Spell Cubes
Appearance: A regular-sized Rubik’s Cube; while looking like a toy, it feels heavy in one’s hand, and metallic to the touch. Spell Cubes are not invulnerable, but they can take a battering and still function.
Continue reading Item Seed: Spell Cubes.
Hellcrawler
Description: take a M26 Pershing tank, replace the 90mm main gun with a stubbier, classified cylinder which causes nosebleeds in any human that looks too closely at the classified symbols etched on its surface, swap out the engine for a literally indestructible cube of some classified alloy that smells faintly of copper and iron, and cover the (significantly reduced) armor with more alarming, classified symbols. The machine guns remain unchanged. The sealed crew compartment is larger than a regular Pershing tank, and can carry 6 humans and their gear sustainably. Hellcrawlers have a classified life support system that can keep up to 9 humans alive indefinitely.
Weight: 45 tons
Operational Range: For as long as the crew holds out
Max Speed: 50 mph on roads, 10 mph off road
Crew capacity: 6
Continue reading Item Seed: Hellcrawler.
The Grimoire Basement Tapes, 1967-1972
Description: a double-thickness jewel case containing five CDs. The CDs are labeled 1 through 5, but have no other identification. The jewel case is light green, with the title “The Grimoire Basement Tapes, 1967-1972” on the front. No other information about the CDs are available. The jewel case and CDs positively radiate supernatural power, to the point where it is noticeable for even non-magical entities.
Effects: each CD features thirty minutes of odd, strangely complex music that incorporates both classic and modern musical instruments, plus extensive vocals in no easily recognizable language. It became clear, very quickly, that listening to each CD all the way through gave a temporary ability to the listener (only one at a time, and the choice is apparently random).
Cautious experimentation has determined the following:
Continue reading Item Seed: The Grimoire Basement Tapes, 1967-1972
Continue reading Group Seed: The Wabash Working GroupWabash Working Group
The Wabash Working Group
Founded: 1957
Location: Indianapolis
Staff: 15 administrative, 10 field operatives
Remit: Sea Monsters
Parent Agency: Department of Labor
Milnods
Technically, it’s known as mutated pseudocowpox, but that’s a mouthful. So was ‘milker’s nodule,’ but that at least could be trimmed down into a two-syllable word that sounded vaguely medical. Slang’s a funny thing. This version is contagious, from either skin contact or fluid exchange.
Anyway, milnods are what can happen when cowpox jumps species to a DNA-based bovine-equivalent, then jumps again into a DNA-based sapient alien species. Yeah, there’s a lot of those out there. Panspermia, Precursors, ancient alien species that used the same particular form of food yeast on all their planets; take your pick. The point is that people all over the Galaxy absolutely have to worry about catching each other’s germs.
Murder Cannolis
Description: they’re cannolis that have been bathed in the death energies thrown off by someone who has been suddenly and ritually murdered. Murder Cannolis don’t have to be dipped in blood or anything like that to gain their esoteric status. In fact, it’s preferable that they’re not, because pastries that have been in direct contact with an actual corpse are the very definition of ‘gross’ and ‘unsanitary.’
Powers: Soak up a man’s death, soak up that which he leaves behind. Murder Cannolis bring good financial luck; eat one, and a portion of the victim’s total wealth gets transferred to you. This is usually coincidental in nature, but sometimes it just comes down to a sudden bank account deposit.
Tattoo Geraniums
pelargonium zonale laeti
Tattoo Geraniums are not themselves magical; they are flowering plants that have been deliberately bred for ritual magic susceptibility. More specifically, the Geraniums can be used to ‘draw’ permanent magic sigils and designs outdoors, using the living plants as the ‘ink.’ The sigils drawn this way tend to be fairly robust, as a by-product of the enchantment process: it is difficult to deliberately destroy any individual Tattoo Geranium. But if one of the plants is destroyed, it can be swapped out with another one of the same color.
The Heart of Cincinnati
Description: a chain necklace. The pendant is a small hunk of concrete that’s shaped roughly like a Valentine’s heart. The Heart of Cincinnati is perfectly safe to wear; it never catches on skin or clothing, and is always slightly warm to the touch.
Powers: “Whosoever wears this Token is the Hidden Ruler of Cincinnati.”
