Greetings, 3WD-verse! DM Chris here. While working on the magical treasure index for our new Lord of the Rings Roleplaying campaign, I was reminded of an idea I’d used for my earlier Tomb of Annihilation campaign. Balancing between rewarding your players while still keeping magic items meaningful and special can be a bit of a tightrope.
During my aforementioned Tomb of Annihilation campaign, I created a set of magic items that would grow and shape their character, while still giving the players agency to choose the style of item and the “bond” that would provide the continuing enchantments. Combining the general progression of attack or AC bonuses from +1 to +2, etc., with the subclasses of an unused class in the campaign, Paladin, I was able to craft a set of bonds that players would be able to attach to their choice of a weapon or an item.
I thought it would be fun to share Ubtao’s Blessing with you all. Maybe it helps with your Tomb of Annihilation campaign, or maybe it gives you ideas for custom magic items in one of your other campaigns? Either way, please enjoy.
Ubtao’s Blessing
As one of Ubtao’s Chosen, or Barae, you have been given a powerful magical item that grows
as your character ascends in level. The item may be a weapon or an item (i.e., amulet, ring, etc.), but not armor. The items are loosely sentient, with a Charisma of 16 for determining the Spell DC.
Wondrous item, unique (requires attunement)
Features By Level
3rd Level
- +1 to Attack and Damage (weapon) OR +1 to Armor Class and Saving Throws (item)
- Initial Blessing based on your Bond
6th Level
- Second Blessing based on your Bond
9th Level
- +2 to Attack and Damage (weapon) OR +2 to Armor Class and Saving Throws (item)
12th Level
- Third Blessing based on your Bond
15th Level
- +3 to Attack and Damage (weapon) OR +3 to Armor Class and Saving Throws (item)
- Fourth Blessing based on your Bond
Bonds
Bond of Wa Zamani
- Initial Blessing
- As an action, you can cause spectral vines to spring up and reach for a creature within 10 feet of you that you can see. The creature must succeed on a Strength or Dexterity saving throw (its choice) or be restrained. While restrained by the vines, the creature repeats the saving throw at the end of each of its turns. On a success, it frees itself, and the vines vanish. You may use this once per long rest.
- Cast Speak With Animals once per long rest
- Second Blessing
- Cast Moonbeam once per long rest
- Third Blessing
- Cast Ice Storm once per long rest
- Fourth Blessing
- Cast Commune with Nature once per long rest
Bond of Ushindi
- Initial Blessing
- As an action, you force each creature of your choice that you can see within 30 feet of you to make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, a creature becomes frightened of you for 1 minute. The frightened creature can repeat this saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. You may use this once per long rest.
- Cast Armor of Agathys once per long rest
- Second Blessing
- Cast Spiritual Weapon once per long rest
- Third Blessing
- Cast Stoneskin once per long rest
- Fourth Blessing
- Cast Cloudkill once per long rest
Bond of Ibada
- Initial Blessing
- As an action, you can imbue one weapon that you are holding with Ubtao’s energy. For 1 minute, you add +1 to attack rolls made with that weapon. The weapon also emits bright light in a 20-foot radius and dim light 20 feet beyond that. You may use this once per long rest.
- Cast Protection from Evil and Good once per long rest
- Second Blessing
- Cast Lesser Restoration once per long rest
- Third Blessing
- Cast Guardian of Faith once per long rest
- Fourth Blessing
- Cast Flame Strike once per long rest
Bond of Kisasi
- Initial Blessing
- As a bonus action, you can utter Ubtao’s Curse against a creature you can see within 10 feet of you. You gain advantage on attack rolls against the creature for 1 minute or until it drops to 0 hit points or falls unconscious. You may use this once per long rest.
- Cast Hunter’s Mark once per long rest
- Second Blessing
- Cast Misty Step once per long rest
- Third Blessing
- Cast Dimension Door once per long rest
- Fourth Blessing
- Cast Scrying once per long rest
Bond of Utukufu
- Initial Blessing
- Immediately after you deal damage to a creature, as a bonus action you can distribute temporary hit points to creatures of your choice within 30 feet of you, which can include you. The total number of temporary hit points equals 2d8 plus your current level, divided among the chosen creatures however you like. You may use this once per long rest.
- Cast Heroism once per long rest
- Second Blessing
- Cast Enhance Ability once per long rest
- Third Blessing
- Cast Compulsion once per long rest
- Fourth Blessing
- Cast Commune once per long rest
Bond of Ukombozi
- Initial Blessing
- Immediately after an attacker within 30 feet of you deals damage with an attack against a creature other than you, you can use your reaction to force the attacker to make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the attacker takes radiant damage equal to the damage it just dealt. On a successful save, it takes half as much damage. You may use this once per long rest.
- Cast Sanctuary once per long rest
- Second Blessing
- Cast Hold Person once per long rest
- Third Blessing
- Cast Otiluke’s Resilient Sphere once per long rest
- Fourth Blessing
- Cast Wall of Force once per long rest
Bond of Usaliti
- Initial Blessing
- As an action, you create a visual illusion of yourself that lasts for 1 minute, or until you lose your concentration (as if you were concentrating on a spell). The illusion appears in an unoccupied space of your choice that you can see within 30 feet of you. The illusion looks exactly like you; it is silent; it is your size, is insubstantial, and doesn’t occupy its space; and it is unaffected by attacks and damage. As a bonus action on your turn, you can move the illusion up to 30 feet to a space you can see, but the illusion must remain within 120 feet of you. You may use this once per long rest.
- Cast Expeditious Retreat once per long rest
- Second Blessing
- Cast Invisibility once per long rest
- Third Blessing
- Cast Confusion once per long rest
- Fourth Blessing
- Cast Dominate Person once per long rest
Final Thoughts
One of the best ways I’ve found to help players dig into their character is to give them something magical that slowly becomes a part of their story. Additionally, it allows us, as the DM, to ensure that the players feel rewarded and engaged. These types of items are like a slow-release pill that allows rewards to occur naturally as characters gain levels. So please feel free to try out Ubtao’s Blessing, or use it as a springboard to creating other magic items that grow with your characters.
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