Tuesday Magic Item – Hungry Hat

Voddick started and carefully backed away from the Baroness’ guard.

Gollaon sidled up to his friend.  “What is it?” he asked quietly.

“That hat is dangerous,” replied Voddick, “the wearer may be as well but the hat definitely is.”

“Well, it is ugly,” agreed Gollaon, “but why dangerous?”

“I had been told there is a demon bound within such headwear but that may not be accurate,” said Voddick.  “But, whether or not that is true, the hat can attack on its own and sometimes does so unprompted.”

“Nasty.”

Hungry Hat

These hats are made of tough materials sourced from predators, sharkskin is a favorite choice, and a mouth full of teeth is suggested if not made obvious in their design.  Anyone who is near to the hat for more than a few minutes will get the sense that it is watching them as if it is sizing them up as a potential meal.

The hat is tough and hard-wearing, it will keep both sun and rain off the wearer when worn.  The wearer became preternaturally alert to their surrounding, gaining a +5 competence bonus to Perception rolls to spot ambushes, threats and potential prey.

While such abilities are useful, it is the ability of the hat to attack and consume on its own that makes it feared.  Up to five times a day. but no more than once a round, the hat’s owner may direct it to attack (as a free action) with the following statistics:

10′ reach, +10 attack (or the owner’s base attack bonus +3 if higher), 2d8+ [half owner’s level] slashing damage, 19-20 critical and on a critical hit, causes an additional 1d4 points of bleed damage.

Sometimes, though very rarely if the hat is well treated and fed often, it will just take a bite out of something fleshy, just to sate its hunger.

Aura moderate transmutation; CL 9th
Slot head; Price 15,000; Weight 1 lb
Construction Requirements
Craft Wondrous Items, guidance, summon monster V; Cost 7,500

For D&D 5E:

Wondrous item (hat), rare (requires attunement)

First paragraph as above.

The hat is tough and hard-wearing, it will keep both sun and rain off the wearer when worn.  The wearer became preternaturally alert to their surrounding, gaining advantage to Wisdom (Perception) checks to spot ambushes, threats and potential prey and a +3 bonus to Passive Perception for the same purposes.

While such abilities are useful, it is the ability of the hat to attack and consume on its own that makes it feared.  Up to a number of times equal to the wearer’s proficiency bonus. but no more than once a round, the hat’s owner may direct it to attack (as a bonus action) with the following statistics:

10′ reach, +5 to hit (or the owner’s proficiency bonus +3 if higher), 2d8+ [proficiency bonus] slashing damage and on a critical hit, causes an additional 1d4 points of necrotic damage and at the start of each of the wounded creature’s turns, it takes 1d4 necrotic damage and it can then make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw, ending the effect of all such wounds on itself on a success.  Alternatively, the wounded creature, or a creature within 5 feet of it, can use an action to make a DC 15 Wisdom (Medicine) check, ending the effect of such wounds on it on a success.

Once those attacks have been made, it requires a long rest for the hat to recover enough to be able to attack again.

Sometimes, though very rarely if the hat is well treated and fed often, it will just take a bite out of something fleshy, just to sate its hunger.

Notes: I guess the month’s theme is hats!  Thought this would be fun and also a nod (or should that be a hat-tip?) to Fallen London from Failbetter Games.

Image From the Raven and the Box of Daylight display at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, of the shark woman and taken by me.