Item Description World Building

[RedRockRun]

The premise is simple: Build a world or create a story using only the descriptions of items - like what you would see in Dark Souls. As a recent example from Dark Souls 3:

Robe worn by the guardian of the shrine.

The Fire Keepers were robbed of light, to better serve as vessels for souls. Only those who cherish the writhing, searing darkness were given the keeper's black attire.

This is as much a writing exercise as a casual game. Try and be vague enough to create suspense and wonder without getting crossing over into the unintelligible. Instead of lore dumps which attack the core of the story with exposition, dance around the periphery; keep things brief. Tell a story! Don't just say what a helmet looks like, but drop a detail about who would normally be found wearing it or the location in which those wearing it dwell.

Most of all though, have fun! No one will be pressuring you for continuity or about plot holes because this is your world to sketch and let the imaginations of others fill in the gaps. The only rule is to keep things short. No essays please! ^^"

Anyway, let's begin!

Celebrant's Ring

A dull, copper band salvaged from the dusty remains. It still carries traces of its former owner's mad joy.

After all, the Celebrants of Bishop Grieve's congregation are at their most ecstatic the moment before they burst into flames.

 

[Barbas]

Slightly dented, mouldy plank

A seemingly ordinary plank of timber salvaged form the low door frame of a defunct moorland shrine to St Malcolm the Headstrong, a hermit who enjoyed a brief religious following over a period of several years before fading into obscurity.

The timber served as a constant reminder to Malcolmites of the dangers of walking with one's head in the clouds, so to speak.

 

[RedRockRun]

Hand of Caelus

An extremely old blessing of a god who has long faded into obscurity, replaced by another faith that has since fallen as well. Nonetheless, evoking the power of sky clears one's head, granting a sense of vision and perspective.

The blessings of the gods are not the actions of the gods themselves - merely reenactments.

 

[Drake the Dragonheart]

An old smithing hammer

a gift from an old friend, slightly worn from years of near constant use.

A stark reminder to Bartly of his youthful days of high adventure. Now it forges much of the equipment used by the young adventurers of today.

 

[RedRockRun]

Sword of Glory

A poorly-forged, mass-produced blade offered to the militant parishioners who serve the Bishop.

It is named after the sword of an ancient hero, though the rough craftsmanship lends itself more as an affront to the old legend rather than any proper tribute.

Still, the blade holds an unusually sharp edge, owing to an unknown metal in the alloy. Perhaps this also explains the brand's yellow tint when held up to the light?

 

[Fijiman]

Savage Moose Helm

An old helmet adorned with the remains of a once mighty creature.

It's said that only the strongest warriors could fight a savage moose and survive. They would then use the remains of the creature to decorate their armor as a testament to their skill.

 

[Level 7 Dragon]

The Traitor's Armour

Armour of a warrior who betrayed his comrades. The crest was removed and the mark left behind it covered up with expensive purple cloth. Provides great protection, however nobody likes a traitor.

Effect: Increases the ammount of silver collected from each foe

The Academy Skirt

Originally, the Zhongian school of alchemy was open only to selected madens. Though after it was discovered that their most gifted student was actually a clever youth in disquise, the Scholars opened the doors of the academy to all who desired to learn the sacred craft.

Today, the skirt remains a ceremonial formality and is only worn during graduation.

 

[RedRockRun]

Rectory Cellar Key

The Diocese of Isle-de-Chance has many locked doors, and the Ordinarii who tend to the church grounds proudly display the large, gold keys to which they have been entrusted.

This iron key is dull and unexceptional as though it were meant to stay hidden.

 

[Drake the Dragonheart]

vizjerai mage robe

An armor inlaid robe worn by a now defunct order of mages, who were ultimately undone by delving into demonic and black magics. Still contains a hum of the old magic that once flowed freely through its fabric.

 

[RedRockRun]

Brass Scrivener

An old tool once employed by a graphomancer to inscribe energy channels upon various objects, thus imbuing them with different effects.

The scrivening process, known colloquially as, "Magic," by the masses, involves etching fine networks of circuitry: pathways for the flow of a finely distilled, universal source of energy called, "Vitae." Depending on how the energy is directed, the physical properties of the inscribed object change.

It is a meticulous and highly complex science, but a true master graphomancer can create the stuff of miracles. It is of little doubt then why the art is sometimes described as, "The Language of the Gods."

 

[Drake the Dragonheart]

amulet of the silver tongue

an old silver amulet usefull only to those with skill in the art of Truespeech, it is an invaluable tool to those who must say the fiendishly long combinations of syllables to unleash the power of the Truenamer. slightly worn and scared from years of adventuring, and the countless times this amulet made the difference in life and death.

 

[RedRockRun]

Velrondan Halberd

A long spear with a thin and elegant axe head, a common sight in the condottieri free companies.

The world's end did not shatter the Republic of Velronda into numerous walled city-states as it had with other lands but merely draw it inward into a single, insular body.

Few enter or leave the Republic, and those who do willingly forsake its safe borders usually do so heavily-armed and hardly ever by land.

 

[Drake the Dragonheart]

Starmetal Kukri

a curved knife forged from precious starmetal harvested from a comet that passes every 200 years. though faded, the jewels in its pommel are still worth a small kingdom.

It was last in the hands of a great hero from ages past who sacrificed himself to prevent a great cataclysm.