Bodhiratna

I’ve been developing a couple of artifacts for Eshana, my Zindian character for the Savage Tide Adventure Path. I’m not a hundred percent certain I like the powers or wording of this one, but it’s a work in progress. What do you think? The idea was inspired by the spell one with the cosmos in the Deep Magic sourcebook by Kobold Press.

The name is meant to mean “The Awakening Jewel,” with bodhi- meaning “to awaken” and ratna being the name of the 14 jewels created from the churning of the Ocean of Milk. The mention of the Kaustubha is meant to display the root of the negative side effect of wanting to constantly be “connected” to pure consciousness, which is something that only Lord Vishnu can accomplish.

So here it is, my first “published” artifact, the Bodhiratna:

 

Bodhiratna (Major Artifact)

Slot headband CL 20th Weight negligible
Aura Strong divination

Aeons ago when the devas and asuras churned the Ocean of Milk, fourteen jewels, called Ratnas, were produced from it and were divided amongst the devas and asuras. The seventh such jewel was Bodhiratna, the Gem of Awakening. This purple amethyst jewel shaped like an eye can be worn as an ornamental bindi, and when so worn acts as a third eye, opening the wearer’s consciousness to the secrets of the multiverse. It is sometimes seen as a lesser version of Lord Vishnu’s Kaustubha, albeit one that can be used by mortals.

The Bodhiratna can be “opened” to connect the wearer to these secrets. When opening the eye, you enter an awakened state where the cosmos holds few mysteries, and this knowledge guides your actions in miraculous ways.

You gain the effects of analyze aura, freedom of movement, and true seeing. You cannot age, and you are unaffected by magical effects that can age you. You do not need to eat, sleep, or breathe. Furthermore, you are immune to compulsions, charms, daze, stun, fear effects, and sleep effects. You cannot be confused, fatigued, or exhausted. You gain a +5 insight bonus to armor class, attack bonuses, skill checks, and saving throws.

If the Bodhiratna is used in such a manner for more than one hour a day, the wearer must succeed at a DC 20 Will save or be compelled to keep the eye open longer, gaining a negative level that can only be cured by making the saving throw. Every day the wearer gets a new attempt to make the saving throw. If a number of negative levels are gained equal to the wearer’s hit dice, the wearer is absorbed into the stone and cannot be resurrected by any means, becoming one with the multiverse.

DESTRUCTION
If the wearer of the gem truly Awakens and achieves moksha, a liberation from the cycle of rebirth, then the gem turns into worthless dust.

Section 15: Copyright Notice – Deep Magic
Deep Magic. © 2014. Open Design. Authors: Wolfgang Baur, Tom Benton, Creighton Broadhurst, Jason Bulmahn, Ross Byers, Charles Lee Carrier, Tim Connors, Adam Daigle, Jonathan Drain, Mike Franke, Ed Greenwood, Frank Gori, Jim Groves, Amanda Hamon Kunz, Sam Harris, Brandon Hodge, Phillip Larwood, Jeff Lee, John Ling, Jr., Chris Lozaga, Ben McFarland, Nicholas Milasich, Carlos Ovalle, Richard Pett, Marc Radle, Stephen Radney-MacFarland, Wade Rockett, Stephen Rowe, Adam Roy, Amber E. Scott, Neil Spicer, Owen K.C. Stephens, Joshua Stevens, Christina Stiles, Matt Stinson, Stefen Styrsky, Dan Voyce, and Mike Welham.