The Weeping Offering
The Weeping Offering is a cursed shrine that punishes greed by making the victim's own shadow cling to them like a drowning thing. The hazard is meant to be noticed, discussed, and feared before it is triggered.
The Weeping Offering
Defenses
Detection
“A waist-high stone basin carved as a weeping saint. Its bowl is dry, but dozens of black mineral streaks run down its face like old tears. A bronze coin rests beneath the spout.”
Standard Engagement
A creature removes the bronze coin, places a hand inside the basin, or attempts to pry the basin from its pedestal without first making an offering.
When triggered, the shrine produces a cold draft, extinguishes nonmagical flames within 10 feet, and attacks the creature that removed the coin. After the effect ends, the shadow returns to its owner unless prevented by magic.
The hazard resets after 1 hour. The bronze coin returns to the basin at midnight if removed without appeasing the shrine.
The victim's shadow tears free and wraps around their limbs. They must save versus spells or become paralyzed for 1d4 rounds and lose 1 point of Strength for the next hour. On a successful save, they remain mobile but suffer a -2 penalty to attacks, armor class, and movement for 1d4 rounds. The shadow then crawls back into place.
The hazard cannot be triggered by placing ordinary coins, gems, or food in the basin. It responds to something personally meaningful, such as a treasured keepsake, a drop of blood, a written name, or a memory willingly surrendered.
If the affected character is carrying no visible shadow due to magical darkness, invisibility, or a similar effect, the hazard instead manifests as a cold black hand that attacks once for 1d6 damage and forces the saving throw.
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