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Tone is conveyed through item and creature descriptions. Here are some mundane items that hold deep meaning for denizens of the land of Zodia.
These humble bronze medals are stamped with the beaming face of a regal looking King Pudding. They are worth 50sp in most shops, though it is said that there is a secret society of devoted and reclusive collectors who offer fabulous treasures for them.
My players are always constructing “babies” out of flammable brush and twine in order to lure monsters out of holes. This item is dedicated to their creativity.
Perceived by all beings as a live infant, it cries “wah wah” when left on its back and coos “mama” when held tenderly. A successful Warding save will cut through the illusion. Keeping the device in a glass case also disables the effect - this is considered the normal way to display such effigies in the home. Each one is always accompanied by a gilded certificate proclaiming its “bonafides”–a true name. Serious collectors are willing to pay 100sp per syllable.
Roll 1d10 three times for a first, middle and last name.
| 1d10 | First | Middle | Last |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Annie | Anne | Abernathy |
| 2 | Betsy | Delilah | Blanton |
| 3 | Emma | Jean | Breckenridge |
| 4 | Frannie | June | Campbell |
| 5 | Ida | Joe | Clay |
| 6 | Loretta | Leigh | Collins |
| 7 | Maggie | Lou | Davenport |
| 8 | Mary | Lynn | Delacroix |
| 9 | Ruby | Mae | Tucker |
| 10 | Savannah | Margaret | Winthrop |
A flexible pole and line used in the time-honored and time-intensive practice of Fishing.
Fishing takes an hour and is practiced in a body of water containing some entity you wish to fish out. To go Fishing, choose your bait and roll 1d12 as the Cast die. From here, you have three chances to catch something. Your Reel total starts at 0. Roll 1d6 to reel in slow or 1d8 to reel in fast, and add the amount to your Reel total. If the Reel total equals your Cast Die, you caught something, roll 1d20 below to see what it is. If your Reel total goes over your Cast die, the line breaks and you lose your bait. If, after three rolls, your Reel total is less than the Cast Die, you did not catch anything, but you recover the bait and can use it for Fishing again.
| Bait | Cost | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Hook | 1 IP | Minimum investment to fish. |
| Flash Bait | 2 IP | A metallic bait which flashes in the sunlight. You can increase your Reel total by one, once per cast. |
| Gold Worm | 3 IP | A fine bait with a strong smell. You can increase your Reel total by one or two, once per cast. |
| 1d20 | Fishing Result |
|---|---|
| 1 | A boot! Somehow, it’s in your size, but there’s only one of them. Fisherfolk say that if you obtain a pair of these, something good will happen. |
| 2-14 | A small fish, usable as a single day’s meal, or worth 20sp. |
| 15-19 | A big fish, usable as a single day’s meal for the whole party, or worth 100sp. If you throw it back, it will bless you with good luck. |
| 20 | An artifact! Roll another 1d20 to see what it is. If you caught another fishing rod, it’s typically of higher quality. |
Adventurers look more impressive when they are covered in innumerable gewgaws, baubles, amulets, charms, and of course: crystals. Once clipped onto your person, it’s like it was never there, increasing your maximum IP by 1 without consuming an item slot.
No one knows who prints these, but they are beloved by all. Within the glossy pages, a single subject is covered in depth, reducing the difficulty of a related test by 1d6.
Monsters, even those without hands, need to record all their little appointments, plans, and grudges, just like us. These journals comes in denizen-appropriate sizes, colors, and patterns, and always include a fat pencil which clips onto the side. The whole apparatus is controlled with the mind, allowing even groundling Puddings and Floating Eyes to keep a record of their thoughts. Contains 1d6 dramatically ironic entries.
This severed rat tail is festooned with a ribbon and stands as incontrovertible proof of valor and quality. The collector of these will not give you money, but you can choose a Reward.
A large, self-contained device for brewing tea. Each is worth 1d20x100sp, the value indicates the intricacy of its decorations.
Good for one throw at any Tabla table, found in bundles of 2d6. The Grand Prize varies by location. To play Tabla, throw 3d6, and arrange the dice in ascending order:
| Throw | Roll |
|---|---|
| Any Two Matching | “Dubs”: Tabla Ticket |
| 3 Consecutive | “Straight”: 10sp x sum of dice |
| 1 - 3 - 5 | “Oddity”: Rat Tail |
| 2 - 4 - 6 | “Evens”: Collectible Medal |
| All Three Matching | “Trips”: This location’s Grand Prize |
Multiple tickets can be spent at the beginning, each additional ticket allows the re-roll of a single die. The prize is not awarded until re-rolling is finished.
A set of twelve semi-precious stones representing the signs of the Zodiac. Sometimes found as a loose collection but usually the gems are worked into an art object: strung on a necklace, inset into a plate, wrought into a crown, etc.. 1d6-1 of the stones are missing. Each stone is worth 10sp to a collector, but a complete set is worth twice as much.
The stones are: rose quartz (Aries), jade (Taurus), lapis lazuli (Gemini), pearl (Cancer), peridot (Leo), carnelian (Virgo), opal (Libra), citrine (Scorpio), turquoise (Sagittarius), garnet (Capricorn), amethyst (Aquarius), and aquamarine (Pisces).
Heretical Zodiac Set - Identical to a Zodiac Set, with the addition of serpentine, representing Ophiuchus, the snake-handler.
