Ring of Life or Death (aka The Ring of Fate)
x.p. value (if found): 1675
g.p. value: 4300 (11,750 to death clergy)
This rare and highly specialized item is designed for use in a campaign using a Death's Door option. It is also recommended that while a player character may possess the ring, using it on another player's character should be discouraged.
Carved from bone with a clear crystal in the setting, this ring is only usable by clerics and specialty priests whose diety has death or the dead in their portfolios. Clergy of other religious orders find that they are unable to get this item to function. A priest whose worship includes the undead will immediately fall unconsious and remain so until the ring is removed. Undeath is considered (for the most part) an insult to those properly deceased.
When someone is dying or at Death's Door a member of the clergy normally performs the ritual of last rites. At the start of this ritual, the right hand (which bears the ring) is placed on the dying persons forehead. Death is temporarily suspended until the completion of the rites.
During last rites the crystal will attune itself to the dying persons remaining life force. If the person has the fortitude to "come back" the crystal will turn red to signify their inner fire. The crystal will emit a white light if they have lived a full life and it is their time to pass on.
At the completion of the ceremony the characters destined to die do so at this time. For the ones who are continuing on in life, their condition no longer appears to be getting any worse.
Using the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons gaming system as an example - Here's how this item works.
NOTE - The purpose of the ring is a role-playing tool to assist in the existence of a specific type of character. Any person willing to play a character who has the ability to use this item will also assume the responsibility of properly role-playing their character thereby justifying its possession and rolling the dice to determine a PC/NPC's fate. This ring does not "play" favorites. There is no prejudice regarding good or evil, heaven or hell. A dying characters ultimate destination is for their beliefs and actions to decide.
If the dying person is an NPC, a percentile roll is made. 01-65 means the crystal turns red and the character is destined to live. 66-00 means the crystal turns white and the character dies.
If the dying person is a PC, there is a little math involved. Start with a base of 100%. For every hit point below zero there is a -5% imposed (-5% at -1, -10% at -2, and so on to -50% at -10). This is to represent the hand of death approaching. For the drive to continue life, average the constitution (fitness) and wisdom (willpower) scores rounding fractions up. There is a +1% bonus per point. A percentile roll of 01 to the figured number turns the crystal red. Rolls above the figured number show the crystal as white. For example: There is a character with a Con of 14, Wis of 15, and injured to -6 hp's. -6hp's = -30%. Average of Con and Wis = 14.5 rounded to 15. 100% - 30% + 15% = 85%. So, 01-85 is life and 86-00 is death.
There may be some instances where the figured number is in excess of 100%. Two options come to mind: 1) The crystal immediately glows red and no roll is necessary or 2) If the DM requires the player to make a roll, only a natural 00 causes the crystal to shine white.
At the end of the last rites the characters shown to be dying have until they reach -10hp's for death to arrive. Characters having a second chance at life get 5 additional rounds for the priest or others to bind their wounds and begin the healing process.
(c) Patrick Collins 1998