At first appearing to be glass, this ring of enchanted ice is a boon to those in wintery climes...
Quest entry
Quest - Winter
Winter. The final frontier. For who truly knows, if spring will ever come. This months quest revolves around the concept of winter, in all its hoary splendor. Cold, death, decay, and torpid hibernation. Snow, ice, and fr… Open the quest
Full quest brief
Winter. The final frontier. For who truly knows, if spring will ever come.
This months quest revolves around the concept of winter, in all its hoary splendor. Cold, death, decay, and torpid hibernation. Snow, ice, and frost. These are the ubiquitous images of the long, bleak season.
We are looking for the finest examples of winter-themed submissions. The winners of this major quest, will become worthy recipients of frosty mugs and glasses, engraved with odes to victory, courtesy of Scrasamax! Good luck to all. Don your mittens!
Full Item Description
Icevein rings appear to be made of glass, with small imperfections marring their clarity in the form of tiny fissures and bubbles. In truth, the rings are made of ice that has been enchanted to remain frozen even at common room temperature. A small percentage are decorated with ice chips that have been dyed, giving them a jeweled appearance.
History
Commissioned by an organization of explorers, the Icevein rings were intended to be of use in exploring the bitterly cold lands and regions locked in the grip of winter. With the success of this endeavor, the rings became a relatively popular minor magic among explorers, merchants seeking shorter routes, and any who found it necessary to deal with inhospitable winters. Thus, Icevein rings are a moderately common find across the world, both civilized (where they may be for sale) and not (where they might be found on a corpse, or woven in some barbarian's beard).
Magic/Cursed Properties
-The ring adapts the body temperature of the wearer, making cold climates seem relatively balmy. The 'comfort zone' of the wearer is roughly at the freezing point of water, with a range around this point as is common for the wearer's species.
-The ring's magic allows the wearer to move freely across snow, ice, and other frozen surfaces, regardless of whether or not they'd normally fall straight through it.
-Similarly, whiteout conditions do not exist for the wearer, as the ring's magic augments their vision to deal with it.
-The ring does not provide nourishment or hydration for the wearer, which can cause problems in relatively barren environments or when the temperature is enough below freezing that any carried water freezes solid.
-The temperature adaption works the other way, as well. Temperatures which are normally comfortable to the wearer will seem hideously hot and can lead to death by heat stroke during a pleasant day.
-A period of adaptation is required when the ring is put on or removed, taking roughly six to eight hours. During this time, the wearer gradually transitions across comfort zones as their bodily temperature shifts up or down.
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This article links to 2
- Iceman's Lantern Kassil linked by Kassil
- New Takes on Classic Magic Items valadaar linked by valadaar
Links to this article 2
- Iceman's Lantern Kassil linked by Kassil
- New Takes on Classic Magic Items valadaar linked by valadaar
Also for this quest
Other entries under Quest - Winter.
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Winter's Gem
Bluest of sapphires; the ice-cold jewel. From its hoary breath flows the bitter winter winds. The Lady Karina sits there for all eternity, looking deep into the…
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Stamagast
Behold, the Harbinger of ill-tidings, the blizzard rider, the thief of winter, the Stamagast.
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Candenheim
The hyperborean realm of the Eternal Flame
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At The Foot of the World
At the foot of the World can be found both great treasure and danger! Adventure Awaits!
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The Frozen Woman of the City
Frozen to death by a penny pinching, cruel landlord, the Frozen Woman has found her vengeance against her killer, and now seeks to destroy those who might do un…
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The Glacier's Fist
Carved to bring glory to the Patient One, the silent and frigid Abomination that holds dominion over the frozen wastes, the Glacier's Fist is heralded as a dead…
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Winter's Tempest
Forged of destruction, in the name of hatred, Winter's Tempest is a cold echo of its parent blades, yet still it bears the destruction of the frozen elements.
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Iceman's Lantern
A small silver lantern, at whose heart there burns a shard of ice.
Use alongside
Submissions that pair well with this one at the table.
-
Stamagast
Behold, the Harbinger of ill-tidings, the blizzard rider, the thief of winter, the Stamagast.
-
Candenheim
The hyperborean realm of the Eternal Flame
-
At The Foot of the World
At the foot of the World can be found both great treasure and danger! Adventure Awaits!
-
The Frozen Woman of the City
Frozen to death by a penny pinching, cruel landlord, the Frozen Woman has found her vengeance against her killer, and now seeks to destroy those who might do un…
-
Soreen the Frostfell
Once an outcast spirit of the cold, now the malevolent lord of a realm of winter unending...
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Glacier's Sigh
The delicate flower of the deepest Arctic, bearing the essence of ephemeral purity.
A useful item for polar explorers.
Or in areas where the terms 'hard freeze', 'lake effect snow', and the like have meaning and can last for extensive periods.
I like the imagry of a barbarian wearing an Icevein ring woven into his beard, I also like the effect, plus the fact that a pleasant spring day could be lethally hot to a cold aspected character. Nice work.
Thank you.
Yeah, it's kind of a take on the old 'ring of cold resistance' that doesn't just go 'Voom! You no longer feel the cold. You win!'
Nice item with some reasonable consequences to use.
It also works reasonably well with the Iceman's Lantern for those who have to make stops at wayhouses; the lantern's effect could keep an area cool enough for the ring-wearer to survive, although likely feeling overheated, or a series of them could serve as something akin to decompression for diver, with the transition being moderated across the heat zones.
Short sweet and useful.
Nice description, even without the variant effect, makes the old ring of cold resistance come to live.