Ioun Stone

• Category: Wondrous Item
• Rarity: Rarity Varies (Requires Attunement)

Roughly marble sized, Ioun Stones are named after Ioun, a god of knowledge and prophecy revered on some worlds. Many types of Ioun Stones exist, each type a distinct combination of shape and color.

When you take a Magic action to toss an Ioun Stone into the air, the stone orbits your head at a distance of 1 d 3 feet, conferring its benefit to you while doing so. You can have up to three Ioun Stones orbiting your head at the same time.

Each Ioun Stone orbiting your head is considered to be an object you are wearing. The orbiting stone avoids contact with other creatures and objects, adjusting its orbit to avoid collisions and thwarting all attempts by other creatures to attack or snatch it.

As a Utilize action, you can seize and stow any number of Ioun Stones orbiting your head. If your Attunement to an Ioun Stone ends while it's orbiting your head, the stone falls as though you had dropped it.

The type of stone determines its rarity and effects.

Absorption (Very Rare). While this pale lavender ellipsoid orbits your head, you can take a Reaction to cancel a spell of level 4 or lower cast by a creature you can see. A canceled spell has no effect, and any resources used to cast it are wasted. Once the stone has canceled 20 levels of spells, it burns out, turns dull gray, and loses its magic.

Agility (Very Rare). Your Dexterity increases by 2 , to a maximum of 20 , while this deep-red sphere orbits your head.

Awareness (Rare). While this dark-blue rhomboid orbits your head, you have Advantage on Initiative rolls and Wisdom (Perception) checks.

Fortitude (Very Rare). Your Constitution increases by 2 , to a maximum of 20 , while this pink rhomboid orbits your head.

Greater Absorption (Legendary). While this marbled lavender and green ellipsoid orbits your head, you can take a Reaction to cancel a spell of level 8 or lower cast by a creature you can see. A canceled spell has no effect, and any resources used to cast it are wasted. Once the stone has canceled 20 levels of spells, it burns out, turns dull gray, and loses its magic.

Insight (Very Rare). Your Wisdom increases by 2 , to a maximum of 20 , while this incandescent blue sphere orbits your head.

Intellect (Very Rare). Your Intelligence increases by 2 , to a maximum of 20 , while this marbled scarlet and blue sphere orbits your head.

Leadership (Very Rare). Your Charisma increases by 2 , to a maximum of 20 , while this marbled pink and green sphere orbits your head.

Mastery (Legendary). Your Proficiency Bonus increases by 1 while this pale green prism orbits your head.

Protection (Rare). You gain a +1 bonus to Armor Class while this dusty-rose prism orbits your head.

Regeneration (Legendary). You regain 15 Hit Points at the end of each hour this pearly white spindle orbits your head if you have at least 1 Hit Point.

Reserve (Rare). This vibrant purple prism stores spells cast into it, holding them until you use them. The stone can store up to 4 levels of spells at a time. When found, it contains 1d4 levels of stored spells chosen by the GM.

Any creature can cast a spell of level 1 through 4 into the stone by touching it as the spell is cast. The spell has no effect, other than to be stored in the stone. If the stone can't hold the spell, the spell is expended without effect. The level of the slot used to cast the spell determines how much space it uses.

While this stone orbits your head, you can cast any spell stored in it. The spell uses the slot level, spell save DC, spell attack bonus, and spellcasting ability of the original caster but is otherwise treated as if you cast the spell. The spell cast from the stone is no longer stored in it, freeing up space.

Strength (Very Rare). Your Strength increases by 2, to a maximum of 20 , while this pale blue rhomboid orbits your head.

Sustenance (Rare). You don't need to eat or drink while this clear spindle orbits your head.

Tactical Applications

Combat Strategy: Orbits around your head providing various beneficial effects depending on stone type. Excellent for passive enhancement and freeing up attunement slots for other items.

Class Synergies:

• Any Class: Universal utility with different stones providing specific benefits
• Spellcasters: Certain stones enhance spellcasting abilities and spell save DCs
• Skill Specialists: Specific stones provide bonuses to ability scores and proficiency
• Survivability Builds: Some stones provide defensive bonuses and damage resistance

Build Considerations: Different stone types provide different benefits. Most valuable for characters wanting passive bonuses without attunement requirements.

Acquisition Methods

Crafting Requirements: Requires rare gemstones, orbital enchantments, and levitation magic. Creation cost varies by stone type (10,000-50,000 gp) and takes 3-6 months.

Common Sources:

• Ancient ruins and magical laboratories of legendary wizards
• Treasure hoards of powerful spellcasters and collectors
• Commission from master enchanters with access to rare materials
• Found in the collections of magical researchers and artificers
• Rewards from grateful magical organizations and arcane institutions

Alternative Acquisition: Sometimes discovered in planar rifts or obtained from construct creature encounters.

Value & Trade

Estimated Value: 15,000-75,000 gp depending on stone type, with consistent demand among all character types.

Trade Considerations: Extremely valuable and sought after, often becoming family heirlooms or organizational treasures.

Character Integration

Roleplay Elements: Suggests connection to ancient magic, scholarly pursuits, or acquisition of legendary magical artifacts.

Character Concepts:

• Scholar with access to ancient magical knowledge
• Collector of rare and powerful magical artifacts
• Character with connections to legendary spellcasters
• Adventurer who has completed epic quests for magical rewards

Adventure Hooks

The Stone Collection: Quests to gather different types of Ioun Stones with varying beneficial effects.

The Ancient Laboratory: Exploration of wizard ruins where Ioun Stones were created and studied.

The Magical Inheritance: Receiving stones as rewards from grateful magical organizations or mentors.

The Artifact Hunt: Epic treasure expeditions seeking the most powerful and rare stone varieties.

Variants & Customization

Greater Ioun Stones (Legendary): Enhanced versions with additional abilities and more powerful effects.

Resonant Ioun Stones (Very Rare): Stones that interact with specific magical items for enhanced benefits.

Cracked Ioun Stones (Rare): Damaged versions with reduced but still valuable effects.

Stone Types:

• Absorption: Protects against specific spell levels
• Agility: Enhances Dexterity and related abilities
• Awareness: Improves perception and initiative
• Fortitude: Increases Constitution and survivability
• Insight: Enhances Wisdom and mental capabilities
• Intellect: Boosts Intelligence and knowledge skills
• Leadership: Improves Charisma and social abilities
• Mastery: Increases proficiency bonus applications
• Protection: Provides AC bonuses and defensive benefits
• Regeneration: Enables healing and recovery abilities
• Reserve: Stores spell slots for later use
• Strength: Enhances physical power and capabilities
• Sustenance: Eliminates need for food and water

Lore & History

Origins: Created by ancient archmages who sought to perfect the art of magical enhancement and personal empowerment.

Historical Significance: These stones represent the pinnacle of magical craftsmanship and the quest for personal perfection.

Cultural Impact: Symbols of magical mastery and the pursuit of transcendence through arcane knowledge.

Magical Craft: Demonstrates legendary understanding of enhancement magic and the complex enchantments required for orbital effects.

Balancing Notes

Introduction Timing: Appropriate for levels 8-18 depending on stone type, when passive bonuses become significant.

Campaign Impact: Provides meaningful character enhancement without overwhelming game balance through high cost and rarity.

Stone Variety: Different types enable customization for specific character builds and campaign needs.

Encounter Design

Recommended Challenges:

• Long-term adventures where passive bonuses provide cumulative advantages
• Magical research scenarios where enhanced abilities enable breakthrough discoveries
• Epic quests where legendary artifacts determine success or failure
• Character development arcs focused on personal empowerment and growth

Tactical Adjustments: Passive bonuses should be factored into encounter design and character capability assessments.

Related Items

Enhancement Items: Ability score boosting items, Skill enhancement equipment, and other passive benefit providers.

Magical Artifacts:

• Items that provide permanent or long-term character enhancement
• Equipment that represents legendary magical craftsmanship
• Tools that enable transcendence of normal mortal limitations

Complementary Equipment: Items that benefit from enhanced ability scores or work synergistically with stone effects.

Roleplay Opportunities

Magical Mastery: Characters develop deeper understanding of enhancement magic and personal empowerment.

Legendary Status: Possessing Ioun Stones marks characters as individuals of significant magical accomplishment.

Arcane Heritage: Stones create connections to ancient magical traditions and legendary spellcasters.