This girdle is constructed of hardened leather inlaid with gold, silver, and precious gems. The belt’s buckle is engraved with the skull of a fierce half-man in the center of a field of red flames.
History
The Belt of Rank is an ancient symbol of the dwarven people, a sign of their once great heritage before the Cleansing Wars devastated their race. This ancient artifact was created by dwarven clerics 4,000 years ago to be worn by the leader of the dwarven armies— generals of great charisma and skill who were sworn to protect the dwarven race.
The artifact was passed from general to general over the centuries, finally being given to the dwarven king Rkard to use in defense of his race in the face of the Cleansing Wars. Rkard was fatally wounded in battle by Borys of Ebe, and the Belt of Rank was buried with him in the city of Kemalok. Recently, it was given to the mul gladiator Rikus of Tyr to assist him in retrieving the stolen Book of Kemalok Kings and defeating an approaching army from Urik. Though the army was overcome, Rikus was unable to reclaim the book. Ashamed of this, the mul returned the Belt of Rank to the dwarves of Kled, where it remains hidden to this day, waiting for the day when a dwarf general worthy of it will reclaim it once again.
Campaign Uses
Though it may be common knowledge in some circles that the Belt of Rank can be found in the dwarven village of Kled, getting it from its guardian spirits (other wearers of the belt) is another matter. A DM should present an adventuring party with the Belt of Rank only in defense of the dwarves of Athas. The belt could also have been the victim of theft, as was the Book of Kemalok Kings, and involved characters could be charged with its retrieval.
Abilities
The Belt of Rank will fit any Medium-sized creature. Half-giants are too big and most halflings too small to wear the artifact as the item does not magically adjust to fit the wearer. The belt gives any dwarf wearer a +8 competence bonus on Charisma checks and Charisma-based skill checks when dealing with dwarves. If the wearer is not a dwarf, he receives a +4 competence bonus on Charisma checks and Charisma-based skill checks when dealing with dwarves.
The belt provides the wearer a continual freedom of movement, greater heroism, and protection from arrows effects (all mundane missiles fired at the wearer unerringly strike the artifact’s buckle). If a dwarwen wearer succeeds at a Charisma check (DC 20), he can access the accumulated experience and knowledge of more than 40 centuries of dwarven generals. He receives a +10 bonus on all Knowledge (history) related to dwarves and +10 bonus on Knowledge (warcraft) checks.
Should the Belt of Rank be pilfered and summarily worn, all dwarves viewing the artifact will know it was stolen and do whatever they can to retrieve it. Should the possessor of the Belt of Rank ever unjustly take the life of a dwarf, the artifact will constrict to a diameter of four inches—effectively crushing the wearer to death.
Suggested Means of Destruction
• Submerge the belt in the blood of a hundred murdered dwarves.
So this is my first draft on it. I based my version pro PAoA and from PP. Feedback is very much appreciated.
That would be a usefull addition to the DS 3.5 Document maybe for version 9, or even as a seperate download.If a dwarwen wearer succeeds at a Charisma check (DC 20), he can access the accumulated experience and knowledge of more than 40 centuries of dwarven kings.
So, what does this mean exactly?
40 centuries of dwarven kings
Make that 40 centuries of dwarven generals.
So its abilities would be war-related.
For the Orphic Flower I wanted the player to have access to the knowledge of Amara, an epic preserver, so I wrote this (inspired by some recent Forgotten Realms artifacts):
In addition to its other powers, the Orphic Flower allows its owner to access the great knowledge of the spirit it contains. This source of knowledge grants the wielder a +10 bonus on all Knowledge (arcana) and Spellcraft checks and a +5 bonus on all other Knowledge checks. Whoever owns the artifact can also create magic items as if he had access to the appropriate item creation feats.
So...you could have bonuses to Knowledge (history) checks relating to all things dwarf, or to Knowledge (warcraft). Just a few ideas.
Btw, Methvezem came up with a good conversion of the Crown of Kings. Mmm, I'll just list all those we have (and that are finished) and that are featured in the products: Sunray, Crown of Kings, Rubyheart, Eye of Psurlon, Korgunard’s Annulus (featured in a 3E Dragon Magazine issue), Taraskir's sword and armor and crown, and the armor of the last king of Kemalok. The Heartwood Spear is partly done, the whole thing about how its abilities are not consistent in the novels being the main bug. The Psychometron of Nerad is partly done too, not sure what the snag is there. Been a while.
Looks good. Hopefully we'll see a magic/psionic item collection at some point, to pull together all the materials that you and others have been putting together. Coversions and new items.
/coughs
Looks good. Hopefully we'll see a magic/psionic item collection at some point, to pull together all the materials that you and others have been putting together. Coversions and new items.
What a good idea! :lightbulb
Hey Penn, care to join me on such a project?
Looks good. Hopefully we'll see a magic/psionic item collection at some point, to pull together all the materials that you and others have been putting together. Coversions and new items.
Isn't it what the "athasian equipment guide" is all about?
Isn't it what the "athasian equipment guide" is all about?
Bha!!! Shooo you! You killed what promised to be an entertaining jest....
Love you anyway
"And one day, when the need is the greatest and humanity is on the brink of ruin, the Athasian Equipment Guide will come forth and we will all be saved."
Sounds perfect for the Athasian Equipment Guide. It could well include artifacts.
Right now the pre-review version contains 22 artifacts - ranging from barely artifacts-level, to minor and major - with the possibility of 4 additional ones, albeit those last are unorthodox and may well end up removed from the document.
Since the pre-review version was sent off I created 2 artifacts - the Orphic Flower and the Hraash’nal.
How about spells that specificaly say they create real or magical missiles, like Flame Arrow or Acid Arrow? They ought to be striking the buckler as well. Magic "bolts" like a Lightning Bolt, and "missiles" like a Magic Missile, are not really missiles though, they only use the same language. (I'm sure that last is a point that didn't escape you brun01 ;) )
I have to read Crimson Legion again and make sure, but I remember that everything non-magical hitted to buckle, I think it even mention Rikus knowing that...
Right now the pre-review version contains 22 artifacts - ranging from barely artifacts-level, to minor and major - with the possibility of 4 additional ones, albeit those last are unorthodox and may well end up removed from the document.
Since the pre-review version was sent off I created 2 artifacts - the Orphic Flower and the Hraash’nal.
There are some artifacts that I could convert, if desired
Major Artifacts from PAoA:
Heart of the Drake
The Last Tree
Orbs of Kalid-Ma
The Planar Gate
Minor Artifacts from PAoA:
Agafari Rod
Periapt of Tierna
Red Crystal of Tyr
Talisman of Torr'ack the Cruel
But really, do what you want, any conversions will help with the final versions.
What I want to see, though, is what you come up with for Ktandeo's Cane. I recall a discussion with Jon on that subject and it was suggested then that when the time came to write the artifact someone would create new spells that would match what the Cane's spells could do in the novels.
I have to read Crimson Legion again and make sure, but I remember that everything non-magical hitted to buckle, I think it even mention Rikus knowing that...
Just finished CL and in the battle in Urik, a few templars definitely throw some spell-missiles at Rikus and they hit the belt. They're exploding fire things, Fire Seeds maybe? The belt doesn't protect him from the explosion, but it does draw the missiles.
I could find the page if you want.
Please...
Crimson Legion p. 289-290
Rikus' stomach knotted with fear, an he let out a panicked bellow. Although the mul had worn th Belt of Rank through enough battles to know its enchangement would protect him from normal arrows, he had no idea whether it would shield him from the fiery missiles now streaking at him.
The rocks struck him square in the midsection and exploded. The impact knocked the mul off his feet, hurled him a dozen steps backward, then dropped him roughly to the street. His breath blasted from his lungs and a sharp pain shot through his back. Rikus opened his mouth to scream then choked on the stench of sulfur as a storm of golden fire erupted less than a foot over his face.
Dou you remember which issue, Pennarin? I would like to see what they did with it!