Even when it is not being used in religious ceremonies, a Heroes' Horn  is often used to sound rousing notes before a battle - or to signal a charge.

Description

A Heroes' Horn allows a priest to use a musical performance to draw on the power of the consecration of Courage to inspire their audience. Listeners are filled with a profound sense of their ability to change the world if they only trust themselves and stick to what they know to be right. The power of the magical musical instrument itself is only part of the process that brings about this spiritual experience - the performance itself helps connect the spirit of the audience with the power of the potent consecrated aura.

A common form for this musical instrument is a horn or trumpet, something that can be used to sound a rousing note before a battle. Some priests on the other hand, especially those of the Brass Coast and the Navarr like to use big, deep drums. During a ceremony, the drums are beaten with a slow rhythm that echoes a heartbeat, helping the celebrants to achieve the right mental state. In Wintermark, Courage is represented by Jotra, Rune of Battle, and many artificers choose to include this rune as part of the decoration of the instrument. In Dawn it is more likely to see these instruments decorated with the images of gryphons.

It is common for a priest using this musical instrument to intersperse inspiring poetry or readings from the lives of the Paragons and Exemplars of Courage between their music, or to perform as part of a group who combine their playing with inspiring songs.

As with many religious magic items, it is common for an Heroes' Horn to be hallowed. A popular choice is the Hallowing of the Bard, perhaps unsurprisingly.

Rules

  • Form: Weapon. Takes the form of any kind of musical instrument. You must be performing music with this item to use its magical properties.
  • Requirement: You must have the dedication skill to bond to this item.
  • Effect: You must be dedicated to Courage to use this item. Once per day, while you are in an area consecrated to Courage, you may spend ten minutes of appropriate roleplaying that includes playing this musical instrument. Any listener who was in the area for the entire period recovers all hero points. You cannot use this ability if you are on a battlefield or in a similar stressful environment. A listener who has lost the ability to recover hero points overnight is not affected by this power.
  • Materials: Crafting a Heroes' Horn requires 7 ingots of orichalcum, 9 ingots of green iron, and 5 measures of dragonbone; It takes 1 month to make one of these items.