Tuesday Magic Item – Snowstone

As the Orthanian Knights maneuvered around the hill fort, its walls damaged from days of fighting.  The rebels of the newly conquered territories had risen up but their weapons and bravery were rarely a match for the discipline and armor of the Orthanians.  Gathered by their priests, the last of the rebels in the North made their stand here at a previously abandoned hill fort.

Snowstone

As the knights formed up and advanced up the hill, slingers took to the ramparts and dozens of white missiles flew into their ranks.  It was as if a blizzard had hit the knights, covering them -and the ground- with ice and snow.  As the knight struggled through the suddenly treacherous footing, the rebels rained stones upon them.  As the first knight fought free of the snow, they find themselves sorely outnumbered by the defended and the rebels took hope.

Snowstone

These items are large marble-sized balls of unmelting ice crystals, bitterly cold to the touch.  Occasionally they form spontaneously in the aftermath of powerful ice or cold weather magic but more usually they are created for the use of those who serve the powers of Winter.

A Snowstone is a +1 stone that can be used as a +1 sling bullet, after it hits a target it bursts into a cloud of snow and ice.  This has the following effects:

•    The target takes 2d4 points of cold damage and everyone in adjacent squares takes 1d4 points of cold damage.
•    Due to swirling snow all in the target square and those adjacent take Creatures inside this area take a -4 penalty on Perception skill checks for 1d4+1 rounds.
•    The target square is filled with snow becoming difficult terrain for as long as the snow lasts.

The Snowstone can also be used to created ice, dropped in a liquid it freezes a 10′ radius area to a depth of one foot (or correspondingly deeper for smaller areas).

In either case, a Snowstone is only good for one use.

Aura moderate conjuration; CL 7th
Slot none; Price 450; Weight .2 lbs
Construction
Requirements Craft Magic Arms and Armor, ice storm, resistance; Cost 225 (+18 xp for D&D)

Adventure Seed: A trapper has found a treasure trove of naturally occurring Snowstones, for the right price he is willing to take the venturers there but more disreputable types are seeking the trove as well.

Notes: A useful item that doubles as sling ammunition (rah slings!).  Sorry about the rules text being so “gamish” but it was the easiest way to convey the information.

Photo by OakleyOriginals and used under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.