Pouch of Runestones

Wondrous item, rare

This ordinary bag, made from cured animal hide, appears empty. Reaching inside the bag, however, reveals the presence of a number of flat, bone tiles.

The bag weighs 1/2 pound.

You can use an action to pull one of the tiles from the bag and throw it into the air in front of you. The tile floats 5 feet off the ground and displays a runic symbol. Make a DC 12 Wisdom check. The symbol on the tile is upright on a successful save, and it is reversed on a failed save. Roll a d12 and consult the appropriate table to determine the rune’s effect. If a result requires a saving throw, the DC is 15. The tile vanishes after it displays a rune, but the bag never runs out of tiles.

Once used, the bag shouldn’t be used again until the next dawn. Each time it is used again before then, the DC of the Wisdom check increases by 5 for each tile drawn after the first. You can be affected by more than one rune’s effect at a time.

Unless otherwise noted, each rune’s effect lasts until you finish a long rest.

Reversed Runestone
d12 Rune Meaning Effect
1 Ansuz Falsehood You believe everything you hear to be a lie.
2 Naudiz Consequence You have disadvantage on the next saving throw you make before this effect ends.
3 Hagalaz Blizzard When this rune appears, a freezing sphere spell is triggered, centered on you.
4 Laukaz Sky When this rune appears, a reverse gravity spell is triggered, centered on you. The effect ends at the start of your next turn.
5 Algiz Vulnerability Your Armor Class is reduced by 2.
6 Mannaz Dissension You and friendly creatures within 30 feet of you have disadvantage on attack rolls while within 10 feet of each other.
7 Isaz Ice You have vulnerability to cold damage.
8 Berkanan Bear Matron When this rune appears, a brown bear also appears an unoccupied space nearest to you, and it attacks you.
9 Perto Unwanted Revelation You have disadvantage on Charisma checks.
10 Ehwaz Shackles When this rune appears, a maze spell is triggered, targeting you. The effect lasts for 10 minutes or until you escape the maze.
11 Raido Hard Travel Your walking speed is reduced by 10 feet.
12 Kaunen Insanity You suffer a long-term madness.
Upright Runestone
d12 Rune Meaning Effect
1 Ansuz Truth When this rune appears, a zone of truth spell is triggered, centered on you, and it moves with you for 1 hour.
2 Naudiz Necessity You have advantage on the next saving throw you make before this effect ends.
3 Hagalaz Winter You can cast the ice storm spell once before this effect ends.
4 Laukaz Sea You can breathe air and water for 5 hours.
5 Algiz Protection You gain a +2 bonus to AC.
6 Mannaz Teamwork You and up to five creatures of your choice that you can see gain 10 temporary hit points.
7 Isaz Ice When you hit with an attack, the attack deals an extra 1d6 cold damage.
8 Berkanan Bear Maiden You can use an action to cast polymorph on yourself, transforming into a brown bear. While you are in the form of the brown bear, you retain your Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores. You can end this effect early as a bonus action.
9 Perto Mystery You can cast disguise self at will.
10 Ehwaz Freedom Until this effect ends, you can spend 5 feet of movement to automatically escape from nonmagical restraints, such as manacles or a creature that has you grappled.
11 Raido Easy Travel Your walking speed increases by 10 feet.
12 Kaunen Enlightenment You can cast the lesser restoration spell as a bonus action once before this effect ends.
Section 15: Copyright Notice

Tome of Heroes ©2022 Open Design LLC; Authors: Celeste Conowitch, Jeff Lee, Sarah Madsen, Ben McFarland, Kelly Pawlik, Brian Suskind

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