“Styx Collar: Infernal Ward Against The Memory-Stealing River”

“The Styx Collar is a soulsteel-forged relic that shields its wearer from the river of forgetfulness and the cursed waters of the underworld.”

Styx Collar – Forged in the Nine Hells from blackened adamantine and soulsteel, the Styx Collar protects mortals from the memory-stealing currents of the infernal river Styx. Its flowing, riverlike engravings shimmer as if alive, and a faint hum seems to echo the Styx itself. Worn by planar travellers and mercenaries, it preserves mind and memory against the river’s corrosive touch, though its power is subtle and cunning, attuned to the perils of the Nine Hells rather than offering absolute safety.

Appearance

The Styx Collar is a band of blackened adamantine inlaid with veins of molten soulsteel. Its surface is engraved with flowing, riverlike patterns that seem to shimmer faintly, as if echoing the currents of the Styx itself. Heavy yet balanced, it rests firmly against the neck, and some claim a low hum resonates from it, like distant, whispering waters.

Origins

The first Styx Collar was forged in the deepest forges of the Nine Hells, quenched directly in the Styx’s dark currents and tempered with infernal will. Crafted by devils to allow mortals—or favored servants—to traverse the river’s memory-stealing waters without succumbing, its earliest forms bear marks of a mastery impossible to replicate outside Hell. Mortal smiths later attempted imitation, but only infernal hands could truly bind the river’s essence into metal.

Stories and Folklore

Tales of the Collar drift through planar travelers, mercenaries, and scholars of the Outer Planes. A scholar mapping the Styx reportedly lost fragments of his memory until the Collar girded his throat, preserving his mind long enough to escape. A mercenary captain led her company across a Styx-fed ford; her companions succumbed to madness, but she emerged unharmed.

Even minor stories speak of its strangeness—animals avoiding its wearer, faint murmurs echoing like hidden rivers, and the persistent sensation that the Styx itself brushes at one’s mind.

Mysterious Qualities

The Collar seems attuned to the Styx, its engravings shifting with light, its hum responding to nearby currents or infernal activity. Its protection is not absolute; prolonged exposure can still wear at the mind, and hazards within the Nine Hells—rival devils, treacherous currents, or sudden planar shifts—may still imperil its wearer. The Collar is a tool of survival, cunning and mercurial, offering safety without guarantee.

Styx Collar 5e 2024
Styx Collar, Pathfinder 1E
Styx Collar 3.5

Styx Collar

Wondrous Item, Very Rare (requires attunement)

Lore:
Forged in the deepest forges of the Nine Hells and quenched in the currents of the River Styx, the Styx Collar is a band of blackened adamantine inlaid with veins of soulsteel. Its flowing, riverlike engravings shimmer faintly, and a low hum echoes the infernal river itself. Legends speak of planar travelers and mercenaries who crossed Styx-fed waters unharmed while their companions fell to madness or forgetfulness, preserved only by the Collar’s infernal craft.

Abilities:

Styx Ward: Immunity to the memory-erasing effects of the River Styx and similar planar hazards. You automatically succeed on any saving throw against effects that would erase or alter memory.
Planar Resilience: Advantage on saving throws against mental effects from fiends, devils, or Nine Hells natives.
Currents of the Styx: Once per long rest, as a reaction, you can redirect a water-based or planar effect targeting you, halving damage or redirecting it within 30 feet.
Whispering Current: While attuned, faint whispers of the Styx may reveal hidden planar passages, hazards, or infernal presence.

Gameplay Uses:

Planar Exploration: Protects adventurers from the Styx’s memory-stealing currents.
Combat Advantage: Shields against infernal mental attacks.
Story Hooks: Serves as a quest item or plot device, tempting mortals into the Hells or dealing with devils.
Roleplay Opportunities: The Collar’s hum and whispers provide narrative cues for danger, clues, or planar lore.

Rarity: Very Rare
Attunement: Yes

DM Notes: The Styx Collar blends protection with intrigue. Its infernal origin may draw devils’ attention, and its use in mortal hands carries both opportunity and peril.

Styx Collar

Price: 75,000 gp
Aura: Strong abjuration
CL: 10th
Slot: Neck
Weight: 2 lbs.
Caster Level to Create: 10th
Requirements: Craft Wondrous Item, planar binding, protection from chaos, protection from mental effects
Market Rarity: Very Rare

DESCRIPTION
The Styx Collar is a narrow band of blackened adamantine inlaid with veins of molten soulsteel, etched with riverlike patterns that shimmer faintly, echoing the currents of the infernal River Styx. A low hum sometimes emanates from the metal, as if the river itself whispers through it.

Forged in the deepest forges of the Nine Hells, the Collar was designed to allow mortals—or favored servants—to traverse Styx-fed waters without losing their memories or sanity. Those who wear it survive encounters that drive others to madness, while animals often recoil from its presence.

EFFECTS

Styx Ward (Su): The wearer is immune to memory-erasing and mind-corroding effects caused by Styx waters, including permanent or temporary loss of memories, confusion, and insanity.

Planar Resilience (Ex): The wearer gains a +2 morale bonus on saving throws against mental effects from fiends, devils, or Nine Hells creatures.

Currents of the Styx (Su): Once per day as an immediate action, the wearer can redirect a water-based or planar effect targeting them, reducing damage by half or redirecting it to a target within 30 feet (Reflex save DC 20 negates).

Whispering Current (Sp): While attuned, the wearer can concentrate for 1 round to detect hidden planar hazards, infernal entities, or Styx-fed traps within 30 feet (functions as detect magic against planar-aligned effects).

POTENTIAL USES IN GAMEPLAY

Planar Travel: Crucial for navigating Nine Hells rivers or Styx-fed domains.
Combat Advantage: Shields against mind-affecting and memory-erasing effects from devils and infernal creatures.
Roleplay Opportunities: Its hum and whispers provide narrative cues, from subtle danger warnings to plot hooks involving devils or infernal bargains.
Story Hooks: Ideal as a quest item or tool in campaigns featuring the Nine Hells or Styx-crossings.

LORE:
Scholars and planar mercenaries are said to have survived Styx-crossings thanks to the Collar while others fell to madness. Its power is subtle and attuned to the river; prolonged exposure or interference from rival devils may still endanger its wearer.

Styx Collar

The Gates of Hell (Dice Freaks)

Grimoire of Cosmic Entities Volume One By Eli Atkinson, William Church and Serge W. Desir, Jr.
Original Concept by Serge W. Desir, Jr.

Full netbook can be found on the following website

Dicefreaks d20 Community

This magical collar wrought of adamantine and soulsteel keeps the pernicious effects of the Styx at bay. The collar also provides immunity to any water-based attacks (note: natural effects such as rough water, or drowning, do not count as attacks), including Holy Water; however, contact with Holy Water neutralizes the collar for six hours, leaving the wearer open to future water-based attacks (and fully susceptible to the effects of the Styx).

Faint abjuration; CL 3rd ; Craft Wondrous Item; avoid planar effects, protection from positive energy; Price 15,000 gp.