Amulet of Malcanthet (3.5e Equipment)
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Amulet of Malcanthet: This amulet looks like a crimson-flecked purple gem with the Abyssal rune for “Love” carved into it. The rune is concealed by a rosegold piece of smooth metal and a symbol of Malcanthet can appear or disappear from it by the wearer’s will. When the symbol is visible, it can be used as an unholy symbol focus.
Abilities of the Amulet of Malcanthet
The amulet is a magical wondrous artefact that prevents one’s true nature, and the amulet’s enchantments, from being detected by skill checks, magic or supernatural abilities.
Additionally, any item, spell, or effect that would force the wearer to transform back into their true form does not affect the wearer.
Finally, the amulet also alters the wearer’s voice (illusionary only), scent (illusionary only), thermal temperature (illusionary only), and aura (illusionary only) to match the form they are assuming.
While being worn, only the creature wearing the amulet is immune to items, spells, effects, saves (such as will saves), and abilities (racial, class, spell resistance…etc.) that would reveal the wearer’s true form.
The amulet must remain equipped in the neck item slot in order to function; although the type of necklace that it hangs from does not affect the magic and can be switched out. The amulet's magic is not affected by being covered with clothing or armour, or from being covered by magical shields or wards. The amulet must be attuned to the wearer in order to function.
History of the Amulet of Malcanthet
Although not a unique item, this amulet is exceedingly rare; only Malcanthet’s 7 Lilitu and her most chosen worshippers would ever have one, and would constantly have it equipped, even when naked. When the amulet has been unequipped by the one attuned to it for longer than 48 hours, or if the one it is attuned to dies, then the amulet returns to Malcanthet through a teleportation spell targeted at the amulet and only large enough for the amulet.
This amulet was enchanted directly by Malcanthet’s magic and cannot be disenchanted or dispelled unless the spellcaster succeeds a DC 37 arcana skill check.
The amulet does register as magic if a detect magic spell is used upon it, although the exact spell that enchants the amulet cannot be discerned, due to it being a spell invented by Malcanthet.
The amulet is overpoweringly Chaotic Evil aligned, although due to its enchantment, the alignment cannot be detected. It will however damage lawful and good aligned creatures that touch it; if the creature is lawful or good, it deals 6d6 chaotic evil aligned damage as a touch attack; if the creature is lawful and good, it deals 12d6 chaotic evil aligned damage as a touch attack; this damage is repeated each time the same creature touches the amulet, or at the start of each of that creatures turn that it continuously touches the amulet.
Malcanthet can scry through the amulet and cast spells through the amulet. If she notices anyone that she did not choose wearing, handling or attuned to the amulet, she will deal 10d6 Chaotic Evil aligned damage to that target as a touch attack and afterwards she will use a spell to teleport only the amulet back to herself. If Malcanthet attempts to scry upon the amulet and discovers that it has been dispelled, or that her enchantment has been removed in some way, she will use a spell to teleport the amulet back to herself and enchant it again; afterwards sending one of her servants to deliver it back to the one that she gifted it to, although she’s also likely to also punish the recipient for the inconvenience. If the amulet is destroyed, Malcanthet will create a new amulet and send one of her servants to deliver it to her chosen target, and will most definitely severely punish the recipient for their carelessness.
Malcanthet wears an amulet that looks identical, although hers is far more powerful, and can fool even the gods.
Game Mechanics of the Amulet of Malcanthet
Creatures with sufficient reason to do so, and high enough related skill checks, may still become suspicious of the one wearing the amulet, but do not gain the benefit of detecting that the wearer is not in their true form, nor disbelieving the disguise, illusion, or otherwise altered form.
The amulet’s magic does not work on gods, but does work on demi-gods and those with similar powers, such as Demon Lords and Arch Fiends.
A creature with true sight may attempt a perception roll of DC 37. On a pass, that creature may see through the enchantment. On a failure, that creature may not make another attempt for 24 hours and believes that the wearer is what they present themselves to be.
Creatures immune to illusion can perceive the wearer’s true form, only if the wearer is under the influence of an illusion, but not if the wearer is changed by other means.
Seeker Demons are the only known creature that is naturally immune to the effects of the amulet.
The amulet does not function in areas that suppress magic, such as antimagic fields.
The amulet defends against the detection of visible means of changing one’s appearance, but does not defend against detecting, dispelling, or seeing invisibility on the wearer; neither does it defend against detection or dispelling of effects such as blur, displacement or other illusion spells on the wearer, or cast by the wearer, that are not related to the wearer’s personal physical appearance.
The amulet does not protect against spells that target the wearer in order to scry upon them or to discern the wearer's location.
The amulet does not protect against abilities, effects, or spells cast by others that would forcibly change the appearance of the wearer.
The amulet does not protect against spells, abilities, items, effects or any other means that force the wearer to transform (such as suggestion), or force the wearer to tell the truth about their true form and true identity; neither does it prevent others from speaking about the wearer’s true identity.
The amulet does not suppress nor revoke any abilities of the wearer, regardless of the wearer's appearance (with the exception of polymorph or shapechange), nor does it grant the wearer any new abilities.
The amulet does not protect the wearer from damage or effects that target the wearer’s alignment, race, or gender, regardless of the wearer’s appearance.
The amulet does not defend the wearer from having their thoughts read in order to discover their true identity.
Lastly, the wearer still reverts to their true form upon death, unless an item is used to prevent this.
Creation of the Amulet of Malcanthet
The requirements for crafting an Amulet of Malcanthet are as follows. The amulet must be forged in a strongly Chaotic Evil aligned plane. It can only be forged by a Chaotic Evil aligned master blacksmith. A minimum of 100 souls must be cast into the furnace that heats the metal. Malcanthet must add 6 drops of her own blood to the melted metal, before it is poured into the mold that will shape it into an amulet. Finally, Malcanthet herself must enchant the amulet before it fully cools.
Destruction of the Amulet of Malcanthet
This amulet can be only destroyed in the same way that all demonic amulets can be destroyed.
Immersing this amulet in the River Styx will remove this amulet's enchantment, but will not destroy the physical amulet.
Note: This item is inspired by the "Dark Heart Amulet" from the Demon's Choice story written by Sam Landstrom.
Strong Illusion; CL 20;
Weight: 1 lb.
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