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The exoskeleton and forewings of a blue-green iridescent beetle have a pattern of swirling round-cut emeralds and dark blue sapphires flowing across them. The beetle is 6 inches long, 4 inches wide, and has two "horns" extending from its head. It seems to be completely intact  -- almost as if some magic keeps it in a state of suspended animation. A faint scent of apples emanates from it.

Knowledge (Nature)

Moderate DC: The beetle, once a rarity in isolated underground caverns, has become more common over the past two decades. Called minotaur beetles by some, they are seen as a growing threat by those tending underground crypts or other repositories of dead since they have a voracious appetite for decaying flesh and preserved remains. The gemstones were added later -- these beetles do not have them normally.

Hard DC: A method that could have been used to keep the entire beetle from decaying over time might involve a mixture of fungus spores from the vividly multihued bioluminescent altherium mushroom and the ale-diluted sap of a mature saprophytic vine called whiteglow vine (its unoriginal name comes from both its white hue and the faint white light that pulsates from it). This method can give the preserved item an apple scent. (DMs are welcome to assign this method to a specific race or grouping of beings.)

Price: 5,000 gp

Possible Placement: Revenge of the Giants, page 69 -- replace 5,000 gp worth of the gems with this item.

A black silk folding fan has a series of small black pearls and round-cut amethysts on the outer frame. Purple and silver flowers decorate the silk of the fan. If you look closely enough, you might see an ebon serpent flowing behind the flowers (DC 10 Perception check).

Price: 1,000 gp

Possible Placement: Revenge of the Giants, page 69 -- replace 1,000 gp worth of the gems with this item.

Two golden anchors once served as a cloak clasp, though all that remains of the cloak are a few moldering bits of fabric. Each anchor has three round-cut sapphires on it.

Price: 3,000 gp

Possible Placement: Revenge of the Giants, page 33 -- replace the three gems with this item.

This platinum cuff  is about 2 inches wide and has black opals forming a wave pattern on half of the cuff (length-wise) and light opals on the other half of the cuff.

Price: 1,500 gp

This necklace consists of several strands of ornate gold chain twisted to form a thicker rope. One strand of sparkling amber-hued, sparkling crystals winds through the chain twist. A square-cut sapphire in a gold setting shaped like a five-pointed star dangles from the front, and a clasp in the back is also shaped like a star.

Price: 1,400 gp

The platinum handle on this magnifying glass is studded with round-cut emeralds, which makes the grip feel a bit rough. The magnifying lens makes the object viewed through it appear to be four times as large.

Optional: A bit of sticky, green-tinted fluid is on the lens. (DMs can choose to have the fluid be inert or active.)

Knowledge (Nature)

Moderate DC: The fluid is the sap from a frirenthi plant, which grows at the edge of deserts and other arid terrain. It is poisonous to ingest.

Price: 1,300 gp

This small tiara features round-cut rubies that form the shapes of fish swimming from right to left upon a field of tarnished silver.

Price: 1,200 gp

This hefty gold ring has a purple and blue butterfly crafted from amethysts and sapphires upon it.

Optional: An inscription on the inside of the band is barely legible due to wear. It starts with the letters "Et" and ends with "te...." About 7 to 10 more letters or spaces could fit between the two letters. Have fun with this!

Price: 1,100 gp

A solid gold frame of about 12 inches high and 8 inches wide has seven spiders formed from onyx on it. Each spider is different from the others, and they aren't spaced out evenly. Engraved in the gold is a web pattern. Small, oval amethysts and round-cut diamonds glint amid the engravings, and each corner has a larger square-cut amethyst.

Inside the frame is a smudged pastel image of what was probably a humanoid.

Optional: The image might be of a specific person, and it could be in better shape. Allow the PCs to recognize the person if appropriate for your campaign. Whether the person has ties to the Underdark or hates spiders (and the frame is an expensive prank that never came about or got "dealt with" in some manner) is up to the DM.

Knowledge (Streetwise)

Moderate DC: The person is a singer who travels each summer from his home town to one of two other relatively close locations. His original music compositions are excellent and will probably outlast his life.

Hard DC: The person is also a smuggler who worked his way up the chain through guile and underhanded methods to become the leader of a band of information brokers and smugglers. Some rumors state that he has ties to the Underdark, but others state that his greatest fear is spiders. He has several problematic romantic "entanglements" at the moment. The portrait's artist lives in one of the towns the singer visits, and she is known to be one of his romantic interests from a few years ago.

Price: 1,000 gp

This delicate anklet has a series of six round-cut blue topaz stones on a gold chain. From each topaz dangles a gold bell, which chimes with every little movement. Between each blue topaz is a smaller square-cut yellow topaz.

Price: 900 gp