Shadowsteel and the Price of Power – Our Under the Dome Saga

Shadowsteel and the Price of Power – Our Under the Dome Saga

If you’ve been following our channel for any length of time, you’ve probably heard us talking about our Under the Dome campaign—our high-octane, motorcycle-riding, chaos-fueled adventures

through a world that constantly tries to kill us. We have a bunch more articles on Under the Dome, here on the website as well as more video content on Youtube.

In one of our many escapades, our ever-devious DM Dave introduced us to a creature called a Shadowsteel Ghast—a horrifying, cursed being straight from Grim Hollow: Lairs of Etharis. Naturally, we did what any sensible adventurers would do: we killed it, looted its body, and harvested a unique metal from its remains.

That metal? Shadowsteel.

And let us tell you—Shadowsteel is no joke.

The Lure of Shadowsteel: A Mage’s Greed

At first, we were intrigued. Shadowsteel isn’t just rare; it’s powerful, designed to augment curses and dark magics. It felt like the kind of tool that could change the game—until we learned the true cost.

Dave, in his infinite wisdom (and infinite cruelty), explained:

• Shadowsteel isn’t just cursed—it binds itself to those who use it.

• The more you wield it, the more of yourself you lose.

• If you die while carrying Shadowsteel, you don’t stay dead.

• You rise again, an undead horror, seeking more of the cursed metal, continuing the cycle.

So, like any rational group of adventurers faced with this knowledge…

We said, “Let’s make some cool stuff!”

Consequences? Who cares. We were about to craft some of the most powerful weapons and artifacts we’d ever had.

Forging Cursed Relics with a Dragon’s Help

Shortly after our bold (and likely foolish) decision, we encountered something even more insane—a true elemental dragon, a being infused with raw, unrelenting fire.

My sorcerer, as always, worked his silver tongue (or maybe just got lucky) and managed to talk us out of being incinerated. Instead, we struck a deal:

🔥 We wouldn’t reveal the location of its lair or steal from it.
🔥 In return, the dragon would assist us.

And by “assist,” I mean we got to use its breath weapon to superheat the Shadowsteel and forge it into weapons, armor, and magical artifacts.

What followed was a crafting montage of epic proportions. By the time we were done, we had over a dozen incredibly powerful items—each infused with both the curse and the unimaginable strength of dragon-forged steel.

And trust us, you are going to be shocked when you see the final words our DM threw into the mix at the bottom of the list.

Magic Items – +3 Spell Focus Orb of Bane and Curses – Cast Bane (1 charge), Bestow Curses (3 Charges) Convert spell damage to necrotic damage (1 Charge) 7 charges regains 1d6 charges at dusk

+2 Voidwalker Breast Plate – No curse and the copy lasts 1 hour and the feature resets on a short rest

+2 Shadow Breast Plate (Mithral) – Resistance to necrotic damage and cast shadow blade (1 charge, 2 charges twins the spell, each additional charge upcasts the spell by one tier) no concentration. 7 charges resets at dusk

+3 Bane Sticks(clubs pair) – +d6 necrotic damage When you hit a creature with this magic weapon and roll a 19 or 20 on the attack roll, the creature takes 6d6 necrotic damage as the dagger flares with sickly light. If this damage reduces the creature to 0 hit points, the creature becomes a shadow under weilders control.

+3 Vampiric Blades(short swords pair) – When you attack a creature with this magic weapon and roll a 20 on the d20 for the attack roll, that target takes an extra 15 Necrotic damage if it isn’t a Construct or an Undead, and you gain Temporary Hit Points equal to the amount of Necrotic damage taken.

Goggles of Darkness As an action, you can expend 1 charge to shoot a beam of shadowy darkness from the goggles at a creature you can see within 120 feet of yourself. The target must succeed on a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw or take 3d6 necrotic damage. While wearing these dark lenses, You can see normally in darkness, both magical and nonmagical, to a distance of 120 feet. While wearing them, you can expend 1 or more charges to cast Charm Person (save DC 15). For 1 charge, you cast the level 1 version of the spell. You increase the spell’s level by one for each additional charge you expend. Cast True Sight for 7 charges Ring has 7 charges. 1d6 reset at dusk.

10 Necrobullets – +5d6 necrotic 10 Bane Bullets – casts Bane if hits DC 15

10 Ballista Bolts of Anguish – +2d8 Psychic damage (psychic) and the creature is affected by the Crown of Madness spell DC 15

Necro Ring of the Shadowlands – Necrotic Resistance adds these spells to prepared spells – Inflict Wounds, Wither and Bloom, Spirit Shroud, Shadow of Moil, Enervation, Harm, Finger of Death, Abi-Dalzim’s Horrid Wilting, Blade of Disaster Shadow

+2 Chain Shirt of Shadow – Use Serpent Scale Armor Stats, Advantage on Stealth checks

+1 Boomerang

Shield of Eternal Night – 7 Charges regain d6 charges at dusk A creature gains blindsight out to a range of 30 feet Cast Darkness (2 charges) Eye Biter. When you hit a creature with an attack using this weapon, you can expend one charge to force the creature to make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, the creature is blinded until the start of your next turn.

+1 Animated Shield of Retribution – cast hellish rebuke (necrotic damage instead of fire) renews after a short rest

Attunement removed from all items. Thats right, every single one of these items does not require attunement. DMs out there feel free to use and modify these crazy items for your game. I left off descriptions so you can make them look like whatever you want.

The Shadowsteel Gamble

Was it worth it? Maybe.

Are we all doomed? Probably.

But that’s a problem for future us. For now, we have a hoard of incredible Shadowsteel-infused relics, and we’re ready to wreak havoc with them.

Stay tuned for the full list of the insane magic items we created—including the one that might just spell our doom.

Thanks for reading. Until Next Time, Stay Nerdy!!