Magical Items of the Hyborian Age
), compiled from various sources. This is a work in progress.
The following is a list of various lesser magical items specific to the Hyborian Age. Also included are items which are not magical per se, but are nonetheless rare, valuable and/or powerful in their own right, such as poisons. Note that market value in gold pieces (gp) is only listed for completeness' sake, since buying and selling magical items is very uncommon in the Hyborian Age. In a Hyborian Age campaign, the DM should adjudicate a suitable price on a case-by-case basis.
Apples of Derketa
"'We need not starve,' she said. 'There is fruit we can reach.'
Conan glanced where she pointed.
'If we ate that, we wouldn't need the bite of a dragon,' he grunted. 'That's what the black people of Kush call the Apples of Derketa. Derketa is the Queen of the Dead. Drink a little of its juice, or spill it on your flesh, and you'd be dead before you could tumble to the foot of this crag.'" -- Robert E. Howard: "Red Nails"
A deadly poisonous fruit found in the jungles to the south. The blackish juice causes death in seconds and the poison works by both contact and ingestion. The fruit was given this name by the Kushites.
Apples of Derketa: Contact/ingested DC 18, initial damage 2d6 Con, secondary damage 2d6 Con, price 1,800 gp.
Fire Dust
"'And that bursting blue flame -- I thought it looked familiar. It's a trick of the Stygian priests.'" -- Robert E. Howard: "Jewels of Gwahlur"
A magical dust that produces a blinding flash of blue fire. It is a common trick of Stygian priests and is also called flame dust. When thrown into the air it blazes in a flash of blue-white light.
When this blue dust is flung into the air, it mimics the effects of a glitterdust spell. It covers a 10 foot radius area no more than 10 feet away from the caster, and lasts for 3d4 rounds.
Caster Level: 5th; Prerequisites: Craft Wondrous Item, glitterdust; Market Price: 2,100 gp; Weight: --.
Globe of Yezud
A black, marble-sized sphere that changes into a deadly spider at the command of the user. The globes are not manufactured, but summoned from elsewhere by a mystic diagram drawn on a surface (like the ground).
Up to three times per day, the wielder of the globe can transform it into a small monstrous spider whose poison and web has the properties of a large monstrous spider. This is a standard action. The globe remains in spider form for up to one hour. The globe itself can be destroyed but has the strength of stone (hardness 8, 15 hp).
Golden Elixir of Xuthal
"On the dais lay a young yellow woman, naked and apparently lifeless. At her hand stood a jade jar nearly full of peculiar golden-colored liquid. Natala believed it to be the elixir described by Thalis, which lent vigor and vitality to the degenerate Xuthal." -- Robert E. Howard: "The Slithering Shadow"
A golden wine-like drink that magically restored strength and vitality, even to one horribly wounded. It was made by the dreamers of Xuthal.
A golden elixir of Xuthal is equivalent to a potion of cure moderate wounds.
Green Fire-Stones of Xuchotl
"The vaulted ceiling was of lapis lazuli, adorned with clusters of great green stones that gleamed with a poisonous radiance.
'Green fire-stones,' growled Conan. 'That's what the people of Punt call them. They're supposed to be the petrified eyes of those prehistoric snakes the ancients called Golden Serpents. They glow like a cat's eyes in the dark. At night this hall would be lighted by them, but it would be a hellishly weird illumination.'" -- Robert E. Howard: "Red Nails"
The halls of the city of Xuchotl were illuminated by strange green stones said to be the eyes of ancient golden serpents. This form of lighting is undoubtedly used elsewhere in the lands of the south.
A green fire-stone produces illumination with strength and radius equivalent to that of a continual flame spell, however, the light produced is of a sickly green shade.
Lotus Blossom
See Lotus Blossom.
Mirror of Thought
A minor magical device crafted by magic-users. By concentrating on it, the owner can form an image of his thoughts in the glass.
The mirror allows the owner to use silent image at will, projecting the image on the mirror's surface.
Caster Level: 6th; Prerequisites: Craft Wondrous Item, silent image; Market Price: 2,000 gp; Weight: 10 lb.
Poisontree Staff
The Tree of Death is a tree found in Khitai, from which staves can be cut that will deliver a poisonous death to any victim touched.
Any successful strike with the staff deals normal damage and poisons the creature hit. The poison deals 1d10 points of temporary Constitution damage immediately (Fortitude negates DC 14) and another 1d10 points of temporary Constitution damage 1 minute later (Fortitude negates DC 14).
Caster Level: 10th; Prerequisites: Craft Rod, Craft Magic Arms and Armor, poison; Market Price: 19,000 gp.
Shoki Leaves
A plant whose leaves can be crushed to make ink. It is prized by wizards using the ink to scribe spells into their spellbooks.
Using ink prepared from Shoki leaves allows a wizard to reduce the time required to write a new spell into his spellbook by 50%. Zero-level spells still require a full day. Shoki ink is also waterproof and never fades.
Stygian Tomb-Dust
"It was but a dust I found in a Stygian tomb which I flung into your eyes. If I brush out their sight again, I will leave you to grope in darkness for the rest of your life!" -- Robert E. Howard: "The Scarlet Citadel"
This is a magical dust obtained from Stygian tombs. When flung into the eyes of an unsuspecting victim, it will cause temporary blindness. If a stronger dose is used, however, the blindness will be permanent.
Tsotha-Lanti, the Imperial Wizard of Koth, used Stygian Tomb-Dust against Amalrus, king of Ophir, in The Scarlet Citadel.
This sooty, black powder causes temporary magical blindness to all those in the area of effect (a 10 foot radius area no more than 10 feet away from the caster). Flinging the dust at opponents is a standard action.
If a creature's saving throw (Fortitude DC 16) is successful, he suffers no effects. If the roll fails, the creature is blinded and suffers the standard penalties for being blinded. Blindness persists each round until the victim succeeds at a saving throw, at which time the effect is negated.
An entire packet or blow tube must be used for each application. However, if a double dose is used, and the saving throw (Fortitude DC 18) is failed, the blindness is permanent.
Creating Stygian Tomb-Dust: Stygian Tomb-Dust must be taken from the crumbled corpse of a Stygian spellcaster of at least 12th level. One corpse is sufficient to produce 2d4 doses.
Caster Level: 7th; Prerequisites: Create Wondrous Item, ghoul touch; Market Price: 2,400 gp.