A heavy cylindrical reliquary of blackened bronze and dark crystal, bound in spiked iron chains etched with Abyssal sigils. The surface is opaque and warm to the touch. Faint red fissures pulse beneath the metal like veins carrying living blood.
Within the vessel churns condensed Abyssal ichor, the bound essence of Zhul’Vareth, the Drowned Blasphemy, a traitor demon punished by its own kind and cast into a reliquary as a living prison.
The reliquary cannot be opened by mundane means.
While attuned to this item, you are mystically linked to the demon imprisoned within.
Demon-Bound Servitor
The reliquary contains Zhul’Vareth, the Drowned Blasphemy.
The demon obeys your verbal commands.
As an action, you can command Zhul’Vareth to emerge from the reliquary into a body of liquid within 30 feet of you (water, blood, ichor, mud, or similar fluid). It cannot manifest in dry space.
If no suitable liquid is present, it cannot emerge.
Zhul’Vareth remains within 60 feet of the reliquary and cannot move beyond the liquid it inhabits.
If reduced to 0 hit points, the demon collapses into inert sludge and is drawn back into the reliquary, reforming after 24 hours.
Abyssal Binding
Zhul’Vareth is magically bound to the reliquary.
It cannot willingly disobey direct commands.
It cannot attack you.
It cannot move more than 60 feet from the reliquary.
If separated from the reliquary by more than 60 feet, it instantly collapses and reforms inside it.
If the reliquary is destroyed, Zhul’Vareth is released permanently and becomes a free fiend under DM control.
The reliquary has AC 15, 50 hit points, vulnerability to bludgeoning damage, and immunity to poison and psychic damage. Reducing the tank to 0 hit points destroys it.
Sentient Prison
The reliquary is a sentient chaotic evil item.
Intelligence 11, Wisdom 10, Charisma 14
It has hearing and darkvision out to 60 feet.
It communicates telepathically with its attuned bearer.
Zhul’Vareth’s personality is:
Bitter
Manipulative
Proud
Hateful toward other demons
Pragmatically loyal to its bearer
It constantly tempts its wielder toward ruthlessness, cruelty, and dominance.
It refers to its wielder as:
“Mortal”
“Jailer”
“My Anchor”
“Necessary One”
It despises being commanded, but obeys.
Whispers of the Abyss
While attuned, you occasionally hear intrusive thoughts:
Encouragement toward violence
Contempt for weakness
Strategic cruelty
Warnings of nearby fiends
At the DM’s discretion, Zhul’Vareth may provide insight regarding demons, Abyssal hierarchies, or fiendish magic.
It always frames such knowledge as manipulation.
Curse:
The bond with Zhul’Vareth is difficult to break.
If you attempt to end attunement, you must succeed on a DC 15 Charisma saving throw. On a failure, you remain attuned.
While attuned:
You have advantage on Charisma (Intimidation) checks.
You have disadvantage on Charisma (Persuasion) checks made to show mercy or compassion.
This represents the demon’s subtle influence.
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