100 Sinister Cursed Artifacts Unearthed from a Dark Lich’s Forbidden Vault

Venturing into a dark lich’s vault is no simple task. Guarded by arcane wards and protected by undead sentinels, this malevolent repository is a testament to the boundless pursuit of power at any cost. Here, amidst the gloomy magic and ominous silence, lie a hundred cursed artifacts, each imbued with potent dark enchantments and sinister histories.

These artifacts, coveted by the foolhardy and feared by the wise, promise power, but always at a perilous price. Uncovering the secrets of these wicked treasures can lead adventurers into dangerous territories—both physical and moral. For dungeon masters, these items provide rich tapestries for worldbuilding, introducing complex dynamics where greed meets downfall and curiosity invites catastrophe.

This article provides a collection of d100 cursed artifacts, which I’ve broken down into five themed d20 tables for easier access. Whether you’re looking to challenge your party with tangible manifestations of a lich’s dark machinations or seeking elements that serve as nucleus points for broader quests, these items capture the volatile essence of cursed magic. Each artifact tells a story—an opportunity for adventure, intrigue, peril, and sometimes redemption.

These cursed artifacts, laden with formidable energy and dire consequences, offer much more than mere superficial allure. They are instruments of power and downfall, designed either as the vile triumphs of the lich’s sinister ingenuity or the tragic remnants of those who once dared oppose it. Each artifact, whether mundane in appearance or grandeur in form, carries an indelible curse that binds its fate to those who seek its power. Some artifacts punish their possessors overtly, while others weave their malice subtly through deceit and manipulation.

The table is organized for versatility in storytelling; sorted into five d20 sections, each providing an assortment of artifacts which can stand alone or merge into a frightening arsenal. The artifacts included range from cursed weapons to diabolical jewelry, each possessing unique properties, histories, and curses. They bring depth to tales of conquest and caution to narratives of hubris.

As adventurers traverse through these items, the stakes are high and the outcomes uncertain. Some may lead to personal transformation, while others unleash devastation. Understanding the delicate balance between power and consequence can spell the difference between triumph and tragedy. Whether employed as obstacles, quest rewards with hidden traps, or ominous relics needing containment, these cursed artifacts elevate any campaign to an enthralling tapestry of light and darkness.

d20 Enchanted Weapons of Ruin (1 – 20)

Within the shadowy vault, displayed like trophies of a bygone era, lie weapons of impeccable craftsmanship and intimidating enchantments. Yet these are no ordinary armaments—they are enchanted weapons bearing malevolent curses. Designed to rend foes with fiery precision, the true peril they present is to the wielder, whose fate tends to echo their lethal nature.

Forged in ancient rituals, these weapons embody the despair and corruption of their creators. Echoes of tragic stories intertwine with their blade and hilt. Imagine wielding a sword that not just slices through armor but also through the soul of its bearer’s companions. Or consider an axe that demands bloodshed to quell its infernal thirst. Some of these weapons whisper temptations of unfathomable power, their cursed essence promising to consume those seduced by their allure.

Glance over this table to spot the cursed allure of weaponry:

d20	Weapon Name	Cursed Effect	Enchantment Description	d100
1	Soulrend Scimitar	Drains wielder’s vitality	Carves through soul as well as body	1
2	Wailing Dagger	Brings madness to bearer	Induces hallucinations in battle	2
3	Bloodthirsty Axe	Compels wielder to violence	Gleams red in anticipation of battle	3
4	Frostmourne Rapier	Freezes bearer to the bone	Leaves trails of ice upon strike	4
5	Searing Katana	Incinerates possessions	Burns with unquenchable fire	5
6	Venomous Glaive	Poisons wielder slowly	Exudes toxic clouds on impact	6
7	Revenant’s Spear	Bonds bearer to endless vengeance	Resonates with undead spirits	7
8	Grim Reaper’s Scythe	Shortens wielder’s lifespan	Cuts the threads of destiny	8
9	Hellfire Bow	Scorches archer’s fingers	Shoots flaming arrows unbidden	9
10	Stormbringer Warhammer	Attracts destructive storms	Calls thunder on every blow	10
11	Shadowthief Blade	Absorbs bearer’s shadows	Melts into darkness at command	11
12	Cursed Chainwhip	Entangles bearer unexpectedly	Strikes twice with mocking laughter	12
13	Morbid Mace	Infects wielder with decay	Spreads ailments to struck enemies	13
14	Oblivion Longbow	Clouds archer’s mind	Ensnares foes in eternal forgetfulness	14
15	Doomcaller Halberd	Invites prophecies of doom	Chivers and moans when swung	15
16	Mindshatter Lance	Unravels bearer’s sanity	Penetrates mental defenses	16
17	Weeping Sword	Steals bearer’s joy	Weeps silently between cuts	17
18	Blightbrand Saber	Spreads pestilence	Radiates necrotic aura	18
19	Dragon’s Bane Broadblade	Provokes wrath of dragonkind	Breathes ash when unsheathed	19
20	Leviathan’s Maul	Sinks wielder’s spirit	Eternally waterlogged, uncanny heft	20

Enchanted weapons bring a thrilling dynamic, turning battles into more than mere skirmishes. Adopting a cursed blade’s shadow, a player might find their character wrestling with possession, addiction, or an irreversible path to darkness. Balancing power and risk becomes pivotal—a mechanic intrinsically woven into these artifacts’ design.

d20 Infernal Jewelry and Bewitched Baubles (21 – 40)

In the lich’s vault, amid the eerie half-light, lay jewelry and baubles that shimmer with an enticing glow. At first glance, they might seem harmless—mere ornaments collectors crave. Yet beneath their gleaming surface seethes an infernal essence, bent on binding themselves irrevocably to those foolish enough to don them.

Such jewelry may amplify one’s charisma, but at the cost of isolating true allies. A seemingly innocuous ring could enslave its wearer to whims of a darker power, shackling them even as it garners them strength. Necklaces may lend beauty or wisdom—and the burden of unspeakable truths. Though seemingly benign, these adornments are crafted with malicious designs, cursed to bring ruin upon their bearers.

For those drawn by beauty’s mischief, this table reveals the bewitching temptations of such cursed jewelry:

d20	Jewelry Name	Cursed Effect	Enchantment Description	d100
1	Ring of Endless Echoes	Traps wearer in past sounds	Amplifies ambient acoustics	21
2	Amulet of Nightmares	Invites waking terrors	Projects vivid night terrors	22
3	Choker of the Vanished	Erases owner’s presence	Grants fleeting invisibility	23
4	Earrings of Exquisite Lies	Compels falsehoods	Enhances deceptive charm	24
5	Bracelet of Binding	Shackles wearer physically or mentally	Restrains foes with ethereal chains	25
6	Crown of the Forgotten	Overwrites bearer’s memories	Bestows ancient knowledge	26
7	Pendant of the Betrayed	Burdens bearer with distrust	Enhances detection of deceit	27
8	Anklet of the Suffocated	Consumes wearer with despair	Increases resistance to airlessness	28
9	Brooch of Timeless Sorrow	Ages bearer prematurely	Holds glimpses of epochs past	29
10	Locket of the Enslaved Will	Dominates bearer’s actions	Contains specter of dominance	30
11	Circlet of Distorted Truths	Distorts reality around bearer	Radiates perplexing auras	31
12	Charm of Unyielding Arrogance	Provokes bearer’s hubris	Exalts bearer’s pride	32
13	Diadem of Endless Regret	Forces bearer into longing	Reflects lost aspirations	33
14	Necklace of the Beast’s Heart	Fosters feral instinct	Pulses with primal rhythm	34
15	Ring of the Deep’s Call	Draws bearer to watery depths	Conjures aquatic guardians	35
16	Talisman of Twisted Fate	Alters bearer’s destiny	Shifts outcomes unpredictably	36
17	Seal of the Timeless Prisoner	Ensnares bearer’s soul	Glows with eternal restraint	37
18	Cufflinks of Vanishing Paths	Conceals bearer’s past	Hides traces of past actions	38
19	Chain of the Mad Alchemist	Induces manic behaviors	Amplifies alchemical methods	39
20	Sapphire of Slumbering Wraiths	Links bearer with wraiths	Radiates fell enchantment	40

Infernal jewelry adds complexity to character stories, transforming simple adornment into significant plot catalysts. Each piece can entwine itself with the destiny of the player, prompting leadership’s question, seduction, or self-destruction. Players must weigh the value of newfound power against the dangerous allure of the cursed baubles they might don.

d20 Dark Relics and Forbidden Icons (41 – 60)

Throughout the vault lie relics from shadowy corners of forgotten lore and forbidden rituals. These artifacts evoke dread merely in their forms—the sinister beauty crafted to lure the unwise. They are creations of power-hungry beings and icons revered by cults dedicated to dark deities. More than remnants, they are manifestations of forsaken gods’ wrath and whispers of arcane horrors.

Such icons inspire awe and command that which they represent. A dark relic might splice planar boundaries, unravel sanity, or empower beings dark and ancient. Venerated by those who would rest in darkness, these icons are often feared for the curses they carry—burdens demanding blood, sanity, or worse. Occasionally crafted from salvaged cosmic remnants, they hold insidious power within.

Peer into these works of miscreation to craft a story of lurking dread:

d20	Relic Name	Cursed Effect	Enchantment Description	d100
1	Idol of the Twisted Serpent	Poisons land surrounding it	Intrigues reptilian creatures	41
2	Relic of the Withering Moon	Fades bearer’s life force	Basks in lunar radiance	42
3	Icon of the Eternal Hunger	Spurs gluttony in all it touches	Constantly emanates sustenance	43
4	Totem of Stygian Depths	Steals light from surroundings	Commands nocturnal obedience	44
5	Altar of the Shifting Stars	Drives bearers into celestial insanity	Aligns with unknown cosmic events	45
6	Skull of the Hollowed Kings	Draws power from treachery	Reverberates with ghostly voices	46
7	Obsidian Statuette	Mesmerizes beholder	Reflects soul’s darkest desires	47
8	Censer of the Mournful Shadows	Spreads despair in its wake	Scatters sinister haze	48
9	Sigil of the Bound Spirit	Transfers curses through contact	Pulses with ethereal energy	49
10	Effigy of the Fallen Angel	Condemns bearers to mockery	Exhales incense of fallen grace	50
11	Reliquary of Unending Torments	Torments owner with lost souls	Holds cries of forgotten spirits	51
12	Chalice of the Forsaken Ones	Curses bearers to continual loss	Exudes auras of neglect	52
13	Banner of the Empty Realm	Wipes cities from recollection	Wards with memories of nullity	53
14	Beacon of the Black Abyss	Attracts void-infused beings	Flickers with entropy’s call	54
15	Ankh of the Condemned	Denies painless resting	Illuminates mysteries of death	55
16	Crucible of the Everburning Flame	Consumes ambitions in fire	Reaches smoldering heights of desire	56
17	Sculpture of the Silent Vigil	Mutes voices near it	Stares eternity with watchful gaze	57
18	Pedestal of the Forgotten Powers	Nullifies magical prowess	Bewilders with chaotic energy	58
19	Mask of the Damned Prophet	Dooms wearer to unattractiveness	Mumbles ominous portents	59
20	Tome of the Abyssal Rite	Manifests reality-warping chaos	Breathes infernal knowledge of abysmal depth	60

These dark relics evoke the forbidden, grasping at characters’ darker desires while ensnaring them in the grand play of godly machinations. As objects of piety or fear, dark relics hold potential to shift the balance of power, reflecting the daring and folly of those who dare wield them.

d20 Sorcerous Tomes of the Damned (61 – 80)

No lich’s vault would be complete without an array of malevolent arcane literature. Tomes abound, filled with knotty glyphs and diabolic languages that taunt scholars. Grimoires contain spells and rituals of such terrible strength that many fear even glimpsing a single page. Opening such volumes might plunge users into ensorcelled madness—a seductive path to woe dressed as wisdom.

These damned books are testament to the allure and peril of forbidden knowledge. Each page contorts space with cryptic incantations, dense with meanings only the truly depraved can unravel. In these pages hide secrets best left shunned; whispered promises of ultimate power, crafted for the cunning and manipulative by genius minds gone astray.

For those who read these words at their own peril, discover the promise within by exploring these tomes:

d20	Tome Title	Cursed Effect	Enchantment Description	d100
1	“Grimoire of the Abyssal Lords”	Corrupts its reader’s mind	Opens channels to infernal worlds	61
2	“Codex of Hallowed Shadows”	Erodes reader’s morality	Sibilant whispers fill the air	62
3	“Chronicle of the Broken Seals”	Splits open unseen boundaries	Supposedly binds demons	63
4	“Tome of the Everchanging Throne”	Poisonously shifts alliances	Elegantly diagrams tenebrous realms	64
5	“Necronomicon of the Unholy”	Promises undead servitude	Unveils realms of dark art	65
6	“Volume of Relinquished Power”	Consumes aholder’s ambition	Offers pinnacles of forgotten strengths	66
7	“Manual of Obscured Truths”	Dilutes discernment	Inscribes hidden ideologies	67
8	“The Diary of Fallen Empires”	Draws envy in readers	Details tales on how great empires have succumbed	68
9	“Scribe’s Book of Eternal Night”	Vexes readers with fear	Scribbles nightmares’ shadows	69
10	“Ledger of the Unending Cycle”	Entraps reader in cyclic fates	Encodes time itself	70
11	“Parchments of the Hexed Ages”	Dooms scholars to endless study	Holds incantations beyond understanding	71
12	“Scroll of Inescapable Paradox”	Inflicts psychological collapse	Untangles endless predicaments	72
13	“Journal of the Voiceless Bard”	Mutes reader’s voice forever	Sings haunting visions	73
14	“Index of Apocryphal Lore”	Beckons entities of eldritch domain	Lists forbidden records	74
15	“Notebook of Transient Whispers”	Disperses dread secrets	Annotates forgotten conversations	75
16	“Records of Entropic Sacraments”	Binds servants to eternal rituals	Chronicles chants of collapse	76
17	“Book of Frozen Fates”	Congeals destinies	Seals momentary decisions into permanence	77
18	“Log of Incurable Delights”	Leads to pleasures illicit	Documents corrupted indulgences	78
19	“Portfolio of Dreadful Revelations”	Unravels reader reality	Details horrors untold	79
20	“Annals of the Lost Immortals”	Chains to the void of endless life	Recounts tales of forsaken eternity	80

Sorcerous tomes of the damned require careful presentation within your campaign. Uncovering their secrets may beckon adventurers to darker desires and serve as narratives’ pivot by tempting or casting away destiny’s choices. With unparalleled gravity, they alter the course of those willing to dare open and absorb their malignant knowledge.

d20 Malevolent Tools and Cursed Apparatuses (81 – 100)

Tucked into corners lie tools not neatly organized, suggesting chaotic experimentation or incomplete ritual. These implements draw attention with their strange designs and infernal purposes. More than mere clutter, each tool seems bound to its curse, ready to alter its bearer even as it assists them.

These artifacts have seen the crafting of reality reshaped; even those crafted for function eventually betray their users’ intents. A seemingly harmless quiver reshapes arrows like serpents, ensnaring rather than striking. A blacksmith’s hammer, blessed with unholy strength, shatters its bearer’s identity along with its creations. Each piece of equipment harbors ill-intended mischief, promising success laced with suffering.

Here’s a list of tempting tools, lurking with malign purpose:

d20	Tool Name	Cursed Effect	Enchantment Description	d100
1	Quiver of Living Arrows	Twists arrows into snakes	Ensnares targets with serpentine prowess	81
2	Hammer of Splintered Souls	Fractures wielder’s identity	Breaks barriers both physical and spiritual	82
3	Tinker’s Blade of Infinity	Unleashes temporal anomalies	Carves paths through space and time	83
4	Inquisitor’s Branding Iron	Inflicts guilt upon handler	Marks souls with undying regret	84
5	Enchanter’s Spinning Wheel	Threads deceit into the fabric	Weaves spells linger in weave	85
6	Archmage’s Staff of Discord	Incites betrayal in allies	Channels chaos in every strike	86
7	Alchemist’s Crucible	Spawns volatile mixtures	Produces unpredictable compounds	87
8	Sculptor’s Chisel of Deformity	Distorts perception of beauty	Unveils hidden facets	88
9	Scribe’s Quill of Damnation	Commandeers writer’s hand	Imprints sentences of fate	89
10	Musician’s Cursed Flute	Bewitches listeners into frenzy	Charms notes with malicious harmonies	90
11	Seer’s Unseeing Crystal	Draws its bearer’s vision within	Obscures realities beyond	91
12	Architect’s Malicious Compass	Draws endless mazes	Designs impossible structures	92
13	Loremaster’s Oracle Lens	Clouds comprehension with dilemmas	Offsets realities intertwined	93
14	Mariner’s Abyssal Compass	Draws ships to doom	Directs toward uncharted seas	94
15	Optician’s Fragmented Lens	Splits visions across dimensions	Warps clarity beyond restoration	95
16	Seamstress’s Warp Needle	Entangles threads in her galaxy	Ties futures to shifting fortunes	96
17	Spyglass of Warped Perception	Alters telescope insights	Blurs into misleading guidance	97
18	Oracle’s Bone Dice	Manipulates fate to unlucky outcomes	Fetches glimpses of cursed chronicle	98
19	Survivalist’s Undying Flint	Over sparks ember of obsession	Breathes life into misplaced passions	99
20	Aeronautic Harper’s Harp	Rends air into discordant winds	Melodies beckon strife to sky	100

Incorporating cursed tools and apparatuses within your narrative blurs the line between utility and chaos. Bound within each item is an opportunity—they can aid in unraveling plots or weaving in new ones, challenging characters’ morals and resolve as they reconcile the effects these tools unleash.

100 Cursed Artifacts in a Lich’s Vault

As we draw the curtains back on the lich’s vault, it’s clear that a collection of cursed artifacts offers more than just the trappings of ancient evil. They are conduits of powerful storytelling, presenting challenges and consequences that stretch beyond the material plane. For dungeon masters, these items become narrative threads capable of spinning intricate tales—whether they serve as obstacles to overcome, rewards with hidden pitfalls, or reminders of the delicate balance between power and peril.

When incorporating these artifacts into your campaign, consider the potential dynamics each introduces—both within the adventuring party and throughout the broader world. Each cursed object might spark a new story or deepen an existing one, providing layers of tension and decisions that demand keen judgment. Remember, every unassuming bauble or cursed blade has the potential to reshape destinies and drive home the precarious relationship between greed and ruin.

The thrill of a campaign isn’t just in the battles fought or the spoils won, but in the decisions made along the way—the stories told in the spaces between. These artifacts hold that potential, whether they serve as the ignition for new quests or as objects of fear and fascination that players must navigate with caution and curiosity. In these details lies the magic of fantasy worlds, and within a lich’s vault, the promise of unforgiving adventure waits to unfold.