Head of the Ogre

This grotesque item appears to be the preserved, shrunken head of an ogre mage, fitted with a leather strap that fastens around the wearer's neck. Once donned, the head is no longer removable by mundane means: its tongue lengthens, its eyes open, and it grafts itself to the wearer, sprouting from one shoulder as a fully functional second head.

The second head is a distinct intelligence with its own personality: petty, ambitious, and convinced of its own superiority. It speaks Common and Giant, and shares your senses but not your thoughts. It cannot be silenced, gagged, or muffled; if you try to muffle it, it will retaliate.

While wearing the Head, you gain access to a small repertoire of arcane spells which the ogre head can cast on your behalf. Choose three 1st- or 2nd-rank spells when the item is first donned. As a swift action, you may direct the Head to cast one of these spells; it uses its own spell attack modifier (+5) and DC (13). The Head will only cast a spell if it agrees with the request. Spells use the standard recharge or rest costs of those spells.

Curse: Once per encounter, on your turn, the Head may attempt to seize control of your body. You must pass a Wis save (DC 13) or lose your standard action that turn as the Head uses it for its own purposes (typically: insulting your allies, threatening bystanders, casting one of its spells offensively, or attempting to walk you toward food). The Head cannot force you to harm yourself or willingly enter mortal danger, but it has very different ideas about what counts as either.

Removing the Head requires a Remove Curse effect or similar magic. Until removed, even sleep does not silence it; you must take long rests with one ear stuffed.