The Seraph and The Fallen

"Once, they carried the Mercy Bringer across the heavens. Now, they whisper the temptations of the Shadow Prince."

 Forged from the severed wings of Domiel the Mercy Bringer, this artifact was desecrated and reshaped by Cyric, the Mad God of Lies and Strife. The wings are not worn but manifested—a psychic projection of divine ruin, appearing as ethereal constructs that shift between radiant majesty and nightmarish shadow. These wings are an extension of the wielder’s soul, changing with their intent and will.

 When attuned, the wielder can choose which aspect to manifest, gaining different abilities. Switching aspects requires 1 minute of meditation or can be done instantly once per long rest. 

Shifting Presence (Passive)

Whenever the wielder switches between Seraphic and Fallen aspects, nearby creatures must make a DC 21 Wisdom saving throw:

• On a failure, they are stunned for 1 round, overwhelmed by the change in reality.
• On a success, they merely experience a fleeting vision of the wielder’s true nature.

Aspect of the Seraph

"A beacon of false hope, radiant and unyielding, the beauty of the heavens twisted to the desires of mortal ambition."

 When in the Seraph aspect, the wielder’s wings glow brilliant white and gold, exuding divine power. Their form becomes almost perfect, their voice soothing and commanding. They gain the following benefits:

Divine Radiance:

• The wielder sheds bright light in a 30-foot radius and dim light for an additional 30 feet.

• They gain advantage on Charisma (Persuasion) checks.

• Hostile creatures of evil alignment must make a DC 21 Wisdom saving throw when starting their turn within 30 feet or be charmed until the start of their next turn.

Angelic Flight:

• The wielder gains a flying speed of 120 feet.

• They can hover and cannot be knocked prone while flying.

Hand of Mercy (3/Day):

 As an action, the wielder touches a creature, restoring 50 hit points, curing all diseases, removing exhaustion, and ending any charm, fright, or curse on the target. 

Wrath of the Just (1/Day):

As an action, the wielder can unleash the retribution of a fallen angel, dealing 60 radiant damage in a 60-foot radius. All hostile creatures must make a DC 20 Dexterity saving throw or be blinded for 1 minute. The wielder and their allies are immune.

Radiant Perfection

 "A vision of divine grandeur, yet an illusion crafted by a deceiver’s hands."

• Wing Appearance:

  • The wings are pristine, metallic constructs, sculpted from living silver that shimmers with divine light.

  • They move with unnatural grace, each feather humming with celestial energy.

  • The metal never tarnishes, and their edges seem to refract the light into golden halos when they move.

  • The moment the wings manifest, a choral hymn echoes faintly in the wielder’s mind.

• Effect on the Wielder:

  • The wielder appears divinely perfect—flawless skin, radiant eyes, and an aura of absolute authority.

  • Their voice carries hypnotic weight, making each word difficult to doubt.

  • If they are injured, their blood glows faintly like molten gold before vanishing into the air.

• Environmental Influence:

  • When the wings unfurl, the air hums with unseen power, and the ground beneath them briefly becomes unmarred and clean.

  • Small golden motes of light drift in the air, fading like embers.

  • Hostile creatures feel uneasy, sensing that something divine yet deeply wrong stands before them.

 Aspect of the Fallen

"There is no damnation without divinity first lost. The light that shone brightest now burns with resentment, and the song of mercy is sung no more."

 When in the Fallen aspect, the wielder’s wings blacken, shifting into shadowy, bladed constructs dripping with malevolent energy. Their form becomes gaunt and refined, their eyes glowing like burning embers. They gain the following benefits:

Aura of Dread:

• As a bonus action, the wielder exudes a 40-foot aura of fear.

• Creatures within the aura must make a DC 21 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened for 1 minute. They can repeat the save at the end of each turn. 

• While frightened, creatures take 15 psychic damage at the start of each of their turns.

Fallen Flight:

• The wielder gains a flying speed of 120 feet.

• The wielder can move freely into and out of a creature’s reach without provoking opportunity attacks.

Wings of Ruin (3/Day):

 As an action, the wielder unleashes their bladed mental wings, making a sweeping strike in a 60-foot cone.

• All creatures in the area take 10d10 necrotic damage and must succeed on a DC 21 Dexterity saving throw or be restrained by spectral chains for 1 minute.

• Restrained creatures take 10 psychic damage at the start of their turn and can repeat the save at the end of each turn.

Betrayer’s Embrace (1/Day):

 As an action, the wielder targets a single creature they can see within 60 feet, forcing them into a warped vision of their own fall from grace.

• The target must make a DC 21 Charisma saving throw or take 12d12 psychic damage and be stunned for 1 minute as they relive their worst failures and betrayals. They can repeat the save at the end of each turn.

• On a success, they take half damage and are blinded until the end of their next turn.

Dark Majesty

"No light is brighter than that which has burned away. No wrath is greater than that which once knew mercy."

• Wing Appearance:

  • The wings blacken, elongating into sleek, bladed constructs made of obsidian metal, dripping with violet psionic energy.
  • Each “feather” shifts and rearranges unnaturally, forming razor-thin blades that hum at the edge of perception.
  • Occasionally, segments separate and realign, reforming into new, unsettling shapes.
  • When the wings move, they leave behind faint trails of blackened energy, as if they are tearing through reality itself.

• Effect on the Wielder:

  • Their skin pales, and their eyes burn with an eerie, molten glow.
  • Their voice distorts, sounding both silken and echoing with unholy resonance.
  • Shadows seem to cling to them, moving slightly out of sync with the light source.
  • Their footsteps leave scorched impressions on the ground, though they fade after a few moments.

• Environmental Influence:

  • When the wings unfurl, the air grows still and heavy, as if waiting for something to happen.
  • The ground beneath them darkens, cracks, and momentarily smokes as if scorched.
  • Nearby fires flicker violently or extinguish entirely, suffocated by the artifact’s aura.
  • Creatures nearby experience fleeting intrusive thoughts, whispers of doubt, guilt, or ambition.

Reality Distortion

• Both aspects give the wielder a +2 bonus to their Charisma score 
• The Seraphic Wings make the wielder’s words unquestionable, forcing most non-hostile creatures to view them as a divine entity.
• The Fallen Wings cause mirrors and reflections to distort, sometimes showing visions of the wielder’s potential future, or their most terrible deeds.

Curse: The Whispering Wings

 Once attuned, the wielder can never truly remove the wings—even if they wish to.

• If the wielder attempts to remove attunement, they must succeed on a DC 28 Wisdom saving throw or be permanently bound to the artifact.
• If they fail three times over the course of a week, their alignment permanently shifts to Neutral Evil, as Cyric’s will embeds itself within them.

While attuned, the wielder is plagued by whispers in their dreams, urging them toward betrayal, dominance, and ultimate power. These whispers subtly influence their decisions, making them hesitate when showing mercy and doubt the loyalty of their allies.

Notes: Bonus: Charisma Score, Bonus: Ability Score Maximum