Barbed Bowstring
Wondrous item, rare
You can use an action to string a nonmagical bow with this item to transform the bow into a magical one. When you hit a creature with a ranged attack using the bow, that creature suffers from a magical barb. A creature with a barb that willingly moves before the start of your next turn takes 3d4 piercing damage as the barb cuts into it; until the end of the turn, the creature's speed is reduced by a cumulative 5 feet for each 4 you roll on the dice.
A creature can only be affected by one barb at a time. A barb created in this way disappears at the start of each of your turns or when it deals damage to a creature that moves. Removing the bowstring from the bow makes the bow nonmagical once more.
You certainly can keep going. But do you really want to?
Comments (2)
I love this item. Feels a touch underpowered for rare, so I'd either make it uncommon or make it +1. But it is very cool.
Hey! A +2 is *about* the same as a +2d4 damage bonus, so this should be appropriate for the rarity *mathematically*, but also because of the optional speed penalty. But you should give it out and adjust however makes the most sense for your game! Some GMs like giving out Very Rare gear at level 5, and that's just as well for them!