Bones to Pick
We’re dead in the middle of Returned Week here at Necromancers of the Northwest, and you know what that means!
What? No, it doesn’t mean that we’re temporarily lifting our no refunds policy on Magic Market goods. Why would you even think that? Did you read this week’s Exotic Encounters, detailing the new and exciting skeletal PC race the returned? No? You probably should.
Okay, now that that’s out of the way, what it really means is a trio of skeletal magic items. Enjoy!
DAGGER OF THE DEAD PRICE 9,301 gp
Slot none; CL 5th; Weight 1 lb.
Aura faint necromancy
This +1 boneUC dagger can only be crafted from a single bone from a humanoid. Any creature slain by the blade has a 30% chance of rising as a skeleton or zombie (equal chance of either) after 24 hours. Otherwise, at that time, the body quickly begins to rot and decay, leaving only bleached bones in its wake.
None of a dagger of the dead’s unique abilities count as an enhancement bonus equivalent, and it is treated as a +1-equivalent weapon for the purposes of the cost of further improving its magical abilities.
Craft Magic Arms and Armor, animate dead
SHIELD OF THE SKULL SAINT PRICE 25,154 gp
Slot shield; CL 7th; Weight 10 lbs.
Aura moderate necromancy
This +2 animated heavy boneUC shield is made from a lattice of human bones, in the center of which sits a single human skull. All of the bones come from the same deceased individual, and a portion of that person’s spirit remains within the shield and allows it to animate. The shield can be affected by the command undead spell, as well as the Command Undead feat, and other effects that control undead, and can remain animated indefinitely while affected by such an ability. The character that used the ability that grants control is treated as the activating character, even if that is not the wielder. The shield is treated as though it had a number of Hit Dice equal to its enhancement bonus equivalent (typically 4) for the purposes of this ability. If the wielder is undead, and would be affected by such an ability, he can transfer the effect to the shield as an immediate action, provided the shield is not already under the effects of such an ability, and is currently in his possession.
None of a shield of the skull saint’s unique abilities count as an enhancement bonus equivalent, and it is treated as a +4-equivalent shield for the purposes of the cost of further improving its magical abilities.
Craft Magic Arms and Armor, animate objects, command undead
SHROUD OF UNDEATH PRICE 3,175 gp
Slot armor; CL 3rd; Weight 20 lbs.
Aura faint abjuration
This +1 studded leather armor uses human finger bones for its studs. As long as the armor is worn, the wearer suffers only half damage, rounded up, from any effects that use positive or negative energy (such as a cleric’s channel energy class feature, cure light wounds, inflict light wounds, and so on). This applies only to hit point damage, not effects such as energy drain, even if they are related to negative energy in some way. The armor interferes with healing caused by such effects exactly the same way that it interferes with damaging effects.
None of a shroud of undeath’s unique abilities count as an enhancement bonus equivalent, and it is treated as a +1-equivalent suit of armor for the purposes of the cost of further improving its magical abilities.
Craft Magic Arms and Armor, resist energy