So, I want to give the bard in my party an instrument that's inspired by 'Lecter' the violin from The Laundry Files series.
"
Lecter is essentially a vampiric demon bound inside an instrument made from the bones and body parts of twelve humans that were tortured to death. V. evil, needs feeding the souls of demons on a regular basis or he gets *hungry* and might seek to devour the wielder or their companions.
I think in this case the instrument was made by devils to devour demons or vice-versa?
Any suggestions for traits / abilities that you'd stat this with? I was thinking of some of the Blackrazor flavour about being fed but I'm not sure what else to put in there. I envisage the instrument becoming more powerful as it devours more souls - it's in a near-dormant state when found by the party.
I'd start with something like a Sword of Life Stealing effect and build out from there. If it is cursed, maybe make it so that if the instrument is not used to steal life at least one during a period of time (day/week/etc.) then it drains the user for an unhealable amount of health.
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"The mongoose blew out its candle and was asleep in bed before the room went dark." —Llanowar fable
There's a free "Weapons of Legacy" pdf supplement that WotC put out back during the 3rd Ed era and I'm pretty sure it was updated for 4e, but I can't find that right now. Basically it is a rule break-down for how to start a player with a +1 magical item and have it grow over the course of the game. You might find it very helpful to you.
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"The mongoose blew out its candle and was asleep in bed before the room went dark." —Llanowar fable
Mechanics aside...if this instrument is truly evil, perhaps any song the user attempts to play on it automatically projects, instead, a randomly selected Justin Bieber song. When played, all creatures within 30 feet capable of hearing it automatically take X amount of psychic damage and are Deafened for a full minute. The "Lute of Bieber" is a sentient, chaotic evil weapon and once attuned, its bearer is overcome by the drive to build a fandom of teenage females and becomes so self-obsessed that all charisma checks fail automatically. The soul of the man-boy sealed inside of it makes a random nonsensical statement roughly once every ten minutes.
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"There is a wide world out there, my friend, full of pain, but filled with joy as well. The former keeps you on the path of growth, and the latter makes the journey tolerable." --Montolio Debrouchee
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So, I want to give the bard in my party an instrument that's inspired by 'Lecter' the violin from The Laundry Files series.
"
Lecter is essentially a vampiric demon bound inside an instrument made from the bones and body parts of twelve humans that were tortured to death. V. evil, needs feeding the souls of demons on a regular basis or he gets *hungry* and might seek to devour the wielder or their companions.
I think in this case the instrument was made by devils to devour demons or vice-versa?
Any suggestions for traits / abilities that you'd stat this with? I was thinking of some of the Blackrazor flavour about being fed but I'm not sure what else to put in there. I envisage the instrument becoming more powerful as it devours more souls - it's in a near-dormant state when found by the party.
(Edited because the link didn't work)
I'd start with something like a Sword of Life Stealing effect and build out from there. If it is cursed, maybe make it so that if the instrument is not used to steal life at least one during a period of time (day/week/etc.) then it drains the user for an unhealable amount of health.
Thanks - that's a good idea. Have you got any ideas for a mechanic to allow the instrument to gain power over time as it takes more lives?
There's a free "Weapons of Legacy" pdf supplement that WotC put out back during the 3rd Ed era and I'm pretty sure it was updated for 4e, but I can't find that right now. Basically it is a rule break-down for how to start a player with a +1 magical item and have it grow over the course of the game. You might find it very helpful to you.
Ah yes, that does look very useful. Thanks very much!
Mechanics aside...if this instrument is truly evil, perhaps any song the user attempts to play on it automatically projects, instead, a randomly selected Justin Bieber song. When played, all creatures within 30 feet capable of hearing it automatically take X amount of psychic damage and are Deafened for a full minute. The "Lute of Bieber" is a sentient, chaotic evil weapon and once attuned, its bearer is overcome by the drive to build a fandom of teenage females and becomes so self-obsessed that all charisma checks fail automatically. The soul of the man-boy sealed inside of it makes a random nonsensical statement roughly once every ten minutes.
"There is a wide world out there, my friend, full of pain, but filled with joy as well. The former keeps you on the path of growth, and the latter makes the journey tolerable." --Montolio Debrouchee