Special Greater Blessing: Hallowed

[Robin Smallburrow]

I am wondering how to incorporate into both Wondrous Items & Famous Weapons the power of being Hallowed: ie made holy, sacred. This is actually rather common in Tolkien:

" the Silmarils were hallowed by Varda"
"Yavanna hallowed it"
"Hallowed by Aule" etc. etc.

I have a Wondrous Item in my Campaign, the Rod of Junast, which was hallowed or blessed by Elbereth.

My initial idea: Hallowed - Greater Blessing: When directly opposing evil in some way or a servant of the Enemy (such as a Valour Test vs the Fear caused by a Nazgul, or an attack roll against one of the Enemy's servants) reroll the Feat die and keep the best result. In addition there is a free Wisdom bonus to the roll. Evil creatures that touch the item take 1d6 Endurance damage each round their skin is touching the item.

Thoughts/Feedback would be most welcome!

Robin S.

[Hermes Serpent]

I see at least one definition of Hallowed as: "British English: hallowed is used to describe something that is respected and admired, usually because it is old, important, or has a good reputation".

I'd suggest that in the usage you quote this definition of respected and admired is meant rather than anything holy. Mostly because there is little or nothing that can be described as warranting association with any sort of deity in the Hobbit or LotR (although not so much in the Simarillion with its creation stories). I might even say that the Professor could have found the use of overt religious symbology irreligious in view of his Catholic beliefs.

[Seosaidh]

I'd suggest that in the usage you quote this definition of respected and admired is meant rather than anything holy. Mostly because there is little or nothing that can be described as warranting association with any sort of deity in the Hobbit or LotR (although not so much in the Simarillion with its creation stories).

I'm not sure. I agree about the lack of a clear deity in the Hobbit and LotR (although I think that this does not necessarily exclude the possiblility of something being holy or set apart). However, there are deity like references in the Silmarillion which appears to be where Robin is taking his inspiration, since he specifically mentions the Silmarills being hallowed by Varda. I don't know anything about woundrous items, since I don't have Rivendell yet. As such, I can't speak as to the power balance of Robin's suggestion. However, I would say that the results are in line with what hallowed means in the sense of a Silmaril. (Remember what happens to Carcharoth and Morgoth?) Also keep in mind that the light of the Silmaril was what was special, and that same light (although diluted and seen from afar) was caught in the Phial of Galadriel. This light caused direct pain to Shelob, and inspired hope in Sam.

[Blubbo Baggins]

In addition there is a free Wisdom bonus to the roll. Evil creatures that touch the item take 1d6 Endurance damage each round their skin is touching the item. Robin S.

Rather than causing Endurance damage, I think it might be more in line with current similar rules (see the Lamp of Balthi or the Lamp of Ormal undertaking in HotW) if it causes loss of Hate points.

[Glorelendil]

In addition there is a free Wisdom bonus to the roll. Evil creatures that touch the item take 1d6 Endurance damage each round their skin is touching the item. Robin S.

Rather than causing Endurance damage, I think it might be more in line with current similar rules (see the Lamp of Balthi or the Lamp of Ormal undertaking in HotW) if it causes loss of Hate points.

If an item draws its power from "divine" sources (i.e. Vala) then I'm a huge fan of it draining Hate rather than simply causing endurance loss. Not only is it more flavorful, but for really tough adversaries it can be more potent.

[Glorelendil]

By the way, with the mechanic you described I would like it better as an Enchanted Quality on a close combat weapon than a blessing on a Wondrous Artefact. Partly because Blessings have a very specific mechanic, and partly because it's combat (or at least conflict) oriented.

[Robin Smallburrow]

Elfcrusher

This was the original idea I had written for the Rod of Junast before the Rivendell supplement came out:

THE ROD OF JUNAST

This magical item was a gift granted by Ladnoca (the Haruze version of Elbereth) to the Haruze hero Junast in the Second Age, it is in fact a water diviner (10 miles radius), anyone regarded as 'evil' (any Hate) will take 1d6 Endurance damage just by touching the Rod. The Rod bears the Haruze Moon Symbol of Ladnoca, and it glows when undead creatures are nearby, to a range of 30 yards.
The bearer of the Rod, if 'good' (no Permanent Shadow), can spend a point of Hope to cause the Rod to discharge a bolt of intense white light at an evil Foe, as per the Flame of Anor spell (which is what the Rod is enchanted with). The bearer of the Rod must make a Ranged Combat attack to hit a target, base TN 12 + target’s Parry rating, modified by Range. A successful attack roll means the target takes 18 Endurance damage and must also make a Protection Test TN 25 to avoid being Wounded.

So my original conception of the Rod is that it is a holy staff blessed by Elbereth - its main purpose being to let the bearer be able to find water in the desert, but that it also has Luminescence powers in regards to Undead, and that it can (like Gandalf did at the Siege of Gondor) let out a bolt of white light against evil foes). The 1d6 endurance damage part is just to duplicate the reaction all evil creatures will have if they touch The Rod (like Gollum did with the elven rope). Any ideas how to convert these to the new Magical Treasure rules??? I suppose it could be wielded as per a normal staff?

Robin S.

[Glorelendil]

Quarterstaff with Greater Blessing of Explore? And make the white bolt be a Hate drain (for Hope)?