Here are my ideas/entry for the Item design contest. I did the best that I could with the drawing of the items. I know they seem basic but I am not very good at drawing using the computer.
Shield +2 – Shield of Obsession
These light-weight bucklers were very popular to aquire at one time. Anyone that had excessive wealth would attempt to have one crafted for them. The buyer would travel to the dwarven cities and negotiate with the dwarves to have the shield made. Eventually the dwarves got tired of having their lives disrupted by snobby, rich people and stopped making the shields. The rich people started duelling amongst themselves for ownership of the remaining shileds. As the death toll rose, Officials started banning any and all people from wearing the shields. The shields were either disposed of or put away and forgotten. Every once in a while, someone finds one of the shields and uses it for their protection.
These shields are a light metal fastened to a wooden frame. The shields are an emerald green color and plain.
Shield +3 – Shield of the Unicorn
These rare magical tower shields were made in honor of the unicorns of the forest. The Armorer that made them was saved from a certain death at the hands of ogres by some unicorns. The unicorns dragged the Armorer to a forest glade and watched over her as she recovered. Wanting to repay and remember the unicorns for their kindness, the armorer moved her forge to a cave by the forest glade and started forging the shields. Through the use of the nearby waterfall and possibly the blessings from the unicorns, the shields were bestowed with magical powers of protection. No one knows what happened to the Armorer. Rumors say that she is still in the forest making shields and bestowed with eternal youth from the unicorns. Rumors also say that the unicorns leave the shields for people to find.
The shields have a lt. blue to sapphire background with a silver unicorn horn on them. They are made of a light weight steel.
Bracers +1 – Bracers of the Hero
These bracers were used by the peasant heroes during monster attacks. When the evil creatures would attack a settlement, the town champion would equip these bracers, and sometimes the Sword of the Hero, and go combat the evil creatures. Most of the time, the town champion would defeat whatever threatened the town, but every once in a great while, the monsters would overrun the champion. The champion’s body would be stripped of all useful items. Eventually a party of adventurers would destroy the creatures and gain possession of the Bracers.
These bracers are a dark brown color with dark spots on them. They can be dyed but the dark spots will not go away. The also look very old and beaten up or well worn.
Bracers +2 – Bracers of the Mad Man
These magical bracers were worn by some of the early settlers of the New World. When a person equipped a pair of these bracers, they became stronger but started loosing touch with their actual abilities. It is rumored that the user becomes a raving mad man.
These bracers are a soft, brown leather with whirls on them. They are warm to the touch.
Staff +1 – Ashstaff
This simple white staff is made out of ash. These staves are gifts given to lower level druids, mages, or clerics. They were considered a rite of passage item. If a student was lucky, their mentor would teach them the secrets of making one of these enchanted staves. If the student was not lucky, then the student would be given a staff and told that they must quest for the knowledge of creating one. Once the student knew how to make the staff, they would practice making multiple staves until they felt like they mastered the ability to create a staff.
These staves are 5 to 8 feet longs and have decorative runes or designs carved into their surface.
Staff +2 – Redstaff
The sturdy staves are distinguished by their deep red color. They are made from redwood trees and multiple staves are made from the same tree. The unique thing about these enchanted staves is that they are made by woodcutters. A woodcutter would cut down a redwood tree and carve as many staves as they can with the tree. Some woodcutters have been known to carve for years, creating hundreds of staves. After the tree was cut down, the woodcutter plants a seedling in its place. While the woodcutter carves the staves, he/she also cares for the seedling. When all of the staves have been carved, the woodcutter asks the forest to bestow its gifts on the staves. On the night of the next full moon, the woodcutter leaves the staves bundled in the forest by the seedling. The woodcutter will also leave offerings to the various forest creatures. If the woodcutter did a good job, the forest would bless his staves. If the woodcutter did a bad job, the staves are destroyed and the woodcutter must regain the blessing of the forest.
These staves are 5 to 8 feet in length. They can have anything carved on them but the designs are usually forest scenes or animals.
Staff +3 – Druid Staff
These staves once belonged to the powerful grand druids of the forest. With the influx of more people, the druids moved deeper into the forest. These staves, gifts from the Dryads, were passed on to those deemed worthy of helping nature. Over time some of these helpers died and the staves were lost. Every once in a while, a lucky adventurer finds one of these staves. When first picked up, the wielder can feel life pulsing through the staff. If carefully examined, the staff appears to be alive.
The Druid’s Staff is 5 to 8 feet long and made of Oak. It is brown with a wood-like texture and green highlights along its length.
Sword +1 – Sword of the Hero
The Sword of the Hero shares the same history as the Bracers of the Hero (see above for more information). These swords would be wielded when evil creatures attacked the settlements but not all towns were lucky enough to have the Bracers. The Swords are another thing. At one time, every town had a Sword of the Hero. If the creatures took the Sword, one of the town’s weaponsmiths could reforge another one in a matter of days or weeks depending on his/her skill. The increase of adventurers ended up replacing the town champion and the production of the swords almost stopped.
These Swords are either long or short swords depending on the town champion. They have a pinkish-red blade that looked like it was still hot from the forging. The hilt, handle, and pommel were made of gold. The blade has a narrow band of etching on it.
Sword +2 – Knight’s Justice
Knights of Renown carried these swords. These Knights acted as traveling judges. The Swords would be drawn and an oath would be sworn while touching the blade. If a party was found guilty of a crime or broke the oath that was sworn, the Knight’s idea of justice would be applied using the Sword. It is rumored that the color of the blade was a gift from a divine power to help reinforce the Knight’s powers.
These long swords had a lt. blue blade with silver accents, handle, pommel, and hilt. Etched into the pommel was a set of scales.
Magical Armor +2 – Coat of Arms
These magical sets of armor are usually created by dwarves but other races like elves and humans have been know to make them. The craftsmanship of these items is so good that they actually transform into magical armor. The Coat of Arms are also well known for their ability to be dyed any color. Each wearer will usually dye the Coat of Arms to match their personal heraldry.
This armor can be worn by any race. It is made out of steel and is finely crated plate armor. It can be any color.
Magical Armor +3 – Armor of the Immortal
This armor protected a mighty warrior on the battlefield. The warrior did not win all of his battles but the armor kept him safe from even the most grievous of battle wounds. The warrior had many sets of the armor made. It is considered good luck to find one of these suits of armor.
The armor is black with red highlights. It is made out of elven chain and can be worn by any class and magically adjusts to fit any race.
Cloak of Elven Kind – Silhouette
This rather plain cloak is usually overlooked when treasure and/or items are gathered. The Cloak will mimic any items or surroundings. A detect magic spell can be used to find a cloak when it is mixed in with other items. These cloaks were used by some of the elves when they wanted to spy on settlements or people in the forest. After a while, other races started buying the cloaks. The elves could not keep up with the demands. When the races that bought the cloaks, started using the cloaks against the elves, the elves stopped making them and started to hunt those that they knew had the cloaks. Most of the cloaks were destroyed, but some survived.
These cloaks are soft to the touch. They manage to keep the wearer comfortable in any weather or climate. They will more than likely be green or gray when found.
