The Gambler’s Knuckle

“Some dice are fair. Some are loaded. This one’s got teeth, lad—and it bites both ways.”

The Gambler’s Knuckle is a petrified knucklebone, yellowed by age and etched with symbols of fate: a cup, a blade, a broken crown, and a blank face. It rolls itself sometimes, usually when you don’t want it to. They say it belonged to a cursed cardsharp who won every game—until the day his luck turned, and never stopped turning. He bet on his soul. He lost. The Knuckle’s been flipping fates ever since.

Mike keeps it in a tin behind the bar. He says it rolls for him when no one’s watching. “It ain’t always wrong,” he grunts, “just rude.”

It gives a gift and takes it back. All in one toss.
👉 Want to gamble with power, risk, and just a little spite? The Gambler’s Knuckle waits in the Armory. Or roll the bones with us here.

The Gambler’s Knuckle – Wondrous Item (Trinket)

Rarity: Uncommon
Attunement: No
Slot: Pocket, pouch, or cursed necklace slot
Weight: Less than trust (0.1 lb)
Special: Roll and Pay

• Roll of Fortune (1/day):
  Once per day, you may roll the Knuckle (or flip a coin). Choose one ability check, attack roll, or saving throw you are about to make:

  • You gain advantage.
    After this, at any point before the next long rest, another roll you make is made at disadvantage, chosen randomly by the DM.

• Fickle Charm (Flavor):
  NPCs with a gambling background, or those under fate-related curses, may recognize the Knuckle and react with suspicion, envy, or awe. It’s not just a charm—it’s a legend that walks.

GM Notes:

This is classic mid-game flavor: one neat trick, one automatic cost. Great for rogues, swindlers, or divine luck-themed characters. Slide it into tavern vaults, cursed casinos, or lost gambler tombs. Makes for excellent “final table” drama.

Pair it with:

• Coin of the Lost Patron for gambler synergy

• If It Feels Like Work, Yer Doin’ It Wrong

• The Paladin Who Can’t Lie, But Carries a Shield That Does

• Yer Desire for Drama Ain’t Worth the Table’s Sanity

• About Mike’s Tavern

Every win’s got a cost. Every edge leaves a scar. This one just keeps score.
👉 Feeling lucky? Feeling dumb? Feeling brave? Then pick up The Gambler’s Knuckle. Just don’t blame us when the wrong roll matters most.

FAQ

Q: Can I choose when the penalty roll happens?
A: No. That’s the point. The Knuckle chooses. And it’s a jerk.

Q: Can I use this on a death save?
A: You can. And you might live. But what’ll the payback roll be, hm?

Q: Can it be destroyed?
A: Technically. But rumor has it it just shows up in someone else’s dice pouch. Still warm.