This just gave me the idea of an item that is secretly highly radioactive. Carrying it and being around it it would slowly give the character increasingly acute symptoms of radiation poisoning.The characters can’t possibly understand what radiation poisoning is so they would think it is some sort of magical curse. However no magic users would be able figure out what it is and how to stop it.
I’m wondering how long it would take for the players themselves to figure out what it really is, or if they ever would.
The demon core.
There is an old movie called “Mom and Dad Save the World.” It’s pure entertainment.
The planet is full of idiots and one of their most dangerous weapons is the light grenade. Anyone who picks it up disappears in a bright flash. So, why would anyone ever pick up this well-known weapon? Because it says “Pick me up” on the side.
Oh good, I was thinking of that exact thing, but I couldn’t remember the name of the movie. I remember it being surprisingly funny.
“Alright guys, so, obviously it’s cursed. But imagine how good it would be if we could sneak it into some bad guy’s pocket. I pick up the gem.”
GM: “Uhh, allllriiiiight. Make a wisdom saving throw. DC: fuck you.”
Player: Somehow rolls Fuck You +1
GM: …
GM: Uhhhh, I’m gonna need 15 minutes
I did that once. Put on the necromancer’s crown and crit the save. I was going to have to make those crit saves hourly so I reluctantly took it off.
skeletons and filth everywhere EXCEPT the gem
I hit it with my sword!
This looks like a job for my unseen servant (or phantasmal minion for people who play the Pathfinder Remaster)!
I bet that skull has some magic power!
Argh. I can feel this one.
My party often gravitates to the grossest random ad-hoc detail.
“I’m pretty sure that dead animal carcass is magical. I stuff it in my bag.”
… Much later …
“I dump the dead carcass on the Wizards desk and ask him to cast ‘detect magic’”.
…party proceeds to remind me (the DM) that they’ve carried a dead animal carcass in a backpack for half the campaign…
A new hand touches the beacon…
No no, I don’t touch the strange glowing gem, I will however lacrosse that bitch into my magic satchel and keep truckin and have it appraised later.
Nope that’s a trap. I think the DM mentioned something shiny in the flavor text an hour ago though. We should track that down.
I approach the Obelisk,.
I got that reference!
oh come on, man. mage hand/unseen servant that shit into a bag of holding and forget about it for 3 years.
Lol, Tomb of Horrors last resort wish gem.
Totally, 100% for sure not related to all those skeletons on the floor.
Not only am I going to pick it up, I’m gonna try and eat it