13 more

Occult
Artifacts
by James Maliszewski

Requires the use of the d20 Modern Roleplaying Game, published by Wizards of the Coast, Inc.
Modern 13 more Occult Artifacts
SPECIAL THANKS
To Ian Sturrock for ideas and inspiration.

Introduction
The Artifacts
While D20 Modern Roleplaying Game can be
used to create any kind of contemporary setting,
among the most popular are those that deal with
supernatural beings, occult powers, and nefarious con- Each artifact uses the same basic format. That for-
spiracies. The D20 Modern core rulebook supports mat is as follows:
such settings in a variety of ways, from advanced Name: The name of the artifact.
classes to creatures to FX abilities. What the core rule- History: A short history of the artifacts origins
book lacks, however, are some of the staples of such and influence throughout history.
settings: occult artifacts. Certainly there are many FX
Physical Description: What the artifact looks
items to be had, but they owe their existence to purely
like.
game mechanical considerations rather than to occult
Current Whereabouts: The location of the arti-
or supernatural history. Which offers a GM more
fact at present, if known.
flavor for his occult-based campaign: a talisman of
pure good or a Vril Battery? Alternatives: Other possible interpretations of the
artifact.
Game Mechanics: Game rules for using the arti-

Using this Product

Thirteen More Occult Artifacts, like its predeces-
fact, including a Purchase DC and other details.

sors, provides the GM, naturally enough, with thirteen

different occult artifacts, each one drawn from the real
world. Admittedly, not all of the artifacts described
FORMS
actually exist (at least so far as anyone knows), but all Each artifact in this PDF is presented on a
of them derive from people, places, and events in the single page along with a set of forms. GMs can
conspiratorial history of the world and thus add a great print only the devices they plan on using and, by
deal to any D20 Modern campaign that deals with the making notes on the printed pages, keep track of
supernatural. Each entry provides background infor- the artifacts status in a campaign.
mation on the artifact in question, as well as game These sheets can be inserted into the cam-
mechanics, allowing the GM to insert the artifact into paigns binder along with sheets from Ronin Arts
his campaign with ease. In several cases, alternate Modern: Campaign Planner, Modern:
interpretations of the artifacts are offered, giving fur- Contacts, and other releases in this series.
ther options to the GM and ensuring that his version
of, say, the Kusanagi Sword suits his campaigns real-
ities rather than the other way around.
All organizations referenced in this product are
described at greater length in Thirteen Conspiracies,
another D20 Modern product available from Ronin
Arts.

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Modern 13 more Occult Artifacts

alberts handgonne
History: St. Albert the Great (often called
Albertus Magnus, his Latin appellation) was a brilliant
Dominican philosopher, theologian, and bishop of the
mid-thirteenth century. In addition to teaching a young
St. Thomas Aquinas (himself renowned for his intel-
lect), Albert was reputed to have been a dabbler in
alchemy, astrology, and natural magic, among other
occult sciences. Because he used his arcane knowl-
edge in the service of the Church against the forces of
supernatural evil, he was never censured or otherwise
condemned. In fact, Alberts studies enabled him to
create several artifacts for use in battling the powers of
Hell on Earth. One of the most significant of these was
his handgonne, a primitive firearm that fired specially
made and blessed projectiles. In the hands of a skilled
user, the handgonne is a potent weapon, particularly
against fiends and the undead. Albert himself is said to
have personally used his handgonne on numerous
occasions during his long life and, after his death, it
passed into the hands of the Dominican order, where it
remained until the 17th century, when it was lost dur-
ing one of the battles of the Thirty Years War.
Physical Description: The handgonne is an over-
sized matchlock pistol with a trigger. The weapon
must, of course, be hand-loaded and can fire only one
projectile at a time. These projectiles are, like the
handgonne itself, oversized compared to later ammu-
nition. They are spherical in shape and do not contain
their own propellant. Instead, gunpowder must be
poured into the handgonnes barrel in the proper
amount to fire it.
Current Whereabouts: Alberts Handgonne is,
naturally enough, in the possession of the Society of
St. Albert, whose top researchers are attempting to
reproduce its effects in order to outfit their field
agents. There are legends that St. Albert produced
more than one of these remarkable weapons and, if so,
they might have fallen into the hands of other occult
organizations, most likely the Vehmgerichte or the
Templars. Indeed, some of these legends claim the
saint intended to send plans for his handgonne to allies
in knightly and religious orders across Europe, mak-
ing it possible that the Society that bears his name is
not the only source of contemporary reproductions of
it.
Alternatives: Plenty of other individuals through-
out history have been reputed to have invented
firearms before their time, including Aufidius Caelus,
Merlin, and Roger Bacon, among others. Likewise,
given the remarkable nature of the handgonne, other
inventive geniuses, such as Leonardo, Edison, Tesla,
or others could be credited with its creation. Similarly,
in campaigns with a more cinematic quality or where
the occult wars are not so hidden, the handgonne
might be mass produced and regularly used by Society
operatives in their war against supernatural evil.
Game Mechanics: The handgonne is a +3 holy
fiend bane pistol with the following stats:
Damage: 1d10 (+2d6 vs. evil/+2d6 vs. fiends), x3
Critical, 30 ft. Range Increment, Piercing.
To use the handgonne properly, one must have the
Exotic Firearms Proficiency.
Type: Artifact (magic); Caster Level: ;
Purchase DC: None; Weight: 5 lb.

Campaign Information
USED IN THE CAMPAIGN? YES NO STILL EXISTS IN THE CAMPAIGN? YES NO
DID YOU CHANGE THE ARTIFACT IN ANY WAY? YES NO (IF YES, DESCRIBE BELOW)
______________________________________________________________________________
PLAYER CHARACTERS KNOWLEDGE OF THE DEVICE: ___________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
NOTES: ________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

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Modern 13 more Occult Artifacts

Alicorn
History: The unicorn, though widely believed to
be a legendary beast, once actually existed, living in
India and other parts of the subcontinent. It was never
a common creature and its remarkable beauty and
gracenot to mention the magical properties of its
hornmade it an attractive target for hunters and indi-
viduals who prized rarities. By the 1st century A.D.,
unicorns were already on the way to being regarded as
purely mythical. Still, enough existed that wealthy and
powerful persons could obtain unicorns horns, known
as alicorns, for their own use. Alicorns possess
remarkable healing abilities. They purify food and
drink, detect and protect against poison, and, under the
right circumstances, can even bring the dead back to
life. Unsurprisingly, alicorns were prized possessions
across Europe, Asia, and Africa. Because their more
impressive powers require that they be destroyed in
the process, there have been no proven sightings of
intact alicorns in centuries.
Physical Description: A true alicorn (as opposed
to the many fakes that circulate throughout the world)
is a long spiraled horn, whose base is pearly white,
middle is black, and tip is red in color.
Current Whereabouts: The only known true
alicorn in existence is in the possession of a Central
Asian dictator who uses its magical properties to keep
himself alive, despite numerous attempts by rivals to
assassinate him. Other reputed alicorns are said to be
found in China, France, and the United States.
Alternatives: The horn could be that of another
unicorn-like creature, such as the yale of Ethiopia or
the ki-lin of China (or its Japanese counterpart the
kirin). Alternatively, it might not be a horn at all, but a
tooth, tusk, or some other body part of a legendary
creature. Other options include magical gems, metals,
or woods that have similar properties to the alicorn.
Game Mechanics: The alicorn enables its posses-
sor to use cure light wounds three times per day and
cure moderate wounds once per day (caster level 5th)
by touching a wounded creature with the horn. Once
per day, the possessor can use neutralize poison (DC
21, caster level 8th) with a touch of the horn. If the
possessor has an allegiance to good, he can cast raise
dead once per year.
Type: Artifact (magic); Caster Level: ;
Purchase DC: None; Weight: 1 lb.

Campaign Information
USED IN THE CAMPAIGN? YES NO STILL EXISTS IN THE CAMPAIGN? YES NO

DID YOU CHANGE THE ARTIFACT IN ANY WAY? YES NO (IF YES, DESCRIBE BELOW)

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

PLAYER CHARACTERS KNOWLEDGE OF THE DEVICE: ___________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

NOTES: ________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

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Modern 13 more Occult Artifacts

the diane
History: John Whiteside Parsons, better known as
Jack to his friends, was an early rocket propulsion
researcher and one of the founders of the Jet
Propulsion Laboratory. So important was he that
Werner von Braun called him the father of the
American space program. Parsons was also chosen by
occultist Aleister Crowley to lead his Thelemic move-
ment in California, which he did, often assisted by
Frater Hbetter known to the world as Lafayette
Ronald Hubbard, science fiction author and founder of
Scientology. Parsons and Hubbard worked closely
together until 1947, when Hubbard absconded with
Parsons money, girlfriend, and his yacht, the Diane.
The yacht remained in Hubbards possession, despite
Parsons attempts to reclaim it, during which time he
used it as a sacred space from which to work mighty
magical rituals. Shortly after Hubbards death in 1986,
the boat was seized by a breakaway group of
Scientologists who believed the mainline Church had
murdered Hubbard in order to turn the religion into a
money-making organization without any concern for
the spiritual well-being of humanity. The Church of
Scientology has attempted to reclaim the Diane on
several occasions, but has thus far failed to do so and
it remains in the hands of the breakaway sect.
Physical Description: The Diane is a luxury
yacht measuring over 200 feet long and 50 feet wide.
It is large enough to sport a small helicopter and two
touring boats. At its top speed, it is capable of travel-
ing over 5000 nautical miles before requiring refuel-
ing.
Current Whereabouts: The Diane is currently
afloat somewhere in the Caribbean Sea. It rarely enters
port anywhere that has extradition treaties with the
United States, preferring to remain in international
waters and getting its fuel delivered to it rather than
risking seizure by hostile forces.
Diane (225-foot luxury yacht): Crew 8
(minimum); Passengers 10+; Cargo 40,000 lb.;
Init -5; Maneuver -5; Top Speed 45 [4]; Defense
3; Hardness 5; hp 70; Size C; Purchase DC 55;
Restriction Lic [+1].
Alternatives: The Diane could be a boat associat-
ed with some other eccentric and/or nefarious person-
age. Alternately, it could be another type of vehicle,
such as an airplane, that fills a similar role.
Game Mechanics: The Diane is a potent magical
multiplier. Any adept or mage who casts spells from
the Conjuration (Creation) or Enchantment schools is
treated as if he were three levels higher for the pur-
poses of determining variable effects. In addition, he
may use any metamagic feats he possesses at half their
normal cost rounded down, meaning that metamagic
feats that raise a spell level by less than two are effec-
tively free when cast aboard the yacht. Finally, spell-
casters gain a +10 bonus to their Knowledge (arcane
lore) checks when casting incantations while afloat.
Type: Artifact (magic); Caster Level: ;
Purchase DC: None; Weight: .

Campaign Information
USED IN THE CAMPAIGN? YES NO STILL EXISTS IN THE CAMPAIGN? YES NO
DID YOU CHANGE THE ARTIFACT IN ANY WAY? YES NO (IF YES, DESCRIBE BELOW)
______________________________________________________________________________
PLAYER CHARACTERS KNOWLEDGE OF THE DEVICE: ___________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
NOTES: ________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

5 of 16
Modern
the golem
History: In 1580, the Jews of Prague were suffering under
anti-Semitic attacks and propaganda orchestrated by a priest
named Taddeush. Rabbi Loeb, called the Exalted One because of
the reverence in which his people held him, prayed to God for a
way to deal with these libels. In a dream, God directed the Rabbi
to make a Golem, a facsimile of a human being imbued with
great strength and resilience, to act as a defender of the Jewish
community. Assisted by his son-in-law and his pupil, Rabbi Loeb
consulted the Sefer Yetzirah (see 101 Occult Books, also available
from Ronin Arts, for more information) for the means to do so.
He then crafted the Golem from clay and, with the intercession
of God, brought him to life. The Golem patrolled the Jewish
ghetto of Prague and fought evildoers until the threat to the Jews
abated, after which Rabbi Loeb deactivated the Golem and
stored its lifeless body in a synagogue, in case it should ever be
needed again.
Physical Description: The Golem looks like a genderless
human with a slightly waxy complexion. It stands six feet tall
and, when active, is supple and warm to the touch, despite its
construction material. The Golem has hair, eyes, and nails like
normal human beings and it breathes.
Current Whereabouts: The current whereabouts of the
Golem are unknown. Until the mid-20th century, the Golem was
hidden within a synagogue in Prague. Sometime either during or
immediately after the Soviet occupation of the city, it disappeared
without a trace, although rumors in the occult underground have
placed it in several places in recent years, most notably New York
City.
Alternatives: The Golem described here is a specific crea-
ture, but there is no reason that another of its type could not be
created under the right circumstances. Likewise, non-Jewish sor-
cerers might have similar rituals by which they can bring inani-
mate clay to life to serve themperhaps for more nefarious pur-
poses than the defense of a persecuted minority.
Game Mechanics: When activated by someone with an
allegiance to good (or, at the GMs discretion, Judaism), the
Golem comes to life and will obey its master unquestioningly. Its
Campaign Information
USED IN THE CAMPAIGN? YES NO
DID YOU CHANGE THE ARTIFACT IN ANY WAY? YES NO (IF YES, DESCRIBE BELOW)
______________________________________________________________________________
PLAYER CHARACTERS KNOWLEDGE OF THE DEVICE: ___________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
NOTES: ________________________________________________________________________
6 of 16
13 more Occult Artifacts
stats are as follows:
The Golem: CR 10; Large construct; HD 11d10+30; hp 90;
Mas ; Init 1; Spd 20 ft. (cant run); Defense 22, touch 8, flat-
footed 22 (1 size, 1 Dex, +14 natural); BAB +8; Grap +19; Atk
+14 melee (2d10+7, slam plus cursed wound); Full Atk +14
melee (2d10+7, 2 slams plus cursed wounds), or +6 ranged; FS
10 ft. by 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.; SQ construct, berserk, magic immu-
nity, damage reduction 10/+1; AL good; SV Fort +3, Ref +2, Will
+3; AP 0; Rep +0; Str 25, Dex 9, Con , Int , Wis 11, Cha 1.
Skills: None.
Feats: None.
Berserk (Ex): When the Golem enters combat, there is a
cumulative 1% chance each round that it goes berserk. The
uncontrolled Golem goes on a rampage, attacking the nearest liv-
ing creature or smashing some object smaller than itself if no
creature is within reach, then moving on to spread more destruc-
tion. Once the Golem goes berserk, no known method can
reestablish control.
Cursed Wound (Ex): The damage the Golem deals does-
nt heal naturally and resists even healing spells. A character
attempting to cast a conjuration (healing) spell on a creature dam-
aged by the Golem must succeed on a DC 26 caster level check,
or the spell has no effect on the injured character.
Immunity to Magic (Ex): The Golem is immune to any
spell or spell-like ability that allows spell resistance.
Any magical attack against the Golem that deals acid dam-
age heals 1 point of damage for every 3 points of damage it
would otherwise deal. If the amount of healing would cause the
Golem to exceed its full normal hit points, it gains any excess as
temporary hit points. The Golem gets no saving throw against
magical attacks that deal acid damage.
Haste (Su): After it has engaged in at least 1 round of com-
bat, the Golem can haste itself once per day as a free action. The
effect lasts 3 rounds and is otherwise the same as the spell.
Type: Artifact (magic); Caster Level: ; Purchase DC:
None; Weight: 600 lb.
STILL EXISTS IN THE CAMPAIGN? YES NO
Modern 13 more Occult Artifacts

iron crown of lombardy

History: The Iron Crown of Lombardy is perhaps
the oldest extant symbol of European monarchy. Its
origins go back to the 4th century A.D., when St.
Helena, mother to the first Christian emperor of
Rome, Constantine the Great, gave her son one of the
nails that pinned Christ to the Cross. Constantine in
turn gave this nail to Pope St. Sylvester I. The Papacy
held this relic until the reign of St. Gregory the Great,
when it was gifted to Duke Agilulf of Turin in 590,
who had just been elected king of the Lombards.
Agilulf was a great friend of the Church, as well as the
founder of a stable kingdom in northern Italy, after
decades of chaos and war. The nail was beaten into a
thin metal band and set into a reliquary crown that
Agilulf and his successor used as their regalia.
Throughout the Middle Ages, various German and
Italian rulers wore the Crown in an attempt to lay
claim to the heritage of Agilulf and the Churchs bless-
ing. In 1805, Napoleon Bonaparte used the Crown in
his own coronation ceremony as King of Italy (he had
become Emperor of France the year before). When he
placed the Crown on his head, he is claimed to have
declared, God has given this to me; woe to him who
touches it. Unsurprisingly, many legends have
swirled about the Iron Crown and its powers of ruler-
ship, making it a popular object of occult speculation.
Physical Description: The circlet of the Iron
Crown consists of six gold and enamel segments made
from beaten gold, joined together by hinges and set
with precious stones that stand out in relief, in the
form of crosses and flowers. Within it is a narrow band
of iron, about three-eighths of an inch in width, from
which the Crown gets its name.
Current Whereabouts: The Iron Crown is cur-
rently held in the Cathedral of Monza in Italy. Of
course, throughout its history, numerous individuals
seized the Iron Crown for their own use. It is quite
possible that they made a copy and returned this fac-
simile to the cathedral, keeping the original for them-
selves. If so, the real Iron Crown could conceivably be
almost anywhere, although the most likely places are
in western Europe in the hands of someone with pre-
tensions to royal authority.
Alternatives: Instead of the Iron Crown of
Lombardy, this artifact could represent any number of
magical crowns, in Europe or elsewhere. The German
occultist believed that the Holy Grail (described in
Thirteen Occult Artifacts, also available from Ronin
Arts) was in fact a crown of life sacred to the divine
rebel Lucifer. The Iron Crown (or some other magical
crown) could be this crown, in which case its origin
would have to be changed to reflect its infernal power.
In this case, itd become an object of reverence for
groups like the Temple of the Serpent and other demon
worshippers.
Game Mechanics: The wearer of the Crown
gains a +5 insight bonus to his Charisma while it is on
his head. In addition, he may cause fear and command
at will, as if a caster equal to his character level.
Anyone who attempts to touch or harm the wearer
while the Crown rests on his head must make a Will
save (DC 15) or be afflicted with the effects of a
bestow curse spell each time he attempts to touch or
harm the wearer. Once affected by this spell, a target
cannot be affected again until the original curse has
been removed.
Type: Artifact (magic); Caster Level: ;
Purchase DC: None; Weight: 10 lb.

Campaign Information
USED IN THE CAMPAIGN? YES NO STILL EXISTS IN THE CAMPAIGN? YES NO
DID YOU CHANGE THE ARTIFACT IN ANY WAY? YES NO (IF YES, DESCRIBE BELOW)
______________________________________________________________________________
PLAYER CHARACTERS KNOWLEDGE OF THE DEVICE: ___________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
NOTES: ________________________________________________________________________

7 of 16
Modern
History: The marvelous sword known as
Kusanagi (or Grass-cutter in Japanese) was
originally named Murakakumo-No-Tsurugi
(or Sword of the village of the clustering
clouds) and found by the god Susano-O-No-
Mikoto when he slew the eight-headed serpent
Koshi. Susano-O gave the sword to the god-
dess Amaterasu to settle an ancient dispute
between them and she kept it until the reign of
the 12th emperor of Japan, Keiko, when she
gave it to the heroic warrior Yamato-Takeru to
protect him from danger. The hero used the
sword to save his life when he was trapped in
a grassland set ablaze by a villainous daimyo.
Yamato-Takeru quickly cut the grass around
him to deprive the fire of its deadly fuel, which
gave the weapon its more common name. He
then used the swords other power to control
the wind and push the flames back toward his
foe. Later, Yamato-Takeru died and the
weapon fell into the hands of other Japanese
heroes, eventually becoming owned by the
child-emperor Antoku in the 12th century.
During the Genpei Wars of that time, the Taira
and Minamoto clans fought for control over
the imperial court. The naval Battle of Dan-
no-ura in 1185 secured the final defeat of the
Taira, much to the chagrin of Antokus grand-
mother, who then ordered her grandson and
her entourage to commit suicide by drowning.
When they jumped into the water, they took
with them several imperial heirlooms, includ-
ing Kusanagi. While the other items were
recovered, Kusanagi never was and quickly
became the Japanese equivalent of Excalibur
in myth and legend.
Physical Description: Kusanagi is a
finely made double-edged sword with a beau-
tiful lacquered handle. Its blade is short and
straight, in keeping with its archaic origins,
and looks very different from the katanas with
Campaign Information
USED IN THE CAMPAIGN? YES NO
DID YOU CHANGE THE ARTIFACT IN ANY WAY? YES NO (IF YES, DESCRIBE BELOW)
______________________________________________________________________________
PLAYER CHARACTERS KNOWLEDGE OF THE DEVICE: ___________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
NOTES: ________________________________________________________________________
13 more Occult Artifacts
kusanagi
which most Westerners consider typical
Japanese swords.
Current Whereabouts: The current
location of the sword is unknown. Most schol-
ars believe that the weapon remains lost in the
waters off the coast of Dan-no-ura and can
never be found. As ever, there are stories of
wealthy nationalists (perhaps with ties to
ancient Taira family) seeking out and finding
the sword in an effort to establish themselves
as occult powerbrokers in Japan. No such
story has been confirmed, of course, but then
they rarely are.
Alternatives: As with the Iron Crown of
Lombardy above, the sword could be associat-
ed with another nation than Japan, as there are
many countries with magical swords in their
legends. Likewise, the weapon type could
change appropriately.
Game Mechanics: Kusanagi is a +4
brilliant ghost touch sword with the following
stats:
Damage 1d8, 18-20 Critical, Piercing,
Medium Size
In addition, once per day, the sword
allows its user to alter the wind force in the
area surrounding him. He can make the wind
blow in a certain direction or manner, increase
its strength, or decrease its strength. The new
wind direction and strength persist until the
spell ends or until the wielder chooses to alter
his handiwork, which requires concentration.
He may create an eye of calm air up to 80
feet in diameter at the center of the area if he
so desires, and he may choose to limit the area
to any 40-ft. high cylindrical area less than 40
ft./character level in radius.
Wind Direction: The wielder may choose
one of four basic wind patterns to function
over the spells area.
STILL EXISTS IN THE CAMPAIGN? YES NO
8 of 16
A downdraft blows from the center out-
ward in equal strength in all directions.
An updraft blows from the outer edges
in toward the center in equal strength from all
directions, veering upward before impinging
on the eye in the center.
A rotation causes the winds to circle the
center in clockwise or counterclockwise fash-
ion.
A blast simply causes the winds to blow
in one direction across the entire area from one
side to the other.
Wind Strength: For every three character
levels, the wielder can increase or decrease
wind strength by one level. Each round on his
turn, a creature in the wind must make a
Fortitude save (DC 14 + wielders Charisma
modifier) or suffer the effect of being in the
windy area.
Strong winds (21+ mph) make sailing
difficult.
A severe wind (31+ mph) causes minor
ship and building damage.
A windstorm (51+ mph) drives most fly-
ing creatures from the skies, uproots small
trees, knocks down light wooden structures,
tears off roofs, and endangers ships.
Hurricane force winds (75+ mph)
destroy wooden buildings, sometimes uproot
even large trees, and cause most ships to
founder.
A tornado (175+ mph) destroys all non-
fortified buildings and often uproots large
trees.
The range of this ability is 40 ft./charac-
ter level and the effect lasts no more than 10
minutes/character level.
Type: Artifact (magic); Caster Level: ;
Purchase DC: None; Weight: 4 lb.
Modern 13 more Occult Artifacts

lamp of ala-ed-din
History: Ala-ed-din was the son of a tailor living in China.
He was tricked by a sorcerer who was pretending to be a long-
lost relative into entering a magical cave that was trapped to pro-
tect it against robbers. The sorcerer wished Ala-ed-din to find
the greatest treasure hidden within the cavea magic lamp that
held a genie bound to serve whoever possessed it. When the sor-
cerer attempts to kill him, Ala-ed-din uses the lamp himself and
escapes the sorcerers clutches. With the help of the genie, the
young man makes himself rich and powerful and marries a
princess. Later on, the sorcerer returns and attempts to steal back
the lamp by deceiving the princess. Although the sorcerer suc-
ceeds, Ala-ed-din is again able to outwit him and regain the
lamp for himself, which he then passed on to his descendants,
who, if the story is to be believed, continue to possess it even
now. Over the centuries, there have been purported Lamps of
Ala-ed-din that have surfaced in the occult underground, but
none has proven to be the genuine article.
Physical Description: The Lamp is an ornate golden oil
lamp made in a style common to pre-Islamic Central Asia. It has
no markings or ornamentation to indicate it is anything other
than it appears. Because of its age, it has become somewhat tar-
nished and dented, making it even less noteworthy to someone
unaware of what he is looking at.
Current Whereabouts: The Lamp remains in the posses-
sion of some of al-Dins descendants in modern-day Pakistan.
At present, they are unaware of the Lamps powers, which suits
the plans of several conspiratorial groups, including the
Hashishin, all of whom are attempting to acquire it for them-
selves.
Alternatives: The Lamp could instead be a ring or some
other object (like a monkeys paw) that grants wishes to its pos-
sessor. Whatever form it takes, wishes are granted literally, even
if that comes at the expense of the person making the wishes.
Game Mechanics: The bottle can be opened once per day.
When opened, the genie imprisoned within issues from the bot-
tle instantly. There is a 10% chance (0110 on d%) that the genie
is now insane from millennia of captivity and attacks immedi-
ately upon being released. If not, the genie grants the user three
wishes before returning to the bottle until he has a new master.
These wishes can do the any of the following:
Duplicate any spell, psionic power, or incantation (includ-
ing raise dead).
Undo the harmful effects of a spell, psionic power, or
incantation.
Increase one creatures Wealth bonus by +20.
Bequeath one nonmagical item with a purchase DC of 60
or less.
Bequeath one magic item with a purchase DC of 45 or
less.
Remove all injuries and afflictions affecting one creature.
Transport up to twenty creatures to any place the wisher
chooses.
Undo a single recent event.
Use the following stats for the genie, if necessary:
Genie of the Lamp CR 8; Large outsider; HD 10d8+20; hp
65; Mas 14; Init +7 (+3 Dex, +4 Improved Initiative); Spd 30 ft.,
fly 20 ft. (perfect); Defense 18, touch 12, flat-footed 15 (1 size,
+3 Dex, +6 natural); BAB +10; Grap +20; Atk +15 melee
(1d8+9 plus 1d6 fire, slam); Full Atk +15/+10 melee (1d8+9
plus 1d6 fire, slam); FS 10 ft. by 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.; SQ heat,
spell-like abilities, polymorph (self only), immune to fire, cold
vulnerability, telepathy, darkvision 60 ft.; AL evil, law; SV Fort
+9, Ref +10, Will +9; Str 23, Dex 17, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 15,
Cha 15.
Skills: Bluff +12, Concentration +12, Craft (any one) +8,
Escape Artist +11, Intimidate +13, Listen +12, Move Silently
+11, Read/Write Auran, Read/Write Ignan, Read/Write Infernal,
Read/Write Language (any one), Sense Motive +11, Speak
Arabic, Speak Language (any three), Spellcraft +9, Spot +12.
Feats: Archaic Weapons Proficiency, Combat Reflexes,
Dodge, Improved Initiative.
Type: Artifact (magic); Caster Level: ; Purchase DC:
None; Weight: 1 lb.

Campaign Information
USED IN THE CAMPAIGN? YES NO STILL EXISTS IN THE CAMPAIGN? YES NO
DID YOU CHANGE THE ARTIFACT IN ANY WAY? YES NO (IF YES, DESCRIBE BELOW)
______________________________________________________________________________
PLAYER CHARACTERS KNOWLEDGE OF THE DEVICE: ___________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
NOTES: ________________________________________________________________________

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Modern 13 more Occult Artifacts

omer of manna
History: After the Exodus from Egypt, the
Israelites murmured against Moses leadership of
them, complaining that they had no food and would
surely die in the desert without it. In response, Moses
prayed to God, who granted the Israelites a miraculous
food called manna that fell to the ground like frost
each morning (except on the Sabbath). The food was
nourishing and provided for the Israelites nutritional
needs throughout their forty years of wandering before
entering the land of Canaan. Typically, any manna that
was reserved or kept overnight would rot and become
unpalatable. The only exception to this was the manna
kept in a golden jar that held a full days supply of it
a measurement the Israelites called an omer. This
golden jar was placed within the Ark of the Covenant
as a reminder of the forty years of exile in the desert
and of Gods providing for his people during this trou-
blesome time. When the Ark was lost after the destruc-
tion of Jerusalem by the Babylonians, the Omer of
Manna it contained was also lost, although there have
been sightings of it separate from the Ark throughout
the centuries. Indeed, some occultists believe that
finding the Omer of Manna could point the way
toward finding the Ark itself.
Physical Description: The Omer of Manna is a
large golden jar with a lid. It is otherwise unadorned or
unremarkable. Its interior is filled to the brim with a
white flaky substance that melts on the tongue and
tastes like honey but completely satisfies a human
beings need for food for one day.
Current Whereabouts: The Omer of Manna is
presently possessed by an Israeli archeologist search-
ing for clues to the final resting place of the Ark of the
Covenant. He has no intention of partaking of any of
the manna, as he believes it belongs rightfully within
the Ark itself and is holding it in trust until he can
place it there himself. Naturally, conspiratorial groups
ranging from the Hashishin to the Thule-Gesellschaft
seek it for themselves.
Alternatives: This artifact could be disconnected
from the Exodus story and transplanted onto some
other mythology, such as the ambrosia of the Greek
gods or other legendary divine foods. Alternatively, its
origin could be alien, Atlantean, or some other highly
technological but ancient culture.
Game Mechanics: The manna within the Omer is
sufficient to feed 1200 adult human beings for a single
day. Consequently, it could feed a single person for
over three years. Once the manna within the Omer is
depleted, however, it is gone forever and cannot be
replenished (barring another miracle).
Type: Artifact (magic); Caster Level: ;
Purchase DC: None; Weight: 5 lb.

Campaign Information
USED IN THE CAMPAIGN? YES NO STILL EXISTS IN THE CAMPAIGN? YES NO
DID YOU CHANGE THE ARTIFACT IN ANY WAY? YES NO (IF YES, DESCRIBE BELOW)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
PLAYER CHARACTERS KNOWLEDGE OF THE DEVICE: ___________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
NOTES: ________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

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Modern 13 more Occult Artifacts

ring of gyges
History: According to a legend reported in Platos
dialog The Republic, Gyges was a shepherd in the
employ of King Candaules of Lydia. After an earth-
quake, Gyges found a cave that turned out to be the
tomb of an enthroned corpse who wore a golden ring,
which Gyges pocketed. Gyges later learned that when
he turned the collet of the ring toward the palm of his
hand, he became invisible. Turning the collet the other
way, he could reappear. Gyges used his power of
invisibility to seduce the Candaules wife and togeth-
er the conspired to murder the king, which they did, at
which point Gyges became king of Lydia. In The
Republic, Plato places this tale in the mouth of the
interlocutor Glaucon, who uses it to advance the the-
sis that justice is purely a social construct and that, if
given the chance to act without being seen, men will
frequently choose to do what would otherwise be
deemed unjust. Whatever Platos intention, ambitious
men since ancient times have sought out the Ring of
Gyges, hoping to use its remarkable power to act with-
out being seenjust as Glaucon had predicted they
would.
Physical Description: The ring is a rather ordi-
nary-looking ring made of gold. It has no distinguish-
ing features or marks upon it, except for a collet, or
indentation, that looks as if it were intended to hold a
gem. However, the ring has no inset gem and never
has.
Current Whereabouts: The Ring is currently
owned by an American entrepreneur, who obtained it
by chance in an antique shop in Istanbul while on a
business trip there. Now that he realizes its powers, he
has begun to use them to enrich himself further, which
has drawn the attention of the Bilderbergers. Although
the conspiracy does not suspect a supernatural expla-
nation for the entrepreneurs sudden enrichment, they
are very suspicious and have dispatched several agents
to determine the secret of his success.
Alternatives: The Ring could take some other
form, such an amulet or even a crown.
Game Mechanics: The Ring allows its user to
gain the benefits of the spell invisibility at will. Unlike
the spell, however, the wearer remains invisible even
while attacking or making other hostile actions. Each
time the wearer uses the Ring to perform an unjust or
otherwise criminal act (GMs discretion), he must
make a successful Will save (DC 20) or lose all alle-
giances except to evil, with the concomitant conse-
quences.
Type: Artifact (magic); Caster Level: ;
Purchase DC: None; Weight: .

Campaign Information
USED IN THE CAMPAIGN? YES NO STILL EXISTS IN THE CAMPAIGN? YES NO
DID YOU CHANGE THE ARTIFACT IN ANY WAY? YES NO (IF YES, DESCRIBE BELOW)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
PLAYER CHARACTERS KNOWLEDGE OF THE DEVICE: ___________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
NOTES: ________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

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Modern 13 more Occult Artifacts

rod of aaron
History: The Rod of Aaron is a potent Jewish arti-
fact once possessed by Aaron, brother of Moses and
Miriam, and the first high priest of Israel. His Rod was
endowed with miraculous powers by God. When
Moses and Aaron confronted Pharaoh and demanded
that he free the Hebrew nation, the Rod turned into a
serpent as a show of divine might. Pharaohs court
magicians reproduced this miracle, turning their own
rods into serpents, which Aarons serpent quickly pro-
ceeded to devour whole. Later, in the presence of the
Ark of the Covenant, Aarons Rod blossomed and bore
almonds in another show of godly favor. The Rod was
placed inside the Ark, along with several other arti-
facts (see the Omer of Manna, above), where it
remained until the Ark was lost in the destruction of
the Temple in Jerusalem in 538 B.C.
Physical Description: The Rod of Aaron is a
thick staff made of almond wood. Despite its obvious
age, it is very sturdy and can support the weight of any
human being who leans against it. The staff stands
nearly six feet tall.
Current Whereabouts: The current location of
the Rod of Aaron is unknown, although it is suspected
of being located somewhere in modern-day Iraq,
where it had been taken twenty-five hundred years
earlier after the Babylonians destroyed the Temple in
Jerusalem. Several conspiratorial groups have been
operating in Iraq since 2003, using the Coalition inva-
sion as cover for their own search for the staff.
Alternatives: Some versions of the legend sug-
gest the Rod of Aaron was made from a piece of the
Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden and previously pos-
sessed by Adam, whose descendants passed it on over
many generations. Other legends say that it became
the crossbeam of the cross on which Christ was cruci-
fied, in which case it was broken up into fragments
years lateror could be the single largest piece of the
True Cross, if it wasnt.
Game Mechanics: Provided the wielder of the
staff has an allegiance to good (or, more specifically to
Judaism, at the GMs discretion), the Rod allows its
user to cast the following spells at will: bestow curse,
bless, create water, faiths fury, insect plague, prayer
and shield of faith.
Type: Artifact (magic); Caster Level: ;
Purchase DC: None; Weight: 5 lb.

Campaign Information
USED IN THE CAMPAIGN? YES NO STILL EXISTS IN THE CAMPAIGN? YES NO
DID YOU CHANGE THE ARTIFACT IN ANY WAY? YES NO (IF YES, DESCRIBE BELOW)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
PLAYER CHARACTERS KNOWLEDGE OF THE DEVICE: ___________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
NOTES: ________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

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Modern 13 more Occult Artifacts

spear of caenus
History: Caeneus was a Thessalian warrior who
sailed with Jason in his quest to find the Golden
Fleece. He was an invulnerable to all weapons and
thus renowned for his bravery in battle. In truth,
Caeneus was born a woman: the beautiful maiden
Caenis. The god Poseidon raped Caenis, but in order
to make amends for his crime, offered to give her
whatever boon she wishes. Caenis wanted to ensure
that she could never be raped again and so asked to be
made a man, which Poseidon did. In addition, he made
Caenis (now called Caeneus) immune to all weapons.
Caeneus wielded a great spear in battle and that spear
became so strongly associated with him that, after his
death, some portion of his divine gift transferred to it,
allowing anyone who wields it to possess a modicum
of Caeneus invulnerability.
Physical Description: The spear is an archaic
Greek spear, whose point is made of bronze and whose
shaft is a sturdy, dark wood. The spear is about five
feet in length, but is otherwise unremarkable.
Current Whereabouts: An Egyptian occultist
associated with the Rosicrucians possesses the Spear,
although he is considering selling it on the occult
black market to the highest bidder. Preparations for
such an auction are already under way and the occult
world is filled with stories of potential buyers and out-
landish plans to seize the Spear should it fall into the
wrong hands.
Alternatives: The Spear could take a different
form, being a different type of weapon or perhaps not
a weapon at all. Its origin could also be changed, such
that, for example, it could have been an Amazon spear
and any who wield it is changed into a woman rather
than a man.
Game Mechanics: The Spear is a +3 wounding
spear with the following stats:
Damage 1d8, Critical 20, Piercing, Large Size
In addition, the wielders gender is permanently
changed to male if she is female. The wielder also
gains Damage Reduction 20/+2 while holding the
weapon.
Type: Artifact (magic); Caster Level: ;
Purchase DC: None; Weight: 10 lb.

Campaign Information
USED IN THE CAMPAIGN? YES NO STILL EXISTS IN THE CAMPAIGN? YES NO
DID YOU CHANGE THE ARTIFACT IN ANY WAY? YES NO (IF YES, DESCRIBE BELOW)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
PLAYER CHARACTERS KNOWLEDGE OF THE DEVICE: ___________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
NOTES: ________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

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Modern 13 more Occult Artifacts

virga of vergil
History: Publius Vergillius Maro was born in
Mantua, Italy in 70 B.C. and lived to become one of
the greatest poets of the Latin language. His most
famous work was The Aeneid, an epic poem in the
style of Homers The Iliad, which tells the story of
Aeneas, a refugee from the city of Troy, who wanders
around the Mediterranean before finally settling in the
Italian peninsula and becoming the forefather of
Rome. Vergil was reputed to be a magician and a seer
and tales of his exploits were especially popular in the
Middle Ages. His prophetic powers were of particular
interest, as his Fourth Eclogue supposedly foretold the
coming of Christ. According to many legends, Vergil
would prophesy by means of the sortes, a Roman
method of divination that involved opening a text and
pointing to a random passage with a thin baton called
a virga. Because of the words similarity to Vergils
own name, it is sometimes spelled Virgil instead.
Whether the artifact that bears his name was ever pos-
sessed by Vergil himself is unclear, but there can be
little doubt that it is a potent aid to divinations, which
is why it has been sought after since ancient times.
Physical Description: The Virga is a thin lac-
quered wood baton, reddish-brown in color. At its tip
is a small knob, made of bronze. Otherwise, it has no
other adornments or markings to indicate its unusual
character.
Current Whereabouts: The Virga is owned by an
Italian multimillionaire with a keen interest in the
future of Europe. He has been using the Virga to plot
his companies financial moves, as well as determin-
ing alliances with the right political factions within the
European Union, with an eye to becoming a major
political player himself. Both the Templars and the
Prieur de Sion wish to seize the artifact for them-
selves.
Alternatives: Other famous prophets and seers
may have possessed similarly magic artifacts. The
Virga could just as easily be a crystal ball, mirror,
Tarot deck, or some other divinatory item.
Game Mechanics: When used with a copy of The
Aeneid, the Virga enables its user to cast an unfailing
version of the augury spell at will. In the hands of a
trained spellcaster, the Virga also grants a +1 bonus to
effective caster level when used in conjunction with
any spells from the Divination school.
Type: Artifact (magic); Caster Level: ;
Purchase DC: None; Weight: 1 lb.

Campaign Information
USED IN THE CAMPAIGN? YES NO STILL EXISTS IN THE CAMPAIGN? YES NO
DID YOU CHANGE THE ARTIFACT IN ANY WAY? YES NO (IF YES, DESCRIBE BELOW)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
PLAYER CHARACTERS KNOWLEDGE OF THE DEVICE: ___________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
NOTES: ________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

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Modern 13 more Occult Artifacts

vril battery
History: In 1871, the English novelist Edward George
Bulwer-Lytton wrote The Coming Race, a fantastical tale
about a subterranean race of men known as the Vril-ya, who
use a mysterious energy source called vril to power devices,
weapons, and automatons. The Vril-ya were the survivors of
a great deluge on the surface world and fled underground.
Although Bulwer-Lytton never intended his novel to be
taken seriously, many Victorian and later occultists believed
it revealed hidden truths about the world, some going so far
as to say that the author was an unknowing conduit for hid-
den truths! In any event, a German cabal known as the Vril
Society was founded in the 20th century to (among other
things) seek out the Vril-ya and obtain access to their mirac-
ulous energy source. Over time, the Vril Society (or
Luminous Lodge, as it was sometimes known) was co-opted
by the Thule-Gesellschaft, which itself was a tool of the Nazi
Party. During World War II, Thulist investigators sought the
Vril-ya in Asia, eventually finding evidence of their civiliza-
tion in Agharti beneath Tibet. The Thulist conquest of
Agharti was not complete before Hitlers defeat in 1945, but
vril energy was obtained and placed into batteries for use by
German forces in the final days of the war. Some of these bat-
teries fell into Allied hands, who then set about harnessing
them for their own purposes. Unfortunately for them, the
only reliable source of vril was in Agharti, which remains
solidly under Thule control to this day.
Physical Description: A vril battery looks like a small
metallic cylinder slightly larger than standard chemical bat-
teries in common use throughout the world. The cylinder is
bronze in color and feels slightly warm to the touch. It is
made from specially crafted phlogiston (see Thirteen Occult
Materials, also available from Ronin Arts, for more informa-
tion) that can contain the vril without reacting with it. At each
end of the battery is a silvery metallic lead that allows it to be
slotted into any vril-compatible device.
Current Whereabouts: A vril battery is not a singular
artifact. Numerous examples of it can be found throughout
the occult world, particularly in the hands of the Thule-
Gesellschaft, which uses vril batteries to power many of its
devices, including its stealth saucers and other aircraft.
Alternatives: The vril battery need not be a technologi-
cal device. Instead, it could take the form of naturally occur-
ring crystals, metallic spheres, or even (as some Nazi
occultists believed) religious icons. Likewise, the power con-
tained within these batteries need not be vril but could be
almost anything, from cosmic rays to orgone energy.
Game Mechanics: Vril batteries contain enormous
energy and are unlimited in their durations. That is, they
never burn out or require replacement. Thus, a vril battery
placed in a flashlight would last until the flashlight itself wore
out and even then the battery could be transferred to another
device. In addition, a single vril battery can replace an entire
collection of batteries of almost any type. At the GMs dis-
cretion, vril batteries can also alleviate the need for other
power sources, such as gasoline, so that a vril powered car
would never need refueling once a single battery is placed
within it.
To convert an existing device or vehicle to vril power
requires a successful Craft (mechanical) check (DC 20). If
the character also has 10 or more ranks in Knowledge (arcane
lore), he gains a +2 synergy bonus to the Craft check.
Type: Artifact (magic); Caster Level: ; Purchase DC:
30; Weight: -.

Campaign Information
USED IN THE CAMPAIGN? YES NO STILL EXISTS IN THE CAMPAIGN? YES NO
DID YOU CHANGE THE ARTIFACT IN ANY WAY? YES NO (IF YES, DESCRIBE BELOW)
______________________________________________________________________________
PLAYER CHARACTERS KNOWLEDGE OF THE DEVICE: ___________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
NOTES: ________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

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