Ethergaunt Artifacts
I have been working on new superscience artifacts for Mutant Future, those in the style of the Battle Royal Helmet and some have been released in Wisdom from the Wastelands. So far I have 48 of them, from those weak enough to be in the hands of first level characters to world shaking (or ending) machines*. It has been fun and the work has inspired me to take a look at D&D style artifact and who might make and use them. The race that came to mind first is the ethergaunts from the 3.X Fiend Folio. My idea for them is simple, each has a unique magic item that only functions for them. Reds have normal magic items (though usually with a few different powers) rather than the staff/beam weapons from Krull, whites have minor artifacts and blacks have major artifacts. Since they can not speak and have no desire to tell other races their individual names, most people call the ethergaunts by a nickname based on their magic item. I have come up with some greater artifacts that fit with my view of the ethergaunts' power:
Ripper is a returning throwing axe that shatters all barriers (including Walls of Force), can sunder all the weapons, armor and other gear of those it strikes and when held, reflects all rays back upon their source. Its master obviously enjoys destroying opponents from a distance.
Stonestaff creates and destroys minerals. Its master's favorite attack is a wall of crystal that encases foes and allows their bodies to be displayed if desired.
Oozelord is an orb that collects spells cast into it and turns them into a living spell (or the Pathfinder version found in Rite Publishing's template book). Up to 10 spells, which may include epic spells if the GM wishes, can be combined and the resulting ooze lasts until the next one is created. Its master uses it as a living siege engine and body guard.
Blackcloud is a breastplate that engulfs an area the size of a medium city in darkness. Targeted races take uptyped damage and those who die have their bodies vanish. The ethergaunt is the spearhead for the invasion of the material plane.
Eartheye is an amulet that transforms all nearby metal into stone and then merges the stone into new maugs, the slave race I mentioned previously (also in the Fiend Folio). Its master deals with armies and enjoys watching them flee when they are rendered almost helpless.
Firefly is a flying orb that incinerates those it strikes. The dead are then reincarnates into monstrous slaves of the black ethergaunt. Its master likes making new kinds of monsters to terrify his foes with abilities that can not be discerned by the monsters' forms.
Little Fishy is a cloud of small, metallic fish used by the ethergaunt charged with conquering the seas. They act as armor, incapacitate opponents and can alter the physical properties of water.
The Yellow Treant rides on the branches of his artifact. It allows the enslaving and transforming of all kinds of plants, not just treants. What makes it more terrifying than the other ethergaunts' artifacts is its ability to destroy all the crops of a nation, including the seeds. Yellow Treant the ethergaunt also has a few minor artifacts, the result of fusing many magical plants into wands and staves.
Mindbender is an Ioun stone that allows its master to use phantasms to completely control the senses of thousands at the same time.
Artifacts such as these force the characters facing the ethergaunts to use their brains as well as brawn to combat the invaders.
* They are meant to be rewards, curses and some can in fact be used as quests. If the only way to drive off the kaiju pollywog is to use the Red Star (an idea of the moment) and turn it into a frog that swims in the deep ocean, then the PCs will need to find that artifact.
