Necklace of the Sixfold Arsenal

Aura moderate transmutation; CL 9th
Slot neck; Price 23,000 gp; Weight 1 lb.

DESCRIPTION

This elaborate silver necklace bears six small weapon-shaped charms, each crafted from a different metal and suspended from its own miniature chain. Though each charm is only approximately one inch in length, close inspection reveals remarkable detail in its construction.

Each charm may be removed from the necklace as a standard action. When removed, the wielder may speak the necklace's command word, causing the charm to instantly transform into a full-sized +1 weapon of the type represented by the charm. The weapon appears in the wielder's hand or in an adjacent square if the wielder has no free hand.

Each charm may be activated once per day. The six charms function independently, allowing each to be transformed once during the same day.

A transformed weapon remains full-sized until the necklace's command word is spoken while the wielder is holding or touching the weapon. The weapon then instantly shrinks back into its corresponding charm and magically returns to its place upon the necklace. Returning a weapon to charm form does not require an action.

A charm that has been transformed cannot be activated again until the following day. If a transformed weapon is separated from its owner, it remains a full-sized weapon until the command word is spoken or until the next dawn, at which point it automatically returns to charm form and reattaches itself to the necklace.

The six charms and their corresponding weapons are as follows:

• The Silver Blade - +1 longsword

• The Iron Fang - +1 dagger

• The Bronze Head - +1 warhammer

• The Blackwood Spear - +1 shortspear

• The Copper Talon - +1 handaxe

• The Golden Wing - +1 shortbow

The Necklace of the Sixfold Arsenal is considered one magic item, regardless of how many of its charms have been transformed. The weapons produced by the necklace are magical extensions of the necklace itself and cannot be permanently separated from it.

If a transformed weapon is destroyed, the corresponding charm remains intact. At the following dawn, the charm restores the weapon and returns to its place upon the necklace.

LORE

The origins of the Necklace of the Sixfold Arsenal are disputed, although nearly every surviving account attributes its creation to a wandering weaponsmith who was said to have carried an entire armory without ever carrying more than a silver chain around his neck.

According to one tale, the weaponsmith traveled with six companions, each an expert in a different style of combat. When the group was ambushed by an army many times their number, the weaponsmith supposedly forged six miniature representations of their weapons and bound each to a single necklace. His companions could then summon their preferred weapons whenever battle demanded it.

Whether the story is true is impossible to determine. What is certain is that necklaces of this construction occasionally appear in the hands of adventurers, mercenaries and collectors. Some possess six weapons, while others have been found with five or seven charms. The precise configuration appears to depend upon the creator.

Collectors particularly prize examples containing unusual weapons, as the magic appears capable of accommodating nearly any mundane weapon.

CONSTRUCTION

Requirements: Craft Wondrous Item, shrink item, greater magic weapon; creator must be proficient with all weapons represented by the charms; Cost: 11,500 gp

KELWYN'S NOTES

There is a particular elegance to an item that refuses to burden its owner with the tiresome inconvenience of carrying weapons. A necklace is considerably easier to wear than an armory is to carry, and considerably less conspicuous than six weapons strapped across one's back.

The real virtue of the Arsenal lies in its flexibility. The wearer need not decide what weapon he shall carry before leaving home. He need only decide what sort of trouble he expects to encounter, which is generally the same thing as deciding what sort of trouble he is likely to cause.

There is also something deeply satisfying about watching a tiny decorative charm become a full-sized weapon. I have seen seasoned adventurers examine such an object with complete skepticism, only to have their skepticism replaced by an expression of considerable interest when the necklace produces a perfectly serviceable magical blade.

One should, however, exercise some restraint. The fact that the necklace contains six weapons does not mean that one must draw all six merely because the opportunity presents itself. I have known adventurers who regard possessing multiple weapons as an invitation to use multiple weapons simultaneously. Their opponents were not the only ones confused by the resulting spectacle.

Finally, I recommend keeping the command word simple. The sort of fool who devises an elaborate phrase such as “By the authority vested within this sacred implement, I command thee to assume thy true and terrible form” is compensating for something. “Arm” is sufficient. It is also considerably less embarrassing when one is being attacked.

Cube of Concordance

Aura moderate divination; CL 9th
Slot —; Price 20,000 gp; Weight 1 lb.

DESCRIPTION

This flawless cube of cobalt-blue glass measures 2 inches on each side. Each of its six faces bears a single magical rune. A creature may spend 10 minutes concentrating while holding the cube to attune itself to one unclaimed rune. Once attuned, that rune permanently represents that creature until the attunement is willingly relinquished by both the creature and the cube through another 10-minute ritual.

A cube may have no more than six attuned creatures, with one creature assigned to each rune. No creature may be attuned to more than one rune on the same cube.

As a standard action, an attuned creature may trace its own rune with a finger, mentally choosing one of the other attuned runes. If the chosen creature is on the same plane of existence, both creatures immediately hear one another's voices as though standing side by side. This communication functions regardless of physical distance, including through solid stone, underground, underwater, or within sealed chambers.

The connection lasts for up to 1 minute or until either participant ends it as a free action. No other attuned creatures hear the conversation.

Each attuned creature may activate the cube in this manner once per day.

LORE

The Cube of Concordance is prized by military officers, merchant consortiums, and small adventuring companies that require dependable long-distance communication. Its remarkable reliability has made it a favorite among organizations whose members routinely become separated by great distances.

Although the magic easily penetrates mountains, fortifications, and even the depths beneath the earth, it is fundamentally planar in nature. The enchantment simply fails if either participant is on a different plane of existence. Scholars speculate that the cube creates a temporary sympathetic resonance between its attuned runes rather than transmitting sound through conventional magical means.

Master enchanters often craft these cubes in small batches, assigning one to each expedition, fortress, or command structure. Because each cube permanently accommodates only six individuals unless attunements are willingly relinquished, they tend to foster close-knit groups rather than large organizations.

CONSTRUCTION

Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, sending; Cost 10,000 gp, 800 XP, 20 days.

KELWYN'S NOTES

One quickly discovers that silence is often more dangerous than dragons. Entire kingdoms have fallen because the right words arrived an hour too late. This humble blue cube cannot prevent tragedy, but it can certainly improve the odds.

The limitation of six individuals is, I suspect, quite intentional. Larger circles become increasingly difficult for the enchantment to maintain without introducing confusion or unintended listeners. A wizard who attempts to outsmart such elegant magical mathematics generally succeeds only in creating expensive blue gravel.

The one-minute duration likewise strikes a delightful balance. One learns to think before speaking, state one's purpose clearly, and reserve idle chatter for taverns rather than enchantments. I daresay the world would benefit if more conversations possessed such discipline.

Do remember that the cube recognizes people rather than places. A companion may wander from castle to cavern to ship's hold without disrupting the connection, provided they remain upon the same plane of existence. Distance is an inconvenience reserved for ordinary folk.

Should you ever encounter an empty Cube of Concordance, treat it with care. Few magical items begin their existence with six lifelong friendships waiting patiently to be inscribed upon their polished blue faces. There is something rather poetic about being the first name a piece of magic ever learns.

Boots of Aggressive Skipping

Aura moderate transmutation; CL 9th
Slot feet; Price 28,000 gp; Weight 1 lb.

DESCRIPTION

Fashioned from supple leather in vibrant colors, these boots are perpetually polished and somehow always appear brand new. The instant their wearer attempts to move, the boots compel an energetic skipping gait. Walking is impossible. Running simply becomes faster skipping. Even a cautious 5-foot step is performed with an enthusiastic hop.

While worn, the boots grant a +20-foot enhancement bonus to all movement speeds. The wearer is continuously affected as though under the effects of freedom of movement and ignores all nonmagical difficult terrain.

The utter absurdity of someone aggressively skipping into mortal combat causes many opponents to underestimate the threat before them. During the first round of combat, any enemy with an Intelligence score of 3 or higher that has line of sight to the wearer must succeed on a DC 17 Will save or suffer a –2 morale penalty on attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks until the beginning of that creature's next turn. This is a mind-affecting fear effect.

A creature immediately becomes immune to this effect for 24 hours after witnessing the wearer successfully strike an opponent, cast a harmful spell, or otherwise demonstrate genuine combat ability.

The wearer cannot voluntarily suppress the boots' enchantment. Any movement made while wearing them is accomplished by skipping.

LORE

No one agrees who first crafted the Boots of Aggressive Skipping. Some insist they were commissioned as an elaborate practical joke intended to humiliate an arrogant duelist. Others believe they were the life's work of an eccentric enchanter determined to prove that confidence could be every bit as frightening as menace. Whatever their true origin, every verified owner eventually abandoned attempts to resist the enchantment and instead learned to embrace it.

Accounts of the boots have appeared throughout history in places separated by centuries and kingdoms. Veterans tell of a champion who skipped laughing through volleys of arrows before routing an entire mercenary company. Highwaymen whisper of a brightly skipping traveler who crossed marshes, rubble, and tangled forests without ever breaking stride, leaving bewildered pursuers hopelessly behind. Those who survive such encounters seldom remember the battle itself as clearly as they remember the impossible sight of someone joyfully skipping toward certain danger without the slightest hesitation.

Collectors of magical curiosities often dismiss the boots as a novelty after witnessing their peculiar gait. Experienced adventurers know better. The laughter always comes first. The realization that the skipping fool is also the deadliest person on the battlefield almost always comes too late.

CONSTRUCTION

Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, freedom of movement, longstrider; Cost 14,000 gp + 1,120 XP.

KELWYN'S NOTES

There exists among civilized folk an almost sacred reverence for appearances. We adorn authority in solemn robes, clothe courage in polished steel, and drape wisdom beneath expressions of studied gravity. We have persuaded ourselves that danger, if it possesses even the smallest measure of courtesy, shall surely announce its arrival with sufficient dignity to satisfy our expectations. It is a charming belief, though history has displayed remarkably little interest in preserving those who cling to it.

The enchantment woven into these boots performs no deception in the traditional sense. It conceals neither form nor intention. The wearer advances in plain sight, making no effort to disguise either presence or purpose. The illusion is instead completed within the mind of every observer, each willingly surrendering reason in exchange for ridicule. Few enchantments accomplish so much while altering so very little.

It has long fascinated me that laughter and fear occupy neighboring chambers within the mortal heart. The passage between them is astonishingly brief. One moment a company finds amusement in the spectacle before them. The next, they discover that the object of their contempt has crossed the battlefield with impossible swiftness, untouched by snare or obstacle, while their own certainty lies broken upon the ground beside them. By then, amusement has become a memory of questionable value.

One may search every grimoire ever penned and find countless spells devoted to obscuring the truth. Far fewer concern themselves with allowing the truth to remain plainly visible while persuading witnesses to dismiss it. I have often suspected that the latter requires the greater understanding of both magic and human nature, for there are few forces in this world more dependable than a mind determined to believe exactly what it wishes to see.

Should these curious boots possess any lasting lesson, it is not that absurdity can become dangerous. That much has always been self-evident to any careful student of the arcane. Rather, it is that contempt has forever been among the most accomplished accomplices of death, requiring neither spell nor blade to prepare the way for both.

Bucket Helm of Heroism

Aura Moderate divination and transmutation; CL 10th
Slot Head; Price 24,000 gp; Weight 3 lb.

DESCRIPTION

At first glance, the Bucket Helm of Heroism appears to be nothing more than an ordinary wooden bucket turned upside down. It bears no decoration, maker's mark or outward indication of enchantment. Despite its humble appearance, the bucket fits comfortably upon the head of any Medium humanoid, completely obscuring the wearer's face while allowing normal breathing and speech. To all appearances, the wearer has chosen farm equipment over proper armor.

The Bucket Helm of Heroism is a continuous, use-activated wondrous item. While worn, the wearer gains blindsight 30 feet, allowing them to perceive creatures, objects and terrain within that range without relying upon normal vision. Because the wearer does not use conventional sight, they are immune to all gaze attacks, including petrification, death gazes and similar visual effects. In addition, the wearer automatically succeeds on attempts to disbelieve any figment or glamer illusion that relies solely upon visual deception.

The bucket completely blocks the wearer's normal vision. Creatures, objects and locations beyond the range of the granted blindsight are treated as though they have total concealment. The wearer cannot read, observe distant objects, target creatures beyond 30 feet with effects requiring line of sight or perform any task requiring normal vision while wearing the bucket. Furthermore, the wearer gains a +4 morale bonus on saving throws against fear effects, their willingness to endure ridicule hardening their resolve against intimidation.

Once per day, the wearer may invoke the helm's signature ability, Headfirst Into Glory, as part of a charge attack. Activating this ability requires no action beyond declaring the charge. During the charge, the wearer instinctively senses the safest and most direct path to the target, ignoring terrain penalties that would reduce the wearer's movement during the charge, provided a legal charge path still exists. The attack gains a +5 insight bonus on the attack roll, as though affected by true strike. If the attack hits, it deals an additional 2d6 points of force damage as the bucket releases a thunderous, supernatural THUNK audible for hundreds of feet. This additional force damage is not multiplied on a critical hit.

LORE

The first Bucket Helm of Heroism is said to have belonged to Sir Brannic of the Bent Lance, whose finely crafted helmet was crushed beneath the foot of a hill giant moments before a decisive battle. Refusing to abandon his companions or retreat in disgrace, Brannic seized a sturdy stable bucket, inverted it upon his head and rode into the fray. His improbable victory inspired a wandering archmage to preserve that extraordinary act of courage within an enchantment that could be bestowed upon future generations.

Over the centuries, additional helms have appeared throughout the realms, each indistinguishable from an ordinary wooden bucket. Their reputation has spread through soldiers' camps and adventurers' guilds alike. Inexperienced warriors laugh openly when they first see one. Veterans do not. Too many dragons have fallen, too many medusas have been slain and too many beholders have perished after underestimating the fool wearing the bucket.

A persistent legend claims the enchantment does not respond to every wearer. According to old tales, the bucket grants its greatest power only to those willing to surrender their pride for the sake of others. Those who wear it merely for amusement or vanity supposedly discover nothing more than an uncomfortable wooden bucket upon their heads. Whether this is a genuine property of the magic or simply romantic folklore remains fiercely debated among sages.

Some collectors quietly repeat an old proverb whenever tales of the helm arise: Never laugh at the bucket. Someone stronger than you already did.

CONSTRUCTION

Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, blindsight, find the path, heroism, true strike; Cost 21,000 gp + 1,680 XP, a sturdy oak bucket that has survived a victorious battle while worn as a helm and a masterwork steel helmet willingly sacrificed to protect another.

KELWYN'S NOTES

There are moments in a wizard's life that demand genuine humility. Mine arrived on a dreary autumn afternoon when I watched a knight calmly place an ordinary wooden bucket upon his head before issuing a challenge to a beholder. I had already begun composing the poor fool's eulogy in my mind.

The beholder appeared just as bewildered as I was. It unleashed eye ray after eye ray with supreme confidence, each one failing to accomplish anything of consequence. The knight continued advancing with the deliberate pace of a man who had accepted that dignity was a luxury best enjoyed after surviving the battle.

When the distance between them had finally closed, the knight lowered his head and charged. The impact produced a single, impossibly loud THUNK that echoed throughout the valley. Dust drifted from nearby cliffs. Birds abandoned their nests. The beholder's reign of terror ended rather abruptly.

Naturally, I sought permission to examine the bucket afterward. The knight politely declined, explaining that removing it before sunset would be "bad luck." Whether this was an obscure magical property or merely a convenient excuse to keep curious wizards at arm's length, I cannot honestly say.

Many magical artifacts dazzle with precious metals, glittering gemstones or impossible craftsmanship. This one disguises extraordinary power beneath rough timber and iron bands. It reminds us that appearances are often the least reliable measure of greatness.

Should you ever witness an armored warrior quietly placing a wooden bucket upon their head before battle, I strongly recommend withholding your laughter. Better still, stand behind them if they are your ally. Should they be your enemy... I suggest making peace with whatever gods are willing to listen.

Hobbyhorse of the Merry Cavalier

Aura faint transmutation; CL 5th
Slot —; Price 16,000 gp; Weight 3 lb.

DESCRIPTION

At first glance, this item appears to be nothing more than a finely crafted wooden hobbyhorse mounted upon a polished ash pole. Speaking the command word while straddling the hobbyhorse causes both it and its rider to rise smoothly into the air until the rider sits at approximately the same height they would atop a Medium riding horse. Although no physical horse exists beneath the rider, an invisible magical force supports both rider and mount.

Once activated, the Hobbyhorse of the Merry Cavalier functions as a perfectly trained light horse. It responds instantly to the rider's spoken commands and body movements, allowing it to walk, trot, canter, gallop, stop, back, turn, leap, and maneuver with all the grace and responsiveness of a living mount. The hobbyhorse has a land speed of 60 feet and may run at ×4 speed.

The hobbyhorse occupies the same space as a Medium mount and grants its rider all the normal benefits and penalties of mounted combat, except where those benefits require the mount itself to make attacks. The hobbyhorse cannot make hoof attacks, trample, overrun, or otherwise attack creatures. It is never considered combat-trained.

The hobbyhorse remains no more than 5 feet above the nearest solid surface beneath it. It traverses hills, stairs, ramps, bridges, shallow water, uneven ground, and similar terrain exactly as though invisible legs carried it. It cannot climb vertical surfaces, leap farther than a normal horse, or move into an area where no supporting surface exists within 5 feet below. It is not capable of true flight.

The hobbyhorse can carry up to 300 pounds, including the rider and all equipment. It never tires and requires no food, water, sleep, or rest. Because it is not a living creature, it is immune to fear, poison, disease, mind-affecting effects, ability damage, ability drain, death effects, and any effect requiring a Fortitude save unless that effect also affects objects.

The hobbyhorse is a magical object with hardness 5 and 10 hit points. It may be attacked normally while active or inactive. If reduced to 0 hit points while activated, its enchantment immediately fails. If it is within 20 feet of a solid surface, it gently lowers its rider to the ground before collapsing into a broken, nonmagical wooden toy. If no suitable surface exists within 20 feet, or if circumstances prevent a safe descent, the rider falls normally from their current height. Once destroyed, the Hobbyhorse of the Merry Cavalier permanently loses its magical properties and cannot be repaired by mundane or magical means; a new item must be crafted.

Speaking the command word a second time dismisses the enchantment. The hobbyhorse gently lowers its rider to the ground before returning to its ordinary, toy-like appearance. Activating or dismissing the hobbyhorse is a standard action.

LORE

Legends disagree on who first conceived the impossible notion of riding a child's toy into earnest adventure. Some claim it was the work of a court jester determined to humble a vain king who judged worth solely by appearances. Others insist the enchantment originated with a practical wizard who sought a mount requiring neither stable nor fodder. Gnomish storytellers, however, simply grin and suggest that perhaps both tales are true.

Though its appearance invites laughter, seasoned travelers have long recognized the item's remarkable practicality. The hobbyhorse never throws a shoe, never bolts in fear, never requires grooming, and never complains after days of continuous travel. Couriers, wandering performers, hedge wizards, and adventurous children grown into adventurous adults have all found reasons to treasure the humble wooden steed.

Many owners report an unexpected consequence of carrying the hobbyhorse. Villagers who might otherwise greet a heavily armed traveler with suspicion often find themselves smiling instead. Even the sternest gate guards have been known to suppress a laugh as a fully armored knight trots confidently toward them atop what appears to be nothing more than a carved stick. In dangerous times, a moment of shared laughter can prove as valuable as enchanted steel.

CONSTRUCTION

Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, phantom steed; Cost 8,000 gp + 640 XP

KELWYN'S NOTES

I have encountered dragons with impeccable manners, demons capable of polite conversation, and kings possessing all the wisdom of spoiled geese. Experience has therefore taught me never to judge a thing by how ridiculous it first appears. The Hobbyhorse of the Merry Cavalier is a splendid example of this principle.

Many apprentices believe powerful magic must always cloak itself in grandeur. They carve dragons into their staffs, adorn their robes with stars, and insist every incantation be delivered as though addressing the heavens. Then along comes some cheerful enchanter who places years of arcane study into a child's toy and quietly rides past them while they are still saddling their horses.

I confess there is a certain elegance in removing every unnecessary complication from the notion of a mount. No feeding. No grooming. No mucking stalls. No frightened animal shying from fireballs or roaring monsters. The enchantment preserves every useful quality of horseback travel while dispensing with those inconveniences that stablemasters have accepted for centuries.

I have also observed that the rider's dignity survives only if the rider chooses to let it. Those who blush, apologize, or attempt to explain themselves become the subject of every jest. Those who sit proudly, offer a courteous nod, and continue on their journey soon discover that confidence has a curious way of silencing mockery. People are remarkably reluctant to laugh at someone who is plainly enjoying the joke more than they are.

So should fate ever place one of these delightful contrivances into your hands, mount it with a smile. Ride boldly through the marketplace. Tip your hat to the onlookers. There is profound magic in refusing to let embarrassment govern your actions. A brave soul upon a hobbyhorse will travel much farther than a fearful soul upon the finest stallion ever bred.

Collar of the Wolf

Aura Moderate transmutation; CL 9th
Slot Neck (animal only); Price See Table; Weight 1 lb.

DESCRIPTION

The Collar of the Wolf is a series of enchanted leather collars designed to enhance the natural bite of canines and other creatures that rely upon their jaws in battle. Each collar is fashioned from thick, supple leather fitted with a polished silver clasp depicting the head of a snarling wolf. Delicate runes are etched into the clasp and continue around the collar's inner band. More powerful collars bear increasingly intricate engravings, though all share the unmistakable craftsmanship of the same ancient tradition.

When worn by a creature possessing a natural bite attack, the collar causes that attack to be treated as a magic weapon for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction. In addition, the bite attack's damage increases by the number of steps indicated on the table below, following the standard D&D 3.5 weapon damage progression used for increasing weapon size. Only the creature's natural bite attack is affected; the collar grants no benefit to claws, gore attacks, slams, manufactured weapons, or any other form of attack.

Only one Collar of the Wolf functions on a creature at any given time. Wearing multiple collars provides no additional benefit.

Collar	Damage Increase	Typical 1d4 Bite	Market Price
Collar of the Wolf	+1 step	1d6	2,000 gp
Collar of the Dire Wolf	+2 steps	1d8	8,000 gp
Collar of the Winter Wolf	+3 steps	1d10	18,000 gp
Collar of the Worg	+4 steps	2d6	32,000 gp
Collar of the First Wolf	+5 steps	2d8	50,000 gp

A creature whose bite attack normally deals damage other than 1d4 increases its damage by the same number of steps using the standard weapon damage progression.

LORE

Although many assume these collars were created by druids, the oldest surviving examples display enchanting techniques more commonly associated with master artificers than guardians of the wild. Their makers evidently believed that a faithful animal companion deserved enchantments every bit as potent as those bestowed upon a knight's sword or a wizard's staff. Rather than altering the nature of the beast, the collars simply awaken the full potential already present within tooth, muscle, and instinct.

The collars are traditionally named after increasingly formidable canines known throughout legend and folklore. Beginning with the common wolf, each successive enchantment honors a creature of greater strength and renown until the series culminates in the Collar of the First Wolf. Whether this mysterious progenitor truly existed or merely symbolizes the untamed spirit from which all wolves descend remains a matter of spirited debate among sages, druids, and storytellers alike.

These collars have found homes around the necks of humble sheepdogs, disciplined war hounds, steadfast animal companions, and even the occasional wolf willing to trust a mortal. Veterans often remark that the collars possess a curious quality beyond their enchantment. Animals wearing them seem no more aggressive than before, yet they display an unmistakable confidence in battle, as though the magic reassures them that their courage will never be wasted when defending those they have chosen to protect.

CONSTRUCTION

Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, greater magic fang; Cost See Table

Collar	Cost to Create
Collar of the Wolf	1,000 gp + 80 XP
Collar of the Dire Wolf	4,000 gp + 320 XP
Collar of the Winter Wolf	9,000 gp + 720 XP
Collar of the Worg	16,000 gp + 1,280 XP
Collar of the First Wolf	25,000 gp + 2,000 XP

KELWYN'S NOTES

One of the more curious habits of adventurers is their willingness to invest princely sums enchanting the weapons they carry while expecting the faithful creatures that accompany them to rely upon little more than breeding and bravery. It is a peculiar inconsistency. A seasoned hound may guard a sleeping camp for years without complaint, follow a trail invisible to every member of the party, and interpose itself between its master and mortal danger without hesitation. Yet when the time comes to divide the treasure, the poor beast is often rewarded with a strip of dried meat while everyone else debates the relative merits of enchanted steel.

The Collar of the Wolf has always struck me as an enchantment born not of vanity, but of gratitude. Its magic does not compel greater ferocity, nor does it awaken bloodlust within a gentle companion. Rather, it grants every bite the certainty one imagines nature herself intended before compromise and survival tempered her designs. The wearer does not become a monster. It simply becomes a finer example of the loyal guardian it has always chosen to be.

I have observed several examples over the centuries, and each has shared a curious characteristic. The animals themselves seem blissfully unaware that anything extraordinary has occurred. They neither posture nor seek unnecessary conflict. A dog wearing such a collar still greets familiar faces with an enthusiastic wag of the tail, still chases thrown sticks with embarrassing determination, and still regards a kind word from its master as reward enough. The magic strengthens the jaws, but it leaves the heart delightfully untouched. I consider that a far greater accomplishment than any increase in damage could ever represent.

The Collar of the Worg and the exceedingly rare Collar of the First Wolf are another matter entirely. Their workmanship surpasses mere craftsmanship and approaches artistry of the highest order. I have examined only one example of the latter, and I departed with more questions than answers. The runes appeared subtly different each time I studied them, as though they reflected not the light about them, but the memories of every faithful beast that had ever worn the collar. Such observations are, admittedly, difficult to verify, though I confess I have long since ceased dismissing impossible things merely because they decline to behave sensibly.

If fortune ever places one of these collars in your possession, remember that it is not the leather, nor the silver, nor even the enchantment that gives the relic its greatest worth. Those are merely tools. The true magic lies in the quiet bond between a person and the creature that chooses to walk beside them without expectation of glory, wealth, or recognition. Any fool may purchase a stronger bite. Loyalty, however, remains among the rarest treasures ever granted to this world, and no wizard - however accomplished - has yet devised a spell capable of creating it.

Amulet of the Honest Heart

Aura Strong divination and enchantment; CL 13th
Slot Neck; Price 54,000 gp; Weight —

DESCRIPTION

Fashioned from polished silver in the shape of an open eye enclosed within a heart, this elegant amulet is warm to the touch and seems to pulse faintly whenever spoken words carry great emotional weight. Tiny runes etched around its edge cannot be deciphered by mundane means, yet every wearer instinctively understands one simple truth the moment the amulet is donned: truth demands a price.

While worn, the amulet grants its bearer supernatural certainty whenever they hear a deliberate falsehood spoken by another creature. Whenever the wearer can hear and understand a spoken statement made by a creature within 60 feet, they instantly know whether that specific statement is an intentional lie. This ability functions continuously and requires no action, concentration, or activation. It penetrates magical disguises, mundane deception, illusions, enchantments, and even effects such as glibness, provided the speaker knowingly communicates something false.

The amulet does not reveal the truth behind a lie, expose omissions, determine motives, or distinguish sarcasm from sincerity. A creature stating something it genuinely believes to be true, even if factually incorrect, does not register as lying.

The gift is inseparably bound to a supernatural compulsion toward honesty. While wearing the amulet, the bearer cannot knowingly communicate false information in any form. Spoken words fail, written falsehoods refuse to form, magical messages cannot contain intentional lies, and any attempt to deceive is involuntarily altered into a truthful statement or ends in silence.

The wearer automatically fails any Bluff check made to deceive another creature, including feinting in combat. The wearer may still withhold information, refuse to answer questions, speak ambiguously, or remain silent. Removing the amulet immediately ends both its benefits and its restrictions.

LORE

Legends speak of an ornament known among judges and magistrates as the Honest Heart. Though descriptions of its appearance vary from culture to culture, every account agrees upon two remarkable qualities. Its bearer becomes incapable of being deceived by deliberate falsehood, yet loses the ability to utter one themselves. Many have sought such a relic believing it to be the perfect instrument of justice, only to discover that truth is often far more difficult to wield than deceit.

In Ville des Marai, one tale attributes the first amulet to a grieving widow whose husband was executed after false testimony secured his conviction. Refusing to allow another innocent life to be stolen through lies, she commissioned priests, witches, and arcane scholars to create a relic capable of exposing every deliberate deception. Their enchantment succeeded beyond expectation. The widow spent the remainder of her life serving as an impartial arbiter whose judgments were never questioned, though she became increasingly isolated as friends and nobles alike learned that even the smallest polite lie was impossible in her presence.

Some philosophers reject the notion that the amulet bears any curse at all. They argue that absolute discernment and absolute honesty are merely two halves of the same principle. To perceive truth perfectly while remaining free to manipulate it would invite corruption beyond measure. Thus, they claim, the amulet does not punish its wearer - it simply demands that anyone entrusted with perfect knowledge of lies must also become incapable of creating them.

CONSTRUCTION

Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, discern lies, zone of truth, geas/quest; Cost 27,000 gp + 2,160 XP

Kelwyn's Notes

Many adventurers see an object such as this and immediately imagine interrogations, criminal investigations, and dramatic courtroom confessions. That is because they imagine lies as rare things uttered only by villains. Spend a single afternoon wearing this amulet in any bustling marketplace and that illusion evaporates with astonishing speed. Merchants exaggerate, children invent excuses, lovers flatter one another, and politicians breathe. One quickly discovers that falsehood is woven through civilization in threads both dark and surprisingly gentle.

I have long maintained that deception is neither wholly evil nor wholly virtuous. A physician may reassure a frightened patient. A parent may soften a painful truth for a child. A diplomat may spare thousands of lives through carefully measured words that reveal less than the whole picture. This amulet grants no wisdom to distinguish kindness from manipulation. It merely announces that a lie has been spoken and forbids its bearer from answering with one of their own.

I once encountered a magistrate who wore such an amulet for nearly twenty years. His reputation became legendary, and litigants traveled hundreds of miles simply to have their disputes heard before him. Yet the poor fellow confessed that he dreaded attending social gatherings more than presiding over murder trials. Friends stopped inviting him to dinner because every conversation became an exercise in uncomfortable sincerity.

The clever soon learn that silence remains a powerful companion. One need not answer every question. One need not volunteer every unpleasant fact. There exists an enormous difference between deception and discretion, and those who master that distinction often become remarkably effective negotiators despite the amulet's restrictions. In truth, I suspect the relic teaches restraint every bit as much as honesty.

Would I wear it? Only for the briefest of moments, and only when the stakes justified such sacrifice. There are times when discovering a single deliberate lie may avert a war or expose a monstrous conspiracy. There are equally many moments when compassion requires gentleness rather than relentless candor. The amulet possesses no judgment of its own. It merely places truth in one's hands and leaves wisdom to determine what should be done with it.

Wheel of Endless Brie

Aura moderate conjuration; CL 9th
Slot —; Price 18,000 gp; Weight 5 lbs.

DESCRIPTION

At first glance, this item appears to be an enormous wheel of pale golden brie wrapped in a flawless wax rind. The cheese is always cool to the touch and never spoils, regardless of age or environmental conditions. It emits a rich, buttery aroma that is pleasantly inviting to humanoids yet does not attract vermin or scavengers.

Once per day, the wielder may activate the Wheel of Endless Brie by speaking its command word as a standard action. For the next 10 minutes, the wheel continuously replenishes itself as portions are removed. During this time, the wheel can produce enough nourishing cheese to feed up to 100 Medium creatures. Any creature that spends at least 1 minute consuming the cheese receives nourishment equivalent to a full day's meals and gains the benefits of a goodberry spell, healing 1 hit point. A creature can benefit from this healing only once per day, regardless of how much cheese it consumes.

Sharing a meal from the wheel inspires fellowship and goodwill. Any creature that eats at least three servings gains a +2 morale bonus on Diplomacy checks for 1 hour. In addition, domesticated animals eagerly accept the cheese as a treat, granting the bearer a +4 circumstance bonus on Handle Animal checks made while offering portions from the wheel.

At the conclusion of the 10-minute duration, the wheel immediately returns to its original size. Any slices removed during the activation remain mundane, wholesome cheese indefinitely, but any magical properties they possess fade after 24 hours. The Wheel of Endless Brie cannot be activated again until the following dawn.

LORE

The first Wheel of Endless Brie was commissioned by Duchess Élodie de Fromage, a noblewoman whose estates bordered the fertile grazing lands of western Da'Ma. Believing that no traveler should ever be turned away hungry, she employed a circle of conjurers, druids, and master cheesemakers to create a feast that could sustain entire villages through the lean months. The resulting enchantment proved so successful that the duchess's annual harvest festivals became legendary throughout the kingdom.

Today, Wheels of Endless Brie are prized not only by wealthy households but also by military quartermasters, charitable temples, and adventuring companies preparing for long expeditions. A single wheel can transform a desperate refugee camp into a place of comfort, or keep an isolated mountain outpost well-fed through an unforgiving winter. Many rulers consider ownership of one to be both a symbol of prosperity and an obligation to provide for those in need.

Not all stories surrounding the wheel are entirely wholesome. Tavern tales insist that a particularly greedy merchant once attempted to monopolize its bounty by selling endless slices throughout an entire kingdom. Before the year was over, every wheel of ordinary cheese in his warehouses had inexplicably transformed into bland, tasteless curds overnight. Whether this was divine punishment, fey mischief, or merely an amusing coincidence remains a matter of spirited debate among scholars and cheesemakers alike.

CONSTRUCTION

Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, create food and water, goodberry; creator must possess 9 ranks in Craft (Cooking) and use a full wheel of artisan-crafted brie aged no fewer than six months as the focus of the enchantment; Cost 9,000 gp + 720 XP

Kelwyn's Notes

There exists a curious tendency among wizards to believe that true magical achievement must always be spectacular. They strive to command storms, imprison dragons, or unravel the very laws governing time itself. Yet I have lived long enough to observe that the enchantments most fondly remembered are often the simplest. A warm fire on a bitter evening. A lantern that never gutters. A blanket that always remains dry. Or, in this case, an inexhaustible wheel of remarkably fine cheese.

One quickly discovers that there are two kinds of adventurers. The first carefully ration every crumb of food, calculating supplies with admirable discipline and worrying endlessly over the next meal. The second see an enchanted wheel of brie and immediately begin discussing wines, crackers, and whether mushrooms might improve the experience. I have traveled beside both sorts, and while the former undoubtedly survive longer on paper, the latter generally tell far better stories.

There is an undeniable magic in sharing food that no spell description can adequately capture. Around a meal, strangers become companions, frightened children remember how to laugh, and even the most hardened mercenary often finds themselves lingering to hear another tale before continuing down the road. One should never underestimate how thoroughly an empty stomach can poison good judgment, nor how effectively a satisfying meal can restore hope when swords and sorcery have accomplished very little.

I recall one particularly obstinate mule that refused to haul a supply wagon another inch until it received its customary slice from one of these wheels. The teamsters insisted the creature had become spoiled by the enchantment. I argued that it had merely learned the value of negotiating from a position of strength. The mule got its cheese. The wagon reached its destination. Everyone involved considered the arrangement entirely satisfactory, save perhaps the accountant responsible for purchasing ordinary feed.

Should fortune ever place one of these marvelous wheels into your possession, cherish it not because it produces endless food, but because it grants endless opportunities to gather people together. Heroes are remembered for slaying monsters, kings for winning wars, and archmages for crafting impossible wonders. Yet ask an old traveler what they remember most vividly, and more often than not they will tell you about a shared meal, good company, and laughter echoing long after the plates had been cleared. That, I think, is a kind of magic worthy of preservation.

Flask of Ingratitude

Aura: Faint Conjuration; CL 5th
Slot: None; Weight: 1 lb.

Description

At first glance, this appears to be an ordinary leather-wrapped steel travel flask with a polished wooden stopper. The metal is always cool to the touch, even when left beneath the blazing sun or beside a roaring fire. No matter how much water is poured from it, the flask never empties, continuously replenishing itself with cool, crystal-clear drinking water.

Any creature that drinks from the flask regains 1d4 hit points of damage. A creature can benefit from this healing no more than once per hour, though the water remains refreshing regardless of how often it is consumed.

The flask, however, possesses an enchantment that borders on the absurd.

Immediately after every drink, the user must offer a sincere expression of gratitude to the flask before taking any other action. The wording is unimportant. "Thank you," "Much appreciated," "You're a lifesaver," or any similarly genuine expression of thanks is sufficient.

Failure to do so invokes the flask's curse.

The creature must succeed on a DC 16 Fortitude save or become afflicted with an intense bout of magical diarrhea. While afflicted, the creature is sickened for 1d4 hours and must spend a move action every 10 minutes tending to its discomfort. The creature cannot run or charge while the curse persists.

Additional failures while already afflicted do not worsen the effects but immediately reset the remaining duration to its full value.

The curse ends immediately if the afflicted creature sincerely apologizes to the flask while holding it. Otherwise, the condition ends naturally when its duration expires. A remove curse spell suppresses the flask's curse for 24 hours but does not permanently alter the item.

Lore

No one agrees where the first Flask of Ingratitude was created. Monastic records speak of an order that believed gratitude was among the highest virtues, teaching that even the simplest kindness deserved acknowledgment. Other scholars dismiss this explanation, insisting that no sane cleric would intentionally bind so ridiculous a curse into an otherwise useful item.

A more popular tale credits an elderly enchanter who grew tired of apprentices constantly helping themselves to his magical supplies without so much as a word of thanks. After enduring years of perceived disrespect, he supposedly vowed that his next creation would teach manners more effectively than lectures ever could. If the stories are true, the experiment proved remarkably successful.

Veteran adventurers often laugh when hearing of the flask for the first time. Few continue laughing after witnessing a seasoned warrior sprint awkwardly behind the nearest bush because they absentmindedly took a drink during a long march. Consequently, owners of the flask tend to become the most consistently polite travelers anyone has ever met.

Kelwyn's Notes

I have long maintained that the difference between civilization and barbarism is often measured in the smallest of courtesies. Holding a door, offering a greeting, acknowledging a kindness - these cost nothing and yet enrich every soul involved. Whoever created this flask clearly shared that sentiment, although perhaps with a somewhat unbalanced enthusiasm.

The enchantment fascinates me because it demonstrates no malice. The flask eagerly provides clean water without limit and heals injuries without hesitation. Only after its generosity has been accepted without acknowledgment does the curse awaken. It is as though the magic itself finds ingratitude fundamentally offensive.

I once observed a company of mercenaries traveling with one of these curious relics. By the second day, every member of the company had developed the habit of thanking nearly every object they handled. They thanked ropes for holding, tents for sheltering them from the rain, cooking pots for producing decent stew and, on one memorable occasion, a mule for standing still while being loaded. None of them seemed to realize how their manners had quietly improved.

There are, admittedly, moments when the flask's standards become somewhat unreasonable. During an ambush, one young ranger took a hurried drink between volleys of arrows and instinctively rushed back into the fight. Several minutes later, I watched him disappear into the underbrush with an expression that suggested he had made a profound tactical error. His companions won the battle but never allowed him to forget what had truly defeated him.

Should you ever come into possession of this item, I offer only one piece of advice: cultivate good habits. Make gratitude your first response, not because the flask demands it, but because the world is improved by those who freely express appreciation. The flask merely provides... unusually persuasive encouragement.

Crystal Ball of Possibilities

Aura strong divination; CL 15th
Slot none; Price 90,000 gp; Weight 7 lbs.

Description

This flawless crystal sphere measures approximately ten inches in diameter and rests upon a simple carved walnut stand. At first glance it appears perfectly transparent, but those who gaze into its depths soon discover countless shimmering visions constantly forming, branching and dissolving into one another. Every possibility exists only for a heartbeat before giving way to another, creating the impression of an infinite tapestry of futures forever in motion.

A creature may spend 10 uninterrupted minutes gazing into the crystal while contemplating a single specific goal or task. As the visions unfold, the viewer witnesses innumerable possible futures, instinctively recognizing how individual choices, actions and circumstances shape each potential outcome.

At the conclusion of the vision, the viewer understands the most favorable attainable future relating to that single task and the sequence of actions most likely to bring it to pass.

For the next 24 hours, the viewer gains a +10 insight bonus on one attack roll, saving throw, skill check or ability check directly related to accomplishing the chosen objective. The bonus may be applied after the roll is made, but before the result is announced.

Once the bonus has been used, or after 24 hours have elapsed, the crystal's guidance ends.

A creature that has benefited from the Crystal Ball of Possibilities cannot do so again for 72 hours. This limitation is tied to the individual viewer rather than the crystal itself, allowing different creatures to consult the crystal independently.

The crystal does not reveal absolute destiny, nor does it grant knowledge beyond the viewer's ability to comprehend or influence. It cannot reveal another creature's private thoughts, nor can it show events completely beyond the viewer's ability to affect. Should circumstances change significantly or the viewer knowingly abandon the path revealed by the crystal, its guidance becomes unreliable, though the magical bonus itself remains available.

Construction

Requirements: Craft Wondrous Item, contact other plane, foresight, legend lore; Cost: 45,000 gp + 3,600 XP; Time: 90 days

Lore

Among the oldest schools of divination, there exists a philosophical disagreement that has endured for millennia. One tradition teaches that the future is fixed, waiting patiently to unfold exactly as foreseen. The other contends that the future is a living tapestry woven from countless decisions, each choice creating new threads while quietly unraveling others. The Crystal Ball of Possibilities was born from the latter belief, rejecting prophecy in favor of potential.

Its creator, the archmage Arandel the Far-Seeing, spent nearly half a century studying why so many prophecies failed despite being sincerely recorded. He eventually concluded that prophets were not witnessing a single future at all, but merely the most likely one at that particular moment. Determined to prove his theory, he crafted a crystal capable of revealing not one destiny, but an endless sea of branching possibilities. When his apprentices first peered into the completed sphere, they described seeing thousands of futures blooming like the branches of an ancient oak, each altered by the smallest decision.

Only a handful of these crystal balls are believed to exist today. They rarely remain in the possession of conquerors or ambitious rulers for long, for such individuals often become frustrated by the crystal's refusal to promise certainty. Instead, the spheres have found lasting homes among wise judges, respected teachers, thoughtful rulers and seasoned adventurers who understand that wisdom lies not in knowing what will happen, but in choosing what should happen.

Kelwyn's Notes

Many have asked whether I believe in fate. I generally reply that fate has never troubled itself with introducing its acquaintance, and I see little reason to return the discourtesy by assuming its existence. Experience has convinced me that tomorrow is negotiated rather than assigned. Every conversation, every kindness, every hesitation and every act of courage quietly alters what follows. If that notion seems daunting, I encourage you to consider its far more pleasant implication: no mistake need become permanent.

Those who first behold this crystal often make the same error. They search for certainty. They wish to discover the one correct path so that every difficult decision may thereafter become wonderfully uncomplicated. The crystal offers no such luxury. Instead, it reveals that there are always many roads before us, some brighter than others, and that wisdom consists not in discovering perfection but in recognizing possibility.

I have spent many evenings watching the futures dance within this sphere, and I confess they possess a curious habit. The greatest victories seldom arise from spectacular gestures. More often they begin with astonishingly ordinary choices. A stranger is greeted rather than ignored. A question is asked rather than assumed. Forgiveness is offered instead of resentment. Entire generations may be transformed by moments so small that history scarcely remembers they occurred.

You may wonder why the crystal refuses to reveal its visions to the same individual more than once every three days. I suspect the answer is kindness. Were it consulted too frequently, one might become so consumed with seeking better futures that one neglected to live the present. Possibility is a marvelous teacher, but a dreadful master. At some point the crystal must fall silent, leaving us to walk the path we have chosen with confidence rather than constant hesitation.

Should this crystal ever come into your keeping, resist the temptation to ask how your story ends. That question has never particularly interested me. Instead, ask which decision before you today leads toward greater compassion, deeper understanding or stronger hope. The future is not an inheritance awaiting our arrival. It is something we create together, one thoughtful choice at a time. If this collection has sought to teach anything throughout these past thirty days, I should like to think it is precisely that.

Amulet of Resilience

Aura moderate abjuration and enchantment; CL 7th
Slot throat; Price 18,000 gp; Weight 1 lb.

Description

This simple bronze pendant is fashioned in the shape of a tightly clenched fist and hangs from a sturdy leather cord. It bears no jewels, precious metals or decorative embellishments. Countless tiny scratches and nicks cover its surface, each seeming to tell the story of a hardship overcome rather than a battle won. Though humble in appearance, it radiates a quiet determination that reassures its wearer in moments of doubt.

The wearer gains a +2 morale bonus on saving throws against fear effects and despair effects.

Three times per day, if the wearer is reduced to –1 hit points or lower, but not slain outright, the amulet immediately stabilizes the wearer. This ability requires no action and functions even if the wearer is unconscious.

Once per day, when damage would cause the wearer to fall unconscious from hit point loss, the amulet surges with indomitable resolve. The wearer immediately regains 1d8+5 hit points. In addition, the wearer gains the benefits of the Diehard feat for 5 rounds, even if they do not meet its prerequisites. This ability activates automatically and requires no action from the wearer.

The amulet functions only if the wearer is alive. It has no effect upon creatures slain by massive damage, death effects or similar magic.

Construction

Requirements: Forge Wondrous Item, bear's endurance, heroism, close wounds; Cost: 9,000 gp + 720 XP; Time: 18 days

Lore

The earliest tales of the Amulet of Resilience do not speak of kings, saints or mighty champions. Instead, they tell of ordinary laborers, refugees, healers and travelers who refused to surrender despite overwhelming hardship. It is said that the first such pendant was forged after a devastating famine, when a village elder remarked that survival was seldom the work of the strongest among them. Rather, it belonged to those who simply refused to stop taking one more step.

The clenched fist has carried many meanings throughout history, yet among the oldest traditions it symbolized neither aggression nor conquest. Instead, it represented resolve. A hand formed into a fist could no longer grasp wealth or wield elaborate tools, but it could endure pain, weather hardship and rise again after every fall. For this reason, generations of artisans deliberately left these pendants plain and scarred, believing that an object untouched by hardship could never truly represent resilience.

Authentic Amulets of Resilience are seldom found in treasure vaults or royal collections. More often they appear around the necks of village guardians, aging adventurers, devoted caregivers and those whose greatest victories have never been celebrated in song. Many are passed from parent to child, mentor to student or friend to friend, each new scratch adding another chapter to a story that has yet to reach its conclusion.

Kelwyn's Notes

Many believe resilience to be synonymous with strength. I have lived sufficiently long to assure you that this is a misunderstanding. Strength may win a contest. Resilience determines who remains standing after the contest has ended. Mountains are strong, yet even they surrender to wind and water given enough centuries. The willow, by contrast, survives because it bends.

There exists an unfortunate tendency among scholars to celebrate dramatic victories while overlooking quieter triumphs. A dragon slain is undoubtedly worthy of a ballad. A grieving soul who rises from bed despite believing the day unbearable receives no such applause, despite having displayed courage of an equally remarkable variety. I have often wondered whether history places its admiration upon the wrong achievements.

Observe carefully the surface of this amulet. It is scarred, weathered and imperfect. I consider this essential. Were it polished until flawless, it would become a symbol of untouched innocence rather than hard-earned perseverance. Every mark upon its bronze reminds us that surviving adversity invariably leaves us changed. One should not fear such changes. They are evidence that one has continued onward.

There is a curious misconception that resilience means never requiring assistance. Nothing could be further from the truth. I have crossed deserts only because companions shared their water. I have escaped dangers only because wiser minds offered counsel where my own judgment faltered. To accept help is not weakness. It is often the very act that allows resilience to flourish.

Should fortune ever place this humble pendant in your keeping, remember that its greatest enchantment is not the magic that steadies your heartbeat or grants you the strength to rise once more. Those blessings, though welcome, are temporary. Its true power lies in the lesson it quietly repeats each time your hand closes around it: falling is inevitable, surrender is optional. I have found that distinction to be among the wisest lessons this world has ever offered.

Memorial Ribbon

Aura moderate abjuration; CL 7th
Slot shoulders; Price 7,500 sp; Weight —

DESCRIPTION

This finely woven silk ribbon is intended to be tied around the upper arm, shoulder, backpack strap or cloak clasp. Though available in any color, many are chosen to represent a person, community or cause the wearer wishes to honor. The ribbon never frays, fades or stains, regardless of age or weather.

While worn, the Memorial Ribbon grants the wearer a +2 competence bonus on Concentration checks and saving throws against enchantment effects that would compel them to abandon, betray or willingly harm an ally.

Once per day, if an ally within 30 feet would be reduced to 0 or fewer hit points, the wearer may immediately move up to their speed toward that ally as an immediate action. This movement does not provoke attacks of opportunity and ignores difficult terrain, though it cannot pass through solid barriers or otherwise impossible terrain. If the wearer ends this movement adjacent to the ally, they gain a +2 sacred bonus to AC and saving throws until the beginning of their next turn while defending that ally.

The ribbon serves as a reminder that remembrance is not passive. The greatest tribute to those who sacrificed themselves for others is to continue protecting those who still remain.

CONSTRUCTION

Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, remove fear, shield other; Cost 3,750 sp + 300 XP

LORE

The origin of the first Memorial Ribbon has long since been lost, though nearly every culture tells a remarkably similar story. In times of great tragedy, survivors would tear strips from the garments of those they had lost, wearing them not as symbols of grief alone, but as reminders that the virtues of the departed deserved to live on. In time, magic found its way into the tradition, transforming simple cloth into a powerful emblem of remembrance.

Unlike medals or titles bestowed by rulers, a Memorial Ribbon cannot be earned through ambition or purchased through wealth. It is almost always given freely by one person to another, carrying with it the memory of someone whose courage left an enduring mark upon a family, a community or an entire nation. Many are embroidered with names, dates or simple patterns meaningful only to their wearers.

Bards often remark that while statues honor the past, Memorial Ribbons honor the future. They remind each new generation that sacrifice is not an invitation to endless mourning, but a challenge to live with the same compassion, conviction and selflessness shown by those who came before.

KELWYN'S NOTES

"There exists an unfortunate belief that remembrance is something accomplished in silence. We gather before monuments, bow our heads, speak familiar names and then return to our ordinary lives believing our obligation fulfilled. Such ceremonies have their place, but memory without action fades into sentiment.

This ribbon teaches a more difficult lesson. Every thread asks whether we have truly learned from those we claim to honor. The finest memorial is not carved from marble nor cast in bronze. It is found in the quiet decision to help another because someone else once helped you.

I have seen warriors wear these ribbons beneath polished armor where no one else could see them. I have watched healers stitch them into their robes and sailors knot them around weathered wrists before venturing into impossible storms. None wore them to display grief. They wore them to remember the standard they wished to uphold.

The dead ask very little of us. They require no praise, no offerings and no monuments grand enough to touch the heavens. They ask only that the kindness, courage and sacrifice which defined their final moments do not end with them.

If this ribbon possesses any magic beyond the enchantments woven into its silk, it is this: every time its wearer chooses another's well-being above their own convenience, another invisible thread is added to a tapestry stretching across generations. Though no eye may ever see that tapestry in its entirety, I have little doubt it is among the most beautiful works ever created."

Circlet of the True Self

Aura moderate abjuration; CL 9th
Slot head; Price 24,000 sp; Weight 1 lb.

DESCRIPTION

Fashioned from polished silver, this unadorned circlet bears a continuous band of intricate knotwork that never quite repeats itself. Though simple in appearance, it radiates a faint warmth whenever hostile magic attempts to intrude upon the wearer's mind or identity.

While worn, the circlet grants the wearer immunity to any magical effect that would alter, suppress, erase, or overwrite the wearer's identity, personality, memories, alignment, or sense of self against their will. This includes, but is not limited to, dominate person, dominate monster, suggestion, mass suggestion, geas/quest, modify memory, confusion, insanity, and similar mind-affecting or compulsive magical effects. Such effects automatically fail against the wearer.

The circlet also negates any unwilling magical effect that would forcibly alter the wearer's physical form, appearance, or voice, including effects such as polymorph, baleful polymorph, or similar transmutation spells. Voluntary uses of such magic are unaffected. The wearer may choose to accept any illusion, enchantment, or transmutation effect normally. Once accepted, the circlet does not interfere unless the effect is subsequently maintained against the wearer's wishes.

The circlet provides no protection against mundane persuasion, intimidation, fear, or other nonmagical influences.

CONSTRUCTION

Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, break enchantment, mind blank, polymorph; Cost 12,000 sp + 960 XP

Lore

Legends tell of the first Circlet of the True Self being forged during an age when powerful enchantments were as common in royal courts as crowns and scepters. Kings bent advisors to their will, rival mages erased inconvenient memories, and spies wore stolen faces with unsettling ease. A small fellowship of wizards, clerics, and philosophers rejected the notion that such power should ever reach into the heart of a person's identity. They resolved to create a safeguard that would protect the one possession no sovereign, tyrant, or archmage had any right to claim - the self.

The circlet's enchantment was never intended to prevent change. Its creators understood that every life is shaped by experience, friendship, loss, discovery, and wisdom. Rather than resisting transformation, the magic distinguishes between growth freely embraced and change imposed by another's will. Whether the magic seeks to rewrite memories, compel loyalty, suppress convictions, or reshape the body against its owner's wishes, the circlet quietly refuses, preserving the wearer's freedom to decide who they will become.

Over the centuries, Circlets of the True Self have been entrusted to judges presiding over difficult disputes, diplomats negotiating fragile peace, healers tending those whose minds have been scarred by dark magic, and adventurers who venture into lands where enchantment is as dangerous as any sword. Though few common folk recognize the circlet on sight, those who know its history understand the promise it represents: no spell, however powerful, possesses the right to define another person's life.

Kelwyn's Notes

Many apprentices believe that the highest purpose of magic is to change the world. They are mistaken. The highest purpose of magic is to give others the freedom to change it themselves. There is a difference, subtle though it may appear.

Identity is not a statue carved from marble, fixed forever by the first strike of the sculptor's chisel. It is a river. It bends, widens, deepens, and occasionally discovers an entirely new course. Yet even a river must choose its own path. One does not honor it by building walls around it and calling the prison a channel.

I have worn many faces throughout my long life. Some were disguises born of necessity. Others reflected seasons of my own choosing. Every one of them was meaningful because the choice belonged to me. Consent grants transformation its dignity. Without consent, even the most elegant enchantment becomes little more than gilded coercion.

One should never confuse certainty with understanding. There are those who insist the world must fit into the smallest box they can imagine, and when it does not, they accuse the world of being flawed. I have traveled far enough to know that creation has always been more imaginative than its critics. The world has always been richer than the language we invent to describe it.

If this circlet has a lesson to teach, it is not that one must remain forever unchanged. Quite the contrary. It teaches that every soul deserves the freedom to discover who they are without another hand upon the tiller. There are few gifts more precious than the liberty to become oneself, and few crimes fouler than stealing that journey from another.

• Kelwyn Anord

Mantle of the Faithful Ally

Aura moderate abjuration; CL 9th
Slot Shoulders; Price 22,000 gp; Weight 3 lbs.

DESCRIPTION

Woven from deep blue wool lined with soft gray linen, this finely tailored mantle is fastened by a polished silver clasp in the shape of two clasped hands. The hem and shoulders are embroidered with exquisite scenes of friendship and camaraderie - companions sharing meals around campfires, warriors lifting fallen allies to their feet, healers tending the wounded, travelers embracing after long journeys and children of many ancestries laughing together in play. Golden thread subtly catches the light, causing each embroidered scene to shimmer with quiet warmth.

The wearer gains a +4 competence bonus on Diplomacy checks made to defend another creature's character, negotiate on behalf of another creature or persuade others to offer aid, mercy or safe passage.

Three times per day, as an immediate action, the wearer may cast shield other upon an adjacent willing creature. This effect lasts for 9 minutes.

Once per day, as an immediate action, when an adjacent ally would be reduced below 0 hit points by an attack or spell, the wearer may choose to suffer half of the damage dealt after all reductions have been applied. This damage cannot be redirected or prevented by another effect that transfers damage.

Whenever the wearer successfully uses the Aid Another action to assist an ally, that ally gains an additional +1 morale bonus on the assisted roll or Armor Class for 1 round.

If the wearer willingly abandons or betrays an ally whom they had both the opportunity and reasonable ability to protect, the mantle's magical properties become dormant for 30 days.

CONSTRUCTION

Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, shield other, heroism, status; Cost 11,000 gp, 880 XP

Lore

The first Mantle of the Faithful Ally was commissioned not for a ruler, but for the captain of a volunteer watch who devoted decades to protecting those whom others overlooked. Though never celebrated as a great warrior, the captain earned a reputation for standing beside the frightened, the forgotten and the vulnerable whenever danger arose. Upon retirement, grateful friends presented the mantle as a symbol of the simple truth that courage is often measured not by whom one defeats, but by whom one refuses to abandon.

As news of the mantle spread, similar garments were commissioned by temples, guilds and civic organizations whose members pledged to defend others before themselves. Rather than displaying heraldry or personal achievements, each mantle was embroidered with scenes of ordinary kindness and steadfast companionship. Every stitch served as a reminder that history is shaped not only by legendary heroes, but also by countless acts of quiet loyalty that rarely find their way into songs.

Today, the Mantle of the Faithful Ally is most often entrusted to those whose first instinct is to stand beside another rather than before them. Its enchantments are said to grow strongest in the presence of genuine compassion, responding not to titles or renown, but to the unwavering resolve to ensure that no one need face hardship alone.

Kelwyn's Notes

Many mistake bravery for the absence of fear. Experience has taught me otherwise. The bravest individuals I have encountered were often afraid. They simply concluded that another person's safety mattered more than their own comfort, and they acted despite their fear rather than because it was absent.

There exists a curious distinction between a champion and an ally. Champions are remembered because they accomplish extraordinary deeds. Allies are remembered because they remain. When triumph arrives, they celebrate beside you. When failure comes, they refuse to depart. Such constancy possesses a magic no enchantment can fully replicate.

I have observed that those who seek recognition often stand in front of the people they claim to protect, ensuring every eye remains fixed upon themselves. The faithful ally does precisely the opposite. They position themselves beside another, sharing both danger and dignity. They understand that the purpose of advocacy is not to become the center of attention, but to ensure someone else is not left to face hardship in isolation.

The embroidered scenes upon these mantles are among my favorite examples of symbolic craftsmanship. One finds no images of dragons slain or kingdoms conquered. Instead, there are companions sharing burdens, offering hands to those who have fallen, comforting the grieving and celebrating one another's victories. Such moments seldom inspire epic poems, yet they are the very threads from which healthy communities are woven.

Should fortune place one of these mantles upon your shoulders, remember that its greatest enchantment is not the magic stitched into its fabric. Rather, it is the quiet expectation that whenever another person glances in your direction during their darkest hour, they will find you still standing beside them. There are few promises more powerful than that.

Badge of Welcome

Aura moderate abjuration and enchantment; CL 7th
Slot Chest; Price 16,000 gp; Weight —

DESCRIPTION

Fashioned from polished silver, this finely crafted brooch depicts two open hands supporting a small hearth flame. Delicate scrollwork forms an unbroken circle around the design, symbolizing community, compassion and mutual trust. Though modest in appearance, the badge radiates a quiet warmth whenever it is worn by one whose intentions are genuinely benevolent.

The wearer gains a +5 competence bonus on Diplomacy checks made to offer assistance, mediate disputes or persuade others to grant peaceful audience to strangers or those viewed with suspicion. In addition, the wearer gains a +2 competence bonus on Sense Motive checks.

Three times per day, as a standard action, the wearer may invoke sanctuary (Will DC 16 negates) upon themselves.

Once per day, as a standard action, the wearer may create a 20-foot-radius aura centered upon themselves that lasts for 10 minutes. Allies within the area gain a +2 morale bonus on saving throws against fear effects and charm effects. Creatures that willingly enter the area immediately know, through subtle divine intuition, that the wearer intends them no harm and offers aid freely if able. This effect does not compel trust, alter attitudes or overcome reasonable suspicion, but it suppresses magical fear and grants a sense of genuine welcome.

Once per day, the wearer may cast remove fear upon up to six willing creatures within 30 feet.

If the wearer knowingly betrays a creature that accepted their protection while benefiting from the badge's aura, all magical abilities of the badge become dormant for 30 days.

CONSTRUCTION

Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, remove fear, sanctuary, calm emotions; Cost 8,000 gp, 640 XP

Lore

The first Badges of Welcome were not created for kings, knights or famous adventurers. They were commissioned by the caretakers of roadside hostels, humble temples and village gathering halls whose doors remained open to travelers regardless of birthplace, occupation or circumstance. These caretakers understood that a warm meal, a dry bed and a kind greeting often accomplished more than the sharpest sword.

As the badges spread throughout the realms, they became quiet symbols recognized by those who dedicated themselves to creating places of refuge. Some were worn by priests, others by healers, librarians, innkeepers, guildmasters and caravan leaders. Though their bearers differed greatly in station and profession, they shared a simple promise: all who entered in peace would be treated with dignity and compassion. In many regions, weary travelers came to recognize the silver brooch as a sign that they had found a place where they would be judged by their actions rather than by rumor, appearance or circumstance.

Over the centuries, many Badges of Welcome have passed from one caretaker to another instead of being buried with their owners. Some bear tiny inscriptions hidden upon the reverse - names, dates or simple blessings added by each successive guardian. In this way, every badge becomes more than a magical tool. It becomes a quiet chronicle of countless meals shared, frightened souls comforted, strangers welcomed and lives changed through simple acts of compassion.

Kelwyn's Notes

Many people imagine safety to be constructed of stone walls, sturdy gates and vigilant guards. These things certainly have their place, yet they alone cannot create sanctuary. A fortress may keep danger outside while allowing fear to flourish within. True refuge begins with something far less tangible: the certainty that one will be received as a person worthy of respect.

There is remarkable courage in choosing to make another feel welcome. Hospitality is often mistaken for politeness when, in truth, it can become an act of quiet defiance. To open one's door to those whom others would reject is to declare that compassion shall not be governed by popularity or prejudice. Such decisions seldom earn songs from wandering bards, though I suspect they deserve them.

I have visited villages where the presence of a single welcoming soul transformed the entire character of a community. Travelers lingered longer, merchants returned more often, children played more freely and disagreements rarely hardened into hatred. None of this resulted from powerful enchantments. It arose because someone consistently chose kindness over suspicion.

One should not mistake welcome for naïveté. The Badge of Welcome does not demand blind trust, nor does it ask its bearer to abandon wisdom. Indeed, offering sanctuary requires discernment, for kindness without judgment may invite genuine harm. The badge therefore rewards neither gullibility nor recklessness, but the measured courage to extend grace whenever it may safely be given.

Should you ever encounter one wearing this humble brooch, pay little attention to the silver or the magic woven within it. Instead, observe the people gathered nearby. You will likely find strangers becoming neighbors, frightened souls finding the confidence to rest and weary travelers discovering, if only for an evening, what it feels like to be greeted not with suspicion, but with genuine welcome. Few enchantments possess such quiet power, and fewer still leave such lasting marks upon the world.