For this special prompt, invent a magic artifact that someone could find in the Spire. This item can be anything, and have any power! Don’t feel limited by Anathema’s rules for the purposes of this prompt.
What does the item look like? What does it do?
Prompt responses should be worth at least 1 Gold! However, responses to this prompt will not earn gold for your bank account; instead, your reward is your choice of Amulet or Scroll from the shop!
Each player can claim this reward only once. You can create as many fun magic artifacts as you like however! These artifacts may be used for Anathema events in the future (with credit, of course!)
Please, leave your entries as replies to this comment!
*The Crown of Eternal Madness (aka The Pewter Crown)*
A crown made of pewter, a braided band that fits perfectly around the head of the wearer, no matter who tries it on. The inner band is stained a rusty red.
When the Crown finds the perfect host, it will latch on, the inner band of the crown growing thorns to cement it onto the bearer’s head. Nothing can remove the crown, and no amount of tugging will make it move. It will just cause extensive pain for the wearer.
The Crown gives a character a +5 boost to their Power stat and a +3 boost to their Discipline stat, at the cost of gaining a Corruption point every month and feeling an inescapable, untameable anger for all those around them. Once the mage fully Corrupts, the crown releases, falling to the ground, as benign-looking as before. No fresh blood will stain it, only the rusty red interior of the band belying its maddening effects.
The Crown will only latch onto a mage, as it requires magic to activate.
(169)
*The Sun’s Shard*
Rumored to be a drop of sunlight fallen to the earth, the Sun’s Shard is a crystal possessing incredible amounts of power for those who can wield it. In the presence of a light, fire, or electric mage, it will glow and emit a fair amount of heat.
Mages of the aforementioned types can give themselves to the Sun’s Shard, gifting it with a blood offering in order to bear the Shard. Such mages will gain a +5 boost to their Power stat, but will find it difficult to remain in control of such power.
Every month, the Shard requires a new offering of blood and devotion. If a mage cannot or will not provide this offering, the Shard will teleport itself to a new mage whose powers align with the Shard. The bereft mage loses the +5 Power stat and also loses 1 Discipline.
However, should a mage continue to give themselves to the Shard, more and more blood will be required, up to and including the entirety of blood in the mage’s body. If this kills the mage, their body alights into a glorious supernova, the explosion powerful enough to level towns.
Their soul then becomes trapped in the Shard, which returns to the place that the mage found it. If that place has been destroyed by the former bearer’s supernova beyond habitation, it then teleports to the highest collection of mages whose powers can be activated by the Shard, wherever that may be.
(246)
*The Moon’s Chalice*
The Moon’s Chalice is a tarnished silver cup, intricately covered in carvings of the moon cycle and filled with a swirling silver liquid that has a slight glow. The liquid in this cup can heal any wound, cure any illness, and grant any wish. The Chalice is rumored to be the only surviving belonging of a lunar mage, who Corrupted in order to save those she loved from those who would do them harm.
However, there is a price. The person who wishes to use the Chalice must offer up a drop of their blood and a prayer that clearly states what the user wishes the Chalice to do. Then, and only then, may the user drink from the Chalice.
If the user is found to be worthy by the Chalice- usually one who puts others before themselves, or wishes fiercely for the good of another- then their wish is granted as intended.
However, if found to be unworthy, the Chalice will harm those who wish to use its powers for evil.
These punishments can be as simple as “misinterpreting” the desired effect, such as giving the wish to another, or as vile as poisoning the user and damning them to a painful death, or “granting” the wish, only to have that which the user held most dear removed in the most horrible of fashions. It is also rumored to be the drink of choice for any mages who wish to Corrupt themselves, although this has never been proven.
No matter if the wish is granted or not, or how pure of heart the user may be, there is always a cost for using the Moon’s Chalice. A mage may lose 1 Power and 1 Discipline, or gain 2 Corruption. A non-mage may be cursed by this object or lose something of value to them.
(305)
*The Endless Bottle*
The Endless Bottle appears to be a well-crafted glass bottle containing some alcoholic beverage, stamped with growing leaves and vines and berries of some sort. Inside is a fruity liquid, sweet and cloying to the senses. Once emptied in part, the bottle refills, never running dry.
For some, the high given by the fruity concoction is manageable, soft and sweet and usually manifesting its side effects in the form of hunger for some savory or salty snack.
For others, the high gifted by this drink is unmatched. Nothing will compare to the high given by the drink, and so it is far too easy to fall down the rabbit hole and fall prey to the liquid.
Due to its addictive qualities, the Bottle was hidden away by Ivratians long since passed. However, somehow, the Bottle has revealed itself again.
Heart's Doorway
A brass doorknob, ornate in design, with featuring intricate carvings of hearts and swirls over its surface. When held firmly against a flat and horizontal surface, it will rapidly summon an intricate oaken door around itself. This door, once opened, will lead to wherever the user wants most, be it their childhood home, an empty field, or really anywhere in the world. It cannot just be "I want to go to the shop", it will only take the user where they most deeply want in their heart to go. Once the door has been stepped through and closed shut, the doorknob can be retrieved from the other side, after which the doorway will quickly vanish.
(115)
This strange artifact appears at first to be the hilt of a blade. It is chipped and weathered, and the blade that was once there has been broken away. It appears to simply be a useless piece of junk. However, the hilt possesses magical properties.
Said to have been created by a mage who desired power above all else, when the hilt is dipped in an offering of blood, a small red blade will appear, replacing the blade that was broken off. It is made out of a strong, almost unbreakable metal. At first, the weapon is only the size of a dagger. If more blood sacrifices are made, by using the blade to harm someone, the blade will eventually become a longsword; the damaged hilt being fully repaired by the blood it has drawn.
If used by a mage, they will attain +1 power every time they significantly harm someone with the blade. However, they also gain +1 corruption. If the mage corrupts fully or dies otherwise, the hilt will revert to its original bladeless state, waiting for someone to start the cycle all over again.
Invisibility cape It’s possibly centuries old, and from the outside looks like an ordinary wool cape. The inside however glitters with little beads, like miniature pearls. It was made by a mage long ago, woven by hand. The cape makes the wearer invisible, and once worn the cape itself disappears too. It silences any footsteps, though the wearer does not immaterialize and can still be touched.
The pair of voices A pair of beetles, sculpted out of petrified wood. Or perhaps the beetles were carved long before the wood became petrified. In each others vicinity, nothing happens. Once the beetles are in the possession of two different people can they be used to communicate over long distance. Anyone speaking into one beetle can be heard by the person with the other one.
Mirror shards Long ago these pieces used to be part of a large mirror showing anyone looking into it their true reflection. For many, that meant nothing, but for anyone lying about who they were or hiding their identity, this mirror was dangerous. It was eventually destroyed, and the old owner carelessly discarded the pieces. The smaller shards are useless, but the bigger ones show any mage the reflection of the corruption they carry inside, and the monster they may one day become.
Once upon a time, a great champion was given a token by a lover; a beautiful embroidered cloth.
The wore this as a token into every battle, wrapped around a weapon-hilt in war, folded into a pocket in 'polite' political discussion.
When they lay broken at the end of a hard-faught, awful fight, the sight of the cloth gave them a supernatural second wind; the champion rose again as a mage, and saw victory ever-after until their peaceful death at a ripe old age.
Should the holder of this cloth fall to anything other than corruption, they will rise again empowered.
Anathema
create an artifact!
Want a chance to take a treasure for yourself?
Prompt responses should be worth at least 1 Gold! However, responses to this prompt will not earn gold for your bank account; instead, your reward is your choice of Amulet or Scroll from the shop!
Each player can claim this reward only once. You can create as many fun magic artifacts as you like however!
These artifacts may be used for Anathema events in the future (with credit, of course!)
Please, leave your entries as replies to this comment!
1 year, 11 months ago
Well, I guess I'll go first. Here goes!
*The Crown of Eternal Madness (aka The Pewter Crown)*
A crown made of pewter, a braided band that fits perfectly around the head of the wearer, no matter who tries it on. The inner band is stained a rusty red.
When the Crown finds the perfect host, it will latch on, the inner band of the crown growing thorns to cement it onto the bearer’s head. Nothing can remove the crown, and no amount of tugging will make it move. It will just cause extensive pain for the wearer.
The Crown gives a character a +5 boost to their Power stat and a +3 boost to their Discipline stat, at the cost of gaining a Corruption point every month and feeling an inescapable, untameable anger for all those around them. Once the mage fully Corrupts, the crown releases, falling to the ground, as benign-looking as before. No fresh blood will stain it, only the rusty red interior of the band belying its maddening effects.
The Crown will only latch onto a mage, as it requires magic to activate.
(169)
*The Sun’s Shard*
Rumored to be a drop of sunlight fallen to the earth, the Sun’s Shard is a crystal possessing incredible amounts of power for those who can wield it. In the presence of a light, fire, or electric mage, it will glow and emit a fair amount of heat.
Mages of the aforementioned types can give themselves to the Sun’s Shard, gifting it with a blood offering in order to bear the Shard. Such mages will gain a +5 boost to their Power stat, but will find it difficult to remain in control of such power.
Every month, the Shard requires a new offering of blood and devotion. If a mage cannot or will not provide this offering, the Shard will teleport itself to a new mage whose powers align with the Shard. The bereft mage loses the +5 Power stat and also loses 1 Discipline.
However, should a mage continue to give themselves to the Shard, more and more blood will be required, up to and including the entirety of blood in the mage’s body. If this kills the mage, their body alights into a glorious supernova, the explosion powerful enough to level towns.
Their soul then becomes trapped in the Shard, which returns to the place that the mage found it. If that place has been destroyed by the former bearer’s supernova beyond habitation, it then teleports to the highest collection of mages whose powers can be activated by the Shard, wherever that may be.
(246)
*The Moon’s Chalice*
The Moon’s Chalice is a tarnished silver cup, intricately covered in carvings of the moon cycle and filled with a swirling silver liquid that has a slight glow. The liquid in this cup can heal any wound, cure any illness, and grant any wish. The Chalice is rumored to be the only surviving belonging of a lunar mage, who Corrupted in order to save those she loved from those who would do them harm.
However, there is a price. The person who wishes to use the Chalice must offer up a drop of their blood and a prayer that clearly states what the user wishes the Chalice to do. Then, and only then, may the user drink from the Chalice.
If the user is found to be worthy by the Chalice- usually one who puts others before themselves, or wishes fiercely for the good of another- then their wish is granted as intended.
However, if found to be unworthy, the Chalice will harm those who wish to use its powers for evil.
These punishments can be as simple as “misinterpreting” the desired effect, such as giving the wish to another, or as vile as poisoning the user and damning them to a painful death, or “granting” the wish, only to have that which the user held most dear removed in the most horrible of fashions. It is also rumored to be the drink of choice for any mages who wish to Corrupt themselves, although this has never been proven.
No matter if the wish is granted or not, or how pure of heart the user may be, there is always a cost for using the Moon’s Chalice. A mage may lose 1 Power and 1 Discipline, or gain 2 Corruption. A non-mage may be cursed by this object or lose something of value to them.
(305)
*The Endless Bottle*
The Endless Bottle appears to be a well-crafted glass bottle containing some alcoholic beverage, stamped with growing leaves and vines and berries of some sort. Inside is a fruity liquid, sweet and cloying to the senses. Once emptied in part, the bottle refills, never running dry.
For some, the high given by the fruity concoction is manageable, soft and sweet and usually manifesting its side effects in the form of hunger for some savory or salty snack.
For others, the high gifted by this drink is unmatched. Nothing will compare to the high given by the drink, and so it is far too easy to fall down the rabbit hole and fall prey to the liquid.
Due to its addictive qualities, the Bottle was hidden away by Ivratians long since passed. However, somehow, the Bottle has revealed itself again.
(139)
1 year, 11 months ago Edited 1:50 pm
Heart's Doorway
A brass doorknob, ornate in design, with featuring intricate carvings of hearts and swirls over its surface. When held firmly against a flat and horizontal surface, it will rapidly summon an intricate oaken door around itself. This door, once opened, will lead to wherever the user wants most, be it their childhood home, an empty field, or really anywhere in the world. It cannot just be "I want to go to the shop", it will only take the user where they most deeply want in their heart to go. Once the door has been stepped through and closed shut, the doorknob can be retrieved from the other side, after which the doorway will quickly vanish.
(115)
1 year, 11 months ago Edited 9:07 am
The Hilt:
This strange artifact appears at first to be the hilt of a blade. It is chipped and weathered, and the blade that was once there has been broken away. It appears to simply be a useless piece of junk. However, the hilt possesses magical properties.
Said to have been created by a mage who desired power above all else, when the hilt is dipped in an offering of blood, a small red blade will appear, replacing the blade that was broken off. It is made out of a strong, almost unbreakable metal. At first, the weapon is only the size of a dagger. If more blood sacrifices are made, by using the blade to harm someone, the blade will eventually become a longsword; the damaged hilt being fully repaired by the blood it has drawn.
If used by a mage, they will attain +1 power every time they significantly harm someone with the blade. However, they also gain +1 corruption. If the mage corrupts fully or dies otherwise, the hilt will revert to its original bladeless state, waiting for someone to start the cycle all over again.
(187)
1 year, 11 months ago
Invisibility cape
It’s possibly centuries old, and from the outside looks like an ordinary wool cape. The inside however glitters with little beads, like miniature pearls. It was made by a mage long ago, woven by hand.
The cape makes the wearer invisible, and once worn the cape itself disappears too. It silences any footsteps, though the wearer does not immaterialize and can still be touched.
The pair of voices
A pair of beetles, sculpted out of petrified wood. Or perhaps the beetles were carved long before the wood became petrified.
In each others vicinity, nothing happens. Once the beetles are in the possession of two different people can they be used to communicate over long distance. Anyone speaking into one beetle can be heard by the person with the other one.
Mirror shards
Long ago these pieces used to be part of a large mirror showing anyone looking into it their true reflection. For many, that meant nothing, but for anyone lying about who they were or hiding their identity, this mirror was dangerous.
It was eventually destroyed, and the old owner carelessly discarded the pieces. The smaller shards are useless, but the bigger ones show any mage the reflection of the corruption they carry inside, and the monster they may one day become.
(215)
1 year, 10 months ago
Champions Wrappings
Once upon a time, a great champion was given a token by a lover; a beautiful embroidered cloth. The wore this as a token into every battle, wrapped around a weapon-hilt in war, folded into a pocket in 'polite' political discussion.
When they lay broken at the end of a hard-faught, awful fight, the sight of the cloth gave them a supernatural second wind; the champion rose again as a mage, and saw victory ever-after until their peaceful death at a ripe old age. Should the holder of this cloth fall to anything other than corruption, they will rise again empowered.
[101 Words]
1 year, 10 months ago