Tidal Trident

From: Siren

A three-pronged spear forged from enchanted sea glass, capable of conjuring miniature whirlpools and manipulating water currents. Its fluid movements and unpredictable strikes make it a formidable weapon in both aquatic and terrestrial combat.

Lore: The Tidal Trident is not merely a weapon of war, but a conduit for the raw, untamed power of the ocean. Forged from enchanted sea glass, born from the fusion of sand and saltwater under immense pressure, the trident embodies the duality of the sea: serene and destructive, life-giving and all-consuming. Each of its three prongs is said to represent a different aspect of the ocean’s power: the depths, the currents, and the tides.

Ancient legends tell of a Siren hero who wielded a similar trident, using it to quell storms, tame sea monsters, and defend their people from invaders. The trident was said to be a gift from the sea god himself, imbued with the ability to command the very essence of water. The hero’s exploits were immortalized in Siren songs and poems, passed down through generations as a reminder of the ocean’s might and the Siren’s unwavering spirit.

Use: The Tidal Trident is a versatile weapon, equally effective in aquatic and terrestrial combat. Its enchanted sea glass shimmers with an ethereal glow, reflecting the light and casting mesmerizing patterns on the surrounding water. In the hands of a skilled wielder, the trident becomes an extension of their will, flowing seamlessly with their movements and striking with unpredictable fury.

In water, the trident’s power is amplified, allowing the wielder to conjure miniature whirlpools, control currents, and even summon waves to crash down upon their foes. On land, the trident retains its fluidity and unpredictable nature, its three prongs weaving through the air like the tentacles of a kraken.

The Tidal Trident is not merely a weapon of destruction but also a tool of manipulation. A skilled wielder can use it to disarm opponents, redirect attacks, or even create temporary barriers of water to shield themselves from harm. The trident’s true potential, however, lies in its ability to channel the raw power of the ocean, unleashing devastating attacks that can overwhelm even the most formidable foes.

Stats:

• Tier: 1
• Type: Weapon (Martial), Versatile (1d8)
• Rarity: Rare
• Cost: 600 gold pieces
• Damage: 1d8 piercing
• Properties: Reach, Versatile (1d10 when used with two hands), Special
• Requirements: Siren or other aquatic ancestry

Special: When used in an aquatic environment, the wielder can expend a bonus action to activate one of the following effects:

• Whirlpool: Create a 5-foot radius whirlpool centered on a point you can see within 30 feet. The whirlpool lasts for 1 minute. Creatures within the whirlpool must succeed on a Strength saving throw or be pulled 10 feet towards the center.
• Current Manipulation: Choose a 10-foot cube of water you can see within 30 feet. You can move the water in any direction, up to 30 feet.
• Tidal Wave: Create a wave of water that crashes down on a creature you can see within 60 feet. The target must make a Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, the target takes 2d6 bludgeoning damage and is knocked prone.

Tags: Weapon, Martial, Versatile, Reach, Siren, Aquatic, Sea Glass, Enchanted

The Tidal Trident, being a weapon of considerable power and mystique, would not be found in common weapon shops or markets. Its acquisition and use are limited to specific circumstances:

Acquisition:

• Siren Temples: These sacred places, often located near the coast or on islands, are dedicated to the worship of the sea god and the preservation of Siren traditions. A worthy Siren warrior might receive a Tidal Trident as a reward for completing a quest, proving their valor in battle, or demonstrating a deep understanding of the ocean’s power.
• Underwater Ruins: Ancient Siren ruins, scattered across the ocean floor, are rumored to hold powerful artifacts and weapons from a bygone era. A brave adventurer might discover a Tidal Trident hidden within a forgotten temple or guarded by a spectral guardian.
• Master Weaponsmiths: Some skilled artisans specialize in crafting unique and powerful weapons, often infused with magic and rare materials. A Siren seeking a Tidal Trident might commission one from a renowned weaponsmith, paying a hefty price for their expertise and the rare enchanted sea glass required for its creation.

Environment of Use — The Tidal Trident’s versatility makes it effective in a variety of environments, both underwater and on land:

• Naval Battles: Siren warriors often wield Tidal Tridents in naval battles, using their power to create whirlpools, redirect enemy ships, and even summon massive waves to crush their foes.
• Underwater Duels: In the depths of the ocean, where magic flows freely and the environment itself can be weaponized, the Tidal Trident becomes a formidable tool for one-on-one combat. Skilled wielders can use it to disarm opponents, manipulate currents, and deliver devastating strikes.
• Coastal Raids: Sirens who engage in raiding expeditions on coastal settlements might use the trident to create distractions, disorient defenders, and even flood low-lying areas.
• Rituals and Ceremonies: The Tidal Trident, as a symbol of the ocean’s power, is often used in Siren rituals and ceremonies. It can be used to summon storms, appease sea spirits, and channel the energy of the tides for various magical purposes.

End Results — The Tidal Trident, in the hands of a skilled wielder, can produce a variety of powerful effects:

• Devastating Attacks: The trident’s piercing strikes, combined with its magical properties, can deal significant damage to both living and inanimate targets. The ability to conjure whirlpools and manipulate currents adds another layer of unpredictability and danger to the weapon.
• Battlefield Control: The trident’s ability to create whirlpools, redirect currents, and summon waves can significantly alter the battlefield, giving the wielder a tactical advantage.
• Environmental Manipulation: Skilled wielders can use the trident to temporarily alter the environment, flooding areas, creating barriers, or even triggering localized storms.
• Spiritual Connection: The trident can serve as a conduit for the ocean’s power, allowing the wielder to tap into its vast energy and channel it for various purposes, including healing, divination, and even communication with sea creatures.

The Tidal Trident is a powerful and versatile weapon, sought after by those who seek to harness the ocean’s might for their own purposes. Whether used for good or ill, the trident is a force to be reckoned with in the world of Saṃsāra.

Activation Perception of the Senses

• Five Senses:
  • Sight: The sea glass shimmers and pulses with an inner light, casting dancing reflections on the surrounding water or surfaces. The light seems to flow and change, mimicking the movement of waves and currents.
    • Positive: The hypnotic visual display can mesmerize and disorient opponents, creating openings for attacks or tactical maneuvers.
    • Negative: The light can attract unwanted attention, particularly in low-light environments.
  • Touch: The trident’s handle is cool and smooth, but when activated, it vibrates with the energy of the sea. The wielder feels a tingling sensation in their hands, as if the ocean’s power is flowing through them.
    • Positive: The vibrations can enhance the wielder’s grip and control, allowing for more precise strikes and fluid movements.
    • Negative: The vibrations can also be disorienting or even painful if the wielder is not accustomed to the weapon’s power.
  • Sound: The trident emits a low, resonant hum when activated, like the distant roar of the ocean. The sound seems to resonate with the wielder’s own heartbeat, creating a sense of synchronization with the weapon.
    • Positive: The hum can be empowering and invigorating, boosting the wielder’s confidence and focus.
    • Negative: The sound can also be distracting, potentially interfering with the wielder’s ability to hear subtle cues in their environment.
  • Smell: A faint, salty scent of the sea emanates from the trident when activated, filling the wielder’s nostrils with the invigorating smell of ozone and seaweed.
    • Positive: The scent can be grounding and calming, reminding the wielder of their connection to the ocean and its vast power.
    • Negative: The scent might be overwhelming for some, particularly those with sensitivities to strong odors.
  • Taste: Though not meant to be tasted, the trident leaves a lingering taste of salt and minerals on the tongue if touched to the mouth.
    • Positive: The taste can serve as a reminder of the trident’s connection to the ocean, strengthening the wielder’s resolve and determination.
    • Negative: The taste can be unpleasant and may distract the wielder in the heat of battle.
• Extra-Sensory Perceptions:
  • Water Sense: The wielder gains a heightened awareness of water in their surroundings, sensing its movement, temperature, and even its magical properties. This allows for better navigation in aquatic environments and the ability to anticipate and manipulate water-based attacks.
  • Tidal Intuition: The wielder can sense the ebb and flow of the tides, gaining insight into the ocean’s moods and predicting its movements. This can be invaluable for planning naval maneuvers, navigating treacherous waters, or even harnessing the power of the tides for magical purposes.
  • Elemental Communion: The trident serves as a conduit for communication with elemental spirits of water, allowing the wielder to seek their guidance, protection, or even their aid in battle.
  • Power Surge: When wielding the trident, the user experiences a surge of energy, enhancing their strength, agility, and reflexes. This surge is most potent when the wielder is submerged in water or fighting near a large body of water.

Forging the Tidal Trident

• Materials Needed:
  • A large chunk of enchanted sea glass (harvested from a deep-sea trench during a storm)
  • 3 vials of Siren tears (collected under a full moon)
  • 1 scale of a kraken (obtained through a daring hunt or trade with seafaring merchants)
  • 1 strand of kelp infused with the essence of a storm (harvested during a tempest)
• Tools Required:
  • Forge and anvil
  • Hammer and tongs
  • Chisel and file
  • Water basin for quenching
• Skill Requirements:
  • Master-level blacksmithing or weaponsmithing
  • Proficiency in enchanting and imbuing items with elemental magic
  • Attunement to the ocean’s power and the lunar cycle
• Crafting Steps:
  • Gathering the Sea Glass: Venture into a deep-sea trench during a raging storm to collect a large chunk of enchanted sea glass. The turbulent waters and chaotic energy of the storm infuse the glass with raw power, making it ideal for forging the trident.
  • Preparing the Forge: Heat the forge to an intense temperature using a combination of elemental fire and wind magic. The forge must be hot enough to melt and shape the sea glass, which is notoriously difficult to work with.
  • Shaping the Trident: Carefully place the sea glass chunk in the forge and use the hammer and tongs to shape it into the three-pronged form of a trident. The process requires immense skill and precision, as the sea glass is both brittle and resistant to heat.
  • Imbuing with Magic: Once the trident’s shape is set, quench it in the water basin, which has been filled with a mixture of Siren tears and storm-infused kelp. The tears will bind the elemental magic of the water to the sea glass, while the kelp will channel the raw power of the storm.
  • Incorporating the Kraken Scale:  Attach the kraken scale to the base of the trident’s shaft, using silver wire or strong twine. The kraken scale, a symbol of the sea’s might, will further enhance the trident’s power and imbue it with the kraken’s resilience and ferocity.
  • Final Enchantments: Once the trident is assembled, the weaponsmith must perform a series of intricate enchantments, weaving spells of water manipulation, current control, and storm summoning into the weapon’s core. This process requires a deep understanding of elemental magic and a strong connection to the ocean’s power.
  • Charging Under the Moon: Place the completed trident under the full moon’s light for one night, allowing it to absorb the lunar energy and awaken its full potential. The moon’s influence will enhance the trident’s connection to the tides and amplify its magical properties.

Note: Forging a Tidal Trident is a challenging and dangerous endeavor, requiring not only exceptional skill and knowledge but also a willingness to brave the ocean’s depths and face its wrath. Only the most dedicated and powerful artisans can create such a legendary weapon.

Saga of the Sea-Singer’s Spear

In the depths of the Before-Time, when the world was water and sky, a Siren-Shaman, named only in echoes now, walked the shores. Her voice, a melody of the waves, could calm the tempest and summon the leviathan. Yet, her hands held no instrument but the sand and the foam.

One night, as the moon bathed the world in silver, the Shaman witnessed a battle: storm against sea, lightning against wave. From this clash, a shard of sea glass, born of lightning’s fire and water’s embrace, washed ashore. The Shaman, touched by the divine, knew its purpose.

With hands roughened by the tides, she shaped the glass, her song guiding the transformation. Three prongs emerged, sharp as coral, echoing the trident of the Sea God. The Shaman, her voice echoing the storm, breathed life into the weapon, imbuing it with the essence of the tempest and the depths.

The Tidal Trident, they called it, a weapon of the sea’s fury and tranquility. It sang of whirlpools and calm waters, of power unleashed and restrained. The Shaman wielded it, not as a tool of conquest, but as an instrument of balance, a reminder of the ocean’s duality.

But the world, ever fickle, yearned for conflict. A warlord, his heart black as the abyss, coveted the Trident’s power. He sought to twist its song, to bend the sea to his will, to drown the world in chaos.

The Shaman, her spirit echoing the ocean’s depths, stood against him. Their battle shook the very foundations of the world, the Trident’s song clashing with the warlord’s discordant cries. Waves surged, storms raged, and the earth trembled beneath their feet.

Yet, the Shaman’s song prevailed, her connection to the sea proving stronger than the warlord’s ambition. The Trident, its true purpose revealed, banished the darkness, restoring balance to the world.

The Shaman, her voice now a whisper on the wind, entrusted the Trident to the tides, a guardian of the sea’s harmony. Its legend echoed through the ages, a reminder of the power that lies in understanding and respecting the delicate balance of nature.

Moral of the Story: Power, like the sea, is both creator and destroyer. Only those who wield it with wisdom and respect can harness its true potential and bring harmony to the world.

Suggested conversions to other systems:

Call of Cthulhu (7th Edition)

Name: Tidal Trident

• Type: Arcane Artifact
• Sanity Loss: 1/1D6 on a failed Sanity roll when witnessing its power.
• Description: A three-pronged spear forged from enchanted sea glass. The trident shimmers with an eerie light and hums with the power of the ocean.
• Mechanics:
  • Damage Bonus: +1D4 damage on a successful hit.
  • Special: Once per game session, the wielder may attempt a Luck roll to activate one of the following effects:
    • Conjure Whirlpool: Create a whirlpool that can pull opponents off balance or impede their movement.
    • Control Currents: Redirect or manipulate water currents to aid the wielder or hinder their foes.
    • Summon Tidal Wave: Unleash a powerful wave of water to damage and knock down opponents.

Blades in the Dark

• Name: Tidal Trident
• Category: Weapon
• Description: A three-pronged spear forged from enchanted sea glass, crackling with aquatic energy.
• Effect:
  • +1 Harm
  • When used in or near water, the wielder may spend a stress to activate one of the following effects:
    • Entangle: Create a whirlpool to entangle a target, giving them a -1d to their next action.
    • Push: Create a powerful current to push a target back a short distance.
    • Strike: Summon a wave to strike a target, dealing an additional 1 Harm.

Dungeons & Dragons (5th Edition)

Name: Trident of the Depths

• Type: Martial Melee Weapon, Rare (requires attunement)
• Damage: 1d8 piercing
• Properties: Versatile (1d10), Thrown (20/60), Special
• Special: When wielded by a creature with a swimming speed, the trident grants a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with it. Additionally, the wielder can use a bonus action to expend one of the trident’s charges. The trident has 3 charges and regains 1d3 expended charges daily at dawn.
• Charge Effects:
  • Whirlpool (1 charge): You create a 5-foot radius whirlpool centered on a point you can see within 30 feet of you. The whirlpool lasts for 1 minute. Creatures within the whirlpool must succeed on a Strength saving throw or be pulled 10 feet towards the center.
  • Control Water (2 charges): You choose a 10-foot cube of water you can see within 60 feet of you. You can move the water in any direction, up to 30 feet.
  • Tidal Wave (3 charges): You create a 15-foot cube wave of water that crashes down on one creature you can see within 60 feet of you. The target must make a Strength saving throw. On a failed save, the target takes 4d8 bludgeoning damage and is knocked prone. On a successful save, the target takes half as much damage and isn’t knocked prone.

Knave

Name: Tidal Trident

• Type: Weapon
• Damage: 1d8
• Range: Thrown (Short)
• Special:
  • When used in or near water, the wielder may spend a Luck point to activate one of the following effects:
    • Whirlpool: Create a small whirlpool that pulls enemies towards the wielder.
    • Push: Knock an enemy back with a surge of water.
    • Strike: Imbue the trident with the power of the tides, adding +1d6 damage to the next attack.
• Price: 600 gold

Fate (Accelerated Edition)

Name: Tidal Trident

• Description: A three-pronged spear forged from enchanted sea glass.
• Aspect: Fury of the Sea
• Skills: +2 to Fight, Physique, and Lore
• Stunts:
  • Aquatic Fury: When fighting in or near water, gain a +2 bonus to any roll involving the trident.
  • Tidal Surge: Once per scene, you can create a water-based obstacle or hazard to hinder your opponents.
• Refresh Cost: 3

Numenera & Cypher System

Name: Tidal Trident

• Level: 2d6
• Type: Artifact Weapon
• Form: Melee
• Effect:
  • Damage: 3 points
  • When used in or near water, you can expend 1 point from your Might Pool to activate one of the following effects:
    • Whirlpool: Create a swirling vortex of water that pulls enemies towards you.
    • Current Surge: Unleash a powerful current of water that pushes enemies away from you.
    • Tidal Strike: Imbue the trident with the power of the tides, adding 1d6 additional damage to your next attack.
• Depletion: 1 in 1d20

Pathfinder (2nd Edition)

Name: Trident of the Depths

• Level: 5
• Price: 600 gp
• Bulk: 2
• Damage: 1d8 piercing
• Hands: 1 or 2
• Group: Martial
• Properties: Reach, Special
• Special: This trident can be used to cast the following spells once per day each: create or destroy water (1st level), control water (2nd level), wall of water (3rd level). When wielded underwater, the trident deals an additional 1d6 cold damage.

Savage Worlds (Adventure Edition)

Name: Tidal Trident

• Type: Two-Handed Melee Weapon
• Damage: 2d6
• Range: –
• Special Abilities:
  • Aquatic Mastery: The wielder gains a +2 bonus to Fighting and Swimming rolls when using the trident in or near water.
  • Tidal Fury: The wielder may spend a Benny to activate one of the following effects:
    • Whirlpool: Create a hazardous whirlpool that hinders enemy movement.
    • Current Strike: Deliver a powerful thrust that knocks an opponent back.
    • Tidal Surge: Unleash a wave of water that damages and pushes back multiple foes.

Shadowrun (Sixth World)

Name: Tidal Trident

• Category: Exotic Melee Weapon
• Reach: 1
• Damage: 12P
• Accuracy: 5
• AP: -2
• Mode: Physical
• RC: 1
• Legality: Restricted
• Availability: 16R
• Cost: 20,000¥
• Description: This three-pronged spear is made of enchanted sea glass and crackles with bio-electricity. When submerged in water, the weapon can be used to unleash powerful electrical attacks or create localized whirlpools.

Starfinder (Galaxy Exploration Manual)

Name: Trident of the Tides

• Level: 6
• Price: 2,500 Credits
• Damage: 1d8 P
• Bulk: 1
• Critical: x3
• Special: Analog, magical, reach
• Description: This three-pronged spear is made of enchanted sea glass and is capable of manipulating water. While wielding the trident, you can use a swift action to expend one of its charges to cast a spell. The trident has 3 charges and regains 1d3 expended charges daily at dawn. The spells are hydraulic push (1 charge), control water (2 charges), and tsunami (3 charges).

Traveller (Mongoose 2nd Edition)

Name: Tidal Trident

• Type: Advanced Melee Weapon
• Skill: Melee (Spear)
• Damage: 2D+2
• Range: Engaged
• Price: Cr8000
• Rarity: Very Rare
• Description: This three-pronged spear is made of enchanted sea glass and grants the user increased agility and strength when used underwater. In addition, it can be used to manipulate water currents and create small whirlpools.

Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (4th Edition)

Name: Trident of the Drowned Sea

• Type: Magical Weapon
• Damage: 1d10+SB
• Range: –
• Special Rules:
  • The wielder may reroll any failed Weapon Skill tests made with this weapon.
  • Once per combat, the wielder may expend a Fate Point to unleash a torrent of water, dealing 2d10 damage to all enemies within 5 yards.
  • If the wielder is a Siren or another creature with a natural affinity for water, they gain a +20 bonus to Weapon Skill tests made with this weapon while submerged.
• Availability: Extremely Rare