This submission feels not only misleading but rather hollow. I prefer LINDA (looks interesting but never does anything) items to things that are overly malicious. Perhaps the wizard was a *ahem* blue mage? Tired of being mocked by his peers who looked down upon his work he created this spellbook so that any wizard who attempted to steal his work would slowly find themselves... coming around to his way of thinking. Subtly planting erotic images during combat, making erotic sounds at night to keep the party awake, mischief.
A simple item, a solid idea, a bit of history, but I think it's the introduction which really makes this submission special.
I wish the wisper was more reflective of the person it was in life. It doesn't seem to register with me that a bright, strong-willed wizard who devoted his life to educating the populace's legacy should be a fragment of undead that turns you into a gibbering mess.
I like to think of them as sort of wil-o-wisp looking, which makes them adorable. They could make for a bittersweet encounter in the forest.
31 - Cheese of the Forest Pact
This cheese consists of a small hand-sized wheel wrapped in chestnut leaves. It is a soft deer cheese with a somewhat gooey and earthy outer rind and milder creamy center. While the flavor is complex and delicious it is only available in the fall when the druids emerge from the woods to trade with common folk and ensure the forest will remain undisturbed for another year.
32 - Casu Marzu
Casu Marzu is considered to be a delicacy to some and spoiled food to others. Part way through ripening the top of the cheese is removed and maggots allowed to infest the cheese. As the maggots digest the cheese they deepen its flavor and give it an almost liquid texture. The cheese is then spread over bread, with live maggots wriggling and jumping off. It is best paired with a strong wine.
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While I enjoyed this creature I don't feel it's really needed in a game. The environment itself is what is causing the danger, and it does not need to be guided by some hungry foce. In a way I think the lack of rhyme or reason is what makes it more terrifying, that it is not something that can be killed or controled.
These not only make great 'rewards' but I can see them being added to any dungeon to give good ambieance.
66. A white powder that looks like sugar. It's dandruff.
67. A silver-plated deluxe nose-hair trimmer. For the classy villian.
68. A small portable torture instrument such as a 'pear'.
69. Scabs, lovingly collected since childhood.
70. Silk sheets stained with... do you really want to know?
71. Bags upon bags of hair. Not scalps, just cut hair of all colors and lengths.
72. A rat mounted on a stick.
73. Used bandages.
74. A tin of worms.
75. A worn wooden scuplture of a naked woman. It's well oiled. At least you hope what is leaking out is oil.
I have one major problem with this submission: It reads like a page out of TV tropes, and if you have ever been there you know what I mean. CURSE YOU!
This is very well thought out, and the idea of hiding some secret malvolent scripture and spells in plain sight has great plot potential. Parasites have that unnerving factor to them, this is a great addition to a horror game. I can't think of anything that could make this better.
I like the fear factor of this particular 'creature' though I am not sure the sort of psychological aspect makes much sense it gives it a neat alternative to shredding people alive.
My favorite part of the post is the little stories which follow some of the undead, which give great ideas. Each is so well described I am impressed.
Lifeforms (Ethereal) (City/ Ruin)
I have a soft spot for techromancy, and this could have great applications in a steampunk game. "Oh no, we need this device to run and save the town! But it's infested with cog devils!" I don't know why I think of these little things as adorable, but I do. While they don't really need an origin story it would be nice if there were some theories.
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