The subtlety of the black ceramic yackti figure is the preferred method of revenge for many dark druids and arcane spellcasters. Only 2 inches long, yackti figures are poorly made humanoid figurines that have a plug, allowing access to a small hollow within the figure's chest.
For a yackti figure to function a drop of blood or a strand of hair of the intended victim must be placed within the figure. After that, the user has a series of possible torments they can inflict. If the figure is placed within a flame, the victim feels as though their muscles are on fire, and they suffer a -4 enhancement penalty to STR. If it is placed within a bowl of water, the victim feels as though their lungs have become partially water logged, and they suffer a -4 enhancement penalty to CON. If the figure is buried in the earth, the victim feels as though their movement has been constrained, suffering a -4 enhancement penalty to DEX. The penalties apply only so long as the yackti figure is kept in earth, fire or water and the yackti figure and the target are on the same plane. Only one creature can be affected by any individual yackti figure; placing the hair or blood of more than one creature in the yackti figure causes it to have no effect on any creature.
A Remove Curse spell removes the penalty, but the same penalty or a different one can be applied by removing the yackti figure and placing it in earth, fire or water again. The only sure way to be rid of the penalty is to remove the blood or hair from the yackti figure or destroy the yackti figure.
Prerequisite: Craft
Wondrous Item, Bestow Curse, Locate Creature, Wish
Aura: Strong Necromancy
Caster Level: 17th
Market Price: 60,000gp
Cost to Create:
Base Cost: 30,000gp
XP Cost: 2,400
AC: 11
Hit Points: 0
Hardness: 0
Break DC: 5
Weight: 1 ounce
Based on an entry in Dragon Magazine #300 October 2002 by Wesley Schneider