The Circlets of the Old Bloods

"Circlets are but a fragment of the power of the Eight Companions, a simple shard of their power"

~An enthusiastic and zealotous scholar

NOTE: These wondrous items are all homebrewed, and are subject to change for rebalancing purposes; please enjoy.

Summary

After the end of the Great Revolution, the first Highlander King and his Eight Companions settled into their Kingdom and ruled. As magical symbols of their stations and as gifts, the Dwellers handcrafted and the Beastfolk magically blessed, nine magical Circlets. These Circlets were to be passed from father to son and from mother to daughter til the end of time. During the Great Rebellion with the fall of the Old Bloods and their Knightly Orders, all these Circlets were lost or destroyed in the ensuing chaos and conflict. No one knows for sue where they lie or even if they existed at all, but there is a lot of evidence regarding their existence and what is known can be found below:

• Blast of Nobility: While wearing and attuned to this Circlet, you can use an Action to make a magical Attack with it using your Proficiency Bonus and Constitution (CON) Modifier. When you make the Circlet's Attack, you do so with an Attack and Damage bonus of +3. The Range of the Attack is 30ft/60ft. Each Circlet has its own damage die and type.
• Bloodline Blessing: Each Circlet carries a special unique blessings directly tied to the gifts of the Old Blood Archdukes and Archduchesses that enhance the Racial abilities of the one who wears it. These abilities come with spells, you are to use your Proficiency Bonus and Constitution (CON) Modifier with these spells when appropriate:

1. Highlander: You grow angelic wings and have a fly and hover speed of 30ft. You can cast Daylight once per long rest centered around yourself without expending a Spell Slot. You are immune to Radiant Damage, and resistant to Necrotic Damage
2. Argus: Your fins become more pronounced and your swim speed increases to 60ft. You can cast to Dominate Beast once per day without expending a Spell Slot only if the creature has an innate swim speed. You are immune to Cold Damage, and resistant to Fire Damage.
3. Astolfo: You gain advantage on all Dexterity (DEX) Checks and Saving Throws. You may cast Dominate Beast once per day only if the creature has an innate fly speed without expending a Spell Slot. You are immune to Fire Damage, and resistant to Lightning Damage.
4. Beowulf: You gain advantage on all Strength Checks and Saving Throws. You may cast once per long rest Enlarge/Reduce on yourself without expending a Spell Slot. You are immune to Cold Damage, and resistant to Fire Damage.
5. Dagonet: You grow demonic bat-like wings and have a fly and hover speed of 30ft. You can cast Darkness once per long rest centered around yourself without expending a Spell Slot. You are immune to Fire Damage, and resistant to Cold Damage.
6. Epona: You have advantage on all Constitution (CON) Checks and Saving Throws. You can cast Death Ward once per long rest on yourself with expending a Spell Slot. You are immune to immune to Cold Damage, and resistant to Necrotic Damage.
7. Reynard: You have gain advantage on all Charisma (CHA) Checks and Saving Throws. You may cast Polymorph once per long rest without expending a Spell Slot. You are immune to Necrotic Damage, and resistant to Radiant Damage
8. Scathach: You gain advantage on all Intelligence (INT) Checks and Saving Throws. You may cast Legend Lore once per long rest without expending a Spell Slot. You are immune to Lightning Damage, and resistant to Fire Damage.
9. Setanta: You gain advantage on all Wisdom (WIS) Checks and Saving Throws. You may cast Dominate Beast only if the creature does not have swim or fly speed once per long rest without expending a Spell Slot. You are immune to Cold Damage, and resistant to Lightning Damage.

• Magical Foci: While wearing and attuned to this Circlet it may be used as an Arcane Focus, Druidic Focus, or Holy Symbol for casting Spells regardless of Class. All Spell Attack Rolls and Saving Throws ave an additional +3 to the roll.
• Sentience: Each Circlet has some degree sentience (INT, WIS, and CHA equal to 10) and communicates via transferring emotions to the one wielding/attuned to it. Each one has a distinct Alignment and is believed to be capable of directly communicating with one of the Nine Divines associated with that Alignment.
• Royal Armament: While wearing and attuned to this Circlet you gain a bonus +3 to your Armor Class (AC) and Saving Throws.

Name	Attunement	Cost/Rarity	Damage	Weight	Properties	Description
Caladbolg, the Circlet of Highlander	Yes, Aasimar Only	Legendary	6d6 Radiant	1lb	Blast of Nobility, Bloodline Blessing (Highlander), Magical Foci, Sentience (Lawful Good), Royal Armament	Platinum inlaid with 9 Diamonds
Galatine, the Circlet of Argus	Yes, Triton Only	Legendary	6d6 Cold	1lb	Blast of Nobility, Bloodline Blessing (Argus), Magical Foci, Sentience (Chaotic Neutral), Royal Armament	Cobalt inlaid with 9 Pearls
Fragarach, the Circlet of Astolfo	Yes, Dragonborn Only	Legendary	6d6 Fire	1lb	Blast of Nobility, Bloodline Blessing (Astolfo), Magical Foci, Sentience (Chaotic Good), Royal Armament	Copper inlaid with 9 Rubies
Durandal, the Circlet of Beowulf	Yes, Goliath Only	Legendary	6d6 Cold	1lb	Blast of Nobility, Bloodline Blessing (Beowulf), Magical Foci, Sentience (Neutral Good), Royal Armament	Iron inlaid with 9 Citrine
Tyrfing, Circlet of Dagonet	Yes, Tieflings Only	Legendary	6d6 Fire	1lb	Blast of Nobility, Bloodline Blessing (Dagonet), Magical Foci, Sentience (Neutral Evil), Royal Armament	Gold inlaid with 9 Garnets
Skofnung, the Circlet of Epona	Yes, Halflings Only	Legendary	6d6 Cold	1lb	Blast of Nobility, Bloodline Blessing (Epona), Magical Foci, Sentience (True Neutral), Royal Armament	Brass inlaid with 9 Amethysts
Misteltein, the Circlet of Reynard	Yes, Changelings Only	Legendary	6d6 Necrotic	1lb	Blast of Nobility, Bloodline Blessing (Reynard), Magical Foci, Sentience (Chaotic Evil), Royal Armament	Bronze inlaid with 9 Alexandrites
Laevatein, the Circlet of Scathach	Yes, Yuan-Ti Only	Legendary	6d6 Lightning	1lb	Blast of Nobility, Bloodline Blessing (Scathach), Magical Foci, Sentience (Lawful Evil), Royal Armament	Silver inlaid with 9 Emeralds
Dyrnwyn, the Circlet of Sentanta	Yes, Shifter Only	Legendary	6d6 Lightning	1lb	Blast of Nobility, Bloodline Blessing (Setanta), Magical Foci, Sentience (Lawful Neutral), Royal Armament	Steel inlaid with 9 Peridots

Historical Basis

Accounts written by enterprising scholars amongst the Beastfolk and the Dwellers go into great detail regarding this, but most of the more public records available throughout the Freelands discount their existence. Many such records written by Freelancers were lost and burned during the Great Rebellion, and any other such records were seized by the Holy Order of the Light and were lost to time. As for the Circlets themselves, no one has seen them in generations. Of course there are some scholars and adventurers who may hear a rumor of such treasures cropping up here and there, but if they ever actually found anything is anyone's guess.

Spread

These days most of the legends regarding the Circlets are by word of mouth, with Freelancers mostly interested in the monetary value of such treasures. The Dwellers and Beastfolk on the other hand seek to reclaim these treasures for historical and magical purposes, as the practice of making such artifacts has been lost to time and they wish to preserve or recreate such magicks for their people. Meanwhile the Holy Order of the Light and the New Bloods alike wish to smash and/or destroy these artifacts, as such treasures could possibly be a symbolic and literal threat to their hold over the Freelands.

Variations & Mutation

Though the scholars believe only certain Races and properly attune to these Circlets, loyalists and monarchists who wish to see the Old Bloods restored believe that attuning to and wearing a Circlet determines you to be royalty and have a right to challenge for the right to rule the Freelands once more. This belief is especially popular amongst those who want to see a Highlander King rise once more.

Cultural Reception

Considered mostly a fairy tale these days, or just another treasure hunter's death trap.

In Literature

Most written accounts are in either the possession of scholars amongst the Beastfolk or Dwellers, all others are more likely than to be burned by the Holy Order of the Light.

In Art

Ancient portraits and paintings of the Old Bloods depict these Circlets rather vividly, the ones that still exist mind you.

Date of First Recording

6000(?)

Date of Setting

6000(?)

Related Ethnicities

• Beastfolk
• Dweller
• Freelancer

Related Locations

• The Freelands

Related Organizations

• The Old Blood Houses
• The Old Knightly Orders