Mazes & Mondays: 10 Tantalizing Treasures
Top 10 Treasures to Find in Blades and Bone
Welcome back to the table, adventurers. Pull up a chair and let us take a quiet moment to look at the map of Essembria spread out before us. It is time for another session of Mazes and Mondays. Today, we are looking at the glittering, dangerous allure of discovery.
When you navigate the crumbling ruins of a fallen empire, the promise of treasure pushes you forward. The thrill of prying open a sealed vault sets your heart racing. But in the gritty, low-fantasy world of Blades and Bone, you must remember that loot is never just loot. Every artifact you pull from the dirt carries the heavy weight of history. These items force you to make brutal choices between your conscience as a hero and your hunger as a survivor.
Let us explore ten of the most intriguing and dangerous relics you can uncover in the graveyard of the world. We will look at their lore, their significance to the factions that hunt them, and the mechanical impact they will have on your campaign.
1. The Embered Crown
This is the ultimate prize for the ambitious and the foolish. The Embered Crown is a legendary artifact of immense power, said to grant its wielder the ability to shape the very fabric of the fractured city-states. It was recently stolen from the ruins of an ancient temple, sparking widespread chaos.
Its significance in Essembria cannot be overstated. Whoever wears the crown commands fear and respect, but the artifact demands a terrible cost. Warlords like Captain Dren Malvek will burn entire villages to the ground just to hold it.
In your game, the Embered Crown functions as a Legendary Relic. Mechanically, it can grant an astounding 12 Successes to its wielder, representing a godlike, world-altering bonus. However, the narrative consequences are immediate and severe. If you claim it, you become the biggest target in the realm.
2. The Heart of Ashes
Deep in the volcanic regions near Ashspire, whispers speak of the Heart of Ashes. The fanatic Cult of the Crimson Flame desperately searches for this unique artifact. They believe it holds the key to awakening an ancient, destructive power.
Holding the Heart of Ashes makes you the prime target of a ruthless cult. It forces your party into a constant state of paranoia. Do you destroy it to save the world, or do you use its fiery magic to survive the harsh winter?
Mechanically, the Heart of Ashes acts as a major Artifact, granting up to 10 Successes for rituals or combat encounters. But utilizing its power leaves a magical signature that draws Crimson Flame cultists straight to your campfire.
3. The Cursed Chalice of Vyranth
Not all treasures shine with benevolent light. The Cursed Chalice is a dangerous relic found in the opulent, corrupt city of Vyranth. It promises vitality and strength to anyone who drinks from it, making it highly sought after by desperate mercenaries.
The chalice represents the ultimate gamble. It offers immediate survival, but it tethers your soul to the dark magic of the old empire.
When you use the Cursed Chalice, you might roll for a high Success Bonus, perhaps gaining 8 Successes to overcome a brutal injury. But as a Cursed Relic, it carries a harmful drawback. The Game Master might decree that your character can no longer naturally heal without it, creating a terrifying dependency.
4. The Vanguard’s Plate
Forged during the Final Days of Essembria, the Vanguard’s Plate is a masterwork of magical armor. It was worn by the elite defenders of the empire who died trying to hold back the cataclysm.
Finding this armor in a sunken ruin offers a rare piece of protective history. It represents the noble, failed defense of the old world. Wearing it is a massive status symbol, but it also draws the envy of the Iron Circle mercenaries.
As an Armor relic, the Vanguard’s Plate typically provides 6 Successes to defensive actions. It turns lethal blows into glancing strikes, allowing a gritty survivor to walk away from an encounter with a hulking troll.
5. The Whispering Charm
Sometimes the most dangerous items fit in the palm of your hand. The Whispering Charm is an Enchanted Trinket that glows with a faint, otherworldly light. It contains the trapped memories of an Essembrian scholar.
In a world where knowledge is lost to decay, this charm is invaluable to the Occult Scholars of Ashenhold. It represents a direct link to the forgotten past.
Mechanically, it grants 2 or 3 Successes to lore and deciphering checks. But the narrative impact is heavy. The charm constantly whispers secrets into the wielder’s mind, risking their sanity the longer they keep it attuned.
6. The Sunrock Amulet
Originating from the mysterious desert town of Sunrock, this amulet contains a sliver of the glowing ancient stone that sits at the center of the settlement.
The Sunrock Amulet is a beacon of hope in a dark world. Travelers and merchants will pay handsomely for its protective properties. However, stealing or possessing it makes you an enemy of the desert nomads who worship the mother stone.
As a wearable item, it grants around 5 Successes. It pushes back the living shadows of the Ironwood Forest and protects the wearer from minor environmental hazards.
7. The Drowned God’s Idol
Found near the jagged reefs of the Shattered Coast, this grotesque statue is carved from abyssal stone. It hums with the cold, crushing pressure of the deep ocean.
The Cult of the Drowned God will slaughter entire ship crews to reclaim this idol. Holding it is a death sentence if you travel by sea, yet it commands a staggering price in the black markets of Zarathuun.
The idol is a Wondrous Item that grants up to 7 Successes for weather manipulation or water-based navigation. Every time you use it, however, you risk summoning a Sea Serpent to your location.
8. The Blood-Forged Blade
Weapons in Essembria are usually rusted iron or splintered wood. The Blood-Forged Blade is a terrifying exception. It is a sword with magical properties, drinking the blood of its victims to maintain its razor edge.
This weapon exemplifies the ruthless nature of the frontier. It is the perfect tool for a Gritty Mercenary, but it feeds on violence. It blurs the line between a necessary tool for survival and a catalyst for murder.
Rolling on the item tables, this Weapon might grant 8 Successes in combat. The blade cuts through armor like parchment. Yet, the moral cost is steep. The sword urges the wielder toward lethal force, even when negotiation is possible.
9. The Lost Emperor’s Scroll
Knowledge is the most dangerous treasure of all. This magical scroll contains a map leading directly to the hidden vaults of the Lost Emperor.
Entire mercenary companies and the wealthy Guild of Coin will hunt you to the ends of the earth for this parchment. It represents a way out of the mud and blood of daily survival. It is a ticket to a life of luxury.
The scroll provides 4 Successes to any navigation or survival checks made while following its path. But carrying it means you can never trust anyone again. Every ally becomes a potential thief.
10. The Tears of the Martyr
Finally, we have the Tears of the Martyr. This is a rare, glowing potion found only in the deepest catacombs of the Blackstone Peaks.
In a world wracked by spreading plagues and constant violence, a potion of true healing is a miracle. A Desperate Healer would give their right hand for a single vial. Do you use it to save a dying party member, or do you sell it to a dying merchant lord for enough coin to feed a village?
When consumed, this Potion grants an immediate 9 Successes to overcome any disease, poison, or fatal wound. It is a fleeting, one-time use item that forces you to decide exactly whose life is worth saving.
The Weight of Your Choices
As you step back into the ruins, remember that these treasures are not just rewards. They are tests of your character. Will you let the power of the Embered Crown corrupt you? Will you risk your life to keep the Heart of Ashes out of the wrong hands?
Gather your dice, prepare your sheets, and embrace the heavy choices of the road ahead. I will see you next week for another journey into the dark.
If you would like to revisit past articles, look no further than the Geek Opera Index!
Watch the shadows, my friends. And always check your ale for poison.