The Diabolical Crux is a sinister trinket with a crude frame of dark gold, holding a skull of alien origin made from black cobalt. The skull appears humanoid but distinctly otherworldly, its eye sockets gleaming with arcane power as if it is staring directly at those who behold it. A haunting sound emanates from a hole at the top of the skull, adding to its eerie presence. The true origin and purpose of this trinket are shrouded in mystery, but it offers a dark exchange to those who dare to use it, amplifying their magical prowess at the cost of their vitality.
Due to its rare and cursed nature, the Diabolical Crux is not commonly traded. If found in the black market or among collectors of dark artifacts, it could fetch a price of around 10,000 to 15,000 gold pieces.
The Diabolical Crux is rumored to have been created by an ancient, long-forgotten cult that worshiped dark entities from beyond the known realms. The skull at its core is said to belong to a being from another realm, and the trinket’s creation involved forbidden rituals and sacrifices. The haunting sound it emits is believed to be the whispers of the damned, eternally bound to the trinket. Legends speak of powerful sorcerers and warlocks who used the Crux to achieve great feats of magic, only to be consumed by its curse over time.
Attunement:
The Diabolical Crux requires attunement by a spellcaster.
Special Features:
- Empowered Magic: Once per day, as an action, you can invoke the power of the Diabolical Crux. You gain five d12 that you can add to your spell hit rolls and spell attack rolls. Additionally, you can use these d12 towards a saving throw against a spell effect. This effect lasts for 1 hour.
- Vitality Drain: Each time the spellcaster uses the Crux to gain the five d12 dice, they suffer 1 level of Exhaustion as the skull drains their vitality.
- Haunting Gaze: While attuned to the Diabolical Crux, you can sense when you are being watched by magical means. The trinket will subtly warm in your presence, alerting you to scrying or similar effects.