The Spirit Pouch of Jammudaru
This is a simple pouch of what appears to be flexible leather, decorated with crude beadwork, on a leather thong. It is designed to be worn about the neck. The pouch is lumpy, and filled with curiously-shaped stones, bone shards, shells, and other bric-a-brac.
The Spirit Pouch grants the wearer a +1 bonus to saving throws. In addition, it allows its wearer to cast the following spells as a Shaman of 9th Level:
The wearer of the Pouch is aware of both the spells contained, and the means to cast them. Once cast, the spells are not automatically renewed; the wearer must undergo a ritual and perform a sacrifice - different for each spell - to recover them. A follower of Jammudaru will be provided with the methods required for recharging the Pouch in his dreams; non-worshippers must research the rituals themselves.
The Spirit Pouch was made by Raggak, an Ogre Shaman of Jammudaru in Upper Ogremoor, following a series of vivid dreams sent by his Immortal; the Pouch was cut from the flayed skin of the former Shaman, whom Raggak slew with his bare hands. Raggak fasted and prayed over the Pouch for nine days and nights, until Jammudaru answered his prayers and enchanted the Pouch with his Immortal power. While he lived, the Pouch made Raggak’s tribe, the Four-Fingered Hand, the most powerful force for miles around; after his death 50 years ago, however, their power steadily eroded until, in 987 AC, the much-reduced tribe was wiped out by plague. The Spirit Pouch was taken by the last survivor, the Shaman Gulluk, who subsequently disappeared.
The current location of the Spirit Pouch is unknown; many humanoid tribes have sought it over the last 30-odd years, to no avail. Both King Thar and Prince Kol have sent out unsuccessful expeditions to hunt down the Pouch at various times; should either one hear that it has come to light, they will use all their resources to acquire it before the other one does. If the PCs are the ones who currently hold the Pouch, they could easily find themselves in the middle of a war.
The Heart of Fire
This appears to be a raw, uncut ruby almost one foot in diameter, but weighing only 2 pounds in weight. It radiates heat constantly - not enough to cause damage, but enough to cause considerable discomfort to anyone touching it barehanded. It radiates crimson light to a radius of nearly 60’ during the day; at night-time, it is visible for miles. The gem is almost invulnerable to damage; even diamond cannot scratch it.
When the Immortal Alphaks sent a meteor crashing down on Mystara, creating the Great Crater on the edge of Glantri, he unwittingly invested some of his power into its crystalline core; this raw Immortal magic combined with the fiery explosion when the meteor hit to cause a rupture in the Planar fabric. The gemlike core, freed from the surrounding rock during the crash, became the Heart of Fire.
The Heart is directly linked to the Elemental Plane of Fire; if a Mage of at least 5th Level places his right hand on the gem and wills it to function, the Heart draws sufficient power from the Plane of Fire to allow him to cast a 10d6 Fireball from his left hand, once per day. The Mage, however, takes 1d6 damage from direct contact with the Plane each time he employs this power. Should a Mage of lesser power attempt to draw energy from the Heart, he will be overwhelmed by the rush of energy and explode, causing 5d6 damage to anyone within 10’ (save for half damage). The Heart could also be used to boost or empower additional fire-based spells, should a Mage of sufficient power and intelligence acquire it and take the time to experiment with it.
The Heart of Fire still lies somewhere in the Great Crater. A few humanoids have come across it and accidentally drawn on its power, only to become drifting clouds of smoke and scraps of charred flesh a few seconds later; however, the drain of power from the Plane of Fire, minuscule as it is, has nonetheless drawn the attentions of the Immortal Rathanos. He is beginning to suspect that an item of unusual power has come into existence somewhere on Mystara, and has started to make discreet enquiries through his Clerics and other worshippers. He has narrowed the search down to the area of the Great Crater, and is preparing to send an expeditionary force into that area to seek out the Relic.
Alphaks himself is presently unaware of the Heart’s existence; if he learns of Rathanos’ area of interest, however, he is likely to put two and two together, and perhaps send agents of his own to scout out the Great Crater...
This material copyright 1999 Carl Quaif, based on material copyright TSR, Inc. All rights reserved. Webmastered by Jennifer Favia Guerra.