Athana Chronicles
patreon
[Free]🌩️💥Rolling Thunder💥🌩️
🕑 Added 2024-01-21 15:00:05 +0000 UTCToday, you’re getting a legendary wand steeped in lore and bursting with powerful might: the Rolling Thunder Wand. This formidable magical item, crafted by the master smiths of Grior Thal during the tumultuous times of the Second War, has been the subject of tales told in hushed tones around campfires and in halls of nobles and veterans reliving the tales. Let's delve into the depths of its story, its powers, and how a Dungeon Master can weave this into your campaigns to create epic moments. (My players used this off the side of an airship!)
Lore
In an era where the clatter of swords was as common as the wind and rain, the Dwarves, whom had pushed into Acrecia - founding the new ‘Grior Thal’, renowned for their unmatched craftsmanship, especially in the times of war, many of these veterans having lived war their entire lives, infused volcanic rock rods with the power of explosive magical might, causing the creation of the Rolling Thunder Wand. Designed for the defence of frontline combat, the wand's devastating power was a decisive force in the war, being one of the greatest siege-breakers in Athana. However, its volatile nature led to a reduction of its creation, leaving behind a scant number of these artifacts, making them as precious as they are perilous. Now in current day Athana (416aw - current campaign) these wands are extremely hard to find and in the large part are unused wands from the war itself, or weaker variants which have recharged enough ties to decay in power. By the time of the Daragaard setting (822aw) these are all but none existent.
The Item's Mechanics
A relic of immense power, the wand contains but a single charge that replenishes weekly. Its user must be wise and carry the right intent to bring the destruction, for the wand's power does not unleash without risk. A successful Wisdom save ensures the sky is torn asunder by the wand's wrath, but failure results in a painful psychic backlash to the wielder. Upon mastery of the wand's spirit, a user can call down a cataclysmic barrage of meteors, sowing destruction over a vast swathe of the battlefield. Those who fail to escape the onslaught of the heavens are subjected to crushing and searing torment.
Dungeon Master Usage
Wield the wand's narrative with care. Introduce it as a forgotten legend, an heirloom of a fallen hero, or the coveted treasure of a dragon's hoard. Its reputation should precede it, whispered in the corners of your world where magic and mystery intertwine.
Balance its power with the peril it presents. Use the wand to shape battlefield tactics, to turn the tide of a losing fight, or to add gravity to the climax of your campaign's arc. Remember, with great power comes the risk of great loss—the wand's potential to crumble should weigh heavily on the minds of those who dare to wield it.
Know it’s weaknesses, due to the rolling nature of the meteors, those at the back of the line have ample time to scatter or move out the way of the line of falling rocks, however those in the front, or when trapped in a line with little room for movement, the casualties can be enormous.
Variations of the Wand
The original Rolling Thunder Wand requires no attunement, making it a tempting tool for any who discover it. With a Wisdom save DC of 17 and the potential to deal massive damage, it's a game-changer in any encounter. However, after 2 uses at this level, the wand will degrade to the very rare variant.
The Very Rare Version
A balance between overwhelming power and accessibility, the very rare version offers a middle ground. It maintains the item's essence while its decayed potency lowers the stakes of use, as well as the degradation in the power of the meteor strike. After 4 uses at this level, the wand will degrade to the rare variant.
The Rare Incarnation
For a less world-shattering approach the rare variant lowers the difficulty of the activation save and the devastation dealt, making it a suitable choice for parties of a lower level or for campaigns where you wish to maintain a tighter control on magical artifacts. As you may give a rare variant of Rolling Thunder to a low level party, as you may give a necklace of fireballs with only 2 beads remaining. After 5 uses at this level, the wand will crumble to dust regardless of the roll to recharge.
The Rolling Thunder Wand is a magical item, it's a piece of history, a narrative device, and a symbol of raw elemental fury. Weave it into your story and watch as your players face the exhilarating challenge of wielding the storm itself.
Please discuss, theorize, and share your experiences with the Rolling Thunder Wand. How will you introduce it in your campaign? What legendary moments will it create? Join the conversation below, and together, let's craft stories that will echo through the ages.
Members can access the D&D Beyond links to integrate this item seamlessly into their digital gameplay by subscribing to the Founder's Circle.
- Thanks guys! Euphoria
![[Free]🌩️💥Rolling Thunder💥🌩️](https://img5.leaqio.com/storage/1/vh/yf/9e04c0-019e8420-c9ea-7945-bf1b-100678e2ea23.jpg)
