John Macpherson's Ladle

Origin
Captain John Macpherson was a 19th century Scottish farmer and soldier who served under King George III of England. Now known as the Black Officer of Ballachroan, Macpherson was infamous throughout Scotland as a malevolent, underhanded man who was in league with the Devil.

After several decades of military service, Macpherson became a recruitment officer for King George's army. In those days, many recruitment officers employed less than honorable tactics to get soldiers, including getting them to drunkenly enlist. Macpherson used more creative tactics, however, including hosting local dances and loaning uniforms to young men who wanted to impress the ladies - only to inform these men that by wearing the uniform, they had enlisted. They were shipped off to

In late December of 1799, the Captain and his four attendants, as well as several deerhounds, rode out to his lodge in the Gaick Forest, and straight into a raging snowstorm. After several days of no word from the party, a local man discovered the lodge gone, wiped out by not one, but three avalanches. The Captain and his attendants were found dead from the disaster.

Effects
When not fighting or enlisting, John Macpherson was a very successful farmer and amateur chemist, who was responsible for introducing improved farming tactics, including seeding the peat soil with limestone. This ladle, which Macpherson would use when enlisting soldiers, was chemically enhanced through his efforts, raising serotonin levels of people who drank the ale it touched. This made his victims more confident and motivated, and thus easier to recruit.

Because the ladle was found on his person when he died, it is suspected that Macpherson's weather-buffeted party used the ladle in order to keep their strength during the snowstorm. Infused with the disaster that eventually befell them, the ladle will cause fatal bad luck for whoever drinks from it. This can be prevented with continual use, but the level of catastrophe will only increase.