Tuesday Magic Item / A to Z – Mercenary Contract

Voddick cleaned his knife and stared at the contract.  “I hate signing these contracts.”

“There are not my favorite but at least you know what you are signing up for,” said Gollaon.  “They are very explicit.”

“True,” Voddick nodded.  “That is a small comfort.”

“Agreed.”

Mercenary Contract

Originally created by the god known as the Prince of Mercenaries for use by his followers.  These contracts are made of durable material, vellum, leather, thick paper, though even wood or sheets of metal have been used.  They are inactive until freely signed in blood both by the employer and the employed.

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Tuesday Magic Item / A to Z – Hell Lance

“Look, they are bringing up their elite.  The knights of the doomsday?” Voddick asked, not sure if he remembered the name correctly.

“Indeed, armed with weapons left over from the Gods War, forged in hell flames and other such fanciful nonsense,” said Gollaon.

“Does that indicate that they are not exceedingly dangerous?”

“Well, yes, but less so because of the weapons.  They were forged primarily to fight a divine foe that no longer exists, but they are still potent magic items.”

Hell Lance

These weapons are deliberately constructed to look cruel and vicious with hooks and barbs common motifs, made of black or red tinted steel with poles of dark wood reinforced with strips of metal and studs.  They are as much a tool of intimidation as a weapon of war.

Tuesday Magic Item – Cobra-Cat Chain

“I would not get too close,” cautioned Golloan as Voddick stepped closer to the long bodied cat.

“I will not, I do not have much like with such beasts,” Voddick replied, keeping his distance.

“Good as I suspect this cat is more than it appears.”

Cobra-Cat Chain

These items are made in pairs, a chain collar for the pet and a bracelet or necklace for the owner.  Almost always made of precious metals, silver being the most common, and occasional having suspended baubles.

A to Z – Cobra Cat

One of these and . . .

A long-bodied cat with a longish muzzle. It weaves it way through the legs of a chair and eyes you quizzically.

Cobra-Cat CR 1
XP 400

N Tiny magical beast (chimeric)
Init +7; Senses low-light vision, scent; Perception +5

DEFENSE
AC 16, touch 15, flat-footed 13 (+3 Dex, +1 Natural, +2 size)
hp 11 (2d10)
Fort +3, Ref +6, Will +1

. . . and one of these.

OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft., climb 20 ft.
Melee 2 claws +7 (1d3–2), bite +7 (1d6–2/ x3 + poison)
Space 2-1/2 ft.; Reach 0 ft.
Defensive Abilities Immune to consumed toxins

STATISTICS
Str 6, Dex 17, Con 11, Int 3, Wis 12, Cha 7
Base Atk +2; CMB -1; CMD 11 (15 vs. trip)
Feats Improved Initiative [B], Weapon Finesse
Skills Acrobatics +7, Climb +7, Perception +5, Stealth +15; Racial Modifiers +4 Climb, +4 Stealth
SQ Familiar, Pleased by Poison

SPECIAL ABILITIES
Familiar (Su) The master of a cobra-cat familiar gains a +1 bonus on Initiative checks and a +4 bonus to saves against consumed toxins.

Immune to consumed toxin (Su) Anything poisonous or toxic consumed by the cobra-cat is ingested with no ill-effect. If the poison consumed has a higher DC than the cobra-cat’s poison, the cobra cat gains a +1 bonus to its poison DC for 24-hours.

Pleased by Poison (Ex) The cobra-car will consume poisons and poisoned food preferentially, gaining a +4 bonus to perception checks to notice such.

Poison (Ex)
Bite—injury; save Fort DC 11; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1d2 Con; cure 1 save.

The origin of the cobra-cat is unknown but they have become very popular as pets for nobles.

While primarily mammalian, the cobra-cat lays eyes from which its kittens hatch and are nursed by the mother cobra-cat.

For D&D 5E:

Description as above.

Cobra-Cat

Tiny beast (chimeric), unaligned

Armor Class 14

Hit Points 7 (3d4)

Speed 40 ft., climb 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
5(-3) 15 (+2) 10 (+0) 3 (-4) 12 (+1) 10 (+0)

Skills Perception +3, Stealth +4;

Senses passive Perception 13;

Languages —

Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)

Preference for Poison: The Cobra-cat has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks to recognize poison or poisoned things and the cobra-cat is immune to any poison it consumes.

Actions

Multiattack: The cobra-cat makes two attacks: one with its bite and one with its claws.

Bite: Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1 piercing damage, and the target must make a DC 10 Constitution saving throw, taking 5 (2d4) poison damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

Claws: Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1 slashing damage.

Special: If the cobra-cat is a familiar, its master gains advantage on saving throws against ingested toxins.

Notes: Partly from my love of chimeric creatures, partly from an off-hand remark by my wife.  One named  showed up in the latest Sea of Stars game I GMed as the pet of a lovely visse lady.

Images “White cat” by Kainoki Kaede and “Cobra” by tableatny licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Tuesday Magic Item – Storming Shield

Voddick set the large shield up.  “Even with this, I am not exciting about charging across a field with the enemy having so many archers.”

“Nor I but I do not think the officers will listen to our misgivings,” replied Gollaon glancing their way.

“Well, we will just have to make the best of it,” sighed Voddick.  “I am sure we will be glad of the shields.”

Storming Shield

These large shields are usually gaudily decorated often with a motto or insults towards the owner’s foes.  On close examination, they are not particularly well made.

Tuesday Magic Item – Charge Breaker Javelin

Gollaon looked down on the cavalry start to dress its lines in preparation for a charge.  “Oh this is going to be ugly.  I am not sure if I can watch.”

“Why?” asked Voddick recocking his crossbow.

“The skirmishers have javelins that will magically pin the horses’ hooves to the ground.”

“If they were not on the other side I would warn them.”

“Well, send a warning shot their way, it will not dissuade them but at least we will have tried.  I hate the thought of those horses suffering.”

“Agreed,” said Voddick taking aim.

Charge Breaker Javelin

These heavy javelins are often marked with simple images of people stumbling or legs breaking, which demonstrate their intent.

Tuesday Magic Item – Blood Banner

“Another red banner?!  They must have emptied the jail before marching to war,” complained Voddick.

“I am not fond of working as executioners for what may be innocent people,” agreed Gollaon aiming along the shaft of his arrow.

“But they will kill us if we do not kill them.”

“Needs must,” said Gollaon releasing the bow string.  “But I do not have to be happy about it.”

“There is a break in the line,” said Voddick pointing.  “Let us see if we can show their officers what we think of their policy,”

“Capital idea.”

Blood Banner

These banners are of bright red cloth but their edges are stained a darker red.  If there is any ornamentation it will be on the pike-staff, a heraldic symbol or state identification perhaps, but equally often they are unadorned.  The magic of the banner is activated by having a person wipe their blood on the banner which then ties them to the banner for the duration of the campaign.