The Gilded Curse is a melon-sized chunk of impossibly radiant gold—too radiant. Said to have been born of divine avarice or planar alchemy gone wrong, it is one of the most dangerous curiosities in the world. Some claim it was once a fallen star. Others believe it to be the petrified heart of a gold dragon that tried to ascend to godhood. Whatever its origin, the object radiates temptation. Artists, nobles, and mages have lost fingers, limbs, or even lives reaching for it.
Properties:
- Aura of Gold: The Gilded Curse emits a soft, mesmerizing light in a 10-foot radius. Any creature within range must succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or be charmed for 1 minute. While charmed this way, the creature is compelled to touch the object unless restrained or forcibly removed. It can repeat the save at the end of each of its turns.
- Transmuting Touch (Curse): Any organic material (flesh, bone, wood, leather, food, plants, etc.) that comes into direct contact with the Gilded Curse is instantly transmuted into solid gold. This transformation is permanent and magically reinforced—it cannot be dispelled or reversed by anything short of a Wish spell.
- Anti-Divination Veil: The object is immune to Identify, Legend Lore, Detect Magic, and True Seeing. All attempts to read it magically return a sense of "too much perfection"—as if the magic recoils from knowing more.
- Unwilling Art: Any creature partially turned to gold suffers the petrified condition. Full body contact results in immediate death and complete transmutation.