Hi everyone! I’ve decided to expand the section in Codex – Ectoplasm about haunted magic items. If you have a ghosty or haunted magic item for Dungeon World you’d like to submit, please paste the text in the comments here, or email it to me at gauntletpodcast@gmail.com.
Thanks!
The book of lost names
Tattered bindings, crumbling parchment, all but five pages torn out. Ask the MC what name from legend marks the first page.
To imprint a departing soul onto a page of this book, write the name of the newly deceased in their own warm blood.
To compel their ghost to your presence, burn the page. When you do, roll. On 10+, choose two; on 7-9, choose one:
-Their mind and memory are whole and lucid
-They’ll answer your questions or do you a favor
-They’ll depart in peace
The book of lost names
Tattered bindings, crumbling parchment, all but five pages torn out. Ask the MC what name from legend marks the first page.
To imprint a departing soul onto a page of this book, write the name of the newly deceased in their own warm blood.
To compel their ghost to your presence, burn the page. When you do, roll. On 10+, choose two; on 7-9, choose one:
-Their mind and memory are whole and lucid
-They’ll answer your questions or do you a favor
-They’ll depart in peace
That’s really good, Dirk Detweiler Leichty!
That’s really good, Dirk Detweiler Leichty!
The light of spectral visitation
This ornate lamp is obviously centuries old and always cold to the touch. The oil in its reservoir is blacker than the void and thicker then clotted blood. Lamps like this are only found in the land of the dead and used to guide spirits to their final destinations. How it came into the world of the living is a mystery of potentially dark import. When you light this lamp roll + WIS. your spirit and body are immediately pulled to the land of the dead. While the oil lasts you can still see the living world faintly and may move through these now ghostly objects and obstructions. On a 10+ you return from death having physically traveled the same distance. On a 7-9 same as 10+ but you encounter a denizen of the land of the dead along the way. On a 6- your character becomes trapped spirit and body in the land of the dead.
The light of spectral visitation
This ornate lamp is obviously centuries old and always cold to the touch. The oil in its reservoir is blacker than the void and thicker then clotted blood. Lamps like this are only found in the land of the dead and used to guide spirits to their final destinations. How it came into the world of the living is a mystery of potentially dark import. When you light this lamp roll + WIS. your spirit and body are immediately pulled to the land of the dead. While the oil lasts you can still see the living world faintly and may move through these now ghostly objects and obstructions. On a 10+ you return from death having physically traveled the same distance. On a 7-9 same as 10+ but you encounter a denizen of the land of the dead along the way. On a 6- your character becomes trapped spirit and body in the land of the dead.
Ancestral Urn
The urn of a departed relative who once lived here, filled with their cremated ashes. It can be found sitting oddly on the mantle above the fireplace in the ‘Haunted Palace’. Shake well!
When you shake this urn and ask for information regarding the residence Roll+WIS
And ask any question.
10+ Their spirit apears and politely answers your question.
7-9 The spirit apears, but asks for a favor before giving you what you seek.
6- You have desiturb the spirits slumber! Prepare for a haunting.
Ancestral Urn
The urn of a departed relative who once lived here, filled with their cremated ashes. It can be found sitting oddly on the mantle above the fireplace in the ‘Haunted Palace’. Shake well!
When you shake this urn and ask for information regarding the residence Roll+WIS
And ask any question.
10+ Their spirit apears and politely answers your question.
7-9 The spirit apears, but asks for a favor before giving you what you seek.
6- You have desiturb the spirits slumber! Prepare for a haunting.
The Spectral Shawl
This very worn and frail length of fabric is always cool to the touch and causes a chill to run down the spine of any who handle it. An old blood stain is the only bit of color against its grey fabric. It is said to have belonged to a very powerful witch who was murdered by her own kin. When you place the Spectral Shawl over your head or shoulders, roll+WIS. On a 10+, the witch appears to you and will perform a favor of some kind. On a 7-9, the same, but she will only do so in exchange for her shawl. Keeping it from her afterwards could result in terrible consequences. On a 6-, the spirits of her murderers mistake you for the witch, roll Last Breath. If you fail Last Breath, the Spectral Shawl becomes your new home…
The Spectral Shawl
This very worn and frail length of fabric is always cool to the touch and causes a chill to run down the spine of any who handle it. An old blood stain is the only bit of color against its grey fabric. It is said to have belonged to a very powerful witch who was murdered by her own kin. When you place the Spectral Shawl over your head or shoulders, roll+WIS. On a 10+, the witch appears to you and will perform a favor of some kind. On a 7-9, the same, but she will only do so in exchange for her shawl. Keeping it from her afterwards could result in terrible consequences. On a 6-, the spirits of her murderers mistake you for the witch, roll Last Breath. If you fail Last Breath, the Spectral Shawl becomes your new home…
Ghast Blade
(Close, Freezing, Insubstantial, Terrifying)
Once belonging to a deceased soldier, and lost. The cold steel is surrounded by a light fog that poors off it. Every swing producing a ghastly shreek just before contact. Only those who have seen the black gates are capable of wielding it. All others who touch it, slowly loose their wits with visions of a horrific existance after life.
Ghast Blade
(Close, Freezing, Insubstantial, Terrifying)
Once belonging to a deceased soldier, and lost. The cold steel is surrounded by a light fog that poors off it. Every swing producing a ghastly shreek just before contact. Only those who have seen the black gates are capable of wielding it. All others who touch it, slowly loose their wits with visions of a horrific existance after life.
Nice one, Robert Doe . I really like “having seen the black gate” as a special requirement. Thestrals!
Nice one, Robert Doe . I really like “having seen the black gate” as a special requirement. Thestrals!
Buster’s Box
A battered metal box about the size of a bread tin, with a carved wooden handle attached to one end. The box has been engraved with runes of confinement and protection from spirits.
When the command word “Ouya Gon-kahl” is uttered within sight of the box, spirits or other incorporeal entities near it are drawn inside and trapped.
The box can later be opened to release the spirits, and the command word cannot be used until the box is emptied.
(I realise that this isn’t a haunted item in and of itself, but I couldn’t resist and am not expecting it to be taken seriously!)
Buster’s Box
A battered metal box about the size of a bread tin, with a carved wooden handle attached to one end. The box has been engraved with runes of confinement and protection from spirits.
When the command word “Ouya Gon-kahl” is uttered within sight of the box, spirits or other incorporeal entities near it are drawn inside and trapped.
The box can later be opened to release the spirits, and the command word cannot be used until the box is emptied.
(I realise that this isn’t a haunted item in and of itself, but I couldn’t resist and am not expecting it to be taken seriously!)
Annabelle
This doll looks harmless at first, but you quickly come to find its no ordinary doll. All those near the doll Defy Danger + WIS.
10+ You hear wispers, patering of feet and child like giggling, but no harm comes to you.
7-9 The sounds are occompanied by more dangerous supernatural events. Chairs, tables and even armorment begins flying across the room. Lookout! One’s coming right for you!
6- The spirit does not like you being in its home. Its attempting to take on its true form. Mark a box.
[ ] [ ] [ ]
When the last box is marked, the spirit is released. Its power can be felt by all those sensitive to the divine and supernatural. The temperature drops by 20 degrees F, and a stillness creeps in for just a moment. Prepare for the worst.
Annabelle
This doll looks harmless at first, but you quickly come to find its no ordinary doll. All those near the doll Defy Danger + WIS.
10+ You hear wispers, patering of feet and child like giggling, but no harm comes to you.
7-9 The sounds are occompanied by more dangerous supernatural events. Chairs, tables and even armorment begins flying across the room. Lookout! One’s coming right for you!
6- The spirit does not like you being in its home. Its attempting to take on its true form. Mark a box.
[ ] [ ] [ ]
When the last box is marked, the spirit is released. Its power can be felt by all those sensitive to the divine and supernatural. The temperature drops by 20 degrees F, and a stillness creeps in for just a moment. Prepare for the worst.
Greg Baatard Classic! I have to admit, I got to the end of the description…thought, “Hey this is like….” then looked back at the command word before I got the joke!
Greg Baatard Classic! I have to admit, I got to the end of the description…thought, “Hey this is like….” then looked back at the command word before I got the joke!
Bone Finger
The bleached white bones from a human index finger will shift as though pointing at something? It seems like you’ve heard of this in the grizzly tales you listened to as a child. What have you heard they point toward?
Bone Finger
The bleached white bones from a human index finger will shift as though pointing at something? It seems like you’ve heard of this in the grizzly tales you listened to as a child. What have you heard they point toward?
Morose Memoir
A long forgotten journal, it’s leather cover riddled with dust. Inside are sufficiently aged, yet surprisingly resilient pages filled with a first hand account of the owner’s tragic life. When you read aloud from the pages of the journal, anything you mention takes form as ghostly apparitions. They perform the same actions or functions as they did in the story and are even able to be interacted with when you attempt to follow the actions of the writer to the letter. But things get more complicated if you act against the story.
When you interact with the apparitions summoned from the Morose Memoir in a way not intended by the writer, roll+WIS. On a 10+ everything goes well. On a 7-9, you do it, but some misfortune suddenly occurs in the story that affects the author of the journal. Choose one:
– The author was harmed by something in the story. Take 1d8 damage.
– The author was suddenly stricken with an ailment. Take a debility. (Cannot be taken if you already have all the debilities)
– The author was given some terrible news or a horrible fright. Take -1 ongoing until read further into the Memoir.
On a 6-, the story comes to an inevitably sad end, roll Last Breath. If you roll a 7+, the spirit of the author takes your place in the afterlife, finally freed from their prison. On a 6-, you die and the author takes up residence in their new body…
Morose Memoir
A long forgotten journal, it’s leather cover riddled with dust. Inside are sufficiently aged, yet surprisingly resilient pages filled with a first hand account of the owner’s tragic life. When you read aloud from the pages of the journal, anything you mention takes form as ghostly apparitions. They perform the same actions or functions as they did in the story and are even able to be interacted with when you attempt to follow the actions of the writer to the letter. But things get more complicated if you act against the story.
When you interact with the apparitions summoned from the Morose Memoir in a way not intended by the writer, roll+WIS. On a 10+ everything goes well. On a 7-9, you do it, but some misfortune suddenly occurs in the story that affects the author of the journal. Choose one:
– The author was harmed by something in the story. Take 1d8 damage.
– The author was suddenly stricken with an ailment. Take a debility. (Cannot be taken if you already have all the debilities)
– The author was given some terrible news or a horrible fright. Take -1 ongoing until read further into the Memoir.
On a 6-, the story comes to an inevitably sad end, roll Last Breath. If you roll a 7+, the spirit of the author takes your place in the afterlife, finally freed from their prison. On a 6-, you die and the author takes up residence in their new body…
The witch king’s grave clothes
When swathed in these embroidered robes, even the foulest corpse takes on a visage of peaceful, sanguine slumber.
The witch king’s grave clothes
When swathed in these embroidered robes, even the foulest corpse takes on a visage of peaceful, sanguine slumber.