Amazonian Artifacts: Death's Embrace

This post is the latest in our d20 Amazons post series. You can read the first one here, and you can see all of them by clicking on the "Amazons" tag at the bottom of this post.

   Although written with the d20 System in mind, these rules are easily adaptable to other, similar roleplaying games.

THE THREE PARTS OF DEATH'S EMBRACE
The exact origin of the three artifacts (which some Amazon historians refer to collectively as Death's Embrace) are unknown. Some say they were created in response to amorous fairy creatures in the British Isles and vampires in the Balkan mountains. Others say they were a gift from Athena to an Amazon who had caught the eye of Zeus.

Each of the three artifacts that make up Death's Embrace provide the wearer with magical benefits or protections, but when worn together by an Amazon, they resonate with each other to provide a collective enhancement.

   Each of the three items radiate faint magic of an indeterminate type, but that magic seems to grow more powerful if the items are brought together.

THE CUPS OF SWORDS

This piece of equipment is worn on the character's chest, but it does not provide any bonus to AC or DR. The Cups of Swords consists of two, felt-lined metal cups, linked by a small chain that is worn across the wearer's chest and fastened around her by two lengths of adjustable chain and a clasp. A 10-inch long blade projects from each cup.

   Benefits: The Cups of Swords grants the wearer a +2 bonus to all d20 rolls (attacks, attribute checks, skill checks, and saving throws) when grappling. Unless otherwise specifically stated, any successful pin means the opponent has been pulled close to the character's chest and impaled by the cups of swords, suffering 2d8+2 points of damage each round the pin is maintained.

   The Cups of Swords is considered a +2 weapon. The blades are made of magically-strengthened silver. The 2d8+2 stated above includes the bonus.

   Drawbacks: None, except the Cups of Swords and its fastening chain must be in contact with the wearer's skin or the +2 bonus to d20 rolls while grappling is lost.

THE MASK OF REVEALING CONCEALMENT

This dark green mask covers the upper-half of the wearer's face and flares to upward-facing points on either side. 

   Benefits: When held to the wearer's face, it attaches magically to his or her skin. As long as the wearer is alive, the mask can only be removed willingly by the wearer, or through the use of dispel magic, cast at 20th level or higher. (The mask could also be torn from the wearer's face with a successful Strength attribute check [DC22], but that would tear both skin and flesh from the wearer that w but see Drawbacks for what happens if such a violent act is undertaken.)

   When the mask is worn, it provides  +1 bonus to all Bluff, Hide, Move Silently, Search, Sense Motive, and Spot skill checks.

   In addition, the wearer may spot beings who possesses shapeshifting abilities by merely looking at them. The wearer must specify a target, take a standard action to look at it, and make a Will saving throw (DC11). If the save is successful, the character will see a faint, multicolored glow around the target indicating that it is a shapeshifter. The wearer doesn't know what type of being the target is, whether the form it is wearing is its natural form or not, or anything other than it has the natural ability to change between one or more forms.

   Drawbacks: Once applied to a wearer's face, the mask can only be removed if the wearer wishes to remove it and takes a standard action and makes a successful Will save (DC8). The mask can also be ripped or cut from an unwilling wearer's face. This causes 5 hit points of damage and leaves the one-time wearer with a scarred and disfigured face, as well as a 25% chance of suffering damage to his or eyes that causes blindness. This brutal act gives the character a -2 modifier on Charisma-based skill checks if his or her face isn't covered when interacting with NPCs.

   Whoever removes the Mask of Revealing Concealment from its wearer through brutal means is cursed, since the Amazons still retain a favored status among the now-remote Olympians. The brutalizer suffers a -4 penalty to all attack rolls, saving throws, and skill checks until the mask is returned to the reigning Queen of the Amazon and the character has gained the forgiveness of the person he mutilated.

THE NECKLACE OF SAFETY

This large necklace consists of 20 unevenly shaped strips of silver and platinum on a pair of linked silver chains.

   Benefits: The wearer gains a +2 enhancement bonus to AC/DR and saving throws made to resist mind-altering drugs and environmental effects, as well as mind-affecting magic and spell-like abilities. (When appropriate, these bonuses stack with those gained from the Cups of Swords.)

   Drawbacks: This bonus does not stack with any bonuses gained from enchantments on items that must be worn or carried by the wearer.

COMBINED MAGIC OF DEATH'S EMBRACE

When all three items are worn together, Death's Embrace, the wearer enjoys the following benefits:

   *All bonuses to saving throws, skill checks, and AC/DR increase to +4. (Those from the Cups of Swords and others stack when appropriate.)

   *The Cups of Swords is considered a weapon of +4 enchantment.

   * The wearer inflicts a minimum of 2 points of damage with any melee or unarmed attack that is successful (regardless of damage reduction or immunities).

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All text in this post is presented under the Open Game License and may be reproduced in accordance with its terms. Copyright 2021 by Steve Miller.