Magic Item Monday (Forsaken Frontier): Ferryman’s Toll

Ferryman’s Toll
Aura strong necromancy; CL 20th
Slot none; Price 298,000 gp; Weight 0.4 lbs

DESCRIPTION
This crudely minted coin is crafted from brittle, rusted pig-iron. The image of hanged man—crowned as king and dangling from the branch of a gnarled and twisted tree—is hammer-pressed into the face of it. A three-headed serpent is erupting from the dead man’s gaping mouth. The reverse side has been etched with a single mysterious, indecipherable rune. Each time the coin is turned, the rune upon the back shifts and changes shape. The token emits a strange, foul odor not dissimilar to the stench of a rotting corpse.

The ferryman’s toll functions as a ghost touch item and may sometimes be found in the possession of incorporeal creatures.
ferrymans tollLiving     An intelligent living creature takes on the likeness (and odor) of a slightly decayed corpse. The creature gains undead traits as long as the feryman’s toll remains in its possession. The affected living creature is also given the undead subtype for the duration of the effect, but gains no racial adjustments other than undead traits. Will DC 30 negates this effect for a living creature for 24-hours. As a result of the living creature’s own life force resisting the effects of the ferryman’s toll, this saving throw is not optional and must be made every 24-hours the ferryman’s toll is in the creature’s possession.
Dead     If the ferryman’s toll is placed into the mouth of an intelligent creature who has recently died (no longer than 24 hours since death), the coin shatters into dust that is suddenly inhaled by the dead creature as it returns to life causing it to have a violent, uncontrollable coughing fit that lasts for 1d6 rounds. This effect functions as raise dead (CL 20th) and destroys the ferryman’s toll. The creature raised by this effect is marked upon the forehead with the rune that was on the reverse of the coin when it was consumed; it appears to be a brand and cannot be removed by any means (though illusions may obscure it). The bearer of this permanent mark is forever treated as a 1st level creature when determining the negative effects of a raise dead spell.
Undead     An intelligent undead creature gains an extra 7 HD as long as the ferryman’s toll remains in its possession. No saving throw is required for use by an undead creature. This effect is continuous as long as the ferryman’s toll is in the undead creature’s possession, but requires 24 hours to attune to a new undead owner before taking effect.

CONSTRUCTION
Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, create undead, limited wish, raise dead, the true name of the ferryman; Cost 149,000 gp

 

Legend has it that the ferryman’s toll are the actual coins used by the souls of the dead who must pay the grim boatman to carry their souls into the afterlife. Exceptionally willful spirits can sometimes escape death, bringing the mysterious coin back into the world of the living. It is said that once a soul rejects the ferryman and steals his intended toll, that they are forever damned—never to be guided into the afterlife.

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