This amulet is a small crystal vial set in tarnished silver, worn on a frayed cord or chain. Inside floats a single preserved sardine in golden oil. The fish never decays, and when danger nears, the oil subtly ripples as if stirred by unseen tides.
Many laugh when they see it. None laugh for long.
Artifact Lore
The Amulet of the Last Sardine is said to appear around the necks of the forgotten: failed heroes, disgraced warriors, the last survivor of a lost cause. It does not choose the strong—it chooses the one still swimming.
If the amulet is thrown away, sold, or destroyed, it reappears at dawn around the neck of a creature within 10 miles who is most in need of a second chance.
Dormant • Awakened • Exalted States
The amulet’s power deepens through acts of humility, perseverance, and redemption (DM discretion).
Dormant State — “Still Swimming”
Feast of the Forgotten
Once per short rest, the wearer may draw strength from the sardine:
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Regain 2d10 hit points
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Remove one level of exhaustion
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Gain advantage on the next saving throw made within 1 minute
The sardine reforms fully at dawn.
Underdog’s Resolve
When the wearer fails an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw, they may immediately reroll the die and take the new result.
This ability can be used once per round, and only if the wearer has failed a roll since the end of their last turn.
Awakened State — “Against the Current”
Redemption in Oil
Once per long rest, when the wearer would be reduced to 0 hit points, they instead drop to 1 hit point and immediately regain 3d8 hit points.
Until the end of the wearer’s next turn:
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They have advantage on all attack rolls
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Their movement does not provoke opportunity attacks
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The first creature they hit takes 3d6 radiant damage
Mockery Becomes Might
While outnumbered or facing a creature of higher CR, the wearer’s first successful attack each turn deals +1d8 radiant or force damage (wearer’s choice).
Exalted State — “The Tide Breaks”
Last Fish Standing
Once per week, when the wearer would die outright, fate refuses:
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The wearer instead regains half their maximum hit points
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All conditions affecting them end
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Hostile creatures within 30 feet must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw
(DC = 8 + proficiency bonus + wearer’s highest ability modifier)
or be frightened of the wearer for 1 minute
For the next minute, the wearer:
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Automatically succeeds on one failed roll per round
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Cannot be reduced below 1 hit point by any effect short of divine or DM-approved instant death
Redemption’s Burden (Artifact Drawback)
Each time Last Fish Standing is used, the DM secretly marks a tally.
At 3 tallies, the amulet demands action:
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The next time the wearer avoids death through the amulet, they must save, protect, or redeem another creature within 7 days
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Until this act is completed, the amulet becomes Dormant
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