Orner's Venomous Crossbow (Patreon)

Weapon (crossbow, hand), uncommon (requires attunement)

This magic crossbow carries a small system of curious tubes and vessels. You gain a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this magic weapon. The crossbow has 4 charges and regains 1d3 + 1 expended charges daily at dawn. You can expend 1 of the weapon's charges when you make an attack with it to coat the fired bolt with a unique, self-generating venom. If the attack hits, the target takes an extra 1d6 poison damage and must make a DC 13 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, the target is poisoned until the end of its next turn.

If you expend the crossbow's last charge, roll a d20. On a 1, the vessels attached to the crossbow shatter and spray poison in a 25-foot-radius sphere centered on your location. Creatures within the sphere take 1d12 poison damage and must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned for 1 minute. When this happens, the crossbow ceases to be magical and loses all of its additional properties.

Orner Wreros was a man of many talents. He was a brilliant scientist, despite the rumors. They called him mad. Misguided. Dangerous. Diabolical, even. But he knew better: if he could accomplish something, it was worth the risk. It was always worth the risk. Progress was never made without sacrifice.

A green ichor dripped from the end of the crossbow bolt.

"Test number 15," he said to himself. He scribbled down some notes. His tongue poked out from the side of his mouth in concentration.

Clank! The bolt launched from the crossbow, landing within the wall with a faint hiss as the poisonous mixture evaporated from it.

Eyebrows arched, Orner looked back at the weapon in his hands. "Well, I suppose that's a success. Pity about the audio enchantment, though. I was really hoping for more of a pew sound."

He added some additional scribbles to the notes before walking away, removing his gloves as he left the room. The crossbow bolt, lodged in the wall of the cabin, rested next to dozens more just like it.