Curse of the Obsidian Idol - Encounter Map

*Ask and you shall receive the tools to do it. But fail on your task and your life shall be forfeit. Your soul shall be imprisoned in a delicate obsidian effigy.*

*Old Adage*

Empowered to succeed, mortals go to unimaginable lengths to fulfill their dreams. Few obstacles can stop a determined individual. But when that happens, the in­surmountable weight of failure and sorrow is strong enough to crush any person. Few climb out of the bot­tomless pit that lifelong failure is. And those who do be­come disgusting husks of their former selves.

An ancient, ageless, demonic entity pondered this sub­ject for decades. Marveled by the determination of hu­mankind, the demon tinkered with ways to lure them and seduce them with hollow promises. To offer them some­thing of apparent value that would undoubtedly bring them closer to their demise. The demon had limited in­fluence in the world of men but through clever spells, incantations, and its agents in the Material Realm, a cursed shrine in the forest depths was built. In its center, a deformed, looming, obsidian statue rises among the desiccated trees. Rumors about the shrine were spread to lure hapless people into the forest depths. Kneeling by the strange obsidian effigy, people prayed and made all kinds of wishes to the obscure figure. A spectral voice answered their prayers with a magical contract:

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And so, countless people have come throughout the ages to recite their ultimate wish. The obsidian idol always provides the tools or abilities to fulfill their desires but the individuals must work and succeed by themselves. Some have done so and are better for it. But true deter­mination is a rare quality; most people ultimately failed despite having the tools to achieve victory. Their souls now reside in one of the twelve obsidian trinkets that sur­round the strange demonic statue. Myth became a leg­end and now people in the area think the place is cursed.

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