Canonfire! - Postfest VII: The Crown of Stars

Twenty years ago, the lich Zarychts made his bid for power in the Yeomanry. Working with Cultists of Erythnul and Agents of Chaos, he determined to control the Caves of Chaos. To do this, he began creating a magical crown for himself, until something went terribly wrong.

Roughly twenty years ago the wizard-lich Zarychts and his apprentice, a human named Laren Tolderran, began searching for a new home. Having been run out of Sterich with the uprising of the human and demi-human forces against the giant incursion, they fled south to the Yeomanry. There they discovered a lair of evil that Zarychts determined to make his own. The site known as the Caves of Chaos had claimed the lives of many adventurers over the years, and had no shortage of adversaries for the constant flow of champions of good who strode in. Zarychts quickly found the more powerful denizens of these caves, evil priests of Chaos, and of Erythnul. He negotiated free and safe passage through all areas of the Caves, quickly gathering more and more of the monsters that lived there behind him. He knew, however, that the priests would not follow him, only their deity. So, at his own cave, he set about creating an item. He feared using it himself, but decided it would be for his champion - his apprentice, Laren. A crown. It was to be his apprentices defense, and his iron fist when he could not use his spells. It should heal him when he was wounded, and aid him when he could not understand.
The preists, unfortunatly for Zarychts did not trust him as much as they let on. When it became clear he was fashioning a powerful item, they determined to take it from him immediatly after it was finished. The strike came near dawn, as Laren lie sleeping, and Zarychts completed the creation of the Crown. He held it above his head, a crown of gold chased with platinum bearing ten ten-pointed stars. The priests summoned their might, and launched a massive attack against Zarychts that is said to have been heard in Kendall Keep, not too far away. During the battle, many priests were killed, but before the lich could be brought low, the magnificent power of the Crown - still in it's budding and early stages ripped Zarychts phylactery and the High Priests soul into itself, imbuing the Crown with Zarychts anger, and a chaotic soul.
It is rumored that Laren escaped the priests with the Crown in his posession, but it is also rumored that he joined with the priests and was given the Crown for his services. Either way, the rumors hold that the Crown and Laren still both reside near or in the Caves of Chaos.

The Crown of Stars
-Minor Artifact-

The Crown has a standard alignment of Chaotic Neutral, those who touch it who are not either Chaotic or Neutral in alignment will take 3d4 points of electrical damage per round spent touching the item.

The Crown itself has four minor powers, two major powers, and one drawback. Each use of a power has a percentage chance of triggering the drawback. All percentages are cumulative.

Minor Powers

A. The wearer of the Crown gets a constant bonus of 4 to their armor class with a 5% chance per day activated of triggering the drawback.

B. The wearer can activate a Cure Serious Wounds spell twice per day with a 3% chance of triggering the drawback.

C. The wearer can activate an Identify spell at will, with at 10% chance of triggering a drawback.

D. The wearer can understand any written or spoken language for 1 hour at will, with a 5% chance per hour of triggering a drawback.

Major Powers

A. The wearer of the crown can regenerate 10 h.p. per round at will, with a 20% chance per round of triggering a drawback. This function will fully restore any missing body parts in 5 full rounds.

B. The wearer of the Crown may activate a Starburst effect. When this happens, each of the 10 ten-pointed stars fires a burst of energy at a target. The energy is half sonic, half fire and deals 10d6 damage. The victim is allowed a saving throw for half damage. This effect brings with it a 50% chance of triggering a drawback.

Drawback

The drawback to using the Crown of Stars comes from the two souls instilled into it. A check should be made each time a power is used or once a day if all that was used was the armor class bonus. Remember, all percentages are cumulative, and will not reset until the drawback - an alignment shift - takes effect.
If a roll indicates a drawback, the following table should be consulted. The pc's alignment will shift for 10 full hours, possibly bringing with it many, many consequences.

roll 1d10
1. Lawful Good
2. Neutral Good
3. Chaotic Good
4. Lawful Neutral
5. True Neutral
6. Chaotic Neutral
7. Lawful Evil
8. Neutral Evil
9. Chaotic Evil
10. No change

Note: AD&D players should not need to convert this at all, but I would recommend D&D 3rd or 3.5 players swap out the % chances for Will saves and require a Reflex save of 18 for the Starburst effect. All Caster Levels are assumed to be CL 19.