## Item Type **Wondrous Item, Uncommon** (requires attunement by a melee fighter, barbarian, paladin, or monk) --- ![[Fang of the Ancient Deep.png]] ## Appearance A massive tooth, nearly a foot in length, mounted in a polished silver base. Despite being thousands of years old, the fang is pristine—gleaming white with a pearlescent sheen that catches the light. Its surface is impossibly smooth and unblemished, showing no signs of age or wear. The tooth tapers to a wickedly sharp point, and close inspection reveals microscopic etchings along its length—symbols in an ancient script from the Age of Perserphina. The silver mounting is equally well-preserved, bearing a tiny engraved tag with a date in the Perserphina calendar, though the numbers are worn and difficult to read. There is no maker's mark. When held, the fang radiates a faint warmth, as if something deep within still holds a spark of life. It can be worn as a pendant on a chain, attached to a belt, or carried in a pouch—the attunement bond ensures it remains close. --- ## Lore ### Origins Unknown The **Fang of the Ancient Deep** dates back to the Age of Perserphina (beginning around 0 A.P.), making it thousands of years old. The Age of Perserphina began after the mortal races defeated the chromatic dragons in the Dragon Wars, when Perserphina took her place as ruler of the gods and promised never to abandon Solare again. Despite being from a relatively well-documented era, scholars remain baffled by the fang's origin. The creature it came from was clearly immense and powerful, yet no records from that age describe anything matching its size or characteristics. Theories about its origin include: - **Dragon theorists** claim it belonged to an ancient dragon from the tail end of the Dragon Wars—possibly a chromatic dragon of exceptional size, or even a metallic dragon twisted by corruption. However, no known dragon matches the tooth's unique structure. - **Deep dweller researchers** believe it came from a massive sea creature or subterranean beast that emerged from the depths during the territorial wars that followed Perserphina's ascension. The Age of Perserphina was marked by conflicts between the Dark Lands and human kingdoms, and ancient beings long dormant were said to have awakened. - **Titan scholars** suggest it belonged to a primordial creature—a remnant from Old Solare that survived Arkular's destruction and Perserphina's recreation. While the gods remade the world, some believe fragments of the old reality persisted in the deepest places. - **Heretical theorists** whisper it came from something that shouldn't exist at all—a hybrid, a divine experiment, or a creature born from the chaotic energies that lingered after the world's recreation. What is known is this: the tooth was recovered from deep excavations beneath a mountain range in central Solare during the later centuries of the Age of Perserphina. The silver mounting bears a tiny engraved tag with a date from the Perserphina calendar, though the engraving is so worn that scholars can barely make out the numbers. The tooth itself shows signs of having been violently removed—the root is jagged and splintered, suggesting the creature met a brutal end in battle or was hunted deliberately. ### The Silverwork and the Tag The silver mounting appears to have been added not long after the tooth was recovered. The craftsmanship is consistent with Perserphina-era metalwork—elegant but functional, designed to preserve and display the relic. The tiny engraved tag on the base records a date in the Age of Perserphina calendar, though centuries of handling have worn the numbers nearly smooth. No records survive of who commissioned the mounting or why the tooth was preserved with such care. It may have been a trophy from a great hunt, a memorial to a fallen beast, or simply a curiosity catalogued by scholars of that age. ### Unnaturally Preserved What strikes most observers is the fang's pristine condition. Despite being thousands of years old, it shows absolutely no signs of decay, discoloration, or wear. The tooth gleams like it was pulled from the creature's jaw yesterday. Arcane examination reveals faint preservation magic woven into the tooth itself—not added by any enchanter, but inherent to the material. Whatever this creature was, its very bones resist the passage of time. The fang changed hands many times over the millennia that followed, passing through collections of kings, warlords, and archmages. It disappeared from records during the chaotic wars between kingdoms and the Dark Lands, surfacing occasionally in the hands of collectors or treasure hunters. Most recently, it was discovered in an estate sale lot and made its way to a Lowward shop in Brensistria, where it was sold by a shopkeeper who recognized it was old and unusual, but had no idea what it truly was. ### What It Remembers Those who attune to the fang report strange sensations—fleeting images of crushing depths, the taste of salt and ancient stone, the feeling of immense pressure. Some hear a distant, rhythmic sound like the beating of a massive heart or the groan of shifting earth. A few speak of dreams where they glimpse dark water or endless caverns, places where sunlight has never reached. The fang remembers something, though what exactly remains a mystery. Whatever the creature was, it dwelled in the deep places of the world. --- ## Mechanics ### Passive Ability: Predator's Hide While attuned to the **Fang of the Ancient Deep**, you gain **resistance to piercing damage**. This represents the primal resilience of the creature the fang once belonged to—a beast whose hide could not be easily pierced by mortal weapons. Additionally, you gain **advantage on saving throws against being frightened**. The fang's presence steadies your nerves, filling you with the confidence of an apex predator. --- ### Active Ability: Aura of the Depths (2/Day) As a bonus action, you can activate the fang's ancient power, causing it to pulse with cold, dark energy. For **1 minute**, you emanate an **Aura of the Depths** in a 15-foot radius centered on yourself. **Effects of the Aura:** - **Allies within the aura:** Gain **+2 AC** and **advantage on Constitution saving throws**. They feel the weight of the deep pressing around them, hardening their resolve and shielding them from harm. - **Enemies within the aura:** Must succeed on a **DC 13 Wisdom saving throw** at the start of each of their turns or have **disadvantage on attack rolls** until the start of their next turn. They are overwhelmed by the sensation of crushing pressure and primal dread, as if something massive and ancient is watching them from the darkness. The aura is accompanied by a faint smell of brine and a drop in temperature. Shadows seem to deepen around you, and those nearby swear they can hear the distant sound of water moving far below. --- ## Attunement Requirements To attune to the **Fang of the Ancient Deep**, you must spend 1 hour meditating with the fang pressed against your chest or held in your hands. During this time, you experience vivid, disorienting visions of the ocean's abyss, vast caverns beneath the earth, and something immense moving through the darkness. Once attuned, the fang becomes warm to your touch and you instinctively know how to activate its power. --- ## Rumors and Hooks ### The Deepcaller Cult A secretive cult in [[Hexa Landing]] believes the fang belongs to **Leviathan the Deepcaller**, a primordial sea titan said to sleep beneath the Black Ocean. They claim that gathering enough of its remains could awaken it—or summon it to their aid. Agents of the cult are actively seeking the fang and may approach (or attack) anyone known to possess it. ### The Dragon's Denial The ancient white dragon **Zeondriss the Keeper of Secrets** has examined the fang and publicly stated it does _not_ belong to any dragon she knows of. When pressed, she grows evasive and claims it smells wrong—too old, too cold, too _deep_. Some scholars believe she's lying to protect a secret from the Dragon Wars. ### The Forgotten Vault Legends speak of a vault hidden beneath the Mountains of Perserphina where the bones of the creature were once kept. Excavators who found the fang claimed there were _more teeth_ still buried in the ruins, along with fragments of a massive skull and spine. The vault was supposedly sealed by order of an ancient king who feared what might happen if the remains were disturbed. --- ## Quotes _"It remembers the dark. And the dark remembers it."_ — Inscription found near the fang's excavation site _"That thing didn't come from any dragon I know. Dragons have fire in their bones. This... this has only cold."_ — Zeondriss the Keeper of Secrets _"I've held artifacts from the First Age before. They hum with divine energy. This doesn't hum. It breathes."_ — Unknown scholar, Wizards Conclave