Mourning Gems

Wondrous Item

A dark gemstone that holds trapped souls, used primarily by necromancers to harness power without resorting to lichdom. The gem grants additional spell slots, increases spell potency, and doubles damage dice at a cost to the user’s health.

Legendary

2,500

Primarily composed of a dark gemstone, often resembling onyx or amethyst, with an unnatural inner glow that becomes more vibrant when storing a soul

.5

According to legend, the gems can echo faint whispers or visions from the souls trapped within, occasionally providing hints of hidden knowledge or memories. This eerie trait has led to myths of Mourning Gems revealing secrets from the deceased, making them sought after by those seeking lost knowledge or forbidden power.

Grants the user three additional spell slots at their highest available spell level, increases the spell save DC by 4, and doubles the damage dice for spells cast while using the gem’s power.

After all stored spell slots are used, the gem inflicts two levels of exhaustion on the user.

Matches the damage type of the spell being cast (e.g., fire for Fireball, force for Magic Missile), making the gem versatile for various spell effects.

Any magic user can use the Mourning Gem to cast spells.

Souls remain indefinitely within the gem unless released or consumed for magical purposes.

The gem remains intact until all stored spell slots are expended. Once depleted, the gem cracks and loses its magical properties.

None, as the gem is single-use and is destroyed after its spell slots are exhausted.

1. Soul Capturing Ritual: To create a Mourning Gem, a necromancer or skilled magic user persuades a living creature to willingly release its soul into a specially prepared concoction.
   
   
   1. Enchantment Process: The concoction, infused with the captured soul, is then used to enchant a rare gemstone, transforming it into a Mourning Gem with three spell slots at the highest spell level available to the creator.
   
   
   2. Time and Resources Needed: The ritual takes about an hour and requires rare ingredients and focused concentration from the caster.