I have an idea for a magic staff for the evil cleric in my game, thought I’d see what everyone here thinks of it.
The Staff of Ktula
An abysmally black obsidian staff, adorned with jagged runes. At the top sits a tiny, pitiful skull — it conjures images in your head of empty cradles and weeping mothers.
The power of this staff can only be evoked by one who can commune with Ktula. It is only a mundane, but grotesque, staff to others. When you use the staff to call on Ktula to create an effect of sadistic intent, roll+Wis. On a 10+, the GM chooses one. On a 7-9, the GM chooses two.
-You lose favour with Ktula; the Staff is useless until you commune with him again
-Ktula applies the effect to you as well
-You draw the attention of the Lord of Light
Thoughts?
What sorts of effects can be created?
Alan De Smet I was thinking of leaving that open, the only qualifier being something sadistic. Allows for player creativity. Do you think it should be more specific?
It sounds pretty cool to me! It’s got big down side, that it must be sadistic limits it from being a skeleton key, so that it’s very power seems reasonable. That said, the current phrasing never actually says that Ktula created the effect, it just implies it. It’s a small detail, but it felt weird.
Have you considering making 10+ “You choose one”? It’s still not good, but it makes it feel a bit more like a success. I can’t off the top of my head think of any other moves that give the GM a choice on 10+.
I’m going to add this to my pile of neat ideas to potentially steal.
It would have to be something pretty powerful, to offset the negative effects.
“Level that city, oh my lord most malign…”
A wild Shoggoth appears!
The intention of GM choosing the consequences would be that it’s the dark god’s response to the PC, not the PC making the effect him or herself. Ktula will decide the consequences of this mortal’s gall to try and command him.