rferries
2018-02-15, 04:20 AM
These magnificent jewels are in fact the phylacteries of an ancient demilich, who in ages past so affronted the gods of both Good and Evil that they struck the creature down and scattered its soulstones across the world. The gems are now guarded by ancient monsters and loyal servitors of various deities, waiting until such time as they are reunited and can restore their master to this plane.
The demilich had planned on becoming a deity itself, and so each gem is imbued with power over a particular aspect of the universe. These powers have drawn the interest of corrupt individuals, and your party has in fact been approached by a vampire masquerading as an ancient sage. An expert on the legend of the supposedly benign "Rainbow God", she offers to reward adventurers handsomely if they can retrieve the god's "relics" for her from their various hiding places...
Each gem might be freestanding or set into another item (e.g. a ring, crown, sceptre, tome, throne, etc...), at the DM's option. Their powers are useable by any creature, but at a cost - each week that a creature possesses a gem, they must make a DC Will save or become permanently charmed by the gem. The charm typically leads a bearer away from the cause of good or towards fulfilling the demilich's inscrutable will.
Suggested locations, guardians, and powers for the gems are described below. The caster level of a gem (or effective character level for effects such as turn undead) is equal to the character level of its bearer, +1 for each other gem within 30 feet. At the DM's option the gems could unlock other powers (e.g. move earth for the Earth gem). It is even possible that increasing a gem's caster level to 20 or more might unlock unimaginable powers - there are tales of a great warrior who once used the Fire Gem to reignite a dormant volcano, a wicked queen who raised undead armies with the Death Gem, and so forth. Such effects should be in line with a miracle or wish spell based around the gem's theme.
Red Ruby of Fire
Location
In an obsidian castle rising from the molten "lake" of a vast and raging volcano.
Guardian
A cruel efreeti sorcerer, served by a red dragon mount and a red-hot iron golem (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?535879-Revised-Iron-Golem&p=22372258#post22372258) as well as numerous azers, salamanders, fire giants, and fire elementals.
Powers
The bearer gains the [Fire] subtype, the Burn special quality as a fire elemental of its Hit Dice, and the ability to rebuke [Fire] creatures as an evil cleric rebukes undead.
Orange Garnet of Earth
Location
In an adamantine fortress deep beneath even the drow and duergar realms.
Guardian
An ancient and gargantuan delver diviner loremaster, the last and wisest of his civilisation.
Powers
The bearer gains the [Earth] subtype, the Earth Glide special quality as an earth elemental, and the ability to rebuke [Earth] creatures as an evil cleric rebukes undead.
Yellow Topaz of Air
Location
In a cloud-borne palace in the eye of a perpetual tornado.
Guardian
A capricious (yet benign) noble djinn rogue attended by a court of other djinni and air elementals.
Powers
The bearer gains the [Air] subtype, the Air Mastery special quality as an air elemental, a fly speed equal to twice their base land speed with perfect maneuverability, and the ability to rebuke [Air] creatures as an evil cleric rebukes undead.
Green Emerald of Nature
Location
In a vast and wild forest far beyond the borders of civilisation.
Guardian
A nymph Fochlucan lyrist, reigning over treants, satyrs, centaurs, sprite swarms (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?531599-Sprite-Swarm-(shedding-pixie-dust-everywhere)), and dryad archers riding unicorns.
Powers
The bearer gains a constant, non-dispellable barkskin effect, the Trackless Step, Resist Nature's Lure, Wild Empathy, and Woodland Stride class features, and the ability to rebuke animals, plants, and vermin as an evil cleric rebukes undead.
Blue Sapphire of Water
Location
In a Xenopolitan (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?522091-Xenopolitans-(C%92thulhu-Lite-PC-Aberration-race))planeship-fortress-city deep within an ocean trench.
Guardian
A malevolent benthic behemoth (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=22122805&postcount=4), worshipped by the Xenopolitan cultists as a god and ruling over them with iron tentacles.
Powers
The bearer gains the [Water] subtype, the Amphibious special quality, a swim speed equal to twice its base land speed, and the ability to rebuke [Water] creatures as an evil cleric rebukes undead.
Indigo Alexandrite of Death
Location
In a dead forest long since abandoned by an Ashen Circle (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=22323076&postcount=7).
Guardian
The accursed Witch-Hazel (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?539073-Witch-Hazel-(yet-another-Undead-Dryad)&p=22473302) and her undead minions.
Powers
The bearer gains the ability to use strength of the undead (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?524764-New-Spells-Greater-False-Life-Strength-of-the-Undead-(from-BtVS)) once per day as a spell-like ability and the ability to rebuke undead as an evil cleric.
Violet Amethyst of Cosmos
Location
In a genesis-created artificial plane containing a labyrinthine archwizard's castle (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?537715-Witch-s-Cottage-up-to-Archwizard-s-Castle-(spells-to-become-a-stronghold-builder)) that bends both time and space.
Guardian
Although the stronghold is abandoned, it is replete with traps, contructs, oozes, extraplanar creatures, and even time warps...
Powers
The bearer always retains the [Native] subtype, gains a constant non-dispellable freedom of movement effect, and the ability to use rainbow bridge (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?532416-Rainbow-Bridge-(anti-Shadow-Walk-for-Evocation)) and shadow walk each once per day as spell-like abilities.
White Opal of Life
Location
Originally hidden away on the Positive Energy Plane, the gem has been stolen away to a distant and exotic kingdom.
Guardian
A corrupt monarch, who uses the gem to keep herself and her decadent court young despite a reign of terror that has lasted generations.
Powers
The bearer gains a constant non-dispellable death ward effect, and the ability to turn undead as a good cleric.
Black Diamond of Evil
Location
The remote town of Tristram, in recent years the subject of grave misfortune.
Guardian
A pit fiend lairing near the town and conjuring fiends and undead to build his army.
Powers
The bearer gains a constant non-dispellable magic circle against good effect, and the ability to turn [Good] outsiders as a good cleric turns undead.
Diamond of Good
Location
A celestial temple somewhere beyond the rainbow.
Guardian
A pair of guardian naga and couatl sorcerers attended by archons and sacred elementals. Acquiring their Gem will be difficult for good-aligned parties, requiring exceptional diplomacy or stealth.
Powers
The bearer gains a constant non-dispellable magic circle against evil effect, and the ability to turn [Evil] outsiders as a good cleric turns undead.
The demilich had planned on becoming a deity itself, and so each gem is imbued with power over a particular aspect of the universe. These powers have drawn the interest of corrupt individuals, and your party has in fact been approached by a vampire masquerading as an ancient sage. An expert on the legend of the supposedly benign "Rainbow God", she offers to reward adventurers handsomely if they can retrieve the god's "relics" for her from their various hiding places...
Each gem might be freestanding or set into another item (e.g. a ring, crown, sceptre, tome, throne, etc...), at the DM's option. Their powers are useable by any creature, but at a cost - each week that a creature possesses a gem, they must make a DC Will save or become permanently charmed by the gem. The charm typically leads a bearer away from the cause of good or towards fulfilling the demilich's inscrutable will.
Suggested locations, guardians, and powers for the gems are described below. The caster level of a gem (or effective character level for effects such as turn undead) is equal to the character level of its bearer, +1 for each other gem within 30 feet. At the DM's option the gems could unlock other powers (e.g. move earth for the Earth gem). It is even possible that increasing a gem's caster level to 20 or more might unlock unimaginable powers - there are tales of a great warrior who once used the Fire Gem to reignite a dormant volcano, a wicked queen who raised undead armies with the Death Gem, and so forth. Such effects should be in line with a miracle or wish spell based around the gem's theme.
Red Ruby of Fire
Location
In an obsidian castle rising from the molten "lake" of a vast and raging volcano.
Guardian
A cruel efreeti sorcerer, served by a red dragon mount and a red-hot iron golem (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?535879-Revised-Iron-Golem&p=22372258#post22372258) as well as numerous azers, salamanders, fire giants, and fire elementals.
Powers
The bearer gains the [Fire] subtype, the Burn special quality as a fire elemental of its Hit Dice, and the ability to rebuke [Fire] creatures as an evil cleric rebukes undead.
Orange Garnet of Earth
Location
In an adamantine fortress deep beneath even the drow and duergar realms.
Guardian
An ancient and gargantuan delver diviner loremaster, the last and wisest of his civilisation.
Powers
The bearer gains the [Earth] subtype, the Earth Glide special quality as an earth elemental, and the ability to rebuke [Earth] creatures as an evil cleric rebukes undead.
Yellow Topaz of Air
Location
In a cloud-borne palace in the eye of a perpetual tornado.
Guardian
A capricious (yet benign) noble djinn rogue attended by a court of other djinni and air elementals.
Powers
The bearer gains the [Air] subtype, the Air Mastery special quality as an air elemental, a fly speed equal to twice their base land speed with perfect maneuverability, and the ability to rebuke [Air] creatures as an evil cleric rebukes undead.
Green Emerald of Nature
Location
In a vast and wild forest far beyond the borders of civilisation.
Guardian
A nymph Fochlucan lyrist, reigning over treants, satyrs, centaurs, sprite swarms (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?531599-Sprite-Swarm-(shedding-pixie-dust-everywhere)), and dryad archers riding unicorns.
Powers
The bearer gains a constant, non-dispellable barkskin effect, the Trackless Step, Resist Nature's Lure, Wild Empathy, and Woodland Stride class features, and the ability to rebuke animals, plants, and vermin as an evil cleric rebukes undead.
Blue Sapphire of Water
Location
In a Xenopolitan (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?522091-Xenopolitans-(C%92thulhu-Lite-PC-Aberration-race))planeship-fortress-city deep within an ocean trench.
Guardian
A malevolent benthic behemoth (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=22122805&postcount=4), worshipped by the Xenopolitan cultists as a god and ruling over them with iron tentacles.
Powers
The bearer gains the [Water] subtype, the Amphibious special quality, a swim speed equal to twice its base land speed, and the ability to rebuke [Water] creatures as an evil cleric rebukes undead.
Indigo Alexandrite of Death
Location
In a dead forest long since abandoned by an Ashen Circle (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=22323076&postcount=7).
Guardian
The accursed Witch-Hazel (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?539073-Witch-Hazel-(yet-another-Undead-Dryad)&p=22473302) and her undead minions.
Powers
The bearer gains the ability to use strength of the undead (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?524764-New-Spells-Greater-False-Life-Strength-of-the-Undead-(from-BtVS)) once per day as a spell-like ability and the ability to rebuke undead as an evil cleric.
Violet Amethyst of Cosmos
Location
In a genesis-created artificial plane containing a labyrinthine archwizard's castle (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?537715-Witch-s-Cottage-up-to-Archwizard-s-Castle-(spells-to-become-a-stronghold-builder)) that bends both time and space.
Guardian
Although the stronghold is abandoned, it is replete with traps, contructs, oozes, extraplanar creatures, and even time warps...
Powers
The bearer always retains the [Native] subtype, gains a constant non-dispellable freedom of movement effect, and the ability to use rainbow bridge (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?532416-Rainbow-Bridge-(anti-Shadow-Walk-for-Evocation)) and shadow walk each once per day as spell-like abilities.
White Opal of Life
Location
Originally hidden away on the Positive Energy Plane, the gem has been stolen away to a distant and exotic kingdom.
Guardian
A corrupt monarch, who uses the gem to keep herself and her decadent court young despite a reign of terror that has lasted generations.
Powers
The bearer gains a constant non-dispellable death ward effect, and the ability to turn undead as a good cleric.
Black Diamond of Evil
Location
The remote town of Tristram, in recent years the subject of grave misfortune.
Guardian
A pit fiend lairing near the town and conjuring fiends and undead to build his army.
Powers
The bearer gains a constant non-dispellable magic circle against good effect, and the ability to turn [Good] outsiders as a good cleric turns undead.
Diamond of Good
Location
A celestial temple somewhere beyond the rainbow.
Guardian
A pair of guardian naga and couatl sorcerers attended by archons and sacred elementals. Acquiring their Gem will be difficult for good-aligned parties, requiring exceptional diplomacy or stealth.
Powers
The bearer gains a constant non-dispellable magic circle against evil effect, and the ability to turn [Evil] outsiders as a good cleric turns undead.