Drozelmair's Quill and the Marvelous Music Box | Free 5e and PD2e Magic Item

Written by Hana the Lorekeeper

Also known as the Reality Quill or the Quill of Tragedy, this writing implement is said to have been created by an insane god who takes perverse pleasure in mortals’ suffering. It appears as a red, yellow, and white feather with an iron tip and produces ink of the blackest variety.

Drozelmair’s Quill is rumored to have been used to write many evil texts throughout time, including a certain tome that details vile and dark deeds. Evil-alignment entities can immediately tell that the wielder is performing foul acts with the quill and will seek them out to further their own evil goals.

If you're looking for other 5e and PF2e resources, check out our entire collection of Lair Magazine issues. This particular magic item came from the April 2024 issue of Lair Magazine, Fables & Fantasy, where you can find even more to add to your campaign!

Drozelmair’s Quill - 5e

Wondrous item, artifact (requires attunement by a cleric, bard, sorcerer, warlock, or wizard)

Random Properties. Drozelmair’s Quill grants the following randomly determined properties:

• 2 minor beneficial properties
• 2 minor detrimental properties
• 1 major detrimental property

Spellcasting Focus. While holding Drozelmair’s Quill, you can use it as a spellcasting focus and gain a +3 bonus to spell attack rolls and the saving throw DCs.

Divine Knowledge. Knowledge from the universe flows through your mind. You cannot roll below a 10 on any Intelligence or Wisdom check.

Blood Caster. You can cast any spell up to 5^th level by spending a spell slot of that level. Instead of the normal components required to cast the spell, you use your own life force in their place, reducing your maximum HP by the spell’s level times 5. This reduction diminishes by an amount equal to the spell’s level each day.

Corrupted Wish. Once per day, you can write a single sentence of less than 15 words, which acts as if casting the wish spell. However, the quill will cause tragedy to spin from even the most carefully worded wishes. For example, writing “the war never took place because they knew peace” will rewrite reality to have one faction in the war killed in famine or plague before the war could begin, granting a form of peace by death. Writing “I will become immune to all damage and afflictions” makes it so all injuries and afflictions are transferred to your loved ones, which can easily lead to their permanent disability or death.

Gradual Corruption. Over time, the alignment of an attuned creature will slowly become chaotic evil. While using the quill, they enjoy inflicting pain and suffering on the innocent. Even if the wielder becomes unattuned to the quill, this change in alignment is permanent short of divine intervention from a lawful good deity or drawing The Fates card from the Deck of Many Things.

Destroying the Quill. One must take the quill to the temple of a lawful good deity and beseech for help through a cleric’s Divine Intervention. Should the intervention roll be successful, the deity can appear and banish the quill to Drozelmair’s domain, where it will remain for 2,000 (1d4 x 1,000) years.

Marvelous Music Box, Item 5 - PF2e

Uncommon, Enchantment, Magical

Price 150 gp

Usage held in 2 hands; Bulk 1

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At first glance, this small ornate music box appears like an ordinary but incredibly expensive box. Once it is opened, a harmonious sound fills the air, and the music box seems to radiate sheet music. The sheet music is identical to the song the box is playing but disappears once the box’s tune ends.

Activate [one-action] Interact; Frequency once per day; Effect You open the box, causing it to play a song that invigorates allies and befuddles enemies. This is an auditory, enchantment, and mental effect. Any ally within 10 feet of the box when it is opened gains 1d10 temporary Hit Points that last for 1 minute. Any enemy within 10 feet of the box when it is opened must succeed at a DC 19 Will save or be fascinated by the music box for 1 minute. Both effects end early if the music box is closed, which requires a single action with the manipulate trait.

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