The Monkey's Paw
Hey folks, and welcome back to From the Workshop. Today I have fun little cursed item for you all to play around with. The monkey's paw has been a staple of horror stories and cautionary tales about curses (and gypsies) for some time. The exact powers of a monkey's paw vary from story to story, but usually the item offers some seemingly great benefit, like extraordinary good fortune or granted wishes; however, in the end it always winds up biting the user in the backside, usually because he ignored some obvious piece of wisdom or warning about the item. The item presented below is based off of one of the wish-granting versions.
Monkey's Paw (strong universal, caster level 17th)
Every monkey's paw comes with 5 fingers and after each wish a finger breaks. A monkey’s paw can grant 5 wishes. Every monkey's paw is also malevolent and possesses a mind of its own. The paw always has its own agenda: usually to spread suffering, and ultimately kill its owner.
Monkey paws grant wishes as follows:
1st wish
This wish functions normally, except that whatever benefit is gained occurs only because the same benefit is lost somewhere else in the world. For example, if the user wanted to replicate a heal spell, he would; however, a nearby cleric may suddenly loose one of her prepared heal spells, or someone else could be affected by the harm spell.
2nd wish
This wish seems to function normally; however, there are always hidden consequences to using the 2nd wish. Perhaps the user wishes for great wealth: the wish will be granted and vast sums of gold will be transported to him; however, at the same time he finds all his family and friends horribly impoverished, and nothing he does seems to be able to help.
3rd wish
This wish is draining to the user and always costs them something he’ll miss. Perhaps he will suffer something as simple as ability score drain, or something as complex as memory loss—either way, the caster must pay a price equal to the value of the wish. Additionally, the terms of this wish are always fulfilled in a way that seems satisfying at first, but which ultimately turns out wrong. For instance, the user could wish for a headband of Charisma and receive a cursed version that functions normally until a Charisma-based skill is used, or receive a working item only to be accused of stealing it later, with apparently damning evidence to convict them.
4th wish
At this point the character may no longer be so keen on his little wish machine; unfortunately for him, at this point the monkey's paw will start to grant wishes more or less of its own accord. These wishes must at least technically be made by the caster, but a stray thought could suffice, or a statement made out of hand: "I wish the line wasn't taking so long." These wishes are always disastrous. The above wish, for example, might result in the people ahead of the user in line all dying sudden violent deaths, leaving the user suspected of causing the bloodshed. In addition this wish is draining as before, demanding the caster suffer some loss to compensate for the benefit of the wish.
5th wish
This wish is nearly always lethal to the user. For instance, a wish for gold and may cause the user to be crushed by a mountain of gold, or a wish to replicate lightning bolt might leave you sizzling in your boots, etc.
There is only one way to get rid of a monkey's paw and that is to get someone else to willingly take it. Rumors persist that there is some way to destroy the deadly charm; however, no one has yet discovered a method. A monkey's paw could easily be made into a recurring campaign element or even a cruel and vindictive piece of treasure for unwitting PCs. However you decide to use it, I'm sure you’ll find the monkey’s paw to be a lot of fun. Until next time, let me wish you all the best with your gaming experience.