d100 The Black Rock of Uloris
The Black Rock is no ordinary relic. It is a dense sphere of obsidian, no larger than a sparrow’s egg, yet unnaturally heavy in the hand — closer to gold than stone in weight. Veins of pale white thread its rough surface, like frozen lightning trapped within. Its surface is icy, almost uncomfortably cold if held too long, and when rolled upon a flat, hard surface it leaves a brief circle of frost and condensation in its wake. For a moment, the air stills as if holding its breath.
The artifact’s origin lies deep in the Underroot, where crushing pressures birthed stone unlike any other. It is said that Ularis, the half-forgotten demigod of thresholds and storms, was the first to shape this blackened ore into a tool — not of battle, but of consequence. The Rock was no weapon, no charm of fortune, but a vessel brimming with raw disturbances of the world. To release one was to stir a truth already buried in the marrow of Loria.
Its nature is unpredictable. Some accounts tell of storms that rose without warning, others of livestock speaking with human voices, or of chasms opening in meadows where none had been. What is certain is that the Rock’s power can never be bent to will; it is ungovernable, and wholly apart from mortal intent.
The Black Rock of Ularis
- Activation: Must be rolled upon a relatively flat, hard surface with at least a little force — intentional or accidental.
- Effect: When the roll comes to rest, one of a hundred disturbances manifests within a radius of roughly five kilometers.
- Duration: Each disturbance lingers for about twenty-four hours, unless otherwise stated.
- Recharge: Once rolled, the Rock cannot be invoked again until seven full days have passed.
─────── ✧ ───────
Roll the Black Rock:
| — |
| d100 | Effect |
|---|---|
| 1 | A rolling fog cloaks the land, dense enough that visibility is reduced to 30 feet outdoors and 10 feet indoors. Lanterns appear as dim orbs in the haze, and travelers may lose their way within their own village. |
| 2 | A fissure opens nearly a mile long, 20 feet across, plunging into blackness. The sound of grinding stone reverberates like thunder. Any structure caught upon it collapses, and creatures in its path must leap clear or risk the fall. |
| 3 | The sun and moon vanish from the sky. Day becomes a starless twilight, night an absolute void. Shadows still fall, but all light is diminished by half. |
| 4 | The air grows heavy, pressing against the ears. Sound is muffled, as if underwater. Speech is strained, and verbal spellcasting demands clarity. |
| 5 | Ash begins to fall, soft as snow. It gathers ankle-deep within a day, coating roofs and choking streams. Breathing without protection becomes labored until it disperses. |
| 6 | A black rain pours down, pooling in hollows. It stings like vinegar and etches faint marks into stone. Metal left exposed begins to corrode. |
| 7 | Whispers haunt the air — layered voices repeating half-prayers and forgotten oaths. They drift louder at night. Some claim the voices respond faintly when questioned. |
| 8 | Flames are snuffed entirely within the area. Torches gutter, lanterns die, hearths dim to cold embers. Only magical fire persists, though even it seems pale. |
| 9 | Roots surge from the soil, tearing through cobblestones and coiling over walls. Within hours, paths and doors become tangled thickets. |
| 10 | Vents open in the ground, spewing geysers of steaming mist. Plumes hiss 30 feet into the air and burn exposed flesh. |
| 11 | A black aurora spreads overhead, shimmering with sickly hues. Anyone casting a spell in the area must roll a d20; on a 1, it twists into a wild surge. |
| 12 | Shadows detach, lagging a heartbeat behind their owners. At times they move independently — reaching, twitching, or staring. |
| 13 | Frogs manifest in every pool, well, and pond. By night their croaks rise deafening, rattling windows. Roads near water grow slick with crushed bodies. |
| 14 | The soil exhales warm air. Over the day, mounds of fine sand pile knee-deep across roads and courtyards, burying tools and tracks. |
| 15 | Gravity wanes. Jumps carry twice their distance, and falls deal half damage. Tossed objects arc slowly and drift oddly in the air. |
| 16 | Insects swarm in black clouds, obscuring vision to 10 feet. They crawl into sleeves and lamps. Indoors, a few always find their way inside. |
| 17 | Cold descends. Puddles freeze, crops wither, and each breath fogs white. |
| 18 | Rivers swell, flooding fields and roads. Entire villages may find their lower levels knee-deep in icy current. |
| 19 | A low hum shivers through the ground. It rattles crockery and disturbs sleep. Animals refuse to settle. |
| 20 | All animals in the area panic. Livestock stampede, pets claw free of ropes, and mounts shy from riders. |
| 21 | Scarlet rain falls in a steady drizzle, staining everything it touches. Clothing, animals, and crops are marked as if drenched in blood. |
| 22 | Birds of every kind swarm the area. They roost on rooftops and crowd branches until limbs sag. Above, flocks spiral endlessly, darkening the sky. |
| 23 | Reflections in water, glass, and polished metal no longer mimic their sources. They move with delays, sometimes twisting into leering expressions. |
| 24 | Mushrooms erupt across the land, from thumb-sized caps to towers three stories high. Spores drift on every breeze. |
| 25 | Jets of frigid water blast skyward from hidden seams in the earth. Birds struck in flight fall as frozen shards. |
| 26 | A fine white powder settles over the ground, resembling frost. It burns like acid to the touch and ignites easily. |
| 27 | The ground exhales noxious fumes, yellow-green clouds that hang waist-high. Breathing unprotected causes retching and blurred vision. |
| 28 | The air turns syrup-thick, humid and clinging. Sweat soaks through clothing in minutes. Endurance falters. |
| 29 | Howling winds scream through the area, bending trees and toppling loose structures. Conversation outdoors requires shouting to be heard. |
| 30 | A hailstorm pelts the land. Stones strike roofs, shatter glass, and batter fields flat. |
| 31 | Pools of black tar bubble from the soil, stinking of pitch. They cling like glue, halving movement if stepped in. |
| 32 | Every metallic object in the area hums and vibrates as if struck. Swords rattle, coins buzz, and shields tremble on arms. |
| 33 | The dead rise. Any corpse less than a week old claws free of soil or shudders back to motion. |
| 34 | Children in the area share thoughts. They whisper in unison, laugh at the same time, and finish each other’s sentences. |
| 35 | Phantom hands crawl across walls, ceilings, and trees. They appear skeletal and blackened, clutching unseen objects. |
| 36 | The air itself sears with unnatural heat. Skin reddens, water boils faster, and food spoils in hours. |
| 37 | Every plant in the area grows wild and rampant. Grass rises waist-high within hours, trees thicken, and vines strangle walls. |
| 38 | The sky fills with rolling thunderheads that never break. Lightning forks continuously overhead. |
| 39 | The ground ripples like a living thing. Soil shifts in slow undulations, as though something massive were breathing below. |
| 40 | All sound in the area carries strange echoes, as though shouted into vast caverns. Stealth becomes far more difficult. |
| 41 | A storm of jagged black hailstones hammers the land, bouncing high as they strike. Roofs split, animals scatter, and fields flatten. |
| 42 | Flames surge unnaturally. Torches flare twice as bright, campfires roar like bonfires, and every hearth threatens to leap its stone pit. |
| 43 | A piercing wail rises from beneath the soil, echoing across the land. It drowns conversation and drives animals frantic. |
| 44 | A sudden frost sweeps the ground, locking wells, barrels, and shallow streams in sheets of ice. |
| 45 | The air grows strangely taut, like invisible strings pulled across the land. Movement feels slowed, yet arrows and stones fly with uncanny precision. |
| 46 | Daylight fractures. Dawn and dusk come twice, separated by a false twilight that confuses prayers and routines. |
| 47 | A hot rain lashes down, hissing against stone. Timber warps, leather cracks, and crops shrivel overnight. |
| 48 | Shadows deepen to pools of ink, stretching long and sharp across the land. Lanternlight barely holds them at bay. |
| 49 | The ground swells and softens, turning to spongy peat. Footprints sink deep, carts list sideways, and buildings lean precariously. |
| 50 | The earth trembles with low, rolling quakes every few minutes. Beams creak, jars topple, and riders are forced to dismount or risk being thrown. |
| 51 | A fierce wind tears across the land, snapping branches and carrying loose thatch skyward. Arrows curve astray, smoke rips sideways, and boats capsize if not anchored. |
| 52 | A suffocating stillness falls. No wind stirs, no leaves shift, no birds take wing. Smoke hangs unmoving, and every sound carries too clearly across the hushed air. |
| 53 | The soil grows rubbery and pliant. Hooves bounce awkwardly, and strides land with unsettling spring. Heavy wagons rock and sway as if on waves, and dropped stones bounce twice before settling. |
| 54 | Metal turns magnetized. Blades leap toward nails in doors, coins clump in pockets, and iron cauldrons drag utensils across kitchens. (Optionally: weapons may lock together mid-combat.) |
| 55 | Noon falls to dusk. Light dims to torch-glow across the region, though the sun or moon still hangs faintly overhead. Creatures with darkvision thrive; others stumble and squint through their day. |
| 56 | Beasts grow bold. Wolves prowl village streets, bears raid smokehouses, and even vermin bite through sacks and boots. Herd animals break fences and roam unchecked. |
| 57 | A warm silver rain falls, soft as silk. Wounds knit closed in its touch, and parched fields revive over the day. (Optionally: each creature regains 1 hit point per hour of exposure.) |
| 58 | The air bristles with static. Sparks leap from fingertips, and hair rises in crackling halos. Lightning arcs between weapons and armor, scorching those too near. (Optionally: spellcasting may deal +1d6 lightning, but shocks the caster for 1 damage.) |
| 59 | Springs and wells gush with sudden abundance. Rivers run high, washing away bridges and flooding banks. Barges are carried far downstream in hours. |
| 60 | A snowfall of glowing spores drifts from the sky, soft as ash. They pile ankle-deep, turning the whole region into a luminous wonderland. Footsteps leave glowing trails, and night travel becomes effortless under the glow. |
| 61 | Enormous fungi erupt across the land, some swelling taller than trees within hours. Their stalks groan and split stone walls, their caps blotting the skyline. At the end of the day, they collapse into reeking slurry, leaving only ruined earth. |
| 62 | The ground bubbles with warm tar-like sludge, which hardens into glossy black stone within minutes. Roads vanish under obsidian crust, fields seal over, and streams clog into dark ponds. |
| 63 | Every wooden beam, post, and tool in the region swells with damp rot. Doors sag on hinges, wagons groan and collapse, and bridges creak as though they might give way at any step. |
| 64 | A rolling wave of pale fungus creeps across the land, carpeting earth and stone alike in mats of soft growth. Within hours, the area resembles a glowing fungal meadow, every step releasing faint motes of light. |
| 65 | Reflections in still water show possible futures — a child grown, a village in flames, a knight crowned. Staring too long leaves travelers dazed, and many cannot look away without help. |
| 66 | The soil splits in long jagged seams, lifting into ridges that divide fields and villages. Travel routes vanish beneath new walls of earth, and streams are forced into new beds. |
| 67 | A storm of ice descends — not hailstones, but dagger-sharp shards that fall like spears. Roofs perforate, trees shred, and travelers must dive for cover or risk injury. (Optionally: creatures outdoors must succeed on a Dexterity save or take 1d6 piercing.) |
| 68 | A choking heat grips the region. Bread molds in an hour, meat sours, and candles sag into puddles of wax. Travelers collapse from exertion unless shaded or cooled. |
| 69 | Gravity weakens steadily. Loose stones drift from the ground and trees strain upward. Those who leap risk not returning, while rivers bubble and fling spray skyward. |
| 70 | All corpses, animal or human, sit upright and open their eyes. They do not move otherwise, but they follow the living with their gaze and sigh audibly if approached. |
| 71 | Stones rain from a brooding sky, pelting earth for hours. Caravans scatter, roofs crack, and the land is scoured bare. (Optionally: creatures outdoors must save or take minor bludgeoning.) |
| 72 | All wells, ponds, and streams bloom with thick mats of fungal scum, glowing faintly green. Drinking the water heals exhaustion, but stomachs twist with cramps after. |
| 73 | A red mist rises waist-high across the region. Vision is limited to arm’s length, lanterns dim inside it, and familiar shapes look distorted and hostile. |
| 74 | Lightning vines across the ground in blazing white rivers, splitting rocks and blasting trees. Each step outdoors risks contact with glowing tendrils that vanish as quickly as they spark. |
| 75 | The air thrums like a struck drum. Travelers feel their bones vibrate, structures creak, and voices quaver in their throats. Horses panic, refusing to cross bridges or narrow passes. |
| 76 | A black fungus blossoms across rooftops, its fruiting bodies tall as men. At the end of the day they burst, showering the land with fine powder that clogs lungs and stings the eyes. Masks or cloth are needed to breathe until the effect fades. |
| 77 | The ground heaves with shallow sinkholes. Small pits yawn open without warning, then close again hours later. Wagons topple, livestock vanish, and roads become minefields of sudden hollows. |
| 78 | A fine silver mist coats every surface, tacky to the touch. Dust clings to skin, animals roll uneasily, and weapons or tools stick fast to whatever they touch until tugged free. |
| 79 | Stones across the land begin to hum faintly, vibrating in low tones. Larger boulders drone like organs, and even gravel underfoot buzzes with sound. Sleep becomes elusive amidst the ceaseless resonance. |
| 80 | A storm of glassy shards pours from the sky — translucent slivers that melt like ice when touched. Roofs are peppered, fields glitter with broken edges, and shallow cuts plague the unwary. |
| 81 | Every fire, from candle to forge, burns with a blue flame. The light is cold, shadows flicker independently, and those who stare too long swear the flames whisper forgotten names. |
| 82 | Great vines surge from the soil, climbing walls and curling across roads. Within hours, the greenery tangles courtyards and fields. They wither and collapse into sludge when the effect ends. |
| 83 | Pools and streams turn mirror-bright and utterly still, refusing to ripple even when disturbed. Any who drink from them speak in mirrored speech, their words reversed, until the effect ends. |
| 84 | A dense cloud of biting midges fills the air. Every creature in the region is plagued by stings and welts, their droning hum drowning out conversation. |
| 85 | Flowers bloom in riotous abundance, carpeting fields and rooftops alike. Colors blaze unnaturally bright, and the perfume hangs so thick it stuns bees and sickens livestock. |
| 86 | The earth exhales warm drafts from sudden cracks. The air smells faintly of sulfur, and anything left too close is scorched. Thin wisps glow faintly red as they rise into the night air. |
| 87 | Roots writhe out of the soil, dragging bones and carcasses to the surface. The remains twitch and spasm with mock life before collapsing again into heaps. |
| 88 | A slow drizzle of pitch-black rain falls, sticking wherever it lands. Roads grow slick, clothing stiffens, and any spark sets the tar to burning in sudden gouts of flame. |
| 89 | All glass in the region fogs opaque. Windows, jars, lenses, even spectacles become useless, clouding the eyes of scholars and fumbling travelers alike. |
| 90 | The earth loosens its grip on the dead. Recently buried animals and people claw their way free, staggering as mindless husks. They wander for the day, collapsing once the effect ends. |
| 91 | A slow rain of feathers falls across the land. Goose, crow, sparrow, and hawk alike drift down in steady showers. Fields, wells, and rooftops choke with down by day’s end, blanketing the region. |
| 92 | A dense grey fog rolls in ankle-deep, hugging the ground. Pits, stairs, and ditches vanish beneath the haze, and many a careless step ends in a twisted ankle or worse. |
| 93 | A black sleet falls, slick as oil. Roads glaze, rafters groan, and hillsides turn treacherous with slides. Fires hiss out wherever the sleet pools. |
| 94 | Faint glowing embers drift down, soft as ash. They cling to hair, cloth, and skin, glowing until rubbed away. At night the whole region shimmers faintly, making stealth impossible outdoors. |
| 95 | The land itself tilts on a slant of roughly fifteen degrees. Rivers creep uphill, mugs of ale slosh sideways, and every structure groans against the shift. Movement is disorienting, as though walking on a slope. |
| 96 | A dense grey fog rolls in ankle-deep, hugging the ground. Pits, stairs, and ditches vanish beneath the haze, and many a careless step ends in a twisted ankle or worse. |
| 97 | A black sleet falls, slick as oil. Roads glaze, rafters groan, and hillsides turn treacherous with slides. Fires hiss out wherever the sleet pools. |
| 98 | Faint glowing embers drift down, soft as ash. They cling to hair, cloth, and skin, glowing until rubbed away. At night the whole region shimmers faintly, making stealth impossible outdoors. |
| 99 | The land itself tilts on a slant of roughly fifteen degrees. Rivers creep uphill, mugs of ale slosh sideways, and every structure groans against the shift. Movement is disorienting, as though walking on a slope. |
| 100 | A colossal column of white light erupts from the rock’s resting place, blazing skyward. Within a 150-foot radius of the column, gravity slackens — enough for creatures and debris to drift skyward for the duration. |