RPG-a-Day #23: Fortune

"This set of dice are among my favorite treasures. Sometimes, I use them to help guide me. Sometimes, I bring them to D&D Night to mess with the players. More rarely, I leave them somewhere for humans to find, just to see what they do with them."

--Brigid the Red, a dragon living secretly among humans

THE ORACLE'S DICE

Description

This set contains six polyhedral dice (d4, d6, d8, d10, d12, d20) carved from a single meteorite that fell during a lunar eclipse. Each die radiates moderate divination magic, is translucent crystalline stone with a faint purple hue, and arcane symbols are etched into every face—not numbers, but glyphs representing concepts like "danger," "opportunity," "deception," "ally," "journey," and "transformation."

They come in a velvet-lined case made from darkwood, with compartments for each die.

Mechanics

Activation: Using the Oracle's Dice requires a ritual that takes 1 minute. The user must clearly state their question or the subject of divination, then select which dice to roll (minimum 2, maximum all 6).

Rolling and Interpretation: Roll the selected dice. Each die contributes information based on:

1. Which die was rolled (the die type determines the category of information)

2. The result shown (which specific symbol appears)

3. The total of all dice (determines overall clarity and accuracy)

Die Type Categories:

• d4 (Immediate): Events within the next 24 hours

• d6 (Personal): Information about individuals or relationships

• d8 (Material): Wealth, objects, physical dangers

• d10 (Mystical): Magic, curses, supernatural forces

• d12 (Journey): Travel, quests, long-term endeavors

• d20 (Fate): Major turning points, destiny, life-or-death matters

Symbol Interpretation Tables:

d4 - Immediate Events (Next 24 Hours)

Roll	Symbol	Meaning
1	Dawn	New beginning, fresh start, opportunity
2	Storm Cloud	Sudden conflict, unexpected trouble
3	Hourglass	Time pressure, urgency, deadline approaching
4	Closed Fist	Confrontation, decisive action needed

d6 - Personal & Relationships

Roll	Symbol	Meaning
1	Clasped Hands	Alliance, friendship, cooperation
2	Broken Heart	Betrayal, loss, emotional pain
3	Mask	Deception, hidden identity, false appearance
4	Mirror	Self-reflection, truth about oneself
5	Two Faces	Duality, choice between loyalties, duplicity
6	Embracing Arms	Love, protection, deep connection

d8 - Material & Physical Dangers

Roll	Symbol	Meaning
1	Coin	Wealth, trade, material gain
2	Broken Coin	Financial loss, poverty, squandered resources
3	Crossed Swords	Physical combat, violence, armed conflict
4	Shield	Protection, defense, safety from harm
5	Dagger	Hidden danger, assassination, treachery
6	Treasure Chest	Discovery of valuables, hidden cache
7	Shackles	Imprisonment, restriction, being trapped
8	Flame	Destruction, purification, consuming danger

d10 - Mystical & Supernatural

Roll	Symbol	Meaning
1	Spiral	Magic in flux, wild magic, unpredictable power
2	Rune	Ancient magic, forgotten lore, arcane knowledge
3	Crescent Moon	Illusion, shadow magic, things not as they seem
4	Pentagram	Summoning, binding, pacts with otherworldly
5	Broken Wand	Magic failure, dispelling, anti-magic
6	Third Eye	Psychic power, mental magic, divination
7	Serpent	Curse, poison, corrupting influence
8	Phoenix	Resurrection, renewal, magical transformation
9	Void	Necromancy, undeath, life-draining forces
10	Lightning Bolt	Raw magical power, sudden arcane intervention

d12 - Journey & Long-term Endeavors

Roll	Symbol	Meaning
1	Road	Clear path forward, straightforward journey
2	Crossroads	Major decision, diverging paths, choice ahead
3	Mountain	Obstacle, challenge requiring perseverance
4	Ship	Voyage, exploration, venturing into unknown
5	Compass	Guidance, finding direction, mentor appearing
6	Footprints	Following another's path, learning from the past
7	Bridge	Transition, connection between two states
8	Chasm	Impassable barrier, journey interrupted
9	Torch	Illumination of the way, revelation during travel
10	Anchor	Being held back, delay, inability to progress
11	Wings	Swift progress, flight, overcoming obstacles
12	Destination Mark	Journey's end approaching, goal within reach

d20 - Fate & Destiny

Roll	Symbol	Meaning
1	Broken Chain	Freedom, escape, severed ties, liberation
2	Crown	Authority, leadership, rise to power
3	Fallen Crown	Loss of status, dethronement, fall from grace
4	Skull	Death, ending, mortality, transformation
5	Scales	Justice, judgment, karmic balance
6	Tipped Scales	Injustice, imbalance, corruption of order
7	Eye	Revelation, truth unveiled, being watched
8	Closed Eye	Blindness, ignorance, truth hidden
9	Star	Hope, guidance, divine favor, destiny fulfilled
10	Falling Star	Lost hope, divine disfavor, destiny thwarted
11	Sun	Glory, success, triumph, enlightenment
12	Eclipse	Darkness, doom, overshadowing threat
13	Tree	Growth, legacy, roots and consequences
14	Withered Tree	Decay, dying legacy, ancestral curse
15	Wheel	Cycle of fate, inevitable change, fortune's turn
16	Sword in Stone	Destiny awaiting, potential unfulfilled
17	Raised Sword	Destiny claimed, heroic moment, defining choice
18	Chalice	Blessing, gift of fate, sacred purpose
19	Shattered Stone	Foundation destroyed, world-changing event
20	Infinity Symbol	Eternal consequence, unbreakable fate, prophecy

Accuracy Rating: Add the numerical results of all dice rolled together:

• 6-15: Clouded vision (50% accurate, vague imagery)

• 16-30: Clear vision (75% accurate, specific details)

• 31-45: Perfect vision (90% accurate, includes timeline)

• 46+: Prophetic vision (95% accurate, reveals hidden factors)

Interpretation Check: After rolling, the user must make a DC 15 Spellcraft check or DC 18 Wisdom check to properly interpret the symbols. Success reveals the divination's meaning; failure by 5 or more results in misinterpretation.

Limitations and Risks

Corruption Mechanic: Each time the dice are used, there is a cumulative 2% chance they become "tainted" by chaotic energies. When tainted (DM rolls secretly), the dice provide false information that seems accurate. The taint persists until the dice are cleansed with remove curse or dispel magic (DC 20).

Addiction: Users who consult the dice more than once per week must succeed on a DC 12 Will save or become psychologically dependent, suffering a -2 penalty on all checks when making decisions without consulting the dice first. This penalty increases by -1 for each additional week of overuse.

Conflicting Symbols: If two dice show directly contradictory symbols (e.g., "Life" and "Death"), the divination reveals a paradox or choice-point. The user must succeed on a DC 16 Intelligence check to understand that multiple futures are equally possible.

Cooldown: The dice can be used once per day. Additional uses in the same 24-hour period automatically result in clouded visions with 25% accuracy.

Question Limitation: The dice cannot answer yes/no questions effectively. They provide symbolic information that requires interpretation, not direct answers.

Adventure Hooks

D&D 3e:

• The Paradox Prophecy — A scholar uses the Oracle's Dice to research an ancient mystery, but the symbols keep showing contradictory information: the same question yields different answers each time, even accounting for interpretation. The scholar believes they've discovered a temporal paradox—an event that both will and won't happen. They hire the party to investigate the prophecy's subject, but the party discovers the dice are slowly becoming corrupted, and the contradictions are a sign of their degradation. The party must race to cleanse the dice before the scholar makes irreversible decisions based on paradoxical information.

d20 Modern:

• The Stock Market Prophet — A financial analyst uses the Oracle's Dice to predict market trends with uncanny accuracy, building a fortune and attracting the attention of the SEC, rival traders, and organized crime. When the dice become tainted, the analyst's predictions flip, causing massive losses. A federal agent hires the party to investigate whether the analyst is running a scam or if something genuinely supernatural is happening. The party must navigate corporate espionage, regulatory agencies, and dangerous criminals while uncovering the truth about the dice—and deciding whether to help the analyst, expose them, or use the dice for their own gain.

RPG-a-Day #22: Grit

 Here are three OGL Modern feats for characters with grit. (They are easily adaptable to other d20 System games, and they are released under the Open Game License and may be reproduced in accordance with its terms.)

Ornery
You refuse to go down easy.
   Prerequisite: Constitution 13+
   Benefit: Whenever you would be reduced to 0 hit points or fewer, you may make a Fortitude save (DC 10 + the amount of damage in excess of your current hit points). If successful, you are instead reduced to 1 hit point and become fatigued. You can use this feat once per encounter.

Nerve Under Fire
Your calm demeanor steadies those around you. 
   Prerequisite: Charisma 12+, base Will save +2
   Benefit: As a free action, before you or an ally within 30 feet makes a saving throw against an effect that would impose the shaken or frightened condition, you may make a Charisma check (DC = the effect's save DC). If successful, that creature gains a +2 morale bonus on its saving throw against the effect. Additionally, you gain a +1 morale bonus to Will saves against fear effects. You can use the active portion of this feat once per encounter.

Push Through
You've learned to compartmentalize pain and keep moving.
   Prerequisite: Iron Will feat
   Benefit: Once per day, you may ignore the penalties from a single condition that imposes penalties (such as wounded, fatigued, or shaken) for a number of rounds equal to your Constitution modifier (minimum 1 round). During this time, you function as though you don't have that condition. When the duration ends, the condition returns and you become fatigued; if the condition ends before the duration does, you do not become fatigued.

RPG-a-Day #21: Charity

"One of the more recent hobbies I've picked up is playing D&D. For the past 50 or so years I have been playing in and running games at least one night a week. Here's an outline for some adventures I'll be running. They may or may not have roots in actual events. Heck, if you like the ideas, consider them my gifts to you and YOUR players!"

--Brigid the Red, a dragon living secretly among humans

Part One: The Solstice Disaster

The PCs arrive in Frostholm Village expecting festive cheer, but instead find chaos. Three days ago, Ember the Red descended from the mountains bearing "the greatest Solstice gift ever"—a single melted gold coin for every household. What seemed like generosity has become catastrophe. Prices have skyrocketed overnight as merchants realize everyone has gold. Neighbors who received slightly larger coins accuse others of favoritism. The tavern keeper refuses copper, demanding only gold. Fistfights break out over whose gift was "better."

Meanwhile, Ember circles overhead, genuinely confused why the villagers aren't celebrating. The dragon keeps trying to "fix" things—offering more gold, conjuring ice sculptures, roasting entire herds of cattle—but each gesture makes matters worse. Lord Aldric has sent word that he's marching with soldiers to "deal with the dragon menace," which will surely end in bloodshed. The PCs must restore economic stability, calm social tensions, and somehow explain to a well-meaning but dangerously naive ancient dragon why good intentions aren't enough—all before Aldric arrives with an army.

Part Two: The Rival's Challenge

Frostholm's Winter Solstice celebration is in full swing—Ember has been surprisingly restrained, merely decorating the village square with (harmless) magical lights and singing carols in Draconic. Then Scorathax arrives. The rival red dragon lands with earth-shaking force, sneering at Ember's "pathetic display of weakness." Scorathax issues an ultimatum: Ember must publicly renounce their "shameful" charity and admit that dragons are meant to be feared, not loved—or Scorathax will reduce Frostholm to ash to "restore proper dragon dignity."

Ember refuses to back down, but won't fight near the village. The two dragons circle each other, hurling insults while terrified villagers huddle indoors. Scorathax gives Ember until midnight—three hours away. The PCs must navigate this powder keg: Can they convince Scorathax that Ember's way has merit? Help Ember find a solution that doesn't involve surrender or violence? Evacuate the village before the deadline? Or perhaps discover that Scorathax's challenge masks a deeper motivation—jealousy of the love Ember receives?

RPG-a-Day #20: Promise

"I take great pride in having the Oath Stone as part of my collection of artifacts--especially since it infuriates the gold dragons they don't have it. But I know it's not really mine, so I've kept it in my Australian home, within short distance of the Conclave of Dragon's primary meeting hall. But, hey, be sure to tell me if you need a promise kept!"

--Brigid the Red, a dragon living secretly among humans

 

THE OATH STONE

Artifact (Minor)

DESCRIPTION
The Oath Stone is an ancient relic forged in the Age of Law by celestial smiths who sought to bind mortals to their word. This fist-sized sphere of polished obsidian bears golden runes that glow when oaths are spoken nearby. Legend claims it was created to enforce the first treaties between gods and dragons, ensuring neither party could betray sacred compacts. The stone radiates an aura of absolute authority, and those who handle it feel the weight of every promise they've ever made.

POWERS
The Oath Stone has both constant and activated effects, as well as a few special considerations.

Constant Abilities:
   Oath Detection Aura: The Oath Stone continuously detects all spoken oaths, vows, and promises made within 60 feet. Any creature that makes a deliberate promise while within this radius becomes bound to the stone. The stone glows brightly when an oath is spoken and records the exact wording of the promise. This is a supernatural ability that cannot be dispelled.
   Truth Sense: The wielder gains a +20 insight bonus on Sense Motive checks to determine if someone is lying about a promise or oath. This bonus applies only to matters directly related to sworn oaths.

Activated Abilities:
   Oath Binding (Su): As a standard action, the wielder can force a creature within 30 feet to make a Will save (DC 25) or be compelled to speak truthfully about any promises they have made. The creature must answer three questions about their oaths. This ability can be used three times per day.
   Mark of the Oath-Keeper (Su): Once per day, the wielder can touch a willing creature and grant them immunity to the Oath Stone's punishment for 24 hours. This allows the creature to renegotiate or be released from an oath without suffering retribution.

Special Qualities:
   Indestructible: The Oath Stone cannot be damaged by any means short of a wish or miracle spell cast specifically to destroy it.
   Oath Registry: The stone maintains a supernatural record of all oaths sworn in its presence. The wielder can spend 1 minute concentrating to review any oath recorded by the stone.

Restriction

The Oath Stone cannot be used to bind a creature to an oath that would require them to commit an evil act (as defined by the DM). Any attempt to do so causes the stone to go dormant for 24 hours and inflicts 4d6 points of damage on the wielder.

 
OATH BREACH MECHANICS
   Valid Oaths: An oath becomes binding when a creature deliberately makes a promise, vow, or sworn statement within the stone's 60-foot detection radius. The promise must be specific and include clear terms. Casual statements ("I'll try my best") do not trigger binding. Formal oaths ("I swear upon my honor to deliver the message by dawn") always trigger binding.
   Detection Range: The Oath Stone can detect oath breaches anywhere on the same plane of existence once an oath has been recorded. Distance is irrelevant after the initial binding.
   Breach Determination: The stone determines breach through supernatural judgment of intent and action. It evaluates:

 
  * Whether the oath-breaker had the ability to fulfill the promise
  * Whether they made genuine effort to honor their word
  * Whether they deliberately chose to break the oath

   Loopholes based on exact wording provide no protection—the stone judges the spirit of the promise, not merely the letter. A creature that is physically prevented from fulfilling an oath (imprisoned, killed, etc.) is not considered an oath-breaker unless they engineered their own inability.

Initial Punishment

When an oath is broken, the violator immediately suffers the following effects:
   Searing Pain: The oath-breaker takes 3d6 points of damage (no save). This damage cannot be reduced by resistance or immunity.
   Mark of Shame: A glowing golden brand appears on the oath-breaker's forehead, visible to all creatures. This mark grants all creatures a +4 bonus on Sense Motive checks against the oath-breaker and imposes a -4 penalty on the oath-breaker's Diplomacy and Bluff checks. The mark is a curse effect (caster level 20th).
   Guilt Compulsion: The oath-breaker must succeed on a Will save (DC 25) or be compelled to confess their broken oath to the next intelligent creature they encounter. Failure to confess within 24 hours results in the oath-breaker becoming shaken (this condition does not stack with itself but persists until confession occurs). If 72 hours pass without confession to an intelligent creature, the compulsion becomes irresistible—the oath-breaker is magically compelled to actively seek out an intelligent creature to confess to, and cannot rest, hide, or avoid intelligent beings until they do so.

Escalating Penalties

For each day the oath remains unfulfilled after being broken, the punishment intensifies. The stone grants a brief mercy period in the first week, allowing the oath-breaker a window to make amends before divine retribution reaches its full severity:

  * Day 2-7: The oath-breaker takes 3d6 points of damage each dawn (no save) and suffers a -2 penalty on all attack rolls, saving throws, and skill checks.
  * Day 8-30: Damage increases to 6d6 per dawn. The penalty increases to -4. The oath-breaker cannot benefit from natural or magical healing until they make genuine effort to fulfill or atone for the broken oath.
  * Day 31+: Damage increases to 10d6 per dawn. The penalty increases to -6. The oath-breaker gains one negative level each week (Fortitude DC 25 to remove after 24 hours, as per standard negative level rules). These negative levels stack.

Ending the Punishment

The curse ends when:

  * The oath-breaker fulfills the original promise (or as much as is still possible)
  * The oath-breaker performs a quest of atonement determined by the Oath Stone's wielder (minimum one month of service)
  * The creature to whom the promise was made formally releases the oath-breaker
  * An atonement spell is cast by a cleric of 15th level or higher, followed by a successful DC 30 caster level check
  * The oath-breaker dies (punishment does not follow into afterlife or affect resurrected versions unless the same soul deliberately breaks a new oath)

Multiple Breaches

A creature that breaks multiple oaths suffers the effects of each breach simultaneously. Damage stacks, and the worst penalty to rolls applies (penalties do not stack with each other).

CURSE/DRAWBACK
Claiming ownership of the Oath Stone carries its own hazards.
   Wielder's Burden: Any creature that claims the Oath Stone as their own or carries it for more than 24 hours becomes subject to its judgment. The wielder cannot break any formal oath as defined in the Valid Oaths section—deliberate, specific promises with clear terms and explicit conditions—without suffering the full punishment as described above. Casual remarks, off-hand comments, and vague statements do not bind the wielder, regardless of context. However, the wielder is held to a stricter standard of clarity than other oath-breakers: ambiguous or poorly-defined oaths are interpreted against the wielder's favor, and the stone requires only a preponderance of evidence (rather than absolute certainty) that an oath was broken.
   Compulsive Honesty: The wielder suffers a -10 penalty on all Bluff checks and cannot voluntarily make false promises or oaths. Any attempt to do so causes 2d6 points of damage and fails automatically.
   Weight of Justice: The wielder becomes obsessed with enforcing oaths and punishing oath-breakers. Each week, the wielder must succeed on a Will save (DC 20) or become preoccupied with hunting down known oath-breakers, spending at least 4 hours per day on this pursuit. This is a mind-affecting compulsion effect.
   Separation Anxiety: If the wielder is separated from the Oath Stone by more than 100 feet for more than 1 hour, they suffer a -2 penalty on all rolls until reunited with it. This penalty increases by -1 for each additional day of separation (maximum -10).

RPG-a-Day #19: Desire

"Another of my favorite possessions is the Lover's Compass. Over the centuries, I have let a few humans have it so they could find their way to their true love. Most of those quests have ended happily. Most."

--Brigid the Red, a dragon living secretly among humans

Lover's Compass 

(requires attunement)

This exquisitely crafted compass appears to be made of brass and crystal, with delicate filigree work depicting intertwined vines or hearts around its rim. Unlike ordinary compasses, its needle is fashioned from a sliver of meteoric iron that gleams with an inner warmth. The compass has become a traditional gift among adventurers who must part ways with their beloved, serving as both a practical navigation tool and a promise of eventual reunion.

Attunement
To attune to the Lover's Compass, you must spend the dawning of a new day holding the compass while focusing your thoughts on a specific creature with whom you share a romantic bond. This creature becomes your "designated beloved" for the purposes of the compass's magic. The designated beloved need not be present during attunement, nor do they need to consent to or even be aware of the designation—the compass responds to your feelings, not theirs.
   Only one creature can be attuned to a given Lover's Compass at a time, and you can only be attuned to one Lover's Compass at a time. If you attune to a different compass or designate a different beloved, the previous attunement ends. Changing your designated beloved requires breaking attunement and re-attuning during a new short rest, a process that many find emotionally significant as it represents a shift in their heart's devotion.

 
Mechanics
While attuned to the Lover's Compass, its needle functions differently depending on your designated beloved's location and status:

Same Plane, Within 100 Miles

The needle points unerringly toward your designated beloved's current location, updating in real-time as they move. The compass provides directional guidance only—it does not indicate distance, terrain obstacles, or the safest route. If your beloved is directly above or below you (such as on a different level of a dungeon or tower), the needle spins slowly in a circle, and you instinctively sense whether they are above or below your current position.

Same Plane, Beyond 100 Miles

The needle points in the general direction of your beloved but trembles noticeably, indicating the extreme distance. At this range, the compass's accuracy decreases—it points toward your beloved's location as it was within the last 24 hours, not their current real-time position. The trembling intensifies the farther away your beloved is, providing a rough sense of whether they are merely distant or truly far away.

Different Planes

If your designated beloved is on a different plane of existence, the needle spins slowly and continuously, never settling on a direction. However, the compass grows warm to the touch, confirming that your beloved still lives. If your beloved dies while on another plane, the compass becomes cold and the needle stops moving entirely, pointing downward toward the ground.

Beloved's Death

If your designated beloved dies while on the same plane, the needle immediately points toward the location of their body (or the location where they died, if the body has been moved to another plane or destroyed). The compass grows cold to the touch, and the crystal face clouds over with frost. This state persists until you break attunement or your beloved is restored to life, at which point the compass immediately warms and resumes normal function.

Mechanical Benefits

Navigation Aid

 While traveling overland toward your designated beloved (within 100 miles and on the same plane), you have advantage on Wisdom (Survival) checks made to avoid becoming lost. The compass's guidance helps you maintain your general heading even through difficult terrain or poor visibility, though it does not reveal the safest or fastest route.

Sense Distance

As an action, you can focus on the compass to gain a rough sense of the distance to your designated beloved, provided they are on the same plane. The DM provides this information in broad categories: "within a mile," "several miles away," "many miles away," or "extremely distant" (beyond 100 miles). This feature can be used a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and all expended uses are restored when you finish a long rest.

Reunion's Clarity

When you are within 1 mile of your designated beloved and on the same plane, the compass's needle glows with soft golden light, and you gain a +2 bonus to Wisdom (Perception) checks made to locate them specifically. This bonus applies whether you're searching a crowded marketplace, a dark forest, or a sprawling dungeon—the compass helps you cut through distractions to find the one you seek.

Beacon of Hope 

As long as the compass indicates your beloved lives (through warmth and movement), you have advantage on saving throws against effects that would cause you to gain the frightened condition when the source of fear relates to your beloved's safety or your ability to reach them. Your determination to reunite with them steadies your resolve against despair.

 

 
Limitations
The Lover's Compass, while powerful, carries several limitations that reflect both magical constraints and the complex nature of love itself:

Unwilling Hearts

The compass responds to your feelings, not your beloved's. If your designated beloved does not reciprocate your romantic feelings, the compass still functions normally—it cannot distinguish between requited and unrequited love. This can lead to uncomfortable situations where the compass faithfully guides you toward someone who may not wish to be found, placing the ethical burden on the wielder to respect boundaries despite the compass's guidance.

Obscured by Magic

Certain powerful magical effects can interfere with the compass's function. If your designated beloved is within an area affected by mind blank, nondetection, or similar abjuration magic of 4th level or higher, the compass needle spins erratically and provides no useful information until the effect ends or your beloved leaves the protected area. Demiplanes and extradimensional spaces (such as a rope trick or magnificent mansion) count as different planes for the compass's purposes.

Emotional Interference

The compass is attuned to romantic love specifically. If your feelings toward your designated beloved shift significantly—such as falling out of love, developing romantic feelings for someone else, or experiencing a major betrayal—the DM may rule that the compass's accuracy decreases or that you must re-attune to maintain its function. This represents the compass's connection to your heart's true direction.

No Shortcuts

The compass points toward your beloved but does not reveal the path to reach them. It cannot detect obstacles, enemies, or dangerous terrain between you and your destination. A compass might point straight through a mountain range, across a monster-infested swamp, or into a hostile army's encampment—following its guidance without planning can lead to disaster.

Finite Guidance

The Sense Distance feature has limited daily uses, representing the mental and emotional energy required to focus your longing into precise awareness. Overusing the compass to constantly check on your beloved's distance can become obsessive, and some wielders find that the constant awareness of separation causes more pain than comfort.

 
Roleplay Hooks

The Lover's Compass might serve as the centerpiece of entire adventures.  

The Long Road Home

The Lover's Compass is perfect for creating reunion narratives. A character separated from their beloved by war, kidnapping, or circumstance can use the compass as both a mechanical tool and a symbol of hope. The DM can create tension by having the needle suddenly change direction (indicating the beloved has moved or been moved), spin wildly (suggesting planar travel or powerful magic), or grow cold (the ultimate fear). The journey to reunite becomes a quest in itself, with the compass providing direction but not safety.

Unrequited Devotion

The compass's inability to distinguish between mutual and one-sided love creates rich roleplay opportunities. A character might carry a compass pointing toward someone who doesn't return their feelings, forcing them to confront questions about respect, boundaries, and the difference between love and obsession. Alternatively, a character might discover that someone else carries a compass attuned to them, revealing feelings they never suspected. These scenarios work best when handled with emotional maturity and respect for all characters involved.

The Cold Compass

Few moments are more dramatic than when a Lover's Compass suddenly grows cold, signaling a beloved's death. This can serve as the inciting incident for a revenge quest, a desperate resurrection mission, or a profound moment of grief and character development. The compass pointing toward the body's location might lead characters into dangerous territory—a villain's stronghold, a cursed battlefield, or the depths of the Underdark. Even if resurrection is possible, the journey to recover the body while processing grief creates powerful storytelling opportunities.

RPG-a-Day #18: Directness

 Today, we take a look at a pair of magic rings that bring unfailing directness and honesty to relationships.

 
Rings of Unspoken Words

(matched pair that requires attunement by two creatures in a romantic bond)

These matching rings are crafted from intertwined bands of silver and rose gold, each set with a small gemstone that pulses with soft light when the wearer's beloved thinks of them. The rings bear no visible inscription, yet those attuned to them report feeling as though unspoken vows are etched into the metal itself. Traditionally given as tokens of commitment between adventuring lovers who must face separation, the Rings of Unspoken Words have saved countless relationships—and lives—across the planes.

 
Attunement
The Rings of Unspoken Words come as a matched pair and require attunement by exactly two creatures who share a genuine romantic bond. Both creatures must attune to their respective rings simultaneously during the same short or long rest, holding hands and speaking aloud (or otherwise communicating) their commitment to one another. If either creature's attunement to their ring ends for any reason, both rings immediately lose all magical properties until both wearers re-attune together. A creature can only be attuned to one Ring of Unspoken Words at a time; attempting to attune to a second ring automatically breaks attunement with the first.
   The rings recognize romantic bonds through the sincere intent of the attuning creatures. Attempts to attune through deception, coercion, or false pretenses automatically fail, and the rings remain dormant. The bond need not be formalized through marriage or similar institutions—what matters is the genuine emotional connection between the two individuals.

 
Mechanics
While attuned and wearing your ring, you gain the following benefits in relation to the creature attuned to the matching ring:

Telepathic Communication 

You can communicate telepathically with your bonded partner as long as you are both on the same plane of existence and within 1 mile of each other. This communication requires no action and can be maintained even while unconscious (though not while dead). You can send complex thoughts, images, and sensations, not merely simple words. However, you cannot access your partner's thoughts without their consent—they must consciously choose to share with you. Attempting to "listen in" on unwilling thoughts yields only silence.

Emotional Resonance

You are always aware of your partner's general emotional state (calm, distressed, joyful, fearful, etc.) and whether they are alive or dead, regardless of distance, as long as you remain on the same plane. This awareness is passive and requires no action or concentration. If your partner is subjected to effects that would mask their emotional state (such as mind blank or similar magic), you sense only a gentle numbness where their presence usually resides.

Heartbeat Echo

As a bonus action, you can cause your ring to pulse in rhythm with your heartbeat, allowing your partner to feel the sensation through their own ring. This serves as a simple signaling method that works even when telepathic communication is blocked or unavailable. You can establish simple codes with your partner (such as three quick pulses meaning "danger" or a steady rhythm meaning "all is well").
Mechanical Benefits

Coordinated Defense

When you can see your bonded partner and both of you are wearing your rings, you each gain a +1 bonus to AC. This bonus represents the unconscious awareness and protective instinct that flows between you.

Shared Resolve

If your bonded partner is within 30 feet of you and you can see them, you have advantage on saving throws against being frightened or charmed. Your partner grants you the same benefit. Love steadies the heart against fear and manipulation.

Emergency Beacon

Once per long rest, if you are reduced to 0 hit points while your bonded partner is within 1 mile, your ring sends an intense pulse of alarm to your partner, conveying your exact location and condition. Your partner immediately knows the direction and approximate distance to you (within 100 feet of accuracy) for the next 10 minutes. This effect occurs automatically and requires no action from you.

Limitations
The rings carry certain limitations that reflect the nature of the bond they represent:

Planar Boundaries

The telepathic communication and heartbeat echo functions cease to operate if the wearers are on different planes of existence. Only the emotional resonance (awareness of life/death and general emotional state) transcends planar boundaries.

Emotional Honesty

The rings cannot be used to lie through telepathic communication. While you can choose not to share certain thoughts, any thoughts you do consciously send through the ring are perceived by your partner as truthful. Attempts to deceive through the telepathic link cause the communication to fail, replaced by a sensation of static or discord.

Concentration Interference

If you are maintaining concentration on a spell, using the telepathic communication feature to send complex thoughts or images requires a DC 10 Constitution saving throw to maintain concentration, as the divided focus strains your mental discipline. Simple emotional impressions or single-word messages do not trigger this requirement.

Roleplay Hooks

Separation and Reunion

The rings provide excellent narrative opportunities for separated lovers. A character might feel their partner's distress through emotional resonance, spurring a rescue mission. Alternatively, the comfort of knowing a distant partner is safe can provide solace during long journeys or dangerous quests. DMs can use the rings to create dramatic moments: a sudden absence of emotional resonance might signal that a partner has crossed into another plane—or worse.

Tactical Coordination

In combat, the rings allow for silent coordination between partners. A rogue might telepathically signal their fighter partner about an ambush or separated party members might maintain communication during a complex infiltration. The heartbeat echo provides a backup communication method when magic is suppressed, and the emergency beacon can turn a potential tragedy into a dramatic rescue scene. DMs should reward creative tactical use while ensuring the rings don't overshadow other party members' abilities.

RPG-a-Day #17: Intensity

Today, we offer up another piece in the NUELOW Games d20 Superhero System of feats and talents. This one is a little different than the rest is that it consists of talents that aren't initially tied to a specific superpower feat. In fact, these talents are the exact opposite. (Everything in this post is released under the Open Game License. Copyright 2026 Steve Miller.)

 
The Intensity Talent Tree
The following talents enhance Minor Powers that deal damage to foes via elemental or energy sources. They increase the damage dealt by the power to which they are applied and can only be used on powers wielded directly by the character rather than some sort of equipment.

   Increase Elemental Damage: Gain +2d6 of damage inflicted by damage from elemental power sources (air, fire, earth, water). This bonus stacks with other bonuses gained from talents and feats.

   Prerequisite: Minor Power feat that allows character to do elemental damage to targets.

   Intensify Elemental Damage: Target's Fortitude saves made to reduce damage from elemental power sources suffer a -4 penalty.

   Prerequisite: Minor Power feat that allows character to do elemental damage to targets.

   Increase Energy Damage: Gain +2d6 of damage inflicted by damage from energy sources (electricity, kinetic, etc.). This bonus stacks with other bonuses gained from talents and feats.

   Prerequisite: Minor Power feat that allows character to do elemental damage to targets.

   Intensify Energy Damage: Target's Fortitude saves made to reduce damage from energy sources suffer a -4 penalty.

   Prerequisite: Minor Power feat that allows character to do energy damage to targets.

   Intensify Mental Attack: Target's Willpower saves made to resist telepathic powers suffer a -4 penalty.

   Prerequisite: Minor Power feat that allows character to mentally dominate or physically effect targets.