Stirgespike
The Faded Relics are an example of complex and multifaceted magic items that can be engaging and game-changing for the player that receives them. The Siphoning Spear is an example of a magic item that affects how the player approaches combat. This week we present you with a rare magic weapon in the form of a piercing weapon rich with similar mechanical intrigue; the Stirgespike. This is a very interesting item; let's dive into what it does and what it is to dissect why!
The Stirgespike is the proboscis (that's the stinger of the insects that do that kind of thing) of a monster harvested and fashioned into a slapdash piercing weapon using various animal parts and tools. To be clear this is any magic piercing weapon, such as a magic rapier, spear, trident, lance, etc. When you stab a creature with the weapon, you can leave the proboscis in the target, disallowing you from using it as a weapon until you get it back. While a creature has the proboscis in them, they lose 1d4 + 1 hit points at the start of each of their turns which you gain in temporary hit points. And don't fret too much about the missing spike, you just can recover it with a bonus action. And the enemy has to waste an entire action to yank it out; talk about action economy!
Flavorfully, this magic item gives a good worldbuilding opportunity to a DM. If a community is having a stirge problem, or something similar, and the people living there are resourceful and down on their luck, this magic item communicates all of this well. Moreover, we like how it feels to play with. The player has to decide which enemy they're going to stick with the spike, and then the DM has to decide whether they want to burn the action to get rid of it. We hope you enjoy this item, and we'll catch you next time!
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Stirgespike
Weapon (any melee weapon that deals piercing damage), rare (requires attunement)
This grizzly weapon is crafted from the severed proboscis of an especially large stirge and whatever materials were on hand. You gian a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this magic weapon.
While attuned to this weapon, when you damage a creature with the stirgespike you can choose to leave its proboscis in the target. At the start of that creature’s turn, it loses 1d4 + 1 hit points and you gain that many temporary hit points. While the proboscis is impaled in a creature, you cannot make attacks with the stirgespike.
A creature can remove the proboscis as an action. When it does, the proboscis immediately returns to the stirgespike. You can also recall the proboscis to the stirgespike as a bonus action on your turn. If the proboscis is lost or destroyed, the stirgespike grows a new one over the course of 10 minutes.