dragon-magic-oef

CHAPTER 3
DRACONIC
MAGIC
96
Illus. by D. Wahlstrom
Effect: A sword of the great harrowing is a +1 dragonbane
longsword with two lesser powers that it is eager to use on
behalf of its master. Three times per day each, it can use resist
energy (20 points, sword’s choice of energy type) and remove
fear.
But in battle with a wounded dragon, a sword of the great
harrowing becomes something much more. Immediately
after the wielder successfully deals damage to a dragon with
the sword, it activates its dragonblood consumption power.
At the end of each of the wielder’s turns, check whether the
sword dealt damage to the dragon that round. If it did, its
enhancement bonus increases by 1 for future attacks against
that dragon. If it did not, its enhancement bonus decreases by
1 for future attacks against that dragon. One hour after the
last time the sword deals damage to a dragon, this effect fades,
and the sword’s enhancement bonus returns to normal.
A sword of the great harrowing’s enhancement bonus can’t
drop below +1 (or the normal enhancement bonus of the
sword, if improved beyond +1), nor can it rise above the
dragon’s age category (including the benefit of the bane
quality). For dragons without an age category, treat the age
category as 1/4 the dragon’s Hit Dice (maximum age category
of 10 for a dragon with 40 or more Hit Dice).
Variants: As written, a sword of the great harrowing is
neutral, an implacable foe of both chromatic and metallic
dragons. But the DM can change its alignment and narrow its
focus to produce a variant sword that hates only evil dragons
(or only good ones).
It’s also possible to change the sword into another type of
weapon. Simply subtract 15 gp from the cost, and add the
cost of the new weapon.
Aura/Caster Level: Strong transmutation; CL 15th.
Construction: Craft Magic Arms and Armor, locate creature,
resist energy, remove fear, 30,315 gp, 2,400 XP, 60 days.
Weight: 4 lb.
Price: 60,315 gp.
TAILBANDS OF IMPACT
Characters who face the mightiest of dragons know to fear
their tail slap more than their bite. These adamantine bands
enhance the already prodigious destructive capability of a
tail slap attack.
Description: Each of these three progressively larger
adamantine bands is a stunning piece of jewelry in its own
right, studded with gems and inscribed with draconic runes
of strength. The three bands slip over the wearer’s tail and
are magically held in place once donned, spread equidistant
up its length. Tailbands of impact occupy the same space on
the body as boots.
Prerequisite: While tailbands of impact are made for
dragons, any creature that has a tail slap attack can wear
them, and they resize to fit the wearer. A creature that does
not have a tail slap attack gains no benefit from wearing the
bands.
Tailbands of impact
Activation: The tailbands of impact function automatically
as long as they are worn.
Effect: An attack with a tail equipped with tailbands of
impact is considered adamantine and magic for the purpose
of overcoming damage reduction. In addition, tailbands of
impact allow the wearer to apply more of his Strength bonus
on damage rolls for tail slap attacks. Consult the table below
to determine the effect.
Normal
Wearing Tailbands of Impact
Str bonus × 1/2 Str bonus
Str bonus Str bonus × 1-1/2
Str bonus × 1-1/2 Str bonus × 2
Aura/Caster Level: Moderate evocation; CL 11th.
Construction: Craft Wondrous Item, bull’s strength, 3,000
gp, 240 XP, 6 days.
Weight: 10 lb.
Price: 6,000 gp.
TOME OF THE WYRM
Favored by spellcasters who hunt dragons, a tome of the wyrm
gradually increases the potency of its bearer’s spells.
Lore: A tome of the wyrm describes dozens of battles
between spellcasters and dragons (DC 10 Knowledge
[arcana]). Wyrm wizards (see page 55) created the tomes to help
them conduct research by overcoming the magical defenses
of dragons, growing stronger over time (DC 20 Knowledge
[arcana]).
Description: A tome of the wyrm is a leather-covered grimoire
with binding hinges and a back plate made of dark
iron. An embossed, glowing eye with a slitted pupil adorns
the cover. The eye remains heavily lidded unless a dragon