Necklace of Prayer Beads

• Category: Wondrous Item
• Rarity: Rare (Requires Attunement by a Cleric, Druid, or Paladin)

This necklace has 1d4 + 2 magic beads made from aquamarine, black pearl, or topaz. It also has many nonmagical beads made from stones such as amber, bloodstone, citrine, coral, jade, pearl, or quartz. If a magic bead is removed from the necklace, that bead loses its magic.

Six types of magic beads exist. The GM decides the type of each bead on the necklace or determines it randomly by rolling on the table below. A necklace can have more than one bead of the same type. To use one, you must be wearing the necklace. Each bead contains a spell that you can cast from it as a Bonus Action (using your spell save DC if a save is necessary). Once a magic bead's spell is cast, that bead can't be used again until the next dawn.

1d20	Bead	Spell
I-6	Bead of Blessing	Bless
7-12	Bead of Curing	Cure Wounds (level 2 version)
13-16	Bead of Favor	Greater Restoration
17-18	Bead of Smiting	Shining Smite
19	Bead of Summons	Guardian of Faith
20	Bead of Wind Walking	Wind Walk

Tactical Applications

Combat Strategy: Contains beads that cast various divine spells, providing versatile divine magic options for any character. Excellent for healing, protection, and divine utility.

Class Synergies:

• Divine Casters: Perfect for clerics, paladins, and other divine magic users wanting additional spell options
• Any Class: Universal utility for divine magic access regardless of spellcasting ability
• Support Builds: Essential for characters providing healing and divine assistance to allies
• Divine Champions: Excellent for characters dedicated to divine causes and religious missions

Build Considerations: Provides divine spell access without requiring divine spellcasting classes. Most valuable for characters wanting divine magic utility.

Acquisition Methods

Crafting Requirements: Requires divine magic, prayer enchantments, and blessed materials. Creation cost varies by bead power (15,000-40,000 gp) and takes 12-20 weeks.

Common Sources:

• Divine temples and religious organizations
• Treasure hoards of legendary clerics and divine champions
• Commission from divine artificers with religious blessing
• Found in the collections of religious scholars and divine specialists
• Rewards from grateful religious organizations for divine service

Alternative Acquisition: Sometimes discovered in consecrated sites or obtained through divine trials and religious quests.

Value & Trade

Estimated Value: 20,000-50,000 gp depending on bead types and divine power, with higher demand among divine specialists.

Trade Considerations: Often acquired through religious service rather than purchase, representing divine blessing and spiritual achievement.

Character Integration

Roleplay Elements: Suggests divine favor, religious dedication, or completion of sacred quests worthy of divine blessing.

Character Concepts:

• Divine champion blessed with sacred artifacts and religious authority
• Character with strong religious connections and divine favor
• Holy warrior dedicated to divine causes and sacred missions
• Religious scholar with access to divine magic and blessed artifacts

Adventure Hooks

The Divine Mission: Sacred quests where divine magic provides crucial advantages and spiritual guidance.

The Religious Conflict: Adventures involving religious themes where divine abilities advance the plot.

The Sacred Blessing: Scenarios where divine favor enables access to consecrated locations and religious secrets.

The Holy War: Conflicts between divine forces where sacred magic determines outcomes.

Variants & Customization

Greater Necklace of Prayer Beads (Legendary): Enhanced divine magic and additional sacred abilities.

High Priest's Prayer Beads (Very Rare): Includes advanced divine magic and religious authority benefits.

Specialized Prayer Beads (Rare): Optimized for specific divine domains and religious focuses.

Bead Types:

• Blessing Beads: Provide divine blessing effects and protective magic
• Curing Beads: Enable healing magic and disease removal capabilities
• Favor Beads: Grant divine favor and religious authority benefits
• Karma Beads: Offer guidance and wisdom through divine insight
• Smiting Beads: Provide divine combat magic and holy damage
• Summons Beads: Enable summoning of divine creatures and celestial allies
• Wind Walking Beads: Grant divine movement and transportation abilities

Lore & History

Origins: Created by ancient high priests who needed portable access to divine magic for sacred missions.

Historical Significance: These necklaces enabled crucial religious victories and the spread of divine influence.

Cultural Impact: Represent divine blessing and the connection between mortal devotion and celestial power.

Magical Craft: Demonstrates divine favor and the sacred processes required for blessed artifact creation.

Balancing Notes

Introduction Timing: Appropriate for levels 8-15 when divine magic becomes significant and religious themes are prominent.

Campaign Impact: Provides meaningful divine magic access balanced by religious requirements and divine favor.

Religious Themes: Most valuable in campaigns featuring divine conflicts and religious storylines.

Encounter Design

Recommended Challenges:

• Divine encounters where sacred magic provides tactical advantages
• Religious conflicts where divine favor determines success
• Sacred missions where blessed abilities advance the plot
• Undead encounters where divine magic is particularly effective

Tactical Adjustments: Divine magic capabilities may alter encounter balance, particularly against evil creatures.

Related Items

Divine Items: Other blessed artifacts and items that provide divine magic and religious benefits.

Religious Equipment:

• Items that enhance divine magic and religious authority
• Equipment for sacred missions and divine service
• Tools for professional religious work and divine ministry

Complementary Equipment: Items that enhance divine spellcasting or provide additional religious benefits.

Roleplay Opportunities

Divine Favor: Characters develop relationships with divine entities and religious organizations.

Religious Authority: Sacred artifacts create opportunities for religious leadership and divine ministry.

Sacred Mission: Divine magic capabilities enable participation in holy wars and sacred quests.