An unusual set of armor.
Quest entry
Quest entry
Quest - Magic Items
In association with Johnn Four, and all the fine folks subscribed to his Roleplaying Tips Weekly mailing list, we bring you our second collaborative Quest! Here's the required stat block template to use for your entries:… Open the quest
Full quest brief
In association with Johnn Four, and all the fine folks subscribed to his Roleplaying Tips Weekly mailing list, we bring you our second collaborative Quest!
Here's the required stat block template to use for your entries:
* Awesome Name
* Appearance
* Benefit
* Drawback
* Lore
* Twist
For an awesome description and guide to these stat blocks, check out Johnn's post describing it.
There will be three sets of *random* prize draws: Nov 7, Nov 21 and Dec 5 -- XP awards per normal as well!)
All entries submitted before each date will be eligible for each random draw. So enter early and often.
Thanks to Gator Games for their prize sponsorship!
Appearance
A set of five thick steel rings -- two small, two medium and one large -- linked together in a sort of chain. Script in a forgotten language runs along the inside of each. Beyond that, there is nothing whatsoever to mark these rings as special or magical in any way.
Benefit
When the rings are worn properly (one on each wrist, one on each ankle and one on the head like a circlet), the bearer is completely protected from lightning and all electricity attacks. Indeed, they will tend to draw such attacks to them. Furthermore, after lightning has been absorbed by one of the rings, it will spread out around the user’s body to form a visible shield of electricity, which crackles around the wearer in a sphere. This shield will provide some safety against physical attacks by dealing damage to those that get too close, though it cannot actually block damage. Ranged weapons are still effective, of course.
Hidden Benefits
By bringing the rings on both wrists together and aiming with his/her arms, the wearer may be able to intentionally discharge a bolt of electricity in a desired direction. This, of course, depends on whether the rings have received any charges from an outside source. The strength of this attack also depends on the strength of the stored charge, and using it will deplete the shield an equal amount.
Drawback
The wearer will never be able to walk about during a thunderstorm undetected -- pretty much every bolt of lightning will be drawn unerringly to the user who will then build up a massive charge. There’s also a limit to how much of a energy this system can conntain, so expect the rings to start discharging in random directions after absorbing too much electrical energy. If the rings begin to glow blue, the point of random discharge should be close.
In a game with technology that relies on any sort of electricity, this set is going to be a major nuisance. The wearer will unintentionally soak in electricity from any source that is exposed, and may discharge accidentally into nearby electronics, cooking them as with an EMP pulse.
Lore
The Thunder Sphere has been linked to events of disaster and upheaval for much of the past three millennia, though no one is exactly sure of its origin. For example, during the Summer of Storms over a millennium ago, the Thundersphere is said to have caused the devastation of a whole battalion of battle-hardened troops, turning the tide of the Kings’ War.
In another instance, The Great Fire of Amestris was purported to have been started by a foreigner who was capable of shooting lightning from his fingertips. Legend says that the man was driven insane by the death of a close friend, and that not even the electric prods of the city guard could put him down. Half the city was in flames before he was killed by a stray arrow, but what happened to the Thunder Sphere after that is unknown.
Twist
The ring set looks nothing like a sphere, of course, and it can be fairly tricky to figure out how to get them apart at first. The key lies with the inscription on each ring. If translated poorly from the original language, the inscription on a given ring might read something like “Left Arm of the Thunder Sphere” or “Crown of the Thunder Sphere”. Sliding your hand through one of the “Arm” rings will cause it to separate from the other rings and constrict around the wearer’s arm, resizing itself to him. When the rings are worn properly and the lightning shield comes up for the first time, it should be plain that the user himself is the Thunder Sphere, not the set of rings.
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Use alongside
Submissions that pair well with this one at the table.
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Gideon's Mercy
Sometimes, an item is not enchanted, but instead, a person's acts resonate so strongly across the planes of magic that their touch is forever remembered on the …
-
Moradin's Piece
A gun made by the God of the Dwarves
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Gateshatter
Not all hammers are tools of creation. Some are made for destruction, and some rare few truly excel at it.
-
The Horn of Seven Seals
The Horn of Seven Seals can remove many of one's inate inhibitions, allowing for greater effectiveness in battle. This can come at a hefty price, however.
-
The Staff of Seven Snakes
Of all the Kings' Items, this one is rarely spoken of in this day and age. Also known as Kingsbane, this staff has a very dark history indeed.
-
Biter, the Insatiable
'Oh great, another mouth to feed'
A shocking submission, and very orginal, the most orginal way of shooting lightning bolts I've ever seen. I would not want someone wearing this to come too close to my computer.
Update: Broke the name into two parts, 'cause I liked it better that way.
I really like the overall idea and concept, reminicent of the old Spiderman villian, Electro. However, the thing I'm having a hard time wrapping my mind around is how one 'wears' this five link chain. It seems awkward at best. It reminds me of full body shackles on an inmate, with perhaps less flexibility. I've read it a few times now and I still get stuck on this. Am I missing something?
That's explained in the last paragraph, though perhaps I should move it up or reword it somehow for clarity. The recipient of this item simply has to slide a hand (or foot) through the appropriate ring, and it will detach itself from the others and resize itself to fit him. If he takes the rings off at any time, they will be attracted to each other and automatically link back together.
I want this to win the Quest.
Thanks, Cheka. I'm flattered :)
I like those! I would totally see this being a campaign side-track, ith the five rings separated across the kingdom, to be reunited by the plucky PCs before taking on the big bad or going up the mountain to query the trhunder god.
Good work Dossta!
I just love the image of someone donning these seeming 'shackles', as well as the image of someone drawing every last lightning bolt from a monstrous thunderstorm, (with hordes of stunned, wide-eyed onlookers nearby), as well as the image of an elecrical overload, and the consequent, disastrous discharges. Boy, thats a lot of images :) Like the Twist too! Also, what d_d said.
Good item, I would only like some more on that history, with both heroes and villain (ab)using the Sphere. And who made this?
This item really captured my imagination and is removed from the typical idea of 'armour'.
Great!
The hidden benefit section provides really good imageries and overall, this sub seems more versatile in fitting into genres.
This is neat! And, a cruel DM might rule wearing an incomplete set would still draw the lightning, but you need all 5 to be protected....