A reward in my Oriental Adventures campaign. Posted here for my PCs to reference. I am using the nemuranai tag for OA magic items since in Japanese Mythology magic items are not forged or made (this is seen as disrespectful to the indwelling spirit). Instead the items awaken through various processes – spontaneously, or through powerful magic.
Inspired by Legend of Five Rings.
AWAKENED CRANE CLAN TAMESHI-GUSOKU
Armor (o-yoroi), legendary (nemuranai, honorable, requires attunement)
Omen: When struck in combat the armor gives off a low gong that inspires allies and unsettles enemies. When the Crane’s Protection feature is triggered a loud high-pitched gong sounds with visible waves of sound emitting from the armor outwards 10 feet until they fade away.
The tameshi-gusoku’s design is based on the great armor but formed from much smaller metal plates. Furthermore, each plate has been folded unto itself over a million times, and the metal has been infused with trace amounts of jade, protecting its wearer from Taint. A tameshi-gusoku is the rarest of armours. It is believed that no smith alive today can craft a true tameshi-gusoku, and there are only a few left in existence, all owned by noble families that treasure it as highly as the most pristine blade. As an honorable item its magical properties cease functioning if the attuned character’s honor drops below 10 or gains a Taint score (cursed items are considered tainted for the purpose of this restriction).
The base AC of this armor is 18, has a 17 Strength requirement to use and imposes disadvantage on stealth checks. As a nemuranai item, the tameshi-gusoku improves as you gain levels:
- +2
- Crane’s Blessing. You gain proficiency in Iaijutsu and Persuasion skills (the crane clan formalized the art of iaijutsu and are known for being skilled courtiers and diplomats). You have advantage on saving throws vs gaining Taint.
- +3
- Crane’s Protection. When critically hit in combat one of the following traits triggers randomly (Crane’s Protection may also be triggered by consuming a spirit emblem. If the attuned character is considered dishonorable by the armor these affects still trigger but to the detriment of the wearer (DM’s discretion)):
- 1-3: The armor casts mass cure wounds as a free action centered on you.
- 4-5: The armor casts global cooling as a free action centered on you (treat it as a fireball that does cold damage only to hostile creatures).
- 6: The armor summons an avatar of Kami Doji the founder of the Crane Clan. This avatar appears as a Large size crane (use the statistics of a young silver dragon). The avatar is friendly to the wearer of the armor and remains for 1 minute or until dismissed.
- Crane’s Protection. When critically hit in combat one of the following traits triggers randomly (Crane’s Protection may also be triggered by consuming a spirit emblem. If the attuned character is considered dishonorable by the armor these affects still trigger but to the detriment of the wearer (DM’s discretion)):
- +4
- Defense I. The armor provides a +1 magical bonus to AC. You may use this bonus to AC to adjust the crane’s protections trait up or down by 1.
- Warframe. Consuming your action each round you may “pilot” your armor from a remote distance. It retains all your AC, HP, attacks, saving throws and class abilities, but you are incapacitated for the duration and are unaware of your direct surroundings. Damage done to the armor is transferred to you. So long as the armor is on the same plane there is no limit on the range or duration of this ability. However, if you take psychic damage you must make a DC 15 Intelligence saving throw or become disconnected from the armor and must repeat the saving throw to reconnect. The armor seizes up and stops functioning while you are disconnected.
- +5
- Defense II. The AC bonus of the armor becomes +2. You may use this bonus to AC to adjust the crane’s protections trait up or down by 1 or 2.
- Strength of Earth. Once a day you may use a bonus action or action to cast stoneskin on yourself.
- +6
- Defense III. The AC bonus of the armor becomes +3. You may use this bonus to AC to adjust the crane’s protections trait up or down by 1, 2 or 3.
- Awakened Kami. The tameshi-gusoku is now fully sentient and either takes the name you give it or takes the name Kame. It has your alignment. Roll on the Sentient Magic Items table to determine its ability scores, communication ability and senses.
- Improved Warframe. The armour is now fully sentient and can function independently of you if you so choose. It will follow your orders but does not use any of your abilities. It has the same statistics as a shield guardian but you may apply the benefits of animal ally to the armour. You may spend a bonus action to allow the armour to use one of your class abilities each round but if you take psychic damage and fail the saving throw (per the warframe trait) you lose your connection to the armour until you make the saving throw.
Tsukumogami
Nemuranai were man made items of exceptional quality that had had their kami awakened, either through the skill used in creating them or through their association with great deeds. These items can usually only be attuned or used by a single person. They grow in power as the hero who owns it also grows in fame, honour and power.