Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Uratoh 04-13-06, 03:05 AM	My PCs have stumbled upon a Dolgaunt supervising the search for an artifact in the goblinoid ruins below Sharn...I'm debating what exactly it IS. They'll be 3rd lv by the time they get it, or by the time he flees Sharn with it to the ruined city to the SE...so its gotta be cumbersome, too dangerous to use, or similar so the PCs dont end up with something unbalancing...
Ibbins 04-13-06, 07:41 AM	How about it's the container of an imprisoned Daelkyr creation? Maybe something like a beholder, only nastier(and that's saying something). The dolgaunt and cultists would be wanting to break it out of there, and once the party gets their hands on it, they'll be in quite a predicament. If they don't destroy it properly, it escapes and wreaks havoc. Simply holding it would be dangerous, as they would attract the attention of more cultists, and possibly other factions who want the promise of power. And maybe some Gatekeeper druids would show up and demand that they hand it over. Ah, the possibilities...
DargonSwift 04-13-06, 08:27 AM	My PCs have stumbled upon a Dolgaunt supervising the search for an artifact in the goblinoid ruins below Sharn...I'm debating what exactly it IS. They'll be 3rd lv by the time they get it, or by the time he flees Sharn with it to the ruined city to the SE...so its gotta be cumbersome, too dangerous to use, or similar so the PCs dont end up with something unbalancing... I'm not sure why you'd want to give them an artifact at 3rd level, but this one might be amusing: Unstable Sphere of Annihilation As a sphere of annihilation, DMG page 279, but the diameter is unstable, shifting very chaotically. Roll % for number of rounds between shifts. On a result of 100, roll again and add the result to the previous one (and so on). At the same time, roll % for diameter in inches. On a result of 97-100, roll again and add the results to the previous one. On any round you roll 100's for both the diameter and the duration, the sphere collapses in on itself and winks out of existance. Unlike a typical sphere, an unstable sphere is not static, and gravitates slowly toward the nearest sentient creature (but is not necessarily under their control); In this case it has a speed of 1 ft. Due to the unstable nature of the sphere, a control check for the sphere must be made every round, and has a DC = +/- d10 (roll %, on a 01-50 it is negative, 51-100 is positive, then roll d10 for the modifier). Also, an amulet of the sphere does not function with an unstable sphere of annihilation. Your players will probably freak out and run, or end up bringing Sharn down on their heads. It should be a lot of fun to watch. Lol. -D
MadLetter 04-13-06, 08:31 AM	How about a powerful weapon? maybe a candidate for a legacy weapon (as i am using...). Let it be a standart Dhakaani weapon (maybe spiked chain..?) and give it a crumbling look... whenever the weapon strikes an abberation it becomes better and better until it becomes first a standart weapon of it's type and after another few kills a masterwork weapon. Probably at 5th or so you could insert the omen and give the players a few kicks into the right path... if they research a little let them make it a legacy weapon... Well that's my idea so far :) Hope it helped...
DarkWarriorKarg 04-13-06, 08:48 AM	All you need for it to qualify as an aritifact is something that breaks the rules. No need for it to be earth shattering. heck, maybe it's part of an artifact. Example: They are looking for the Key to a chamber containing a creation forge. The key is actually a sword whose sawtooth design is designed as a key. Or maybe the Dolgaunt merely THINKS it's after an artifact. Or the artifact possesses and evil intelligence (Xulo). Don't pull this one too often. Your PCs won't bother if every artifact has an evil intelligence.
Uratoh 04-13-06, 10:14 PM	There's an idea...maybe it's part of a goblinoid weapon or staff used to help seal the Daelkyr at Yarkuun Draal (ruins to the SE of Sharn). That IS where this dolgaunt's personal master is imprisoned. Spiked Chain aside, what other weapons did they use? or if it's a staff, maybe make it an artifacty thing with Charges/day instead of total...like one piece gives em a lower spell, they get more etc...hmm
aelryinth 04-14-06, 02:12 AM	Something of minor power but huge historical significance is fine. A +1 Aberration Bane byeshk Spiked Chain wielded by the General Hrimgak eleven millenia ago IS an artifact, and the effects it could have on goblin morale for the one who holds it is immense. Who says artifacts have to have power in themselves? Power for what they ARE is a power all in themselves. Anduril, for Tolkien, was called the Flame of the West, not because it was a +6 Flaming Doom sword of Uberness, but because it was the weapon of a king, the symbol of freedom, and could stir the hearts of warriors to battle - "Flame" was a metaphor for courage. It was powerful because it was Anduril, not because it had great stats. Thats what makes an real artifact. ==Aelryinth
Teron Gorefiend 04-16-06, 01:31 AM	Hmm... cumbersome or dangerous, eh? Something the spawn of Xoriat (and the Dhakaani, of course) would want to get their hands on, but that PC's couldn't use... off the top of my head, because I'm in a mood for grandiose things tonight: A massive war wagon - sixty feet or more of enchanted wood and iron - made to be hauled by a team of bulettes, dinosaurs, or some such. Besides being akin to a moving fortress or APC with three floors inside, plenty of murder holes, and ballistas on top, the contraption bestows a shield effect on the pulling beasts and everyone who's been aboard at least ten minutes, removes fear effects from allies who touch it (and allows frightened or panicked allies to run towards it instead of directly away from the source of their fear), creates partially real shadow goblin troops that can't stray far from it, and increases and spreads the effects of bardic music used aboard it. The aberrations can be planning to tinker with that last feature so it will spread insanity instead, but it won't be much more than a fancy mobile home for a group of PC's - provided they can stand its slowness compared to elemental-bound vehicles and convince any nation they take it into not to confiscate it for its own military.
Decree Of Boredom 04-16-06, 06:36 PM	Maybe a mask that allows a powerful Daelkyr to possess its wearer could work for you?
Grey_Mage 04-16-06, 07:22 PM	Perhaps an acient sleeping Daylkir Symbiont weapon... its master dead around the bodies of a few heroes it went into a self induced stasis and was lost... very potent for a Daylkier but useless to the PC's... however the weapons of the heroes who killed it might be laying around... a few +1 Byeshk weapons and a spellbook or something like that wouldnt unbalance your party would it?
DarkWarriorKarg 04-16-06, 11:17 PM	An intelligent Holy avenger, with maximum intelligence. Special Purpose: Slay all, special power: disintegrate. That was corrupted to CE. Ego in the 30's. (Go ahead... make your save.)
Teron Gorefiend 04-17-06, 08:55 AM	Perhaps an acient sleeping Daylkir Symbiont weapon... its master dead around the bodies of a few heroes it went into a self induced stasis and was lost... very potent for a Daylkier but useless to the PC's... however the weapons of the heroes who killed it might be laying around... a few +1 Byeshk weapons and a spellbook or something like that wouldnt unbalance your party would it? It's a really minor nitpick, but the Dhakaani's only spellcasters were bards and rangers. No spellbooks.
Ozymandias V. 04-17-06, 11:31 AM	Who says artifacts have to have power in themselves? Power for what they ARE is a power all in themselves. Let's ask Mr. SRD: Artifacts are extremely powerful. Rather than merely another form of magic equipment, they are the sorts of legendary relics that whole campaigns can be based on. Each could be the center of a whole set of adventures—a quest to recover it, a fight against a opponent wielding it, a mission to cause its destruction, and so on. The problem is that you're using the dictionary definition of 'artifact'. We are using the D&D definition of artifact.
MojoMonkeyMan 04-17-06, 12:18 PM	how about something like the Stargate from the movie of the same name? A gateway to different planes or planes. It is very powerful, but they can't take it with them, and it only benefits them as a means of travel so it doesn't upset game balance. plus, it allows you to bring back all that great Planescape material. Who doesn't want to travel to Sigil?
Uratoh 04-20-06, 04:40 AM	Well, I've decided it's going to be a multi-piece artifact...mainly druidic in nature of spells. First piece, found in ruins beneath Sharn +1 Byshek Club (a thin rod of solid byshek, barely long enough to count as a club) also, can use 'Invoke the Cerulean Sign' 5/week at CL5. Unsure of the final form it'll take or other pieces...one friend suggested a 3 piece bit... Shortsword Club Staff forms a Longspear in any case, the idea would be the pieces, when connected, (not sure if it'd be a 'pop' or a ritual...) add more and more powerful spell abilities, and change it from a 5/week to a 'has charges that recharge after 1 week', and for instance Invoke Cerulian only uses one charge.