The Zodiacs and Their Artefacts A New Pantheon and a Set of Original Artefacts by /u/Rose94 All item art by me

Long before the advent of many of the civilised races and the birth of true civilisation, the Twelve Lords of the Cosmos known as the Zodiacs walked the Material Plane. They were gods in their own rights, great beings of immense power and possessed of true forms unimaginable to mortal minds. Before Virgo forced them all into exile to protect Humanity - her own children and the mortals that were swayed to war by the power of the zodiac - each God gifted an item to their own children - the mortal races - so that they may use them for the Zodiacs' divine purposes. Now revered as the holiest artefacts, these relics are highly sought after but continue to elude adventurers and plunderers alike. The Zodiac Pantheon Deity Domain Alignment Cleric Domains Zodiac element Capricorn Innovation and Creativity CG Forge, Knowledge Earth Aquarius Storms and Weather LG Tempest Air Pisces Fate and Fortune CN Trickery Water Aries War CE War, Grave Fire Taurus Earthquakes NE Forge, Nature Fire Gemini Dark Magic LE Death, Knowledge Water Cancer Death CE Death, Trickery Water Leo Knowledge and Learning LN Knowledge, Light Fire Virgo Purity and Life TN Life Earth Libra Balance TN Grave, Tempest Air Scorprio The Sea LG Tempest, Light Water Saggitarius Nature and Heroes NG Nature, Life Fire Image credit: Image credit: https://www.sccpre.cat/maxp/iRTRwTx/

Artefacts of the Zodiac Staff of the Hybrid +3 Staff, artifact (requires attunement) A weapon of more than one form, this weapon can switch seamlessly between its quarterstaff and longbow forms. At the start of each of your turns, you can choose which form it takes as long as you are not Incapacitated or Unconcious. If you do not or cannot make the coice, it remains in its current form. In either form, you gain a bonus of +3 to all attack rolls you make with this weapon. Blessings of Capricorn This weapon grants it's user a +1 bonus to both its strength and dexterity scores. In addition, they gain a +4 bonus to any skill check while using artisan tools. Burden of knowledge When attuning to this weapon, a creature takes 4d10 psychic damage as knowledge of crafting is thrust into their mind. In addition, calling upon this knowledge can be painful. When a creature attuned to this item makes a skill check with a set of artisan tools they are not proficient with, they take a further 1d4 psychic damage. Decanter of the Water Bearer Wondrous item, artifact (requires attunement) This decanter provides an endless supply of fresh water. When consumed, the drinker may choose one of the following effects to benefit from: Cure one Disease or remove one Curse;

Remove one level of Exhaustion;

Heal 8d4 + 4 Hit Points;

Grant the effects of the Water Breathing spell with a target of self When the benefits of an effect have been imparted on a creature, you must roll a d6. On a roll of a 6, the decanter recovers immediately, otherwise it recharges at the next dawn. Blessing of Aquarius While attuned to this weapon you can cast Investiture of wind once per long rest. In addition you gain proficiency with the survival skill. If you were already proficient you gain expertise in the skill instead. Dark cloud Any creature attuned to this item will automatically extinguish any non-magical flames within 30ft of them. Medallion of the Fish Wondrous item, artifact (requires attunement) This bright gold coin contains a relief of two similar yet distinct fish - one on either side. You can flip this coin before making any d20 roll for which you have neither gained Advantage nor suffered Disadvantage on. When you elect to flip the coin, roll a d6. If the result is an odd number, you gain Advantage on that roll. If the result is an even number, you suffer Disadvantage. You must declare your intention to use the coin before you make the d20 roll, and this effect only applies to one roll. Blessing of Pisces Once per short rest you can cast either bane or bless as a 4th level spell. Your spell save DC for bane is 8 + proficiency + constitution mod. In addition you have advantage against enchantment and illusion spells. Tempting fate Your alingment moves one step towards Chaotic, and does not automatically revert should you no longer be attuned to this coin. This coin cannot grant this detriment to a single creature more than once in their lifetime. Hammer of the Ram +3 Warhammer, artifact (requires attunement) This warhammer resembles a pair of ram horns and can be swung with the same force as a charging ram with relative ease. You gain a +3 bonus to attack and damage rolls on all attack rolls you make with it. Once per Round, you can attempt to shove a creature as part of an attack. On a successful hit with this weapon, the target creature is pushed 5 feet directly away from the attacker as well as taking the regular weapon damage. You can only use this effect on your turn. Blessing of Aries This weapon grants its user a +2 bonus to their constitution score. In addition, you are immune to being frightened and stunned. Threat of war While attuned to this item, you gain the indefinite madness "I am convinced that powerful enemies are hunting me, and their agents are everywhere I go. I am sure they're watching me all the time."





Bracers of the Bull Wondrous item, artifact (requires attunement) These powerful bracers that appear to be made of shattered boulders change shape to fit the wearer. They grant you the power to enhance your attacks with the power of earthquakes, adding 1d8 Thunder damage to any weapon attack you make. Blessing of Taurus Once per long rest, you can slam the bracers together to cast erupting earth as a 5th level spell, centered on yourself. Your spell save DC for this spell is 8 + proficiency + constitution mod. In addition you gain +2 to your AC. Shattering Earth You have disadvantage on all stealth checks. Circlet of the Twins Wondrous item, artifact (requires attunement by a spellcaster) This circlet appears to float around its wearer with a gem of green and black hovering at its center. This gem concentrates magical power, allowing you to make savage magical attacks. Once per round when you roll to determine damage for a successful spell attack, you can choose to reroll the damage and use either total. Blessing of Gemini You can recover 3 spell slots up to 5th level per long rest. This effect takes an action to activate. In addition, you have resistance to all magical effects. Dark soul While attuned to this artifact, any beast within 30ft of you becomes hostile towards you. Ring of the Crab Wondrous item, artifact (requires attunement) This ring resembles a king crab and appears to be made out of bright orange crystals. While attuned to this item, you can drain life from those you have bested. When you reduce a creature to zero hit points, you can heal yourself by a number of hit points equal to the remaining hit points of the creature before the effect that reduced it to zero hit points was applied. This effect cannot heal you above your maximum hit points and cannot restore hit points drained from undead or constructs. Blessing of Cancer You learn a cantrip matching your characters alignment, as detailed in the table below. In addition you have resistance to necrotic and radiant damage. Alignment Cantrip Good Word of radiance Neutral Spare the dying Evil Toll the dead Aura of death While attuned to this item, all non-magical plants that aren't creatures within 30ft of you wither and die. Tome of the Lion Wondrous item, artifact (requires attunment) This book bearing the symbol of a roaring lion contains almost any knowledge the reader could ask for. When requested, this book provides information that aids the user in almost any task. You can activate the book as a Free Action on your turn to add 1d10 to any skill check you make on the same turn. You must declare the use of this tome before rolling the skill check. You can use this tome a number of times equal to your Intelligence Modifier, and you regain all expended uses after you complete a long rest. If you activate this feature and roll a natural 20 on the affected skill check, you can add a permanent +1 to that skill. Blessing of Leo You gain +2 to your intelligence score. In addition, you gain proficiency in one skill of your choice, and expertise in two skills that you are proficient with. Light of knowledge You lose the ability to speak whenever you are not in direct sunlight.

Cloak of the Maiden Wondrous item, artifact (requires attunement) This long, flowing cloak made of fine materials is wreathed in swan feathers, and is warm and light despite its size. The magical feathers also provide a surprising level of resistance. As a Reaction, you can impose Disadvantage on an attack against a creature within 5 feet of you. You can also use your Reaction to protect a creature near you from larger effects. As a Reaction, you can grant an extra level of protecion to a target creature within 5 feet of you when the target creature makes a saving throw against a damaging effect. On a failed save, the target creature takes half of the total damage, and no damage on successful save. Blessing of Virgo Once per long rest you can cast mass healing word. In addition, while attuned to this cloak you are immune to disease as well as the blinded and deafened conditions. Pure light You are vulnerable to necrotic damage, and have disadvantage on saves against necromancy spell effects. Censer of the Scales Wondrous item, artifact (requires attunement) This Censer is constantly burning with a warming and calming scent. As an Action, you can wave it in front of you. For one minute, any spell, potion, or other effect that grants a bonus or detriment to any creature* within 60 feet of you is suspended. The effect ends prematurely if you dismiss it with another Action. When the effect ends, all of the effects that were suspended resume, except those which would have expired during the suspension. You must complete a long rest rest before it can activate the censer again.



*details in the author's notes at the end of the document Blessing of Libra On your turn, you can add +5 to any attack roll, but in exchange you take -5 to your AC until the start of your next turn. In addition, you can cast levitate once per short rest. Perfect balance You become the average height and weight of a creature of your race and gender. You also move one step towards true neutral, which does not automatically revert should you no longer be attuned to this censer. This censer cannot grant this change to alignment to a single creature more than once in their lifetime. Vial of the Scorpion +2 Weapon, artifact (requires attunement) This weapon resembles a simple vial of water when stowed, and there appears to be a constant whirlpool inside. When it is opened as a Bonus Action, you can choose the weapon's form chosen from Greatsword, Maul, Pike and Shortbow (which does not require regular ammunition) that the water from the vial erupts into. You gain a +2 bonus to all attack and damage rolls made with the weapon regardless of its form, and all successful hits with this weapon do an additional 1d6 Cold damage regardless of its form. As a Bonus Action, you can close it and recall the weapon. When this is done, the weapon reverts to water and levitates itself with speed back into the vial. For this to be possible, the weapon must be within 60 feet of you, and you must be able to see it. If the weapon is more than 60 feet of you or enters a plane of existence that you are not on, the weapon disappears, the vial closes itself, and the water magically reappears within the vial. Blessing of Scorpio You become resistant to cold damage and gain a swim speed equal to your walking speed. In addition, you can cast control water once per long rest. Child of the ocean When you spend 24 hours or more without using your swim speed, your walking speed decreases by 20ft. Once you use your swim speed again, your walking speed is instantly restored. Splint Mail of the Archer +1 Armour, artifact (requires attunement by a good creature) This splint mail is made of hardy Iron Oak wood - a mystical wood as strong as steel while only a fraction of the weight. It functions as +1 Splint Mail and counts as Medium Armour for the purpose of Proficiencies. When you are wearing this armour, you add your Dexterity Modifier (max 2) to your AC. Furthermore, there is no Strength requirement for this armour. Blessing of Saggitarius You may cast tree stride once per long rest. In addition, you gain proficiency with the nature skill. If you already have proficiency, you gain expertise in the skill. Face of a hero Creatures of evil alignment have advantage on wisdom and charisma skill checks against you.