Build an artifact: Smaug's scale

[Summerhawk]

My players explored Grimarr's Hall from the Erebor book today and the found Grimarr's tomb. Inside among his grave goods they found some scales from Smaug's (a hint of the grievous injury Smaug's suffered in his attack on the hall). The players took one to take to Bard as a memorial of Grimarr, and it got me thinking. If you were gonna put magical properties on a scale from the great worm, what would they be. Blessings of awe and riddle come to mind (along with plenty of curse options), but what other properties might a dragon scale from the last of the great dragons have? Thoughts?

[Erland Hakon]

I do not know if magical properties, but if it have a suitable size may be a shield of extraordinary quality, +1 for encumbrance?

[Summerhawk]

I do not know if magical properties, but if it have a suitable size may be a shield of extraordinary quality, +1 for encumbrance?

I had not considered it being made into armor. Of course I don't know if my players will keep it in the end, but it would certainly qualify as a special material for the Dwarf smithing rules.

[Glorelendil]

I smell a Curse.

[silverfoxdmt73]

I smell a Curse.

Definitely, a great greed for gold and overconfidence.

[Glorelendil]

I smell a Curse.

Definitely, a great greed for gold and overconfidence.

And I'd say a permanent point of Shadow while carried. (There's no actual rule for "permanent while.." but seems right.)

[silverfoxdmt73]

Agreed..

Besides his scales, do you think any of his teeth or claws could be found?

How about someone fashioning a weapon out of them? Perhaps someone of less than honourable persuasion may wish to use them as a symbol of their power and draw a group of followers due to their reputation of possessing such a relic?

[Glorelendil]

Perhaps someone of less than honourable persuasion may wish to use them as a symbol of their power and draw a group of followers due to their reputation of possessing such a relic?

This. I think some bad guys doing something unwholesome with Smaug artifacts could make a great theme to an adventure. The heroes would probably wish to destroy whatever it is.

This ain't Faerun.

[silverfoxdmt73]

This. I think some bad guys doing something unwholesome with Smaug artifacts could make a great theme to an adventure. The heroes would probably wish to destroy whatever it is.

This ain't Faerun.

Perhaps there could be rumours among the Woodmen or Beorning tribes that a young upstart has come to prominence, offering a share of the spoils should folk join him in claiming land and captives? They hear he wields some weapon of unnatural power, something that makes him unstoppable?

[Summerhawk]

As for curses, I'd say a curse of weakness (Dragon-sickness) would be likely. And you're all right, the idea of using it for good is probably unlikely as it would have a lot of darkness to it. The player heroes have good intentions with it, but it will probably lead to trouble.

On the other hand, Bilbo's generosity with his dragon gold seems to undo much of the curse, so there is an interesting question about how much good intentions make a difference with cursed items.