Artifacts again, to fill the loss, another 1-4 randomly selected spells vanish in the same way. Suggested Penalties (3; 10% chance of occurrence whenever either 100 point power is used; equal chances for each): 1. Aging: The user ages 1-6 years; no saving throw applies. 2. Disintegrate: The user must make a Saving Throw vs. Spells or suffer a variation of the normal spell effect, appearing to wither, age extremely rapidly, and crumble to dust. The body may be recovered by a wish, and the user then restored to normal form by applying a raise dead fully 3. Ability score penalty: The user loses 6- 11 (id6 + 5) points of Strength, to a minimum Strength of 3. Source: Norse mythology Further Research: See standard works, referring to the following names. Verthandi is one of the Norns of Norse legend, the immortal beings who rule the fates of men and gods alike. Verthandi rules the Present, Urdur (or Urdhr, or Urth) the Past, and Skuld (who wears a veil), the Future. Each of the Norns may provide ideas for other artifacts. Your Notes: WIFE OF ILMARINEN The legendary Immortal craftsman Ilmarinen once used his great skills to create a companion entirely of gold and silver. However, the result was too cold to even be approached. Appearing as a metallic golem, it was given special powers when freed, and is said to reside in far northern reaches, either alone or with its current master. Description: The wife appears to be a metal statue of an extremely attractive human female clad in robes. The entire statue is made of a sparkling mixture of gold and silver. Magnitude: Minor artifact. Power Limits: 2/A, 1/B, 2/C, 3/D Sphere: Matter (Fighters, earth) Suggested Powers (PP 100): A1 Ice breath 55 A1 Ice storm 45 Activation: The wife is always active. Use of Powers: The powers of the wife are used by the artifact alone, not granted to the user. The wife can speak any language it hears, and will explain its powers to any who ask (unless ordered not to). However, the artifact cannot be controlled until a special command word is uttered. Once this command is spoken, the wife will obey either mental or verbal commands from the user. The command word can only be obtained from Ilmarinen himself (by using a commune or contact other plane), from a previous user of the artifact, or by a wish. Suggested Handicap (1): When control is gained, the user becomes aware that the wife cannot recharge itself. It can eat gold or silver. For each 100 gp value of those metals eaten, the artifact recharges 1 PP. Suggested Penalty (1; 1 in 6 chance of occurrence whenever a power is used): Instead of attacking as directed, the wife aims her attack at the user; normal saving throws apply, but the user gains a + 4 bonus for the second and subsequent appearances of this effect. Other Details: AC -20; hp 100; AT 1 power; D by power; MV 90’ (30’); AL N. The wife will not attack by any means other than its powers. Source: Finnish mythology Further Research: See the Finnish national epic poem Kalevala, compiled by Elias Lonnrott in the late 19th century. Your Notes: Other Magic Items The following legendary magic items are mentioned in history, myths, legends, and literature. You may easily develop them into either artifacts or powerful but standard magic items. Further research is recommended. Ambrosia: This is a potion of Immortality, but with a short duration. Repeated drinks are needed to maintain Immortal status. Apples of Bragi: In Scandinavian legend, Bragi (son of Odin) had a magically inexhaustible supply of these items. Each can cure weariness, decay of power, ill temper, or failing health. Arrow of Abaris: Abaris the Hyperborean, a Greek sage in the 6th century BC, once received a magic arrow from the god Apollo (according to Greek legend). The arrow enabled him to become invisible, cure disease, fly (riding the arrow, as if a broom) and to divine the future. Bag of Aeolus: In Homer’s Odyssey, this bag (named for the god of winds) contains a divine essence. When opened, it blows Odysseus’ ship back to its starting point. Books, Sibylline: These were written prophecies, carefully preserved in ancient Rome and occasionally consulted on matters of great import. There were nine scrolls at first, offered for sale to Rome by the seeress Almathaea; the Romans refused her price. She kept to the price and burned 3, but again was turned down. She sold the remaining 3 at the original price. They were preserved in a stone chest, with two custodians (later increased to 10 and then 15). Finally placed in gilt cases at the base of the statue of Apollo on Palatine Hill, they were burned in the great fire of Nero’s fame. Carpet, Solomon’s Magic: This item, made of green silk, was legended to have carried not only Solomon and his great throne but also all of his army. Draupnir: In Scandinavian legend, the famed magic ring made by Odin (the supreme deity) for the dwarves. Every 9 nights it produced 8 non-magical rings equal in size and beauty to itself, and is thus a fertility symbol. Elixir: In Arabic legend, this powder was sprinkled on wounds of battle, curing them. Treat as a potion of healing, but applied instead of consumed. Holy Grail: This vessel of literary fame was the cup at the Last Supper, carried to England by Joseph of Arimathea. It was said to provide food, drink, and spiritual sustenance for the life of the custodian. This term may have originally been used in reference to the platter of the Paschal lamb (again, at the Last Supper). Horse, flying: Clavileno, an enchanted wooden rocking horse described in Cervantes’ “Don Quixote,” could fly and carry an armed rider. It was guided by a pin in its forehead. 63
Artifacts Mill: A magic mill in the Finnish “Kalevala,” called the Sampo, could grind out meal, salt, or gold from straw on command. Necklace of Harmonia: Harmonia, daughter of the Greek gods Ares and Aphrodite, was given a magical necklace when she married Cadmus. Though relatively unremarkable at the time, the necklace brought disaster to all subsequent owners. Odrovir: In Norse legend, a great war took place between the Aesir (the 24 gods of heaven, Asgard) and the Vanir (the Nature gods of Noatun). At its peaceful conclusion, both sides spat into a jar, providing their mixed essences as hostage to peace. Kvasir, the wisest of all men, was made of the spittle. His blood, mixed with honey, was called Odrovir (or Odhrevir); all who partook of it became poets. Ring of Amasis: Amasis, King of Egypt, advised his incredibly lucky friend Polycrates, King of Samos, to discard something of great value to balance the Fates. Polycrates threw a prized ring into the sea, but it was later found in a fish on the King’s dinner table. Amasis promptly recognized this sign from the gods and broke off relations with his friend; shortly thereafter, Polycrates was brutally slain. Ring of the Nibelungen: Made famous by Richard Wagner’s 1876 opera, this item comes from several Scandinavian legends (the Volsunga Saga, Nibelungenlied, Elder and Younger Eddas, and the Eckelied). The ring was part of an entire hoard in the Rhine river, which was guarded by the Rhine Maidens until Alberich gained it by foreswearing love. The greedy dwarf cursed the item, and when the Ring was later taken by gods and heroes for various uses, it brought doom to all, resulting even in the destruction of Asgard and the gods. Swords: Many magical swords can be found in myth and literature. The following list is only a sampling; further research is recommended to ascertain appropriate powers. Angurvadal (Stream of Anguish) was owned by the hero of “Frithiofs Saga,” a 13th century Scandinavian work. Ar’ondight, sword of Launcelot of the Lake, was mentioned in several Arthurian legends. Balisarda (a sword ofslicing) was made by the witch Falerina in the 1487 romance epic “Orlando Innamorato” (Roland in Love) by Matteo Maria Boiardo. Balmung was the sword of Siegfried in Scandinavian legend. It was made by Wieland, a Germanic name for the immortal blacksmith Volund, known as “Wayland Smith” to the English. (See the artifact Armet by Wayland.) Wieland may be similar to earlier legends, such as the Greek Hephaestus and the Roman Vulcan. Colada was the sword of the Spanish hero El Cid, first described in a poem of a unknown Castilian bard in 1140. “Cid” comes from the Arabic “Sidi,” or “Lord.” The hero was Ruy Diaz de Bivar (1043- 1099), also called “ed Campeador” (the Champion). Courtain (“the Short Sword”) was used by Ogier the Dane, a Paladin of Charlemagne (who, known as Holger Danske, is the folk hero of Denmark). The smith Munifican took 3 years to make Courtain. Durandan (or Durandal, Durandana, or “the Inflexible”) was the Sword of Roland, given him by Charlemagne. It once belonged to Hector, the noble chieftain of Homer’s “Iliad” prominent in the fall of Troy. Roland (also called Orlando) is the hero of several literary works, including the “Chanson de Roland” (Song of Roland) of the 11th century; the “Chronicle of Charlemagne” of the 12th century; and the later Italian works “Morgante Maggiore” by Luigi Pulci (1 483), Boiardo’s “Orlando Innamorato” (Roland in Love, 1487), and “Orlando Furioso” (Roland Mad, 1516) by Lodovico Ariosto. Excalibur(or Escalibor, in the Old French) was the fabled sword of King Arthur (according to most legends). It was also referred to as Caliburn (by Geoffrey of Monmouth) and Caledvwlch (in the Mabinogion), or Caladbolg in Irish legend (meaning “hard belly”). It gets its name from the Latin “ex calce liberare,” or “to liberate from the stone.” Flarnberge (or Floberge, meaning Flame Cutter) was a sword of Charlemagne. Glorius, sword of the hero Oliver, broke 9 swords made by the famed smiths Ansias, Galas, and Munifican. Gram (German for “grief’) was another famous sword of Siegfried. Joyeuse (French, “joyous”), a greatsword ofcharlemagne, took 3 years to make (by the smith Gallas). Mimung, sword of the hero Wittich, was loaned to Siegfried for a time. Morglay (Big Glaive) was the sword of Sir Bevis of English lore. “Morglay” was then a common generic term for “sword.” Nagelring (Nail-Ring) was the sword of Dietrich of Bern, a hero in the Germanic “Heldenbuch” and “Nibelungenlied.” Philippan was the sword of Mark Antony, a member of the Second Triumvirate of Rome (43 BC). (see “Courtain”), also made by Munifican. Sauvagine was another of Ogier’s swords 64
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Index for MASTER DM’S BOOK A Ability Scores .................................... 3 Anti-Magic ...................................... 2 Artifacts ............................... Adverse effects ........................ Characteristics of. table .................... 47 Creating ...................................... 46 Known ................................. 56 Powers of, table ................................ 47 C Characters ...................................... 3 Creating high-level PCs ......................... 3 Retirement ..................................... 5 D Dispel Magic .................................... 6 Dominion Income and XP ......................... 6 Dynast .......................................... 15 E Encounters ...................................... 7 Balance ....................................... 9 Epic Hero ....................................... 15 Extra damage option .............................. 11 G Goals. campaign ................................. 7 H Hit rolls ......................................... 11 Table ......................................... 12 I Immortals ....................................... 11 Four paths to immortality ....................... 15 PC immortality ................................ 13 Powers of Immortals ............................ 13 Reaction tables ................................ 14 Intelligence. creature .............................. 16 L Lieges. undead ................................... 22 Control table .................................. 23 M Monsters Changing existing monsters ...................... 7 New ................. 24 Other Planes ................................ 40 Prime Plane ................................. 24 Other sources from ............ 42 Reaction tab1 9 Mystics ...................................... 17, 32 PC Mystics .................................. 18 Spell casters 22 P Paragon ........................................ 15 Partial target option .............................. 11 Pawns. undead ................................... 22 Polymath ....................................... 15 Procedures ...................................... 2 R Reality Shifts .................................... 19 Records ......................................... 19 Adventure records .............................. 20 Character records .............................. 19 NPC records .................................. 20 Timekeeping .................................. 19 Retainers ....................................... 5 5 Saving Throws Ability score effects ............................. 3 Partial target option ............................ 11 Shaman ......................................... 22 Spell casters. non-human .......................... 22 Spheres of power ................................. 11 T Troops. ofPCs ................................... 5 U Undead Liegesand pawns .............................. 22 Control table ................................ 23 Spell casters ................................... 22 W Wicca .......................................... 22 x XP ........................................... 6, 10 102 1xxx1902