Crown of the Fiendish Wight
Wondrous item, rare
Description:
The Crown of the Fiendish Wight is a twisted black iron circlet crowned with a dull red gemstone, designed not for the living, but for the dead. When placed upon the head of a humanoid corpse, the crown reanimates the body into a Fiendish Wight—a dark, undead creature under the control of the crown's user. This sinister artifact allows its bearer to raise a powerful servant, but the effects are temporary, and the undead creature will last only a short time before its fiendish essence fades.
Effect (Corpse Use Only):
When the Crown of the Fiendish Wight is placed on the head of a humanoid corpse (dead no longer than 48 hours), it animates the body into a Fiendish Wight. The wight follows the commands of the one who placed the crown on the corpse, serving them for two weeks. After that time, the wight collapses and becomes a lifeless corpse once more, and the crown loses its power, crumbling to ash.
Curse:
If the crown is placed on a corpse that has been dead for longer than 48 hours, the crown fails to activate and crumbles into ash, releasing a pulse of necrotic energy. All creatures within 15 feet must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw, taking 4d6 necrotic damage on a failed save, or half as much on a successful one.
Tactics of the Fiendish Wight:
- The Fiendish Wight raised by the crown fights with deadly precision, using Life Drain to weaken foes and restore its own vitality.
- When cornered or outnumbered, the wight unleashes its Necrotic Burst to damage multiple enemies and gain a shield of temporary hit points, making it harder to bring down.
Lore:
The Crown of the Fiendish Wight is a feared and coveted item among necromancers and those who dabble in dark arts. Many have sought to use it to bring back powerful warriors as servants, but few realize that the crown’s magic is fleeting, and the undead creature it creates cannot be controlled for long. Legends say the crown was once used by a fiendish sorcerer to raise an army of wights, but even he could not hold onto its power forever.