Re: [Thaumatology] Magic Item Design Game
 

The Gong of Bong is a treasured relic among the goblin tribes of the High Desert of Yer'zrek. It is struck only on the Festival of Bong, twice yearly, at the precise moment of the equinox. The festival begins seven days before and champions of each tribe compete in tests of strength for the honor of striking the Gong.

The Gong hangs on the rooftop of the highest temple in Yer'krek and is actually an ancient cooking pan, about two feet in diameter.

Bong is the name of the staple flatbread of the Yer'zrek goblins, and when the Gong is struck it sheds thousands of sheets of the highest quality bong in proportion to the loudness of the strike for as long as the Gong reverberates. Best of all, bong produced by the Gong does not decay, and hence it serves as a source of storable food for several weeks for all the tribes.

Next: gryphon's sweat

Re: [Thaumatology] Magic Item Design Game
 

Up in the hills where the taxmen are rare, hedge mages incant over their hidden stills, spells passed down through the generations along with the recipe. The resulting booze is infused with Essential Alcohol, four times as potent and with no hangover. The product goes by many names, but one of the most common is Gryphon Sweat.

Next: The Fifteen Fingers of Fadon

Re: [Thaumatology] Magic Item Design Game
 

Fadon was a mighty warrior in the Ukluk cannibal tribe. When he defeated an opponent in single combat, he chopped off their right index finger and had it preserved and put onto a necklace which he displayed proudly. When Fadon was finally slain, the Ukluk chieftain feared that other tribes would team up against them, and he ordered the shaman to bind Fadon's spirit to the necklace. The spirit of Fadon proved as powerful as Fadon had been in life, and the mere sight of the necklace causes those who behold it to run away in terror.

Next: The Maiden's Distress

Re: [Thaumatology] Magic Item Design Game
 

I take the liberty of answering my own question, since nobody else does.

The Maiden's Distress is a cursed gold ring with no adornments. It is currently worn by Queen Zeta, given to her as her wedding ring. The ring can only be removed by the person who put the ring on the finger in the first place, in the current case, her husband King Epsilon. I don't think he's very nice.

The ring ensures pregnancy at the first opportunity, and increases dramatically the chances for multiple births. Once pregnant, the wearer is doomed to die as soon as she has given birth. The ring (almost) guarantees that the pregnancy is carried to fruition; no sickness or injury that doesn't kill the mother can endanger the fetuses. Removing the ring after conception has no effect on the current pregnancy, but the ring is dormant until the former wearer dies.

Next: The Emerald Ruby

Re: [Thaumatology] Magic Item Design Game
 

This large gem was originally made of clear quartz, but changed colors during enchantment. The gem constantly shifts between green and red, having patches of each color at the same time, with these patches seeming to overlap and flow through each other in bizarre ways. Viewing the gem is disturbing on an existential level, resulting in a Sanity-Blasting Fright Check (see GURPS Horror), although anyone who is unable to distinguish between red and green (the most common form of colorblindness, and the version the enchanter had) is immune. This can trigger frequently - a character currently suffering Stun or similar from a previously-failed Fright Check is immune, but once he/she recovers, seeing the gem again will result in another Fright Check (potentially penalized due to Derangement). Success on the Fright Check renders one immune for one minute per point of MoS (Critical Success is instead a solid hour of immunity), but once this time has expired the character is again fully susceptible.

Next: The Golden Blueprints

Re: [Thaumatology] Magic Item Design Game
 

A silver ring with an inlaid emerald. The emerald glows ruby red when it comes within 100 yards of an enemy of its wearer. This is based entirely on the wearer's opinion of others, not any objective standard. Unfortunately, most wearers become convinced that the Emerald Ruby can accurately determine friend from foe when it confirms their own biases. Paranoid people will find that the ring constantly glows ruby red when they are around other people.

Naturally, the Emerald Ruby has lead to many murders and wars over the centuries. Currently, the Emerald Ruby is glowing on the finger of a jeweler...

Next: The Ear of the Dragon

Re: [Thaumatology] Magic Item Design Game
 

The Golden Blueprints are a set of identical artifacts. They are square sheets of gold, two feet to a side. While the user holds a sheet in both hands and is inside a building, the artifact shows a map of the floor where the user is, as if it was etched into the sheet. The map is centered on the user, and shows up to 10 yards in each direction. If a second sheet is held adjacent to the first, they fuse together to show a larger area around the user. They break apart when the user lets go of the artifact with either hand, or if they leave the building.

Next (from Emerald Cat): The Ear of the Dragon

Re: [Thaumatology] Magic Item Design Game
 

A major artifact of some chaotic power this is a husked piece of multicolored maize. When planted it hatches into 6D6 Hatchling Dragons or a wide variety of colors. These dragons feel instinctive enmity towards each other but will separate intially to plan later attacks when they can find some advantage.

There will usally be one duel to the death every 1D6 months with the winner advancing one age category but seeking no further combat until all of the surviving dragons that came from the ear do the same.

These dragons will have no concerns what-so-ever about colateral damage and this will escalate rapidly unil there is only one left who will then advance to Ancient status and be known as _The_ Dragon.

Next:The Balance of Power

Re: [Thaumatology] Magic Item Design Game
 

An apparently ordinary brass balance, when items symbolizing two rival people, parties, factions, nations etc. are placed in the cups, neither side will ever be able to get the upper hand on the other, nor withdraw from the contest.

Next: The Candle Which Cannot Burn

Re: [Thaumatology] Magic Item Design Game
 

This is a large yellow wax candle with a blue wick. The wax seems impervious to heat, and no attempt to light the wick has ever succeeded. It is said that the candle will ignite only to signal that the end of days is approaching, giving humanity a few hours warning before Armageddon. It's not known if the candle will self-ignite, so the monastic Order of Eternal Hope who keeps a constant watch on the artifact also puts a flame to the wick every minute, just in case it needs help.

Next: The Three-Tiered Tophat