Ring of Hope

Aura faint enchantment; CL 5th
Slot ring; Price 12,000 gp; Weight —

Description

This simple, unadorned band of polished gold bears but a single engraved word upon its outer surface: Hope. There are no gemstones, intricate carvings or ostentatious embellishments. Its beauty lies entirely in its simplicity, serving as a quiet reminder that even the smallest light may shine through the deepest darkness.

Five times per day, as an immediate action, the wearer may invoke the ring's magic to gain a +2 morale bonus on any one attack roll, saving throw, skill check or ability check. The wearer must choose to activate the ring before the result of the roll is known.

Once per day, if the wearer is confronted with a moment of genuine despair or seemingly insurmountable adversity, the ring activates of its own accord. Instead of the normal benefit, the triggering roll receives a +5 morale bonus, and the wearer gains a +1 enhancement bonus to Constitution and a +1 enhancement bonus to Wisdom for 5 rounds. This activation requires no action on the part of the wearer and functions even if the wearer is stunned, dazed or otherwise incapable of acting.

Whether a situation is sufficiently bleak to trigger this ability is determined by the DM. The ring cannot be intentionally activated for its greater power.

Construction

Requirements: Forge Ring, heroism, bear's endurance, owl's wisdom; Cost: 6,000 gp + 480 XP

Lore

Among the oldest magical traditions, there exists a curious belief that hope itself possesses substance. Not metaphorically, but literally - an unseen force capable of strengthening resolve, sharpening judgment and carrying weary souls farther than their bodies alone should permit. While most scholars dismiss such notions as poetic fancy, a handful of archmages have quietly disagreed, claiming that hope is among the oldest forms of magic in existence.

The first Ring of Hope is said to have been commissioned not by a monarch or a legendary hero, but by the survivors of a village destroyed by war. Having lost homes, families and nearly every worldly possession, they sought neither vengeance nor wealth. Instead, they asked a kindly wizard to create something that would remind future generations that despair is never permanent. The wizard accepted no payment beyond a simple promise: that each wearer would pass the ring to another before death, ensuring that hope itself would never become buried alongside its owner.

Over the centuries, numerous Rings of Hope have been crafted in imitation of that original design. Although their appearances vary little, no two possess precisely the same temperament. Some awaken in the face of overwhelming armies, others during quiet moments of grief known only to their bearers. Regardless of the circumstances, every authentic Ring of Hope seems to possess an uncanny understanding of the precise moment when its wearer most needs to believe that tomorrow still exists.

Kelwyn's Notes

It has long amused me that apprentices spend countless hours attempting to master fireballs while scarcely acknowledging the enchantments that keep a companion standing when every sensible instinct urges retreat. Destruction is spectacular, certainly, but perseverance is infinitely more useful. Entire kingdoms have survived because enough ordinary folk refused to surrender after disastrous days. That sort of resilience deserves far greater admiration than any explosion I have ever witnessed.

Many imagine hope to be an emotion - pleasant when present and unfortunate when absent. I have never found this to be true. Emotions arrive uninvited and depart just as carelessly. Hope, by contrast, is a decision. One chooses it repeatedly, often against all available evidence. That, I believe, is why it possesses such remarkable strength. It is forged not from certainty, but from determination.

I have encountered individuals who insisted that optimism and hope are identical twins. They are mistaken. Optimism declares that everything shall surely turn out well. Hope merely replies, "Perhaps not... but I shall continue nonetheless." It is a quieter companion, considerably more stubborn and vastly more dependable.

Should you ever find yourself wearing one of these humble rings, I encourage you not to regard its greatest enchantment as the surge of magical strength it occasionally grants. Rather, appreciate the reminder encircling your finger. Every glance toward that single engraved word is an opportunity to remember that even the darkest chapters are still chapters, not conclusions.

If this ring has any flaw, it is only that it cannot force its bearer to believe its message. Magic may strengthen the body, steady the mind and bolster the spirit for a precious few moments, yet the final choice always belongs to the wearer. Fortunately, I have found that people are far more resilient than they imagine. Sometimes all they require is the gentlest reminder that hope has not abandoned them... only waited patiently for them to notice it once again.