Recently got my group together to begin crafting characters for our upcoming campaign that will start once we finish with Curse of Strahd. We'll be playing Eberron, so great potential for magical artifacts abound. One of my players will be playing a changeling bard, who, as part of her backstory, is adventuring in hopes of finding a rumored amulet (or whatever) that will grant her widespread fame, something she greatly desires. The irony being that, as a changeling, she needs/wants to continue to hide her true nature. I am thinking that something bestowing a decent bump to Charisma might be an idea, with perhaps some sort of aura that draws attention to her every move. Not sure if this is the right way to go, or if there might be something out there already that can be retooled to do what I am imagining. I am figuring that it could/should be something that is pretty much a double-edge sword, meaning "you get what you're looking for, but this is the tradeoff." Which I guess sounds like could also be a cursed object. Have done a bit of searching, but so far haven't found anything. Wondering if the think take here might have some ideas, or can point me in the right direction. Thanks for the help!
I think your Charisma bump and aura are going in the right direction. Maybe the amulet has Enchantment spells that charm/enthrall people AND mandate that she perform, etc. in a way that makes them all remember her fondly as an extra 'side effect' to those spells? A lingering trace of the charming effect the amulet gives her.
Well, depends on what 'fame' means -- both what the player thinks it means, and what the source of the rumors thinks it means. However, one of the simplest options is any instrument of the bards (you said amulet 'or whatever', that's clearly a whatever, but...).
Unfair dirty tricks version: it's an item that just causes you to be in places where you can earn fame -- when disasters happen, you are there.
Weird Insight. The nothic targets one creature it can see within 30 feet of it. The target must contest its Charisma (Deception) check against the nothic’s Wisdom (Insight) check. If the nothic wins, it magically learns one fact or secret about the target. The target automatically wins if it is immune to being charmed.
Basically they'd have to roll deception to hide facts about themselves or they accidentally psychically reveal a secret that people then start talking about.
For positive effects just give them abilities like the following and have the curse trigger when they use those effects
Whenever you are in a place where there is entertainment (for example, inn, theatre, public space), one of the performers will give an epic poem or song about you. It will have a sliver of truth, but your accomplishments will always be heavily exaggerated.
Advantage: You get fame. :-)
Disadvantage: You get attention. You lose all anonymity. People get an inflated sense of your capabilities.
Recently got my group together to begin crafting characters for our upcoming campaign that will start once we finish with Curse of Strahd. We'll be playing Eberron, so great potential for magical artifacts abound. One of my players will be playing a changeling bard, who, as part of her backstory, is adventuring in hopes of finding a rumored amulet (or whatever) that will grant her widespread fame, something she greatly desires. The irony being that, as a changeling, she needs/wants to continue to hide her true nature. I am thinking that something bestowing a decent bump to Charisma might be an idea, with perhaps some sort of aura that draws attention to her every move. Not sure if this is the right way to go, or if there might be something out there already that can be retooled to do what I am imagining. I am figuring that it could/should be something that is pretty much a double-edge sword, meaning "you get what you're looking for, but this is the tradeoff." Which I guess sounds like could also be a cursed object. Have done a bit of searching, but so far haven't found anything. Wondering if the think take here might have some ideas, or can point me in the right direction. Thanks for the help!
I think your Charisma bump and aura are going in the right direction. Maybe the amulet has Enchantment spells that charm/enthrall people AND mandate that she perform, etc. in a way that makes them all remember her fondly as an extra 'side effect' to those spells? A lingering trace of the charming effect the amulet gives her.
Well, depends on what 'fame' means -- both what the player thinks it means, and what the source of the rumors thinks it means. However, one of the simplest options is any instrument of the bards (you said amulet 'or whatever', that's clearly a whatever, but...).
Unfair dirty tricks version: it's an item that just causes you to be in places where you can earn fame -- when disasters happen, you are there.
For curses I have some ideas
Basically they'd have to roll deception to hide facts about themselves or they accidentally psychically reveal a secret that people then start talking about.
For positive effects just give them abilities like the following and have the curse trigger when they use those effects
Artifact of Fame
Whenever you are in a place where there is entertainment (for example, inn, theatre, public space), one of the performers will give an epic poem or song about you. It will have a sliver of truth, but your accomplishments will always be heavily exaggerated.
Advantage: You get fame. :-)
Disadvantage: You get attention. You lose all anonymity. People get an inflated sense of your capabilities.
Just a flavor suggestion here...but whatever the item is, it should be made from a Holly tree...
Holly wood...
Aut Inveniam Viam Aut Faciam (Find a way or make one) - Hannibal Allegedly
Lessons learned in blood are not soon forgotten. - Clyde Shelton
The truth is not what you want it to be; it is what it is and you must bow to it's power or live a lie. -Miyamoto Musashi