here's an item that is WAY different than what one usually sees in D&D. In fact, i'm not sure how well this will work within DCC, but basically, it is describing in detail the results of a Demon Summoning spell.
Candles of Penumbra (Unique, Chaotic)
Description: These three fat black candles mounted on a strange skull have the power to summon three distinct demons (Orwass, Shentay and Meelzo) to serve the wizard. The wizard must be able to cast Demon Summoning already, but lighting the candles adds a +1d4 chance of success. The candles never burn down, and when lit, the altar area is consumed by a greasy penumbra of shadows and a strong chill.
When rolling on the Demon Summoning table on page 206 of the DCC RPG, use the True Name column. Orwass, Shentay and Meelzo are all Type III demons but have very specific abilities and are much more controllable thanks to the power of the candles to which they are bound. With a minimum 16 result, Orwass, Shentay or Meelzo will appear to the summoner, per his request. They are under his command for 1 round during which they may be petitioned, but thereafter gain a Will save to resist control (equal to the spell check result +2). If the save succeeds, there is a 30% chance the demon attacks the caster viciously for 1d4+3 rounds. If the demon does not attack the caster, it attacks another nearby creature or simply vanishes. Otherwise, the summoner has gained control of the demon at this point and it must fulfill the request made of it to the best of its abilities, as noted below.
Orwass is a demon of Larceny, and he can be compelled to steal many things the sorcerer desires, within reason. The lower value of the item, the higher the chance of success. It takes 1d3 days for Orwass to fulfill his mission, and when completed the item will appear spontaneously near the candles, whether lit or not. The base chance of success is 50%. Small items under 30gp value add +30%; small items up to 100gp value add +20%; items up to 200gp add 0%; items up to 400gp value deducts -20%; items up to 600gp value deduct -40%; an item up to 1000gp has only a 1% of being stolen. Per the judge’s discretion, a stolen item might be taken from an obvious place and noticed as now being in the sorcerer’s possession, such as the King’s finest chariot parked outside the wizard’s tower. The demon is not above making things difficult for the summoner, even if it is willing to comply with his wishes. Orwass will try to bend the word of the caster to the best of its ability.
Shentay is a demon of Seduction, and she can be asked to kidnap/compel someone the wizard knows or has seen, whether male or female, and have that person approach the wizard’s presence to fulfill his lecherous desires. A personal item of the victim must be employed, such as a locket of hair, a comb, undergarments, or anything else appropriate. The base chance of success is 50%. A Lawful aligned target deducts -20%; Neutral adds +0%; Chaotic adds +20%. The person requested will appear for the wizard within 1d3 days if travel is possible in that time, otherwise the spell automatically fails. The victim is under a sort of demonic charm effect from Shentay, and she views the caster as an amorous friend regardless of their actual acquaintance. Completing the acts ends the charm effect, but the victim has a percentage chance equal to the initial roll of not remembering anything or how she arrived at her present location. Further complications that arise from this scenario are the problem of the caster and the demon has nothing to do with it.
Meelzo is a demon of Violence and can be utilized to bring pain and even death upon nearly anyone the wizard knows or has seen, but he must possess a personal item, such as a locket of hair, a comb, undergarments, or anything else appropriate. There is no distance limit, and Meelzo will make the attack within 1d3 days of being commanded to do so. The base chance of success is 50%. If the desire is to merely harm and terrify the victim, add +40% to the roll. Meelzo will appear suddenly, most likely at night, and threaten the victim with scratches, murderous howls, doors banging and dishes smashing and other appropriate terrors. If the wizard wants physical harm, but not death to the victim, add +10% to the roll. Meelzo will appear suddenly, most likely at night, and assault the victim with claw gouges, bites and rips, inflicting damage but not killing him. Note that particularly weak or susceptible victims might be inadvertently killed by this result. If the wizard wants the physical death of a victim, subtract 30% from the chance of success. This means the demon only has a 20% chance of finding and slaying the victim; alternatively, the judge can play out the combat using the following statistics if it is more dramatic or appropriate to the scenario:
Meelzo (Type III demon) Init +4; Atk claw +8 melee (1d6+6 plus 1d4 against lawful creatures) or bite +10 melee (1d8+4); AC 20; HD 6d12; MV 40’ or fly 40’; Act 2d20; SP detect good (+8 spell check), scare, demon traits; SV Fort +8, Ref+10, Will +8; AL C.
History: Bound to the candles centuries ago by the evil sorcerer Malchezigar, the creator of the item eventually had his very life and soul consumed by the vile forces he tried to control (he was castrated by Shentay). Threat of death is a distinct danger that anyone employing these nefarious candles will eventually face. During his lifetime, Malchezigar used these fiends to (among other things) steal the key to the King’s coffer, seduce the daughter of the Bishop and leave her naked, dazed and disoriented in the middle of town, and to slay his arch-enemy, the wizard Palmatos, who harbored a similar desire to eliminate Malchezigar in a spectacular fashion.
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