ghost_warlock
2015-01-02, 07:30 AM
Necronomicon
Wondrous item, artifact (requires attunement)
The Necronomicon is a comprehensive volume detailing ancient and terrible funerary rites as well as horrifically specific information pertaining to the Far Realm – likely the most detailed account of the geography and denizens of the Far Realm in existence. The Necronomicon is prized equally by any who would seek the harness the powers of, or battle, the foul entities the immense volume seeks to detail.
The Necronomicon was originally penned by an insane warlock by the name of Abdul Alhazred and bore the title Al Azif. Since that time, it has been rebound and added to by numerous other authors. Occasionally, a translated manuscript is made, though these never contain the full bulk of information in the original and are usually destroyed as soon as they come to light.
The book appears to have taken on a life of its own over the years, likely a result of its close association with the Far Realm. To most viewers, it doesn’t appear particularly noteworthy and is easily overlooked. However, the book subtlety beckons to those who are schooled in the art of necromancy or who have a pre-existing association with the Far Realm. Those of chaotic alignment have a particularly difficult time resisting the tome’s call. To creatures susceptible to the tome’s call, it often appears as a large book bound in human flesh and penned in blood.
A creature attuned to the Necronomicon must spend 80 hours reading and studying it to digest its contents and reap its benefits. The creature can then freely modify the book’s contents, provided that those modifications advance the lore already contained within.
Whenever a non-chaotic creature attunes to the Necronomicon, that creature must make a DC 17 Charisma saving throw. On a failed save, the creature’s alignment changes to chaotic evil.
Having no sense of loyalty, the book’s psychic tendrils reach out to all who it might influence, sometimes leading individuals into violent conflict over possession of the volume. Those who claim ownership of the book jealously seek to hide it from others lest it be stolen or their life snuffed out in order to win possession of the manuscript.
Wherever the Necronomicon is brought, it perverts and corrupts the dreams of all creatures within a mile, gradually souring them into maddening nightmares. These nightmares prevent the benefits of a long rest and tempt affected creatures into performing acts of utter depravity and chaos. The tome’s call is blocked by five feet of stone, a foot of common metal, or an inch of lead but will penetrate any other barrier.
Random Properties. The Necronomicon has the following random properties:
3 minor beneficial properties
1 major beneficial property
3 minor detrimental properties
2 major detrimental propeties
Adjusted Ability Scores. After you spend the requisite amount of time reading and studying the book, one ability score of your choice increases by 2, to a maximum of 24. However, your Wisdom score decreases by 2, to a minimum of 3. The book can’t adjust your ability scores again.
Obscene Lore. You can reference the Necronomicon whenever you make an Intelligence check to recall information about necromancy or the Far Ream and its spawn. When you do so, double your proficiency bonus on that check.
Command Undead. While you are attuned, you can use an action to cast the Dominate Monster spell on an undead target (save DC 18). You can’t use this property again until the next dawn.
Summon Eldritch Horror. While you are attuned to the book, you can add Summon Minor Horror and Summon Horror to your spells known list, casting them as you would any other spell that you know. These spells work as Conjure Minor Elemental and Conjure Elemental, respectively, except that the creature(s) conjured must be either monstrosities or undead rather than elementals.
Peel Back the Veil. While you are attuned to the book, you can use an action to cast the True Seeing spell at will without expending a spell slot or material components.
Draw the Elder Sign. While you are attuned to the book, you can add monstrosities to your list of creature types you can defend against when you cast the spells Major Circle and Protection from Evil and Good.
Destroying the Book. The Necronomicon allows pages to be torn from it, but any lore contained on those pages finds its way back into the book eventually, usually when a new author adds pages to the tome. If the book is physically cast into the Far Realm, it will be lost for 1d100 years, after which it once again invades the dreams of some mortal spellcaster and uses them as a vessel to rewrite itself. If the Far Realm is destroyed, the book turns to dust and is forever destroyed.
Wondrous item, artifact (requires attunement)
The Necronomicon is a comprehensive volume detailing ancient and terrible funerary rites as well as horrifically specific information pertaining to the Far Realm – likely the most detailed account of the geography and denizens of the Far Realm in existence. The Necronomicon is prized equally by any who would seek the harness the powers of, or battle, the foul entities the immense volume seeks to detail.
The Necronomicon was originally penned by an insane warlock by the name of Abdul Alhazred and bore the title Al Azif. Since that time, it has been rebound and added to by numerous other authors. Occasionally, a translated manuscript is made, though these never contain the full bulk of information in the original and are usually destroyed as soon as they come to light.
The book appears to have taken on a life of its own over the years, likely a result of its close association with the Far Realm. To most viewers, it doesn’t appear particularly noteworthy and is easily overlooked. However, the book subtlety beckons to those who are schooled in the art of necromancy or who have a pre-existing association with the Far Realm. Those of chaotic alignment have a particularly difficult time resisting the tome’s call. To creatures susceptible to the tome’s call, it often appears as a large book bound in human flesh and penned in blood.
A creature attuned to the Necronomicon must spend 80 hours reading and studying it to digest its contents and reap its benefits. The creature can then freely modify the book’s contents, provided that those modifications advance the lore already contained within.
Whenever a non-chaotic creature attunes to the Necronomicon, that creature must make a DC 17 Charisma saving throw. On a failed save, the creature’s alignment changes to chaotic evil.
Having no sense of loyalty, the book’s psychic tendrils reach out to all who it might influence, sometimes leading individuals into violent conflict over possession of the volume. Those who claim ownership of the book jealously seek to hide it from others lest it be stolen or their life snuffed out in order to win possession of the manuscript.
Wherever the Necronomicon is brought, it perverts and corrupts the dreams of all creatures within a mile, gradually souring them into maddening nightmares. These nightmares prevent the benefits of a long rest and tempt affected creatures into performing acts of utter depravity and chaos. The tome’s call is blocked by five feet of stone, a foot of common metal, or an inch of lead but will penetrate any other barrier.
Random Properties. The Necronomicon has the following random properties:
3 minor beneficial properties
1 major beneficial property
3 minor detrimental properties
2 major detrimental propeties
Adjusted Ability Scores. After you spend the requisite amount of time reading and studying the book, one ability score of your choice increases by 2, to a maximum of 24. However, your Wisdom score decreases by 2, to a minimum of 3. The book can’t adjust your ability scores again.
Obscene Lore. You can reference the Necronomicon whenever you make an Intelligence check to recall information about necromancy or the Far Ream and its spawn. When you do so, double your proficiency bonus on that check.
Command Undead. While you are attuned, you can use an action to cast the Dominate Monster spell on an undead target (save DC 18). You can’t use this property again until the next dawn.
Summon Eldritch Horror. While you are attuned to the book, you can add Summon Minor Horror and Summon Horror to your spells known list, casting them as you would any other spell that you know. These spells work as Conjure Minor Elemental and Conjure Elemental, respectively, except that the creature(s) conjured must be either monstrosities or undead rather than elementals.
Peel Back the Veil. While you are attuned to the book, you can use an action to cast the True Seeing spell at will without expending a spell slot or material components.
Draw the Elder Sign. While you are attuned to the book, you can add monstrosities to your list of creature types you can defend against when you cast the spells Major Circle and Protection from Evil and Good.
Destroying the Book. The Necronomicon allows pages to be torn from it, but any lore contained on those pages finds its way back into the book eventually, usually when a new author adds pages to the tome. If the book is physically cast into the Far Realm, it will be lost for 1d100 years, after which it once again invades the dreams of some mortal spellcaster and uses them as a vessel to rewrite itself. If the Far Realm is destroyed, the book turns to dust and is forever destroyed.