There are established rules for sentient magic items, and Out of the Box has already delved into that resource. However, as one might assume, this rule typically applies to permanent magic items like swords and such. The precedent has been set for other types of items (also permanent) that could take on their own sentience. I can think of two superheroes who wear armor or symbiotic suits possessing sentience, and I’m sure we already know a story about a ring that may also have a similar property. The following example will take a consumable magic item, make it not only sentient, but permanent and quasi-alive.

Imagine, if you will, a potion affected by some sort of outside force that not only grants it sentience, but basically turns it into a tiny ooze. This tiny ooze-like potion still can grant a magical property, but it will only be temporary. This then turns something like a potion into an ally (for a player, NPC or monster), with an upside and a downside (keep reading…).

How any encounter goes from here may end up creating a test of trust. Will the players imbibe a tiny animated object that looks like an ooze? Will they seek to kill it? Who knows?

Furthermore, it could be possible to alter or kill such a creature by means other than predicted – simply because it’s not only a magic creature, but because it’s a potion (See “Water Slide” and the Potion Miscibility Table reference, Dungeon Master’s Guide, page 140). What will follow is a complicated relationship with an unusual item that may or may not end well – welcome to any table at a roleplaying game.

Dungeon/Laboratory/Magic Shop/Etc.

Appropriate to the potion granted (in this case, 1st-4th level)

The first thing of note upon entering this room is the clutter. The room is small; only 20 feet square, with a 10 foot ceiling. The simple wooden door through which the party entered rests in the centre of the near wall, but entry past that point is difficult. Broken or collapsed furniture litters the floor, turning the entire walking surface into difficult terrain. Furthermore, any travel (walking or running) across the room faster than half-speed will require success on a DC 12 Dexterity saving throw. Failure means the target falls prone in a cloud of dust.

The far wall and the left wall both have large cabinets or bookshelves, both of which are covered in dusty sheets. Removing the sheet from the structure on the left wall will reveal a shelf with three tiers. The top two contain the dusty remains of tomes and scrolls so decrepit that simply touching them will turn them each to piles of paper fragments, dust, and mould. The bottom shelf possesses a small box and another small object, about 1 foot tall, six inches in diameter, and covered with a cloth.

The box is locked with a simple lock requiring success on a DC 12 check with thieves tools’ to pick. The lock can also simply be broken open (AC 15, 5 hp). The box contains stoppered glass vials currently containing no viable fluid, but they do have dark green stains on the glass. A successful DC 15 Intelligence (Arcana) check or proficiency with alchemist’s tools reveals the dried potion materials no longer of any use.

The cloth covered object on this shelf is strange. Once the cloth is removed, it will reveal a cylindrical glass cover with domed top, set upon a round wood base. Within this container is what appears to be a mummified hand of some sort resting on a thin wooden dowel for support. Should a detect magic spell be cast (Players Handbook, page 231), the hand will glow as magical, with the school of Conjuration. This hand does not require attunement. The user can activate the hand with as bonus action by pulling its index finger. When this happens, the hand will cast stinking cloud (Player’s Handbook, page 278), centred on itself, on the user’s next turn.

The far structure, also covered in cloth, will reveal the following when the sheet is removed. The shelves are lined with one dusty fluid-filled glass bottle as well as several unlabeled clay pots and jars filled with various foul smelling and oily residues. The same sort of check on the clay pots and jars as above will reveal similar results on a success. The bottle, however, will show as magic under a detect magic spell. The school of magic should detect as Transmutation.

If or when the bottle is touched, the translucent clear fluid within will shift about and the tiny slivers of something will move about after being settled at the bottom for some time. More surprisingly, a vaguely humanoid face will appear in the fluid and look out at the person who touches it. It cannot communicate verbally, but will smile when the bottle is held. Should someone with telepathy try to communicate with this fluid (like a Great Old One warlock, for example), they will contact a mind of some kind, but not one with a language. It will respond with facial cues appropriate to a being anxious to be released.

If someone tries to unstopper this bottle or otherwise opens it, an tiny ooze-like creature will crawl out and try to make its way to someone’s mouth. It’s not aggressive, so if someone makes it clear they do not wish for it to enter their mouth, it will crawl away and try to get in someone else’s mouth. Note that attempts, in the meantime, can be made to communicate with this creature (one example above), so there are options. If someone bonds with this tiny animate object, and gives it a place in which a fluid-like creature could dwell, it could become their steadfast travelling boon (so long as it’s alive).

Monsters

Treasure

Complications

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