Sickstone

Sickstone isn’t actually a magic item. Rather, it is a rare form of magic stone that exists in the deepest reaches of the Underdark. Some believe that sickstone occurs naturally, while others believe the stuff is a remnant from an ancient civilization that wielded terrible magic on the rocks to bring them to their will. In any case, large portions of the deep caverns are shot through with sickstone deposits, making a dangerous region even worse.
Sickstone is easily distinguished from normal surrounding rock and stone, since it glows with an unhealthy silvery-green glow. This glow provides illumination to a radius of 40 feet from the edge of the field of sickstone. Living creatures within this illumination are quickly seized with dizziness, nausea, and a lurking feeling of dread and oppression as the magical energies in the stone slowly start to leach out their life forces. Upon first entering the illumination area, a living creature must make a Fortitude saving throw (DC 13) or suffer 1d2 points of temporary Constitution damage. This saving throw must be repeated every hour the creature remains exposed to sickstone aura. Creatures that are immune to disease are immune to the debilitating effects of sickstone.
Small amounts of sickstone (in isolated amounts of less than 50 pounds) do not inflict sickness in their area of illumination, but a living creature who comes in physical contact with any amount of sickstone must make the Fortitude save above to avoid suffering 1d2 points of temporary Constitution damage. Sickstone can be embedded into any bludgeoning weapon so that any living creature struck by the weapon must make the Fortitude save to avoid sickness. Note that the weapon’s wielder must also save. Weapons made with fragments of sickstone cost an additional 2,000 gp to create.
Despite the amount of exposure, a creature is affected by sickstone only once per hour.
Apart from its glow and sickening aura, sickstone should be treated as normal stone, with the exception that natural sunlight causes it to crumble to chalky, inert powder in a matter of seconds if it fails a Fortitude saving throw (DC 15). Exposing a large vein of underground sickstone to sunlight via spells like sunbeam can cause a localized collapse if the sickstone fails to resist the attack.
The spell transmute rock to sickstone creates a field of powerful sickstone with a much stronger aura. This same technique is what gives the sickstone golem its enhanced aura as well. Raw sickstone is still dangerous, and many have been lured to its glow only to be slain by its emanations.
(DM’s Note: Sickstone is also linked with finds of The Ancients. Valued by alchemists, many of whom have died from it’s emanations. A small black market exists for it, although Bral and other ports familiar with it have outlawed it’s traffiking. -Loki)

Type

Stone

Related Locations

• Oerth
• Toril