The Third-Side Coin

by Frazer 👁 87 views

Charges: 3 (regains at dawn)

This unusually thick electrum coin has no heads or tails. One face bears a door with three locks, while the other depicts a road dividing into three paths. A razor-thin groove circles its edge, filled with black enamel that never gathers dust. When held upright, the coin seems slightly heavier on whichever side would make the holder most uncomfortable.

Always on the Edge Whenever the coin is flipped, tossed, or dropped onto a reasonably level surface, it lands perfectly on its edge and remains balanced until a creature picks it up or deliberately tips it over. No mundane force can make it land on heads or tails.

Demand a Third Option The attuned creature can use an action and expend 1 charge when it or a creature within 30 feet is presented with two explicit, mutually exclusive choices by a creature, trap, magical effect, or other circumstance. The coin lands on its edge, and the chooser may immediately state a third option that is meaningfully different from both original choices. The DM determines whether the proposed option is feasible and adjudicates its consequences. A third option cannot simply negate the situation, guarantee success, or avoid all meaningful cost; it must be a plausible alternative with an appropriate risk, price, or complication. If no reasonable third option exists, the charge is not expended.

The Collector's Claim While attuned to the coin, the bearer occasionally hears the faint clink of another coin when making an important decision. The bearer knows that a particular collector, known as the Archivist of Unchosen Roads, can identify the coin's exact location whenever it is on the same plane of existence. This knowledge does not reveal the collector's location or grant the collector any ability to take the coin.

Lore

The coin is said to have been minted by a forgotten god of crossroads who despised ultimatums. Its first owner used it to escape a devil's contract, a king's execution order, and a marriage proposal, though legends disagree about which event happened first. Collectors consider it proof that fate is not a line but a negotiation.

History

The last recorded owner was Odran Vey, a gambler who wagered the coin against the Archivist of Unchosen Roads in a game whose rules were never written down. Odran vanished after the final flip, while the coin resurfaced decades later in the pocket of a corpse found at a crossroads. Somewhere, the Archivist knows exactly where the coin is and is patiently assembling a collection of objects that have escaped their intended destinies.

Created by Frazer 👁 87 views

📷 Export as Image

Share your item as a beautiful PNG image styled like classic D&D sourcebooks.

📥 Download PNG

Includes: Full item details, item image (if selected), rarity badge, and QuickMonster branding with QR code.

Resolution: High-quality PNG at 2x scale for crisp display on any device.

Lore

History

📷 Export as Image

Similar Magic Items

The Errant Thread

The Remembrance Box

The Apology of the Third Edge

The Borrowed Round

Export The Third-Side Coin

Chrome Extension Required

Export The Third-Side Coin