RUNES OF VOLMUS

Not much is known about the runes of Volmus, only legends passed by elders, that embelished the accomplishments of one of the best Rune Scribes in Elandria. Some say he was the first to tap into the power of the runes, by gathering the magic from the leylines all across Elandria. Others say that he crafted rune magic using powerful artifacts, and by doing so, created a new realm of magic and possibilities. What is known for certain is that the Runes of Volmus are of the most precious artifacts of the Haugr scribes and they are passed on to the most prodigious students of runes in each generation. Rune scribes studied the artifact for ages, trying to learn all of its secrets, but never managed to unlock its full potential. It has helped empower many different rune scribes, but its true power is yet to be revealed. The Runes of Volmus are now passed on to another. Now its up to you, to discover the world, forge alliances and guarantee the survival of the rune scribes, as well as unlocking the true power of the Runes of Volmus.

Appearance

This die of bone is almost worn and smooth around the edges. It has 4 different runes on the sides of the dice, which have never been translated by any Rune Scribe. The bone has acquired an amber-like color, and the runes flash in different colors when they empower a spell or rune being cast.

Effects

When you cast a spell that has an "At Higher Levels" text in its description, choose the spell slot level that you will use to cast the spell. You can roll the Runes of Volmus as a somatic spell component of your spell (use a d2). Add a number of spell slot levels equal to the result on the die to the spell slot level you chose to cast your spell. Use the new, combined spell slot level to determine the effects of the spell, but only the original spell slot level is consumed. Once cast, the die remains inert and cannot be used again until dawn.

Awakened

The Runes of Volmus are connected to the realm of the dead through the Chains of Volmus.
Once per shortrest you can cast the following spell: Death March, Casting Time: 1 action Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute Range: 60 ft., Area of Effect: 15 feet Saving Throw: Dex / half damage You create the image of an undead drummer in an unoccupied space you can see. The drummer is completely incorporeal and unable to interact with anything around it. As a bonus action on your turn, you can cause it to move 25 feet in any direction. This may take it outside the initial range of the spell. The skeletal drummer taps out a death cadence on its drum as it moves. Either at the end of the spell’s duration or anytime at your command, the drummer explodes in a fiery burst. Every creature within 15 feet of the drummer takes 4d6 fire damage, or half damage with a successful Dexterity saving throw. Once per day, as an action you can invoke each of these powers to create various effects: As an action, you can perform a ritual to detect spirits around you in the Ethereal Plane and interact with one of them, or you can call upon a specific spirit, with no obligation of the spirit appearing before you. While in this state, you are unware of your surroundings in the Material Plane. You are able to communicate with the spirit, using a psychic link with the spirit. The spirit is not obligated to do your biding or talk to you. If you manage to convince the spirit to do your biding, he’ll help you for 1 hour. The spirit has limited connection with the Material Plane and can only interact with the world with the same effects as the Mage Hand spell. As an action, you empower one of your necromantic minions with your own power, for 8 hours. Choose one: One minion you touch gains resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage from nonmagical weapons. Enhancement: For each spell slot used higher than 3th level, you can affect one additional skeleton. One zombie that you touch becomes a ghoul. If you previously had control of the zombie, you retain control of the ghoul.