Post/Author/DateTime	Post
TelinArtho 11-15-04, 05:25 PM	One of the things I'm working on in my campaign is the setup of several "ultimately bad situations." Essentially, the world is being taken over by a rather powerful pit fiend (who thinks of himself as a god no less). Unfortunately for the players, he's actually got the power to succeed in this vein unless they put some wrenches in the works. One of the artifacts that is helping the pit fiend take control is a rather powerful artifact that I've tentatively named "The Red Eye." I'm still working out the specifics of it - and it basically can be as nasty as I choose... Right now I feel that it really doesn't have much use, and I'm having trouble coming up possible other options that it gives. It is not a "possessed" artifact - its benefits affect an area - not an individual. It is also a primarily protective object - so things that would do direct damage (other than its own protective specifics) is not desired. Let me know what you think and if there are things you feel I might be missing. The Red Eye This immensely powerful artifact of the hell realms takes form to the human eye as an immense ruby that pulsates a blood red light when active. When inactive, it appears as a ruby of worth immesurable. The Red Eye is a protective device that was used in the wars that ravaged <Location omitted to protect the innocent> two thousand years ago and was one of the reasons why evil was able to spread so wide in those days. In order to function at all, the Red Eye requires a sacrifice of a body of no less than a regular human. Two smaller forms (such as halflings), could be substituted, as long as enough blood and flesh were provided. With just the daily required offering, the Red Eye provides the following protective benefits: a. Desecrate and Unhallow on an radius up to 100 ft b. Protection from Good in a radius up to 50ft c. Maintain the Red Aura (described below) With additional bodies, the Red Eye can bestow other benefits. At its best, with an initial sacrifice of 100 persons, the Red Eye produces its most powerful effect - The Red Aura. The red aura produces a magical impenetrable barrier over land and up to 10 feet into the ground. The radius of the barrier can be small enough to enclose a tower or big enough to cover a city and the outlying langs. It constantly emanates intense evil. Anyone caught within 10 feet of it must make a saving throw versus will (DC 20) or turn completely insane. Insanity can be cured with a heal spell. While insane, the player cannot control his/her actions and will attack the nearest creature. The insanity lasts for 1d4 minutes after the afflicted player leaves the 10 foot insanity barrier. If the player makes his save, and moves to touch the surface of the barrier, the player will need to make two saves - one versus will and one versus fortitude. The former is to prevent from being feebleminded and held (as the spells, DC 20, CL 20). The second effect is to prevent death (DC 15, even on a successful save, take 4d10 damage (unholy). If the player does not merely touch, but instead throws his/her body against the barrier, the player will automatically fail the save versus death. Up to 1000 feet away from the barrier is considered to be desecrated and unhallowed. Within the barrier, the area is bathed in a blood red luminescense. Everyone within the barrier upon its creation must make Will saves at DC 15 in order to avoid being under the control of the Red Eye. Anyone who fails is subject to the Eye's control until the barrier is broken. Despite its great power, the Red Eye is a fragile artifact and can be run afoul in a number of different ways. First of all, if a person of lawful good alignment physically touches the artifact, it immediately loses all of its powers (the barrier is destroyed, the light is gone, any controlled persons are now free-willed). However, the toucher must make a Fortitude save or die (a successful save means 10d10 damage). If the person who touches the artifact is not lawful good and is not evil, the barrier is unaffected and the toucher must make the save. If the toucher is evil - then he suffers no ill effects. As another option, the Red Eye's aura can be destroyed through force of arms by forcing it to take 500 points of damage. It has DR 25/- and an AC of 20. It is immune to all magic, except magic that deals holy damage. It also regenerates 25/round, but holy damage negates the regeneration. Both this method and the one above will force the users of the Red Eye to redo the ceremony to create the aura (with a fresh sacrifice of 100 persons...). Lastly, the Red Eye could be crushed under the heel of a greater celestial - if one happens to have one around for help... Thanks /d
BloodGod 11-15-04, 07:43 PM	What level are the PCs? -BG
TelinArtho 11-15-04, 10:46 PM	Well, this is going to sound mean - but they are only 10th...