The Pliers

While intended for weird modern games like Liminal Horror or Odd Luck Charms, this MOSAIC Strict and CERAMIC Strict weird item is system neutral and can be used in any tabletop roleplaying game.

It's designed to be printed on the front and back of a bridge playing card. But you don't have to download the images in order to have the text, especially if the type is a little tiny for you. The download includes a text file, and the entire text of the object is below.

The download also contains an alternative longer and shorter version of the item description, both as card fronts and text files. Those versions are not below; you'll have to download them.

The Pliers

MOSAIC Strict and CERAMIC Strict Item

Written by Kirt A. Dankmyer

These look like an ordinary, relatively modern pair of pliers. When picked up for the 1st time, the player (not the character) decides whether the information on how the pliers work is given to the character by a stern, deep telepathic voice, or not.

The pliers can close and seal holes, gates, openings, etc. of any size, from doors to planar gates to human mouths, henceforth called portals. To close a portal, point the pliers at the portal and open and close them at least 3 times while thinking about the particular portal that will be closed. The portal will be sealed as appropriate: A door might close and lock, a mouth might be sewn shut, etc. The more times the pliers are "pumped," the more solidly the portal will be sealed, until after 10+ open-close cycles, the portal will simply disappear.

Each use of the object drains exactly 1/23rd of the user's life force, as if they were wounded with a hammer. The player may decide whether or not the character's immune system is compromised or not and whether or not they sweat blood.