The Gazing Stones of Tenora Pelora
"The rock that gets you stoned..."
Tall and impressive, the gazing stones of the goddess Tenora Pelora (see The Gods of Gothenya) command a strong attendance from those of faith seeking to reach a higher truth.
With the smallest known stone standing roughly 3 feet tall, and the largest clocking in at a massive 40 feet, the stones are quite varied in their dimensions and power. Some are as thin as a rod, with others as wide as a house.
Some protrude, half-buried in the ground, while a few actually hover above the very floor itself.
What they truly are is up for conjecture, but they seem to have consistent effects on all Gothenkind.
HISTORY
The stones first appeared nearly immediately after the events of The Sundering, and are thought to have been either ejected by the mountain or placed around the globe by the gods. Soon after, the pilgrimages began...PURPOSE AND USAGE
No one is certain why (or honestly even from where) the rocks appeared, but they seemed to emit a call... through the dreams of the faithful. Drawing them closer. Those devoted to all the gods sometimes received dream visions of the stones, but the devout of Tenora Pelora seemed to be hit the hardest. Those drawn to the stones often traveled leagues upon leagues to reach them. Some even crossed the World Sea. There seemed to be no rhyme or reason as to which stone one would be drawn to. Based upon the visions and pilgrimages, roughly eighteen stones are known to exist. When those of faith approach them... when they humble themselves before the stones... their inner light begins to glow stronger, pulsating as if they were alive. They seem to emit something, an essence that's difficult to define. One becomes entranced... enraptured with their presence. One cannot stop staring... gazing into the very heart of the translucent, luminescent stones. Then it hits, and it hits hard. The feeling. The euphoria. The sense that you've become one with a god. The feeling that anything is possible... that you can do anything. No immediate drawbacks, except the constant desire to reconnect with the stone. What does it do to a body? To a mind? In game terms, for a 24 hour period, all actions are performed with Advantage. After which, and if the communion only occurred once, there are no negative side effects. But the desire is there. A body wants more. Anyone within 200' of a stone who has already gazed upon it and received its benefits must make a DC10 CHA Save to resist returning to it (to gaze once more). For every communion past the first, there is a cumulative chance of gaining Disadvantage after the initial 24 hour period of Advantage. If a stone has been visited twice in a week-long period, a DC10 Con Save must be made. Failure means the subject acquires Disadvantage for 24 hours. For every consecutive time a person visits the same stone (specifically the very same one) within a single week, the DC for the Con Save increases by 2 per visit. The Disadvantage is instantly negated by another trip to the same stone. However a new Save must be made 24 hours later with the DC modifications applied per additional visit. Soon, the negatives begin to outweigh the positives. Once the DC reaches a level that cannot be surmounted, the subject will need to seek out a new stone, therefore absolving them of the Disadvantage while resetting the DC back to 10. It is said that there are other, tertiary advantages to communing with a gazing stone, though none that profess this are inclined to reveal what they consider to be a divine secret. In game terms, this could manifest as a Random Table full of interesting physical and mental effects (both benefits and detriments), or it could also be quantified in some other manner. Perhaps the temporary (or even permanent) gaining of a SKILL proficiency previously not held by a character. Because of the way the stone affects both mental and physical characteristics, the new skill(s) could be of any variety. You may even choose to have the stone temporarily increase a character's ability score(s). Then, when it wears off (likely after 24 hours, but that's up to the DM), the ability score in question could then drop below its normal level. At least until the character takes another "hit" from the stone. The idea is to create a cycle of dependency that initially seems beneficial, but eventually requires the character to basically give themselves to a gazing stone, body and soul. Some theorize that spending enough time with a stone will eventually mutate the gazer into an unearthly being, purposely suited to serve the gods. This could perhaps tie into the secret agenda that some seem to think the stones possess.Mechanics & Inner Workings
None but the very gods have even the slightest clue how the stones work, or even what they're made of.
Manufacturing process
If these are indeed manufactured, the process is known only to the gods themselves.
Significance
The stones are extremely significant and valuable to those who revere Tenora Pelora. Though its effects still work on those of differing faiths, its full power is only accessible to those of the Goddess of Leisure and Love.
Item type
Religious / Ritualistic
Subtype / Model
Manufacturer
Owning Organization
Rarity
There are less than twenty known stones in the west. The number available in the east is currently unknown, with the only one of significance residing in Varistane.
Weight
Varies, but at least 100lbs. Some weigh as much as 15 tons.
Dimensions
Varies, but at minimum, 3' tall x 2' wide. Some are over 40' tall x 40' wide.
Base Price
Not for sale. Where would one even begin to set a price on this sort of gift from the heavens?
Raw materials & Components
The rocks appear to be some form of crystal, blue and glowing with an inner light. Whatever else they may be, they are certainly not native to Gothenya. They seem to have come from Mount Celene herself, tossed across the world as a result of The Sundering.
Tools
A few of the stones have been etched, using divine magic, with the symbols of Tenora Pelora. A few others have been scarred by arcane attempts to access the innate mana within them.
Related Myths
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