The Legacy Evolved: The Runecrystal of Menthon

I have long been interested in signature magical items since I first started playing fantasy RPG’s o so many years ago. I can remember the very first campaign I ran I tried to introduce them. I failed rather hardily in balance. Warriors got way more than the mages.

Since then I have done them in many different variations. Yet regardless of what I do players are always fascinated by them and enjoy them more than any +5 sword that I could throw at them. What I really love about this design combines the idea from Weapons of Legacy of making history fluff useful, and the power of ritual from Mystic Secrets.

I plan to do 6 of these to cover the players of my current campaign, to flesh out the area around the floating forest that was once The Duchy of Nem, and to play with different ways to use the mechanics of Arcana Evolved.

The Runecrystal of Menthon
Description: a piece of golden crystal upon which is inscribed a rune of a single cat’s eye peering out of a book inside a rectangle; When divination magic is used upon or in the presence of the wearer it grows cold to the touch.

Object Loresight:
1. It was created 26 years ago.
2. The last person to touch the object was Menthon of The West Guard.
3. The last person to touch the object was a Litorian.
4. The name of the creator of the object was Faevor Greyportal,
5. The creator of the object was a Loresong Faen.
6. The purpose of the object was to protect a scout from detection.
7. The object is made of crystal and gold.
8. The object was created at the Brightborn Academy of Magic in the City of Thayn.
9. The most recent owner of the object was Esmona .
10. The magical function of the object is to mask its wearer with a powerful unknown spell (DC 15+ bearer's character level + Bearer's charisma modifer).

History
(DC 15) Also known as Favor’s Runestone by faen and “Kelstor Ryn” by Litorians; Worn by a famous unfettered runechild hero of plains that lie between the floating forest and the bitter peaks for 15 years Until he disappeared in a mysterious battle upon the Great Eastern Sea.. He was the scout for the company of heroes known as the West Guard. The Rune Cryastal was given as boon from a powerful magister he gave aid too upon his second great adventure when he discover the Location of Ebon Ring Keep. Many of his exploits tell of him receiving wondrous aid from the runecrystal.

(DC 20)One of those exploits tells the story of the capture of the Beast of the North, when the “Kelstor Ryn" was use to track down the monstrous criminal after the Beast raided a caravan traveling through the Crystal Fields while it was traveling from the Town of Far-Rough to the Crystal Fields. (rite of the successful hunt)

(DC 25) Yet another story tells of the Runecrystal was able to help the West Guard avoid a devious trap that guarded a enclave of the Slassan in the Dark Depths beneath the Town of Far-Rough. (ceremony of the catch undone)

(DC 30) The Greatest of his exploits tell of the Nightwalkers sending assassians against the company in their secret extradimensional abode said to link Far-Rough, Serathis, De-Shammod, and Khor l. they were never caught unaware and that the “Kelstor Ryn” warned the west guard of every attacker and guided them to their hiding places within their House of a 1,000 Doors. (forms of the host right)

7th Level:
Rite of the Successful Hunt (litorian)
A triumphant hunt has long been a rite of passag2e among litorians, this ritual taps into the power this rite has generated over the centuries.
Prerequisites: Litorian with either search or spot 5 ranks, only litorians who can find what is hidden can gain the benefit of this ritual.
Components: an embellished map of the known world worth 700 gp and 2,000 gp is solid dark amber.
Actions: You must successfully hunt down and capture or kill a specific creature that is seeking to elude you. Then you must have a celebration of the event, which involves a grand party you pay for with the 2,000 gp in amber at the end of the celebration you must burn the map.
Effects: the wielder gains the ability to use the tracer spell as a spell-like ability, Caster level equal to wielder’s character level, 6 charges per day; diminished (1 charge), standard (2 charges), heightened (3 charges)

9th level:
Ceremony of a Catch Undone (litorian),
The search for a trap is methodical, patient and route for the gifted, this pattern eventually becomes a ceremony of seeking.
Prerequisites: Litorian with 6 ranks in search; only litorians who are gifted in locating traps can gain the benefit of this ritual.
Components: A trap unknown to the inductee that has the potential to be lethal to him or her. Also a sacrifice of cat’s eye gems worth 8,100 gp
Actions: You must successfully bypass a trap that would have killed you had you failed to avoid it. Then you must sacrifice the cat’s eye gems in a fire.
Effects: the wielder gains the ability to use the peer through matter spell as a spell-like ability, Caster level equal to wielder’s character level, 6 charges per day; diminished (1 charge), standard (2 charges), heightened (3 charges)

11th Level
Forms of Host Right (litorian)
What makes a house a home, are the small minute rituals of everyday life, over time they wield tremendous power.
Prerequisites: Litorian with 7 ranks in survival; Only a litorian who can make his home anywhere he roams can gain the benefits of this ritual.
Components: A single piece of moss agate in the shape of the pyramid worth at least 9,000 gp (consumed in the ceremony).
Actions: You must successfully defend your home against a host of challenging foes (EL equal to 3+ your CR). Then you must shatter the pyramid to dust and spread it about the abode.
Effects: the wielder gains the ability to use the familiarity of place spell as a spell-like ability, Caster level equal to wielder’s character level, 6 charges per day; diminished (1 charge), standard (2 charges), heightened (3 charges)