Item: Velicarn's Cursed Coin
This platinum coin was minted in Caliphas in the year 4192, the same year that Velicarn, the eponymous bastard of Bastardhall, was born. While the design of coins has changed in the 500 or so years since this one was minted, anyone who is at least an expert in Society recognizes that this coin's design resembles no known Ustalavic tradition—and in fact, when the coin became cursed on that vile night in 4213, its imagery forever changed. In the present day, one side of the coin depicts a distorted image of the Arudora family crest, while the other depicts a set of monstrous eyes peering through the cracks in a crumbling wall (identifiable as the religious symbol of Charg with a Religion check to Recall Knowledge (DC 25)).
The coin feels unusually heavy for being made of platinum, and no merchant will accept it as cash as a result. Most merchants and collectors who are presented with the coin have an instinctual distaste for its strange weight and slightly greasy feel. As soon as someone carries Velicarn's cursed coin for longer than a minute, it automatically becomes invested, fuses with that person, and continues to count against that character's invested items, even without being reinvested each day. As long as the coin is carried, sahkils prefer to target the coin's carrier with their attacks (although they are not forced to do so), often behaving as if they can smell the "stink of the Typhon Wheel" on them. Fortunately for a character cursed by this item, the coin has no further debilitating effects, save for when it is activated.
Activate—Daring or Dread 1 (manipulate)
Frequency once per day
Effect You flip the coin, with a 50/50 chance of getting heads (the Arudora crest) or tails (the symbol of Charg). If the result is heads, you become immune to fear effects for 1 hour. If the result is tails, you gain a –2 item penalty against fear saves for 24 hours. If it's after dark in Bastardhall when you activate Velicarn's cursed coin, you must twice check to determine if you get heads or tails, and you only get the heads result if both coin flips result in heads; otherwise, the result is tails.
Trait Effects
Cursed: An item with this trait is cursed to cause trouble for its owner. A curse isn’t detected when the item is identified, though a critical success reveals both the presence and exact nature of the curse. Cursed items can’t be discarded once they’ve been triggered or invested the first time. The item can be removed only if the curse is removed.
Invested: A character can invest only 10 magical items that have the invested trait. None of the magical effects of the item apply if the character hasn’t invested it, nor can it be activated, though the character still gains any normal benefits from wearing the physical item (like a hat keeping rain off their head).
Occult: This magic comes from the occult tradition, calling upon bizarre and ephemeral mysteries. Anything with this trait is magical. A creature with this trait is primarily constituted of or has a strong connection to occult magic.
Related Items
| Name | Level | Rarity |
|---|---|---|
| Cloak of Illusions | 7 | Common |
| Cloak of Immolation | 7 | Rare |
| Crown of the Master | 7 | Rare |
| Gloves of Carelessness | 7 | Rare |
| Handkerchief of Disagreeable Disguise (Greater) | 7 | Rare |
| Kindler Cameo | 7 | Unique |
| Ring of Ravenousness | 7 | Rare |
| Ring of Sneering Charity | 7 | Rare |
| Vile Remnant | 7 | Rare |
| Calamity's Bane Tattoo | 6 | Common |
| Illusionist's Hat | 8 | Rare |
| Poisonous Cloak Type I | 6 | Rare |
| Smoky Hag Eye | 8 | Rare |
| Stony Hag Eye | 6 | Rare |
| Crimson Fulcrum Lens | 9 | Unique |
| Heartstone | 9 | Common |
| Humbug Pocket | 9 | Common |
| Pendant of the Occult (Greater) | 9 | Common |
| Ring of Bestial Friendship | 9 | Unique |
| Taleteller's Ring | 9 | Rare |