The Crown of Orion

Hero Artifact

Artifact History

Orion was a demi-god of the Asrai, a powerful shapeshifter and warrior, who fell during the Last War when the Darkness invaded the Deepwood Vale. Myth says that Bool killed Orion in one on one combat. Orion was beheaded, and his head was mounted on top of the Tree of Gaia, for all of Zin to witness the failure and the end of the Age of Heroes.

Bool commanded the Urks to take the helm to Barovia, desecrated it, where it would be trapped forever in the forces of Darkness.

The Cultists of the Durst Manor, stole it from the Urks, used bendings to twist the artifact into something malevolent. With Dark Bendings and ritualistic sacrifices to Bool, a summoned an abomination of the wood was spawned from the dead bones of the sacrificed adventurers and innocent souls.

Strahd rejected the cultist and their pathetic attempts to seek greater power, regrow their crops, or even try escape Barovia.

The crown pulses with hidden energy now, as it searches for a worthy champion to defend the creatures of the wood and earth once again….

Item Properties:

Crown, head
Artifact of the Hero, cannot be magically altered except through a wish spell
Requires attunement by a Druid

Phase 0:

+1 AC

Tongue to all Creatures

“All creatures, to the smallest ant, to the mightiest dragon shall listen to the voice of the Vale!”

At will: Speak with Animals telepathically.
At will: Speak with any creature with any language you know, that is able to speak, telepathically. Also you may show images that you have seen or remember to convey ideas. The creature must be WILLING to accept your communication, therefore spells that may deemed harmful may not bypass, but roleplay is allowed
Range is 120 ft.
Must see the creature!
Does NOT require concentration!