I hurled the enchanted acorn to the ground. There was a terrific flash of light and an odd popping sound, and the acorn was replaced by… an acorn. I looked at my Ratatosk companion and said, “So it’s a nut that magically makes a nut?” (Lucano Volpe)
With the secrets and whispers of the planes at their disposal, the ratatosk are quite familiar with powerful magic. Indeed, those seeking a particular item often consult the ratatosk. Yet with a few exceptions, the squirrel-folk themselves rely more on their own cunning supported by single-use items. A few of the magic items most common to the ratatosk are described below.
Chaos Acorn
Wondrous item, very rare (requires attunement)
This acorn was harvested from a branch of the World Tree growing in a chaotic area of the void. A sheen of ever-changing colors decorates its smooth surface.
You can use an action to eat the acorn. Doing so triggers a chaos magic surge. Roll percentile dice and consult the chaos magic surge table (see Deep Magic). If the result of the roll specifies a target, such as “the target of your spell or ability,” then the effect targets a random creature you can see within 60 feet. The GM has final say on how the rolled result functions.
The chaos acorn appears in your pocket, whole and unconsumed, after a long rest.
Cloak of Squirrels
Wondrous item, rare (requires attunement)
This wool brocade cloak features a repeating pattern of squirrel heads and tree branches. It has 3 charges and regains all charges daily at dawn.
While wearing this cloak, you can use an action to expend 1 charge to cast the legion of rabid squirrels spell (see Deep Magic). The swarm of squirrels uses the statistics of a swarm of poisonous snakes, except that it has a climbing speed of 30 feet rather than a swimming speed. The swarm emerges from within the cloak and obeys your verbal commands for 1 minute before vanishing back inside the cloak.
Feather Token: World Tree Sapling
Wondrous item, rare
This tiny object looks like a finger-sized tree sapling. You can use an action to touch it to an unoccupied space on the ground. The token disappears, and in its place, a tree sapling springs into existence. Though only 2 feet wide, the tree stretches impossibly high up into the sky. The sapling lasts 1 hour before crumbling away. When you begin climbing the tree, after 10 feet you plane shift to a random location on Yggdrasil.
Glidecloak
Equipment
This finely woven cloak is fashioned from specially prepared Yggdrasil bark. You can loop your hands and feet into specially designed loops at the sides and bottom of the cloak to create a wing-like surface to facilitate gliding through the air.
While wearing a glidecloak and falling, you can use an action each turn to glide half of your falling speed in the horizontal direction of your choice. Before striking the ground, a successful DC 15 Dexterity (Acrobatics) check negates any falling damage. The glidecloak has no effect if the falling distance is less than 15 feet. Cost: 200 gp
Mimwood Armor
Armor (medium or heavy, but not hide or chain), uncommon
Mimwood is a wood harvested from Yggdrasil and alchemically rendered as strong as steel. Armor made from mimwood is naturally resistant to fire but does not impart this resistance to the wearer.
Nidhogg’s Tooth
Wondrous Item, very rare
This fist-sized serpent’s fang is carved from obsidian and is curiously cold to the touch.
You can use an action to place the fang in an unoccupied space within your reach or to throw it into an unoccupied space within 10 feet of you. Upon doing so, it burrows into the ground and vanishes. A tveirherjar (see Creature Codex) appears in an unoccupied space as close to where the fang vanished as possible. The tveirherjar is an ally to you, speaks all the languages you speak, and lingers for 10 rounds before disappearing.
Skipstone
Wondrous Item, rare
This small bark-colored stone measures 3/4 of an inch in diameter and weighs an ounce. You can use an action to throw it up to 60 feet. The first creature struck by, or that physically touches, the stone within the next 1d4 rounds must succeed a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or be thrown forward 1 round in time. The creature disappears, during which time it cannot act or be acted upon in any way. When the creature returns, it is unaware that any time has passed. After the stone is used, it crumbles to dust.
Yggdrasil Net
Weapon (net), uncommon
This net is a ranged weapon woven from living vines cultivated from those growing upon the side of the World Tree. It functions as a normal net except it has AC 10 and 10 hp. Creatures restrained by the net take 3 (1d6) bludgeoning damage each round as the vines constrict. If the net is broken or cut apart, it heals 1d4 hit points each day at dawn as long as the remains of the net are kept in close proximity to each other. Magical healing functions normally on an Yggdrasil net.
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Pay heed, spellcasters! Next time, we will marvel at the unique spells of the ratatosk!
Until then, my friends, stay squirrely.
