Aktov Violins

The Aktov violins were actually a set of seven instruments carved of black lacquered cherry wood. Created by renowned composer Dmitri Aktov for each of his seven daughters. Dmitiri was a cruel man, who expected perfection in all things, especially from his children. On the night they were to receive their gifts and complete their training as virtuoso violinists, Dmitri's daughters were said to have vanished mysteriously, along with Dmitri himself. All that was left were six smashed violins, and one that remained; utterly pristine...and dripping with blood.

A creature that attempts to play the instrument without being attuned to it must succeed on a DC 21 Wisdom saving throw or take 7d4 psychic damage.

You can use an action to play the instrument and cast one of its spells: Fly, Invisibility, Levitate, Haste, Planar Ally (fiend only), Blade Barrier, and Dominate Person. Once the instrument has been used to cast a spell, it can’t be used to cast that spell again until the next dawn. The spells use your spellcasting ability and spell save DC.

You can also play the instrument while casting a spell that causes any of its targets to be charmed on a failed saving throw, thereby imposing disadvantage on the save. This effect applies only if the spell has a somatic or a material component.

-CURSE-

This item is cursed, and home to a malevolent hivemind of spirits, hence why it refers to itself as "violins" instead of the singular violin.

The violin thirsts for blood, and won't be satisfied unless at least one humanoid per week is slain by it. Its preferred method is to magically force non-proficient or un-attuned humanoids to play it and take psychic damage until they die; blood pouring out of their eyes, ears and nose. 

Attempting to divest yourself of the violin once attuned angers the spirits, and nothing short of a Greater Restoration can break that bond. Attempting to harm the violin physically forces the attuned attacker to first make a DC 21 wisdom saving throw or take 7d4 psychic damage and be stunned until the end of its next turn. 

The violin can force any creature it can see to make this saving throw any time it wishes: as an action or reaction. It may also cast any of its intrinsic spells at will during its turn, using an action as appropriate.

In combat, the violin is considered a tiny creature with 0 movement speed and 35 hit points. It has AC 21 and resistance to all damage. At the beginning of the attuned creature's turn, or initiative count 21 (losing initiative ties) it regains 7 hit points unless it is currently being used to play the lost Seventh Concerto of Dmitri Aktov in an area that has been Hallowed.

The violin can also be bested and divested of its owner if they successfully defeat it in a Charisma (Performance) contest. The Violin is considered proficient with itself and has Expertise in Charisma (Performance) checks, with a total bonus of +14. If the attuned creature fails, blood pours from their eyes and ears until they are completely exsanguinated--and their hit points fall immediately to zero. If the creature should survive this, then the violin may be merciful and allow itself to continue to be used, saying that pain is the ultimate motivator for perfection.

Personality

The Aktov Violins are a sentient Lawful Evil musical instrument with an Intelligence of 14, a Wisdom of 7, and a Charisma of 21. It has hearing and darkvision out to a range of 140 feet. It can also See Invisibility per the spell's description, but it does not share this quality with its wielder. Though it may provide help if asked politely.

The violin can speak, read, and understand Common, and can communicate with its wielder telepathically. Its voice is melodic and choral. While you are attuned to it, The Aktov Violins also understand every language you know.

The Aktov Violins speak with an airy and ethereal tone, as though each word were sung by a ghostly choir.

The violins' purpose is to pursue perfection and beauty. It doesn’t care whose blood it spills, including the wielder’s. The violin believes that all beauty is born from pain and suffering, and that such things can be beautiful in their own way.

Despite its cruelty, The Aktov Violins feel a strange kinship to the other members of their collection, not unlike the sensation of a phantom limb. It wants the other six instruments to be restored again and played together in a grand symphony, that it believes will "bring about a new world."

The Aktov Violins' hunger for blood must be regularly fed. If the violin goes seven days or more without fatally spilling humanoid blood, a conflict between it and its wielder occurs at the next sunset.

The Aktov Violins are irrationally jealous of other musical instruments, and may go as far as to demand their wielder destroy any such competitors for their attention in their possession.

Notes: Bard, Control, Buff, Utility, Combat, Warding, Instrument