BUMP. Love these stones. So much fun to play around with the possibilities. Go to Comment

hmm.... possibly a feudal world where ladys gives their hankercheifs as "presents" to their knight... or good sir archmage... hehe.. Go to Comment

The symptoms and the death of the mages would have been big news through the magic community. The great Mage of Mulgar's tower dead and then the falling of six more powerful mages practicing the dark arts would be big news in the world.

When another plague-like death of a wizard crops up an enterprising person may take that opportunity to explore the reasons. Not being a mage, he has some safety. Over time investigating a few things he finally figures out the cause, it is an item that got transferred from one mage to another.

A robbery, pickpocket, or murder later and the inspired 'bad guy' has the possible makings of a dangerous weapon, something that will open doors for him.

Now, how to use it. All he needs to do is test the items on a few lesser known mages so he can figure out which is 'The One.' Once he has the plague causing item identified he can put his plans into action. A simple handshake is all he needs.....

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Could be political intrique, struggle for power, working as an assassin for hire, or any number of things.

Pretty darn interesting item! Go to Comment

Inspired partly, by reading about "Necrotising Arachnidism". This thread contains information about it: http://www.strolen.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2235 Go to Comment

The answer to that, Dragon lord, is in the first sentence:
"Splayed across the table in the center of the mourning room, lay the corpse of Alarimis - the great mage of Mulgar's tower."

This plague was exhumed from the corpse of a mage, and as such, it only effects magi.

Thanks for the comments, all :) Go to Comment

Or contimaninate food or a glass of wine with a single thread ;) They don't even have to swallow it, just get it in their mouth and swill it around. Go to Comment

I am impressed by the subtlety displayed in such as item. So much destructive power created by a display of remorse and perhaps a gesture of atonement.

5/5 Go to Comment

Only voted Go to Comment

Very good. 5/5 I really like this nasty item, and the fact that it only harms magic users. Go to Comment

It could be used as a torture device. Go to Comment

Nasty - very insidious - my evil little GM mind is already working overtime

Love the back-story, particularly the ritual nature of the magic (very atmospheric) and the mistake in the chant

One thing I don't quite understand - Why does it only affect mages? Is it a disease or a magical curse? Or is it something entirely different?

Anyway - excellent post - 5/5 Go to Comment

OK - makes it a magical curse (sort of) rather than a normal disease - on that basis it seem logical enough

Thanks for the clarification Go to Comment

Only voted Go to Comment

what a great sub i just love it, keep em comin man... Go to Comment

Oh this is a good one, we get a cursed item, we get a dangerous spell, we get a gory little story, we get some NPC ideas and we get them all tied together is nice neat little bundle.    

It could see this as a plot device,

Mages are dying all over the court, some think a magical attack, others a curse of the gods (or their judgement) but it is really the pocket silk has somehow found its way to magic academy.  I picture a final fight scene on a windy tower with the silk blowing in the wind, the PCs trying to grab it safely, the vengeful mage hater trying to let it go or maybe an ancestor Mulgar.  

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Heh, those evil threads could be VERY handy for assassins specializing in hunting mages.

It would be worth well above it's weight in gold as it sound like even segments of threads could be deadly.

Take an arrow and wrap one thread behind the arrowhead.... Go to Comment

Wow, this is such a dangerous unsuspecting item, I really like the story and the sadness that is connected to it. But to take it apart would be such a waste, I could just imagine a great mage surrounding himself with items of interest, even those deadly to himself out of sheer bravado.
This a really great back story for an item Go to Comment

Kudos! Very well done. 

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Agreed!

4/5. Go to Comment

It is still a good item and can have many uses. It is an excellent item for a story to be centered around, a little less for a game, but since it is built upon "chance" it is a little fairer.

I could see this basic item in any number of settings with any variations on "what comes up". Go to Comment