2) Maybe one-off items with a special enchantment and name (Exclusive like Legend Titles) might be nice. They could be part of an IC interaction with the gods that tie in with the SWP?
I am COMPLETELY in love with and am stalking Roskuld's latest quest for Sparkmarrow you know. Very cool and totally where this idea came from >_____>
I will add examples as I think of them but toddler singing along to Dora the Explorer is not very inspiring right now.
(maybe also something unique for the entries that place last like a temporary health complication relevant to the SWP, lol - like strangles - that spans the length of the plot... I think I'm obsessed)
I like one-off companions as mentioned by Jen too. (Last placers could have fleas for the plot!)