Page 154 - Serpent Kingdoms

EQUIPMENT

the corrosive special ability (see Magic of Faerûn for de- the purpose of limitations on magic items worn. The
tails of this ability). wearer of the circlet can use charm monster and true
Strong conjuration; CL 17th; Craft Magic Arms strike once per day each, and mage hand and open/
and Armor, Spit Venom, Melf’s acid arrow, storm close at will (range 25 feet for both).
of vengeance, summon monster II; Price 60,320 gp. Moderate enchantment; CL 7th; Craft Won-
drous Item, charm monster, mage hand, open/close,
Rings Circlet of seven sepents true strike; Price 14,400 gp.
Eye of Sseth: This yuan-ti device resembles a thick,
The image of a snake eating its own tail lends itself well to heavy gold coin about 2 inches in diameter. One side of it
magic rings, so the serpentfolk are understandably is usually graven with numerals and a device such
fond of such items. as a crown, a monarch’s head, or the arms or
Ring of the Viper: Fashioned of green ser- badge of a country. The other side, however, is
pentine stone, this ring is carved in the shape of a jet-black, glossy serpent’s eye. When handled
a tiny viper biting its own tail. When the wearer by any Scaled One, an eye of Sseth has no effect—
makes a successful unarmed attack, the viper releas- but any other creature that touches it is immediately
es its tail and automatically bites the same target. The dosed with poison (contact, Fortitude DC 20, initial
wearer’s attack deals 1 extra point of damage and in- and secondary damage 1d6 Con). The poison is gone
jects venom into the target (injury, Fortitude DC 11, after one creature handles the coin.
initial and secondary damage 1d6 Con). If the last yuan-ti who touched that particular eye
Viper
Moderate conjuration and necromancy; CL 7th; longsword of Sseth is still alive, he instantly becomes aware when
Forge Ring, poison, summon monster I; Price 8,000 the eye is fi rst handled by a creature other than a
gp.
Scaled One, even if it is on another plane. Fur-
Illustration by Dennis Crabapple to resemble an open-mouthed snake wrapped around is seized by human adventurers, passed from hand
thermore, he knows the approximate distance and
Serpent Ring: Fashioned of plain brass and shaped
direction to the spot where the handling occurred
its own tail to form a band, serpent rings are often
and receives a mental vision of the specifi c crea-
ture that touched the eye of Sseth (but not its
used as pass tokens by serpentfolk, scalykind, and
cultists of Tiamat, Set, Sseth, and Varae. (They are
companions or surroundings). If an eye of Sseth
especially common in the Sauringar tribe of the
to hand, and then spent in town, the yuan-ti who
yuan-ti.) Spell wards in temples dedicated to these
deities are often keyed to allow passage by the bearer
fangs
turer who touched it. Eyes of Sseth are commonly
of such rings. An openly displayed serpent ring attracts Scourge of placed it receives impressions of only the fi rst adven-
immediate, suspicious attention from those who venerate placed with scatterings of real coins as “warning
serpentkind. lures” inside the entrances of yuan-ti temples, to warn
The wearer of a serpent ring is immune to all serpent the inhabitants of intrusion.
venom and gains a +3 bonus on saving throws against Moderate necromancy; CL 7th; Craft Wondrous
poison or acid damage. In addition, a viper weapon Item; poison. Price 1,500 gp; Weight 1/10 lb.
never attacks the wearer of a serpent ring, whether Fang Bead: The surface of this small, lusterless black
or not it is openly displayed. sphere is graven with a pair of fangs. The user can
Moderate abjuration and conjuration; CL 7th; throw it up to 60 feet with no range penalties. If both
Forge Ring, neutralize poison, protection from fangs are touched simultaneously (a free action) just
Eye of Sseth
energy (acid); Price 5,000 gp. before the bead is hurled, it bursts upon sharp impact,
transforming into eight Tiny vipers (see Monster Manual)
Wondrous Items that wriggle to attack the nearest living creatures other than
the thrower. The snakes fi ght until slain or until no living crea-
The Scaled Ones have created a profusion of wondrous items, but tures other than the thrower remain within 120 feet of the
only a few are known outside their realms. bead’s impact point. Producing the vipers destroys the bead,
Circlet of Seven Serpents: Fashioned by a bard from a single though it can be thrown or struck any number of times with-
piece of serpentine stone, a circlet of seven serpents is carved to out effect if the fangs aren’t triggered.
resemble a septet of intertwined snakes, each devouring the tail Faint conjuration; CL 1st; Craft Wondrous Item; summon
of another. The serpents’ eyes are tiny emeralds, and silver fi ligree monster I. Price 300 gp.
sets off each snake’s individual scales. Thought to be originally of
Jhaamdathan origin, such circlets have been employed by the na- Major Artifact Descriptions
gas of the Eastern Heartlands since the founding of Sembia.
A circlet of seven serpents reveals its powers to anyone who plac- The following unique items were produced by Scaled Ones of
es it upon her brow. It is considered a headband, hat, or helmet for great power for specifi c purposes.

153

620_96566_SerpentKi144-167.indd 153 5/13/04, 7:49:34 AM