Making Magic Items is one of my great joys of being a dungeon master. I have shared some of that sentiment before, so today I want to talk about paired items. Being gloves, boots, paired weapons or a weapon and shield, having things come in pairs is not a new thing. If you look at our Mage Forge, which is still available to pre-order, has a cool set of items that pair quite nicely. They both have some cool abilities but if you are holding both the power gets better. The sword was actually an item that Dave gave to one of my characters and as the project developed we knew we needed more shields. I designed the shield to go along with the sword. If you backed the project, thanks, let us know what you think of the pair.

But here I am going to share a pair of items that are active in my game that I am running for my kids in the city of Swampgate. Deep within the jungle where lizardfolk have dominated, lies a dark secret. One such lizardfolk led their tribe to this dark secret. The leader of the Nightfang tribe, Kulthraxx absorbed some of the dark power lurking in the swamp. It made the lizardfolk grow larger and stronger. Meanwhile the shaman Ichrithax attempted the same ritual and failed. Over the next decade these two leaders fought about how it was best to lead the tribe, eventually it came to confrontation. While Kulthraxx was physically superior to Ichrithax, Ichrithax had access to powerful magic and had uncovered another source of power. Rather than allow Kulthraxx to succeed, Ichrithax unleashed this powerful magic and destroyed them both. The presence of Kulthraxx was forced into the large blackened lizardfolk skull, while the presence of Ichrithax was forced into a rather nondescript ring.

Skull of Kulthraxx

(Wondrous Item, rare, attunement optional)

This oversized lizardfolk skull is made of preserved bone that has been blackened as if it had been charred. Upon touching the skull the presence of this lizardfolk leader enters your mind. It refuses to communicate in any language besides draconic, though it understands common. It is arrogant and insults anyone that does not understand the draconic tongue. If you can deal with its insults and are able to persuade it, you can learn draconic if you stay attuned to it for 30 days)

Kulthrax prefers those who seek power and do so physically. The skull has 3 charges and you can expend a charge as part of a successful attack to add another weapon die to the damage done. The damage type is the same as the type of weapon, though the source is magical. The skull regains all unspent charges at dusk. Kulthrax has a lot of knowledge in regards to fighting and skills. The skull of Kuthrax can teach the holder enough to gain its first level of fighter or rogue, if you wish to multiclass and are using those optional rules. In addition it can teach the following skills: stealth, athletics or survival. One such skill can be learned by an individual in 250 days provided that the user speaks draconic. While in possession of the skull it urges you to seek power. The longer you hold the skull the more the urging.

The Ring of Ichrivax

(wondrous item, rare, attunement required)

The ring is a simple silver band with cracks in the metal showing a black stone interior. In addition to it being a ring of mind shielding (While wearing this ring, you are immune to magic that allows other creatures to read your thoughts, determine whether you are lying, know your alignment, or know your creature type. Creatures can telepathically communicate with you only if you allow it.

You can use an action to cause the ring to become invisible until you use another action to make it visible, until you remove the ring, or until you die.

If you die while wearing the ring, your soul enters it, unless it already houses a soul. You can remain in the ring or depart for the afterlife. As long as your soul is in the ring, you can telepathically communicate with any creature wearing it. A wearer can’t prevent this telepathic communication.)

It also houses the soul of lizardfolk necromancer. If you possess the skull of Kulthrax the items will argue with you and each other telepathically. Ichrivax is proficient in arcana, religion and nature and can grant advantage to you if you use a bonus action to consult the ring. It urges you to take up the practice of wizardry and urges you to take necromancy spells as well as necromancy as your focus. The more you appease Ichrivax the more it is willing to help you.

Both items have the ability to gain further power should you appease the personalities contained within. I love items that have the ability to gain power and more importantly that have some role playing potential as well.