necromancy from a rival. Caltavaro was destroyed in the attempt. These gloves have a furry look to them, and end in small sharp nails. They grant a +10 competence bonus to Open Locks checks, and allow the user to polymorph into a shrew. This ability works just like the spell polymorph (as though cast by a 9th level sorcerer), except that it only allows the user to change into a Shrew (a Fine creature). These gauntlets can only be worn by a creature of Small or Medium size. (Statistical values available upon request.) As a shrew, a character assumes the following changes:

• +8 Size modifier to AC and attack rolls
• +12 Size modifier to Hide checks
• +10 Size modifier to Move Silent checks

The Serpentine Crown
This artifact appears to be a crown in the form of six intertwined serpents, each one made of a different metal. Each of the snakes has a pair of precious gemstones for eyes. The crown’s powers are attuned to each serpent. The Crown can be fully disassembled into six individual snake charms, whose abilities can be used once a day.
Bronze: Water Lung: The wearer benefits from Water Breathing and Free Movement when underwater. This ability is usable a number of times per day equal to the number of pieces of the crown the character possesses, and lasts a number of rounds equal to the weaer's constitution score.
Brass: Skin of Scales: +4 Natural Armor bonus to AC
Copper: Serpent Strike: As a standard action the wearer may make an unarmed melee attack that does not provoke an attack of opportunity, if successful the target must make a Fortitude save (DC 14) or suffer 1d6 points of temporary Dexterity damage. This ability is usable a number of times per day equal to the number of pieces of the crown the character possesses.
Silver: Serpent’s Tongue; The wearer is constantly under the effects of the spell Speak with Animals and Dominate Animal but only pertaining to :eptiles. This ability is usable a number of times per day equal to the number of pieces of the crown the character possesses. The wearer also gains the ability to speak Draconic.
Gold: Serpent’s Speed: For 3 rounds the wearer can take an extra partial action. This ability is usable a number of times per day equal to the number of pieces of the crown the character possesses.
Platinum: Coiled Mind: +2 Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma.

Further there are abilities that are gained when the same person possesses certain combinations of charms:
Copper and Gold: Serpent’s Strength: The user gains a +2 to Strength and Constitution, and constrict creatures up to two sizes smaller than it, as per the constrict ability in the monstrous manual.
Brass and Bronze: Serpent’s Body: The user gains immunity to poisons of all kinds, and no longer suffers the affects of again, as per the monk abilities Diamond Body and Timeless Body.
Silver and Platinum: Serpent’s Soul: The user gains spell resistance equal to her level +10, as per the monk ability Diamond Soul.

Though unproven, there exists documents claiming powers for different combinations than those presented above. Once fully assembled the true power of this cursed artifact is release upon the wearer. The users skin is changed to that of scales only the faintest color of green. The scales are barely noticeable except around the eyes, hands, feet, and behind the ears. Once the item is donned, the character loses 4 points of Charisma, unless he makes a Fortitude Save (DC=20) in which case he loses 2. The Charisma loss is avoided in the case of creatures possessing the [Reptilian] descriptor. In either case the character speaks with a lisp now, accenting S’s. Continued use of the crown forces additional Fortitude saves, one each month, but the weaer can willingly fail these saving throws. The following chart sets the DC's and describes the changes the wearer undergoes upon failing the save. The changes completely supersede the wearer's original race, and are permanent. When a color of a charm is listed, the charm's abilities become permanent, even if the charm is removed. Once the final change is made, the user must be in contact with the crown for 1 hour a day, or begin to die. For every day that goes by after the first week without contact, the Lacerta loses one constitution point permanently.

This item was originally created by a cult of worshippers of the reptile god. The god blessed the crown and granted it a portion of his own power. The cult used the crown to obtain great power, building an empire of fear. They were eventually brought down by the Brotherhood of the Sun (an order of paladins), and the crown was to be destroyed. On their voyage back to their high temple, the boat they were travelling in was sunk by a mighty storm, but whether this storm was of natural or magical origin is still a matter for debate. The crown is suspected to be in the possession of a sahuagin high priestess, but what she is using it for (or whether she has undergone the transformation described above) is not presently known.

As the legend goes, the possessor of all the pieces of the crown can - through a forgotten ritual - re-awaken an exiled "dragon-like" diety or "The Fater of Dragons." The ritual is lost, but it is known to include a 'sacrifice of the sky and sea' performed by a faithful servant of the exiled god.

For the DM: Of course the faithful servant is killed, as the deity must have a vessel to reside in whilst the god rebuilds its material power, but you needn’t tell any crazy sorcerers who think they’re descended from dragons this. In truth, if the ritual is done, it is not the father of dragons that is reborn, but the Mother of Serpents (Some shmuck translated it wrong, probably mislead by the materials from which the crown is made).

Shadow Robe
The Shadow Robe is crafted from a small piece of the Demi-Plane of Shadow. The robe is not black per say, but is comprised of scintillating darkness. In daylight, the robe is a foggy gray, almost transparent to the eye. As darkness increases, the robe becomes more and more black, till finally in darkness, the robe can not be distinguished from the night. In broad daylight, the robe has a +3 deflection bonus to AC. The wearer is not affected by sunlight, but feels uncomfortable having it on in the open. When the robe is worn in shadows or darkness, the Robe has a +5 displacement AC bonus. The two AC bonuses are never in operation at the same time. The robe also adds +15 to Hide checks. While the robe is worn, the wearer is immune to negative levels and ability drain attacks, though not poisons. (Statistical values available upon request.)

Skeleton Seeds
The Skeleton Seeds are small 1-inch silver skull sculptures that will appraise for about 50 silver a piece. The sculptures are more than works of art, however. When thrown at the ground a small cloud of black smoke will erupt from the spot, and when it clears there will be a skeleton guard that is bound to the will of the person that activated the seed. The seeds are found in sets of anywhere from 1-20. Skeletons created with skeleton seeds do not count toward the total number of undead a person can control.