AD&D Magical Item: Necklace of Strangulation and Its Uses...

An evil magical item that players will probably cry about because it will likely kill their character if they just blindly put it on.

A Necklace of Strangulation is an enchanted item that can only be discovered when placed around the wearer’s neck. Upon wearing it, the necklace constricts, causing 6 hit points of damage per round and cannot be removed without powerful spells. The wearer will eventually die, leaving only a skeleton behind.

Highlights

• 🎭 Enchanted Item: The necklace is covered by enchantments that conceal its true nature.

• ⛓️ Immediate Constriction: It tightens instantly upon being worn.

• ⚔️ Damage Infliction: The wearer suffers 6 hit points of strangulation damage every round.

• 💀 Inevitability of Death: The wearer will die from the damage caused by the necklace.

• 🔒 Irremovable: The necklace cannot be taken off without powerful spells like alter reality or wish.

• 🦴 Final Fate: The remains of the wearer will be a dry skeleton once they perish.

• 🧙‍♂️ Powerful Magic: Requires significant magical intervention to remove.

Key Insights

• 🧙‍♀️ Illusion of Safety: The enchantments mask the necklace’s deadly effects, luring the unsuspecting into a false sense of security. This emphasizes the theme of hidden dangers in seemingly innocuous objects.

• ⏳ Time Constraint: The continuous damage creates a ticking clock scenario, heightening tension as the wearer races against time for a solution. This could lead to interesting gameplay dynamics.

• ⚖️ Moral Dilemma: Players may face tough choices on whether to help a character or save themselves, exploring themes of sacrifice and heroism.

• 💔 Consequences of Power: The necklace represents how powerful items can have dire consequences, a reminder of the responsibility that comes with wielding magic.

• 🏴‍☠️ Adventure Hook: Discovering the necklace could lead to quests for powerful spells or artifacts to remove it, providing ample narrative opportunities.

• 📜 Legend and Lore: The necklace can serve as a focal point in a campaign’s backstory, adding depth and intrigue to the world-building.

• ⚔️ Endgame Challenge: Removing or overcoming the necklace could serve as a climactic challenge for players, testing their resourcefulness and teamwork.

Creepy Scenario:

As you delve deeper into the crypt, the air grows colder, and an eerie silence envelops you. You come across a skeletal figure, slumped against a wall. Around its neck, a necklace glimmers in the dim light. As you approach, a chill runs down your spine, but the allure of the necklace is too strong. You reach out, unclasping it from the skeleton's neck. It feels oddly warm in your hand. You decide to put it on, and as it settles around your neck, you feel a sudden tightness. The necklace begins to constrict, and you gasp for air, but no sound comes out. Your vision blurs as you claw at the necklace, but it won't budge. The last thing you see before darkness takes over is the skeletal figure, its empty eye sockets seeming to stare right at you.

Seeds/Scenarios:

1. The Assassin's Tool: A notorious assassin uses the necklace as a tool to eliminate his targets. The players are tasked to stop him, but they must first understand the true nature of his weapon.

2. The Unwilling Sacrifice: A cult uses the necklace to offer unwilling sacrifices to their dark deity. The players stumble upon this cult and must stop their nefarious plans.

3. The Guardian's Test: The necklace is a test for those who seek a powerful artifact. Only those pure of heart can wear it without being strangled, serving as a deadly deterrent for the unworthy.

4. The Mad Merchant: A deranged merchant sells the necklace as a regular piece of jewelry, not knowing its true nature. The players must track down the buyers before it's too late.

5. The King's Trap: A paranoid king uses the necklace to deal with potential usurpers.