The Signet Ring of the House Malenti
The Signet Ring of the House Malenti (minor noble house) has more than a minor political power associated with it. It 'seals the soul' of any it touches (with intent).
Full Item Description
It is an antique gold ring from a minor noble house. It is a signet ring, used to press the house seal into hot wax sealing documents or showing their authenticity. It appears nothing more.
History
Long ago, one of the possessors of the ring worked with the Dark Powers to gain power. It is supposed to be the Third Duke, but that is not confirmed. The ring's properties have been (mis)used or ignored by his ancestors since then.
Magic/Cursed Properties
It 'seals the soul' of any it touches (with intent). What does this mean?
*) A soul is sealed to the body and can not leave. This prevents the soul from passing over upon death. This prevents the character from re-incarnating or becoming a ghost. The soul is trapped in the decaying form, eventually to go mad unless released. Sometimes in its madness it burst free from its decaying prison as a destructive spectre, a viscious non human spirit. If a character dies with this ring on, and has not promised their soul to the Dark Ones, they will be trapped in their body without release.
*) A given soul can be marked for ownership by the Dark Powers that brought the family to power. This mark fades with time, but if the character dies soon after being marked, their soul (unless claimed by another- i.e. the subject is actively religious) will travel to the realm of Dark Powers. A marked character will be detected as Evil by detect evil senses and spells that are not discrimatory.
One side effect of being marked or wearing the ring, the person is brought to the attention of The Dark Powers. The Dark Powers will pay attention to the character and its needs, so the character will be able to make a deal if they need to.
*) The Signet ring allows those of a mystic inclination to find anyone marked by the signet ring. Spells that require touch can be cast upon those who have been marked, with extra effort upon the casting. Those mystically inclined will also be able to talk with any sealed spirit bound to a corpse (usually to make a deal to become a skeleton or some such).
Note: There are many signet rings and stamps with this power. This is a common demonic 'gift'.
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? Responses (11)
I quite like this. Regarding the soul being trapped in the body (which incidentally is a really neat idea), could a powerful soul maybe affect those around it (i.e. making them uneasy or distressed) in its cries of madness or struggle for freedom? What if the ring is removed after death (which would seem quite likely)? Will the binding eventually fail? Of course, by this time, the soul might be insane.
What if the ring is removed after death (which would seem quite likely)?
The soul will be able to escape, if it has enough personal energy, will power, and skill in astreal manipulation (or some combination of the three). Once removed, the ghost might be able to arrange its own escape, might be insane enough to be a spiritual monster, or, and this is likely, will be already sucked down into the bowels of hell.
Will the binding eventually fail? Of course, by this time, the soul might be insane.
It might given enough time. In madness, the spirit will grow in power. With enough power, it will be able to burst those bonds.
I guess the HouseHold of this Minor Noble Family is haunted by some seriously nasty spirit creatures, as nobles who died with the ring on would be focused there.
Adventure Hook - PCs get hired to rid the family home of some seriously crazed spirits.
Great idea. I like the idea of the body getting trapped in the decaying corpse, it seems alot better than just going straight to the nether regions.
I like the idea of the spirit trapped in the body as well.If the body is cremated, does the spirit break free? I can't vote because I have zero votes.Is something wrong?
Ah, the Villain's ring. I like the idea and several plot ideas occurred to me when I read this. It is a ring around which dark rumours and legends are whispered and the use of this could be to blame for several things. For some reason my first thought was about a barbaric tribe, with shamanic and ancestral values, in which a tribal member got marked by the wearer of the ring. In such a culture the shaman would quickly discover that something was amiss and a hook of sorts would have been established. I can already envisage the fur wearing tribals come to find the rotting carcass of their city dwelling cousin, only to have his insanely enraged spectre burst out of the corpse and straight at them.
Of course the adventure of the marked PC or NPC also comes to mind. This would be a kind of a race against time to find a cure or release from this horrible state. I can easily envision a fat, sweating noble wiping his forehead and relating his enmity with the wearer of the ring to the PCs. He would then proceed to explain his plight and beg for their assistance. This could prove to quite fun and I guess the PCs would have to be careful so they won't all be marked.
Other than that1 it is all too easy to think in terms of Drow society, but I won't go there. Hehe.
At last I've got around to voting on this.
I thought I had voted on this since i put it into the ring codex.
I like it, simplistic evil. What else can describe it?
Thank you both. HoH and new votes. Wow.
Quite like this. Succint presentation of a quality idea in a clean format.
So, the 'with intent' comment means that you can't intentionally be marked? That point is unclear to me.
What happens if the body of someone wearing this is cremated?