Cursed Spyglass

## Artifact: The Abyssal Ocular

*Wondrous Item (Spyglass), Legendary (Artifact)*

The Abyssal Ocular is a dark and malevolent artifact that appears as an ornate spyglass adorned with intricate engravings and a crimson lens that seems to draw in the very light around it. Legends speak of its origin in the depths of the Abyss, where it was forged by entities of unspeakable darkness.

### Properties:

* **Malevolent Sight:** While peering through the Abyssal Ocular, you gain the following benefits and drawbacks:

#### *Benefits:*

* ***Infernal Insight:*** The spyglass grants you dark insights. You have advantage on Investigation checks to uncover hidden compartments, secret passages, or concealed objects.
* ***See the Unseen:*** Once per day, you can use an action to focus the spyglass on a specific area or target. For the next minute, you can see invisible creatures and objects, as well as into the Ethereal Plane, within a 60-foot cone.

#### *Drawbacks:*

* ***Whispers of the Abyss:*** Whenever you use the Abyssal Ocular, you hear faint, disturbing whispers in your mind. The unsettling voices impose a -2 penalty to Charisma-based ability checks and skill checks for 1 hour after using the spyglass.
* ***Dark Obsession:*** After using the Abyssal Ocular, you become fixated on uncovering hidden truths and forbidden knowledge. You have disadvantage on Wisdom (Insight) checks made to discern lies or intentions for 1 hour after using the spyglass.
* ***Taint of the Abyss:*** Prolonged use of the Abyssal Ocular leaves an indelible mark on your psyche. You gain one level of the Tainted condition for each consecutive day you use the spyglass, suffering from dark dreams and growing unease. A Remove Curse spell or similar magic is required to remove this taint.

**Curse of the Abyss:** The Abyssal Ocular is irrevocably cursed by the malevolent entities that forged it. Once attuned to the artifact, it cannot be unattuned or willingly discarded. The curse draws the user deeper into darkness, and only an act of great sacrifice and redemption can sever the bond.

**Powers of the Abyss:** The Abyssal Ocular harbors even darker powers that can be unlocked with great risk. When the user reaches the pinnacle of their obsession and taint, they may attempt a forbidden ritual to unlock the artifact's full potential. Doing so, however, risks becoming an agent of the Abyss, a fate worse than death.

**Legacy of Despair:** Those who come into contact with the Abyssal Ocular often meet tragic ends. The artifact's history is littered with tales of great heroes corrupted, empires brought to ruin, and souls consumed by darkness. The artifact's very existence is a testament to the malevolent forces that seek to plunge the world into chaos.

> The Abyssal Ocular is an artifact of unparalleled power and malevolence. Its allure is undeniable, drawing those who seek forbidden knowledge and power into its grasp. Yet, the price of wielding such an artifact is a descent into darkness and despair, with consequences that ripple through the very fabric of reality. Only the most resolute and virtuous can hope to resist its curse and harness its dread powers for a greater purpose.
>
>

## Legends of The Abyssal Ocular

The Abyssal Ocular, a malevolent artifact of unspeakable power and darkness, has left its mark on the annals of history and spawned countless legends and tales of woe. Among these legends, a few stand out as cautionary tales of the artifact's dread influence:

1. **The Fall of House Varken:** In a bygone era, House Varken was a noble family known for their insatiable thirst for knowledge. Their patriarch, Lord Haldon Varken, obtained the Abyssal Ocular in his quest for forbidden secrets. As he gazed through the cursed spyglass, his obsession consumed him, leading House Varken to ruin. The once-mighty family became a shadow of its former self, haunted by madness and despair.
2. **The Descent of Magister Zara:** Magister Zara was a brilliant mage who believed she could harness the powers of the Abyssal Ocular for the greater good. She conducted extensive research and experiments, ultimately attuning herself to the artifact. However, her noble intentions were no match for the artifact's malevolence. Zara's descent into darkness was swift and brutal, culminating in her transformation into an agent of the Abyss.
3. **The Siren's Lament:** Legends tell of a mariner known as Captain Eamon, who discovered the Abyssal Ocular among the treasures of a long-forgotten shipwreck. The spyglass granted him unparalleled navigation skills and the ability to control the tides. But as his obsession with the artifact grew, Captain Eamon's crew noticed a sinister change in their captain. His ship became a vessel of doom, and his crew was forever bound to the cursed spyglass, forced to serve their captain's dark desires beneath the waves.
4. **The Cursed Heirloom:** The Abyssal Ocular passed through generations, its malevolent influence corrupting one family after another. Each time it resurfaced, it brought suffering and despair to those who possessed it. Legends warn that the artifact's curse is inescapable, and any who seek to claim it are doomed to be consumed by the darkness.
5. **The Redemption of Sir Aldric:** In a rare tale of triumph over the Abyssal Ocular's curse, Sir Aldric, a valiant knight, uncovered the spyglass in the depths of a forsaken crypt. His noble heart and unwavering faith allowed him to resist the artifact's pull. Through selfless acts of heroism and a quest for redemption, Sir Aldric broke the curse's hold on the spyglass. He ultimately sealed it away in a hidden vault, where it would remain dormant for centuries, its malevolent power contained.

These legends serve as grim reminders of the Abyssal Ocular's relentless pursuit of those who seek its dark powers. They caution against the lure of forbidden knowledge and the devastating consequences that can befall even the most noble of souls.