Distress Bead

Distress Bead
Type	Defensive Magical Item
Fields	Communicate, PerQuest
Cost	5 rupees

A Distress Bead appears as a small circular gem, usually colored red. The bead can be used on its own, or used as a material and worked into any item an Outfitter or Weaponsmith can craft.

In either case, to be of any use, the bead must first be attuned to its owner. This can usually be done by firmly placing one’s palm over the bead, and concentrating briefly. The owner can be changed at any time by repeating this ritual.

Regardless of the distance between the owner and her bead, she can at any time cause the bead to “activate” with a thought or a specific whispered phrase. Once activated, the bead will telepathically transmit a specific, quiet message to all intelligent beings within 1 mile of itself. This message will repeat routinely, usually at least once per minute.

The bead’s default message is a unique form of “help me,” which is magically translated to any intelligent creature in whatever language it best understands. Alternatively, the user can record in the bead a different message or sound to be played, though this message is not magically translated, and will not transmit at a volume above a whisper. Regardless of the message, the telepathic sound indicates the direction of the bead itself, just as a real sound would.

The bead will continue to resound its message until the owner dies, the owner mentally ends the message, or 24 hours have passed.

A Distress Bead’s far-reaching magic can only be used sparingly, regardless of how long its message transmits. As such, a single Distress Bead is a PerQuest treasure, and as such can only be used once per quest or dungeon.

Trivia

• Anyone using an Ear of Truth can block the sound transmitted by any number of Distress Beads.
• The Distress Bead treasure is an original creation by one of Hyrule Castle's members. Its concept is credited to Guy.