The Ring

Today's post is a magical item inspired by the curious tale of the pirate Stede Bonnet.

-Nate


Bonnet's Wedding Band
Throughout history, pirates have turned to life “on the account” for a variety of reasons. Some were ordinary sailors who grew tired of the strict discipline and Spartan living conditions aboard Navy or merchant vessels, while others were privateers who could not give up the life of adventure and plunder when a war ended. Stede Bonnet's motivation was something else entirely; he sought at escape from his troublesome marriage.

Just what his wife did to make him abandon her and three young children is not known. What is known is that he did turn to piracy in order to be free from her. From the life of a wealthy plantation owner on Barbados, he fled to the Bahamas, where he met up with the likes of pirates such as Benjamin Hornigold and Edward “Blackbeard” Teach. This led him to be involved in taking a variety of prizes, earning him a criminal reputation. In the end he was captured at Sullivan's Island and hanged at Charleston. Although his accumulated spoils were reclaimed by the powers that be, however, one of his personal possessions went unclaimed—his wedding ring.

This ring is a simple gold band without adornment. In game terms, however, it provides the wearer with a +1 circumstance bonus to saving throws against magic used by females, and a +2 circumstance bonus to opposed skill checks made against women.