The Maelstrom Lute
Artifact
Item Type Artifact
An artist vanishes after attempting to master the Maelstrom Lute’s haunting melodies, leaving it in their abandoned s...
- Is Mythos
- Yes
- Sanity Cost
- 1d6 per hour of continuous exposure or use
Properties
- Plays melodies that evoke profound emotional responses—joy, despair, or madness.
- Can manipulate a listener’s emotional state within a 30-foot radius when played.
- Occasionally whispers indecipherable words during its music, unsettling those nearby.
Description
A worn, ebony lute inscribed with shifting runes, strings shimmer faintly with iridescent light, emanating a faint, unsettling hum.
Hook
An artist vanishes after attempting to master the Maelstrom Lute’s haunting melodies, leaving it in their abandoned studio.
Mythos Connection
Linked to an ancient sea deity who commands chaos and emotional destabilization.
GM Notes
- The lute’s music can sway NPCs, creating opportunities or hazards.
- Prolonged use risks mental destabilization or summoning eldritch entities.
- It’s sought by cultists who believe it contains the harmony of the universe.