Gallow Hand
Gallow Hand is a magic item (wondrous item) of uncommon rarity.
This grisly trophy is the hand of a person hung at the gallows, dipped in wax rendered from their own fat and wicked with their own hair. The fingers of this strange and complicated remnant of a malcontent can be lit just like a normal candle to shed _bright light_ in a 5-foot radius and dim light for a further 10 feet. The light shed by a _gallow hand_ is only visible to its holder and is completely _invisible_ to all other creatures.
Alternatively, all five fingers of the hand can be lit as an action. If the hand is lit in this way, it sheds bright light in a 10-foot radius and dim light for a further 20 feet. This light is _invisible_ to the holder but visible to all other creatures. Any creature other than the holder that enters this area of light for the first time on its turn or starts its turn there must make a DC 13 Wisdom _saving throw_ or become _charmed_ . While charmed, a creature’s Speeds are reduced to 0 until the start of its next turn. Once lit in this way the _gallow hand_ burns for 1 minute, after which it deteriorates into a molten nub.
Mechanics
- type:
- Wondrous Item
- rarity:
- Uncommon
- requires attunement:
- false
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Sources
- Level Up Advanced 5e·OGL-1.0a·© Level Up Advanced 5e. OGL-1.0a. Via Open5e (open5e.com).
Last updated 6/19/2026·Tags: item, wondrous item, uncommon