Unique
Magical Auras
Adventurers
find magic items. It happens regularly – at least your players hope it
does! The Old School Renaissance dictates (suggests?) that Dungeon
Masters provide some inventiveness, some imagination when describing new found
items. Of course, not every wand, sword, or pair of gloves the
adventurers stumble upon is going to be entirely unique. However, it
never hurts to throw in a few words which seem fresh to the characters, as well
as, the players. It heightens that feeling of the
unknown. To me, that’s the heart of old school fantasy gaming.
Use the following list to
(randomly) choose a unique aura for the next magic item the adventurers come
across. They see…
1) a magical aura of
some bizarre hue… orange lavender with gold flecks.
2) a swirling magenta
midnight field of energy.
3) undulating patterns
of vibrant crimson illumination.
4) a dark array of
demon-haunted faces screaming in both ecstasy and torment.
5) spectral green ichor
oozing over its surface.
6) a subtle violet glow
accompanied by the sound of ominous droning.
7) visions of a man
with horns and bone-white flesh clothed in dark robes. With yellow eyes,
he stares into a yawning abyss as if waiting for something to emerge from the
empty blackness.
8) shimmering waves of
azure flowing in and out of reality, betwixt this world and several others.
There they are – eight
non-standard magic item auras. Go forth and standardize no more!
Also, be sure to mention those auras (even if it’s just a single aspect)
the next time it’s used. Calling back to the original details will
strengthen the vitality of your game. If you occasionally struggle (as I
do) with remembering that a certain description goes with a certain item, then
do yourself a favor – write down a little cheat sheet and keep it next to your
adventure notes for easy reference.
Feedback time! Is this
the kind of thing you’re likely to use in a game? If so, please let me
know by commenting. Also, don’t be afraid to share this post (and blog)
with others!
Venger Satanis
Grognard de Noir
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