Acorn of Wo Mai

The Acorn of Wo Mai is a large lead vessel, dull gray in color. As its name suggests, it is fashioned to look like an enormous acorn, almost 3 feet tall. Two golden bands, inscribed with arcane characters, encircle it from bottom to top, where they meet under a large seal of a dragon coiled around a sword. Although it appears to be tremendously heavy, the artifact can be carried by a strong individual with ease. It sometimes makes faint thumping noises and is warm to the touch. 

According to ancient eastern legend, the Acorn of Wo Mai is the prison of a powerful fiend who once ruled and terrorized a great empire at the edges of the eastern lands. The fiend was summoned by war wizards but escaped their control. Hearing of the fiend's cruelties, the great Wo Mai challenged it to battle. They fought long, the fiend confident, for its life force was hidden far away, and it could not be slain. When Wo Mai discovered this, he bound the fiend in irons that it could not break. Next, he and his companions shaped the acorn, imprisoned the fiend inside, and brought the prize back to the imperial court. When the court fell to barbarian invaders, the acorn was lost.

The acorn is best used if allowed to fall into the hands of the player characters since its powers (and curse) can create many role-playing opportunities. The PCs could find the acorn as part of a treasure trove or wrest it from another victim over whom the fiend has gained control. The fiend seeks to seduce a PC to his aid, all the time stressing the need for secrecy. Should it be successful, the fiend manipulates the character and even the entire party into freeing it. Should any PC oppose it, the fiend does its best to turn the others against the enemy.

To rid themselves of this artifact, the PCs should find some way to bury the acorn away, preferably forever, or they could carry it to the lower planes and open it, trapping the fiend in its own plane.

Invoked Powers:

The fiend within the acorn provides good advice (INT 20), telepathically providing answers to questions posed by its owner.

• It grants the ability to cast True Polymorph (1/day).
• It grants the ability to cast Forcecage (1/day).
• It grants the ability to cast Hypnotic Pattern (3/day).
• It grants the ability to cast Tongues (5/day).

 Curse:

The fiend trapped within the acorn is an evil demigod and craves its release more than anything else. It is aware of its surroundings, particularly the life forces of creatures nearby, and uses its powers (and advice) to persuade its owner to free it from its prison. Once freed, of course, it rewards its former master with death.

Suggested Means of Destruction:

• The seal must be broken with a legendary or artifact weapon upon the throne of the Emperor.
• The inscribed characters on the golden bands must be erased.
• It must be cast into a volcano in the heart of Carceri.

Notes: Communication, Container, Sentient