The Lost Treasures of Belzoni

Avid treasure hunters and archaeologists speak often of legendary tombs and lost fortunes, but perhaps the most fantastic and controversial tale is that of the master archaeologist Giovanni Belzoni. Known as the Great Belzoni, his reported feats include discovery of ancient civilizations, countless fortunes, and priceless artifacts. Yet little is truly known about Belzoni's life, and whether or not the stories are even true.

Antique texts scribed by Belzoni's colleagues often reference his uncanny stamina and seemingly "otherworldly" knack for discovering secrets and treasure. Other texts claim Belzoni was cursed, having angered the gods of the sun and the stars, and was seeking treasure to pay tribute to the gods and free his soul. None of his fortunes were ever verified or recovered, and Belzoni himself seemed to one day just vanish into history.

The Ring of Belzoni the Great

Wondrous item, artifact (requires attunement)



Perhaps the most sought-after relic is the one shrouded in the most mystery. Many accounts of Belzoni the Great mention a brilliant silver ring, which the explorer would absent-mindedly stroke when deep in thought, or while searching cavernous dungeons for treasures and traps. The ring was never studied, for Belzoni never removed the ring from his finger, and wore thick hide gloves over his hands whenever outdoors.

When asked, Belzoni often became erratic and secretive, often changing the subject or ignoring the inquirer entirely. Thought to originally be another embellished myth of the famed adventurer, accounts of the fabled ring were found in the recovered journals of Abu Simbel, captain of of the Moonlit Gale and Belzoni's most trusted traveling companion.





Excerpts from the Simbel Journals "...he remained poised over the chest, idly stroking that ring once again. When I asked what he was waiting for, Giovanni remarked, 'I'm waiting for it to reveal itself.' That's when the chest jerked to the left of Giovanni and tore poor Bavel's arm right out of its socket."



"...escapes me still how he is able to keep going. We've felled so many foul beasts that I was sure were about to end Giovanni's life, and yet the man pushes forward as if he was fresh off a night's rest!"

The Ring of Belzoni the Great is a vibrant, weightless silver ring adorned with jet inlays shaped like wind currents that cover its outer surface. While the ring's magic is not inert, magical dwarven text is visible along the inside of the ring with the phrase, "Until day and night's coffers be full, never will thy soul be whole."

The ring fits an attuned wearer regardless of the size of their fingers. The ring is able to remain on the wearer's finger through changes in form, so long as the wearer's form remains humanoid in nature. If an attuned wearer ever shifts to a non-humanoid form, the ring appears in an empty space on the ground within five feet of the wearer.

Greed of the Gods. If the Ring of Belzoni the Great is ever exposed to natural light from a celestial object, the ring's beneficial effects become inert for 1d4 days. During this period, the ring is indistinguishable from any other silver ring by any means magical or nonmagical, save for its notable physical design. The wearer of an inert ring has disadvantage on all Wisdom (Perception) and Intelligence (Investigation) checks made to detect traps and secrets, and on all Wisdom and Dexterity saving throws made against traps. If the ring becomes inert while worn, the ring cannot be removed until active again.

Master Explorer. The Ring of Belzoni the Great augments an attuned wearer's natural exploration instincts. The more an adventurer explores, the greater the ring's power becomes. The ring is able to gain experience from any creatures its wearer defeats in combat, and levels up similar to a player character. The following table summarizes the ring's levels and beneficial effects:







Ring of Belzoni the Great Experience Points Level Features 0 1 Toughness (+1) 300 2 Momentum 900 3 Minor Recovery (1) 2,700 4 Major Recovery 6,500 5 Gut Instinct 14,000 6 Toughness (+2) 23,000 7 Minor Recovery (2) 34,000 8 Archaeologist's Reflexes 48,000 9 Improved Momentum 64,000 10 Adventurer's Stamina