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Karakia 719 of the Living Assay

—

by

Dale
in

Lore: Forged during the late Renaissance era on the island state of Badarian, this specialized botanical and biological testing instrument was crafted by a renowned technomancer-herbalist who sought a reliable method to identify unknown toxins, magical blights, and chemical compounds in the field. Recognizing that native flora and organic samples react directly to acoustic vibrations and ambient magic, the creator integrated fine silver testing prongs and an internal crystal reservoir with ancient Polynesian incantations of discernment. By reciting specific diagnostic Karakia directly into the resonant aperture while exposing a specimen to the prongs, alchemists and field researchers could immediately observe the sample’s biological reactions without requiring a full laboratory setup.

Description: Karakia 719 of the Living Assay is a compact, palm-sized cylinder crafted from polished electrum and reinforced brass. One end features three retractable, fine silver prongs surrounding a small glass vial housing a tiny Tier 1 magic crystal. The body of the cylinder is inscribed with delicate spiral runes, cellular patterns, and diagnostic symbols. A small, fluted aperture on the rear allows the user to whisper or chant directly into the device, causing the internal crystal and silver prongs to pulse with a pale emerald glow when organic samples are tested.

Detailed Stats

  • Item Rank: Common
  • Tier Level: Tier 1
  • Target Avatar Tier: Tier 1
  • Gear Slot: Hand Slot (Held / Tool Attachment)
  • Attunement Type: Simple Attunement (1 minute of vocal tuning while testing a known liquid sample)
  • Item Armor Check (AC): 1
  • Item Resilience: 10
  • Item Health Points: 10 plus maximum avatar health points
  • Mass: 1.0 pound
  • Ranged Usage: Simple (Touch / 5 feet beam)

Passive Magics

  • Analytical Resonance: While holding or operating the device, the user gains a diagnostic aura that enhances sensory perception when examining plants, animal fluids, or unknown chemical concoctions, providing a bonus to field identification.
  • Toxin Mitigation Aura: Generates a subtle 3-foot protective field around the user’s hands and face, reducing the risk of accidental contact poisoning or airborne spore inhalation while conducting bioassays on hazardous specimens.
  • Cellular Memory Retention: The internal crystal automatically records the energetic signature of the last five analyzed organic samples, allowing the user to instantly recognize identical compounds upon sight or touch.

Activable Magics

  • Incantation of Elemental Scrutiny (Normal Chant): By whispering a brief three-line diagnostic karakia directly into the aperture while touching a sample with the silver prongs (taking less than 6 seconds as an action), the crystal flashes bright emerald to reveal whether the sample is toxic, venomous, magical, or mundane.
  • Chanted Ritual of Deep Extraction (Ritual Chant): The avatar recites a detailed diagnostic karakia continuously for greater than 6 seconds while drawing a fluid sample into the glass reservoir using a fluid collector needle. This process isolates and amplifies the core active ingredient of the fluid, increasing the efficacy of any consumable potion or alchemical recipe crafted from it by up to 25%.
  • Pulse of Neutralizing Frequency (Silent Release): The avatar depresses the rear plunger without vocalizing a word, casting an immediate burst of neutralizing magical force through the prongs into a living target or contaminated object. Because this spell is cast silently without verbal chanting, its magic energy is reduced by 25%, dealing base force/alchemical damage plus 1d4 tier damage to an aggressive organic entity or purging minor surface toxins within 5 feet.

Tags: Karakia, Tier 1, Common, Gear, Tool, Hand Slot, Bioassay, Alchemical, Diagnostic, Analysis, Identification, Fluid Collector, Electrum, Brass, Attunement, Herbalism, Botany, Chemical, Forensic, Reagent, Laboratory, Catalyst, Organic, Research, Medicine, Pathology

Acquisition and Commerce of Karakia 719 of the Living Assay

  • Alchemical Supply and Apothecary Guildhalls Located within dedicated crafting districts of central city capitals and major coastal state hubs, these orderly establishments serve licensed herbalists, apothecaries, and guild researchers. The master alchemists in these shops understand the exact electrical and magical conductivity required to calibrate the electrum prongs with testing reagents. Purchasing Karakia 719 of the Living Assay directly from a guild supplier costs 15 silver pieces. If the buyer holds active membership in the local Herbalists or Alchemists Guild, they receive a 10% discount per character tier, reducing the price to 13 silver pieces and 5 nickel pieces for a tier 1 avatar. These shopkeepers will buy a clean, undamaged testing device from an avatar for approximately 1 silver piece and 5 nickel pieces, recording the seller’s name and credentials in their shop ledgers for official records.
  • Docksides, Market Stalls, and Roadside Herbalist Shacks Found in busy port cities, small rural towns, and along state trade roads patrolled by island militaries, these modest family-run shops sell general field supplies, dried herbs, and basic glass vials. Because access to specialized testing tools is limited in these rural hubs, shopkeepers adjust the price based on local crop blights, potion demand, and shipping costs. Buying this item at a roadside apothecary shack costs between 20 silver pieces and 30 silver pieces depending on the remoteness of the island state. These family-run merchants operate strictly on a buyer beware basis and will haggle when purchasing the item from adventuring party members, typically offering around 1 silver piece per tier of the seller.
  • Black-Market Alchemical Dens and Smuggler Haven Markets Hidden in dark city alleys or subterranean trading posts outside municipal government oversight, black-market fences trade in unregistered diagnostic tools, illicit poisons, and stolen guild equipment. All transactions require direct hand-to-hand exchange of physical gold coins, bypassing the World Bank completely. Purchasing Karakia 719 of the Living Assay through black-market channels costs a flat fee of 2 gold pieces and 5 electrum pieces with no guild discounts applied. Sellers offering the device to a black-market fence will receive up to 3 silver pieces if the fence has an immediate buyer for poison-testing tools, and the fence will keep the origin of the inventory completely secret from local city guards or guild officials.

Tactical Roleplay Applications in Diverse Environments

  • Paved City Streets and Crowded Guild Districts In the busy market thoroughfares, guild plazas, and urban alleyways of major island cities, Karakia 719 of the Living Assay serves as a vital tool for detecting hidden threats and managing hostile encounters. When taking a defensive posture during an urban investigation or street encounter, an avatar uses the device to quickly screen offered food, tavern drinks, or medical salves before consumption. When ambushed by guild assassins or rogue apothecaries wielding poisoned blades, the user executes a normal chant while holding the device forward; the bright emerald flash identifies the exact nerve toxin or paralytic agent on the enemy’s weapons, allowing the avatar and party members to brace for specific saving throws and adjust their combat strategy. For offensive maneuvers in urban skirmishes, the avatar depresses the rear plunger to trigger a silent release. By lunging forward, the user drives the silver prongs into an opponent, discharging a compressed pulse of alchemical force directly into their body. This deals immediate force damage, disrupts the foe’s physical posture, and temporarily neutralizes any active alchemical buffs or potion effects the target has consumed.
  • High-Altitude Cloud City Cable-Bridges and Floating Mages’ Districts On the high-altitude walkways, open-air greenhouses, and hanging gardens suspended between floating mage towers, environmental dangers involve aerial spores, toxic magical flora, and volatile atmospheric vapors. Defensively, an avatar exploring a floating botanical garden uses the device’s passive toxin mitigation aura to safely navigate dense thickets of spore-emitting plants without inhaling lethal toxins. If targeted by aggressive plant creatures or aerial beasts carrying venomous stingers along narrow cable bridges, the avatar enters a ritual chant while holding the device toward the threat. The resulting extended diagnostic scan reveals the creature’s biological weaknesses and cellular vulnerabilities to the rest of the party, granting tactical advantage on subsequent attacks while forming a protective sonic-alchemical buffer. Offensively, the avatar can target aerial beasts or hostile mages by unleashing a focused pulse of neutralizing frequency. Directing the silver prongs toward a flying creature disrupts its internal magic-crystalline cell alignment or neutralizes its natural venom sacks, causing the creature to falter in mid-air and fall toward the sheer drop below the floating disk.
  • Subterranean Cave Systems and Industrial Steam Tunnels Deep within dark cavernous megacities, damp mushroom forests, and high-pressure steam pipe conduits, encounters involve hazardous fungi, contaminated water pools, and subterranean beasts. On the defensive side, the avatar relies on the item’s cellular memory retention to instantly spot dangerous subterranean molds and polluted steam runoff without having to stop for lengthier lab tests. If a steam pipe ruptures or a subterranean monster unleashes a cloud of toxic gas in a tight tunnel, the user performs a rapid normal chant; the device emits a localized neutralizing field that purges airborne contaminants in a 5-foot radius, creating a safe breathing pocket for the avatar while retreating down the stone shaft. Offensively, the enclosed geometry of stone tunnels amplifies the impact of the device’s deep extraction and neutralizing frequencies. The avatar can collect a fluid sample from a venomous cave spider using a fluid collector needle and perform a ritual chant to isolate its core toxin. This refined compound can then be applied to party weapons or discharged via a silent release pulse directly into a subterranean foe, causing severe internal cellular disruption and driving the target back against the cavern walls.

Perception of Activation:

  • Sight
    • User’s Perspective: The electrum cylinder and fine silver prongs burst into a vibrant emerald illumination, causing the etched spiral runes and cellular patterns to glow brightly against the brass casing. The internal glass reservoir fills with a translucent green light as the small crystal pulses in cadence with the user’s whisper.
    • Observer’s Perspective: Onlookers see a sudden, sharp flare of pale green light radiate from the palm-sized tool, illuminating the operator’s hands and face while casting long, geometric shadows across nearby tables or terrain.
    • Positives: The bright emerald glow provides immediate visual feedback during testing and acts as a clear directional light source in dark laboratories, tunnels, or dense forests.
    • Negatives: The vivid green flash destroys stealth in low-light environments, drawing immediate attention from hostile guards, rival alchemists, or feral beasts.
  • Hearing
    • User’s Perspective: A soft, high-pitched hum echoes back into the user’s ear through the rear aperture, vibrating in perfect resonance with the whispered diagnostic karakia. When an organic sample is analyzed, the pitch shifts into a clean, musical chime.
    • Observer’s Perspective: Nearby observers hear a gentle, rhythmic metallic buzz that sounds like a mechanical insect, accompanied by the user’s amplified, echoing whisper.
    • Positives: The tonal shift provides an audible confirmation of chemical reactions without requiring the user to look directly at toxic reagents.
    • Negatives: The continuous humming tone can be picked up by sharp-eared creatures or guards in quiet, enclosed spaces.
  • Touch
    • User’s Perspective: A mild, soothing warmth spreads through the metal cylinder into the user’s palm, accompanied by a subtle micro-vibration that feels like a purring cat. The protective field gives off a faint sensation of cool, refreshing air around the wrists and hands.
    • Observer’s Perspective: Anyone standing close enough to brush against the active device feels a faint static tingle in the air and a slight pulse of localized heat emanating from the glass reservoir.
    • Positives: The soothing warmth prevents hand fatigue during long testing sessions and confirms that the internal magic crystal is active.
    • Negatives: High-power bursts or prolonged rapid activations can make the brass body uncomfortably hot to hold without leather gloves.
  • Smell
    • User’s Perspective: The air drawn into the user’s nose smells distinctly of crushed pine needles, clean rain, and a faint sharp tang of fresh ozone, completely masking any surrounding foul odors.
    • Observer’s Perspective: Bystanders catch a brief whiff of fresh herbal pine and clean atmospheric ozone that momentarily covers up local sewer, cave, or chemical smells.
    • Positives: Effectively neutralizes pungent or sickening fumes from decaying corpses, toxic bogs, or volatile potions.
    • Negatives: The crisp pine and ozone scent leaves a distinct olfactory trail that tracking hounds or monsters can follow downwind.
  • Taste
    • User’s Perspective: A crisp, mint-like coolness settles on the roof of the mouth and tongue as the diagnostic karakia is chanted into the aperture, leaving a clean, herbal aftertaste.
    • Observer’s Perspective: Observers do not experience a direct taste, though individuals hit by a neutralizing discharge report a brief, mineral static taste on their lips.
    • Positives: Keeps the throat moist and refreshed during repetitive chanting and diagnostic recitations.
    • Negatives: Can temporarily dull taste sensitivity for a few minutes after testing extremely bitter or acidic compounds.
  • Mind’s Eye Perception
    • User’s Perspective: The user receives a clear stream of quantitative data in their mental view, detailing the precise chemical composition, toxicity percentage, magical affinity, and durability points of the tested sample.
    • Observer’s Perspective: Individuals using active identification abilities or focusing their Mind’s Eye on the item perceive a Tier 1 tool matrix expanding outward, displaying its current health points, resilience score, and stored sample signatures.
    • Positives: Grants instant, un-degradable knowledge of complex chemical structures and hazardous reagents without needing reference books.
    • Negatives: Processing multiple rapid streams of complex alchemical data in quick succession can cause mild mental fatigue or brief headaches.
  • True Sight Perception
    • User’s Perspective: Viewed through True Sight, brilliant streams of ultraviolet-green magic flow from the ambient weave into the fluted aperture, concentrating inside the magic crystal before fanning out through the silver prongs into a radiant lattice.
    • Observer’s Perspective: A viewer with True Sight sees a dense, glowing web of green arcane threads wrapping around the user’s hands, forming a protective energy shell that filters out ambient magical contamination.
    • Positives: Allows the user to trace the exact path of magical corruption or venom spreading through a target’s circulatory system.
    • Negatives: The intense ultraviolet brilliance given off by the active crystal can briefly disorient individuals whose vision relies entirely on True Sight.
  • Soul Sight Perception
    • User’s Perspective: The user senses a quiet, harmonious connection between their spiritual awareness and the living essence inside the tested sample, perceiving whether the sample came from a thriving, diseased, or dead organism.
    • Observer’s Perspective: An observer using Soul Sight sees a thin, pulsing emerald thread connecting the user’s soul aura to the item’s crystal reservoir, beating in time with the user’s pulse.
    • Positives: Provides deep intuitive insight into the spiritual health and origin of organic materials, revealing whether a sample was harvested ethically or corrupted by dark magic.
    • Negatives: Analyzing dark, corrupted, or necromantically tainted samples can transmit a momentary cold, unsettling jolt to the user’s spiritual connection.

Crafting Recipe: Karakia 719 of the Living Assay

Materials Needed

  • 1 electrum cylinder casing (polished, pre-bored with a fluted rear aperture)
  • 3 fine silver prongs (retractable, high-purity silver)
  • 1 glass fluid reservoir vial (reinforced, heat-resistant glass)
  • 1 Tier 1 Magic Crystal (coin-sized, harvested from a magic-bearing creature)
  • 1 fluid collector needle assembly (small gauge, brass-fitted)
  • 1 dram of refined tree sap resin (for insulation and physical-magical bonding)
  • 2 feet of fine electrum wire (for internal circuit conduits)

Tools Required

  • 1 precision jewelers’ chisel set (for carving microscopic cellular runes)
  • 1 alchemical soldering iron (steam-heated)
  • 1 miniature glassblowing torch
  • 1 fine calibration caliper
  • 1 fluid collector priming syringe

Skill Requirements

  • Alchemical Crafting: Skill Level 6 (Minimum skill level 5 plus 1 for Tier 1 output)
  • Arcane Engraving / Runecrafting: Skill Level 6
  • Precision Metalworking: Skill Level 5

Crafting Steps

  • Step 1: Metal Casing and Prong Assembly
    • Machine the electrum cylinder casing to form the outer body, boring a fluted aperture at the rear to receive vocal vibrations.
    • Fit the three retractable fine silver prongs around the front housing using precision calipers to ensure symmetrical alignment.
    • Mount the internal mechanical spring latch so the prongs can extend and retract smoothly during field operation.
  • Step 2: Rune Engraving and Reservoir Integration
    • Using the jewelers’ chisel set, hand-carve fine cellular pattern runes, diagnostic symbols, and spiral wind patterns around the outer electrum frame.
    • Heat the glass fluid reservoir vial with the glassblowing torch and fuse it directly inside the front housing beneath the silver prongs.
    • Attach the fluid collector needle assembly to the base of the glass reservoir to allow fluid drawing during bioassay sampling.
  • Step 3: Crystal Matrix and Wiring Conduit
    • Insert the coin-sized Tier 1 Magic Crystal inside the glass reservoir chamber, wrapping it tightly with the fine electrum wire.
    • Run the ends of the electrum wire along the inner wall to connect directly with the bases of the three silver prongs and the rear aperture plate.
    • Seal all wire channels and crystal mountings using the refined tree sap resin, applying heat with the alchemical soldering iron to set the resin into a permanent conductive bond.
  • Step 4: Vocal Calibration and Activation
    • Fill the glass reservoir with a known, neutral mineral fluid using the fluid collector priming syringe.
    • Hold the device to the mouth and whisper a three-line diagnostic karakia continuously for 15 minutes while maintaining a steady flow of thought through the electrum body.
    • Observe the crystal and silver prongs; when the runes glow bright emerald and the unit emits a clear metallic hum upon touching a test sample, the crafting process is complete and ready for simple attunement.

Legend of Emerald Testing Tube

In the days before the long ago, when the big island of Badarian was not yet named by the king, there walked a man who did search for leaves and blood. His name in the old paper is written as The Seeker of Potion-Roots, but sometimes the bad scribes do call him The Squeezeman of Plants.

He did walk through the deep woods and the wet marshes where the great giant beasts did drop their foul fluids. In those dark years, many people did drink the water of the rivers and did turn green in the face, dying with big stomach pains because they did not know which sap was life and which sap was rot. The Seeker of Potion-Roots had much sadness in his heart because his sister did chew a black mushroom of the cave and her soul did fly away into the sea of purgatory before her time.

On a morning of the week of Blooming, when the bright sun Helios was covered by the great gas planet VaporSphere, the seeker did meet an old woman of the forest state. She did speak to him in words that were broken by many scribes copying from old skins. The text says: “Why do you put dirty water into your mouth, O foolish picker of weeds? Do you not know that the earth speaks with a silent tongue that can be heard through the silver wire?”

The seeker did bow his head and speak with tears: “The state judges demand 1,000 gold pieces for a real lab house, and the general store sellers do charge many nickels for clear bottles. My fingers are burnt by acid, and my eyes are blind to the sickness hidden inside the sweet juice.”

The old woman took a tube of electrum metal, which was hollow like a bone, and she did place within it a glowing green pebble cut from the belly of a deep lake monster. She did fasten three long needles of shiny silver to the front mouth of the tube using sticky sap from a hardwood tree. She told him a great secret, translated by the old scribe as: “When you touch the wet stuff of a dead beast or the oil of a strange vine, you must not remain quiet like a stone under the mud. You must whisper the three short words of the diagnostic Karakia into the back hole. Whisper them with the breath of your lungs. One breath for the poison, one breath for the magic, and one breath for the life.”

The seeker did hold the metal tube and did poke the three silver needles into a dark puddle of swamp water. He raised his mouth to the rear opening and whispered the ancient incantation. The scroll describes the great wonder with poor spelling and missing phrases: “And behold, the silver needles did shine with a light like a bright green fire. The green pebble inside the glass did hum like a fat bee in a jar. A sweet smell of pine trees and storm-wind did come out of the tube, and the seeker did know in his head that the water was full of bad rot-bugs that would make his belly burst.”

For forty years, the seeker did travel across the seventy-three island nations using the emerald testing tube. When evil men in the city market did try to sell false healing salves made of snake oil and swamp dirt to the poor villagers, he did touch their bottles with his silver prongs and whisper the chant. The scroll notes: “The tube did make a loud chime like a church bell, and the green light did turn dark like a muddy pond. The state guards did see the bad truth through their Mind’s Eye, and the liar was thrown into the stone prison, while the seeker did receive ten silver coins from the happy town mayor.”

When his hair became white like snow, the seeker did give the testing instrument to his youngest apprentice, who was a maker of field medicines. But the ancient translation records that the young apprentice was lazy of tongue and did drop the electrum tube into a hot steam vent while running from a horned beast. The glass vial did crack, and the green crystal did shatter into twenty-two small shards upon the rocks. Artisans from many guildhalls gathered the shiny pieces and made many copies of the original tube, calling them the Living Assays, so that all who search for truth in the herbs and waters of Saṃsāra might test the world without fear.

Moral of the story: He who drinks of the dark well without testing its depth shall find death at the bottom, but he who seeks truth through patient measure shall turn even the deadliest poison into life.

Suggested conversions to other systems:

Call of Cthulhu (7th Edition) – Living Assay Specimen Cylinder

  • Artifact Classification: Occult Diagnostic Tool & Forensic Instrument
  • Era & Origin: Industrial Era, created by island apothecaries combining traditional vocal incantations with chemical testing prongs.
  • Equipment Slot / Carrying: Handheld / Tool Belt (Occupies minor personal gear slot).
  • Sanity Cost: 0/1 Sanity point upon witnessing the unnatural green luminescence and immediate cellular breakdown of organic samples.
  • Magic Point Cost: 1 Magic Point per activation.
  • Associated Skills: Science (Chemistry), Science (Biology), Science (Forensics), Pharmacy, or Medicine.
  • System Mechanics & Syntax
    • Analytical Resonance (Passive Ability): While carrying or operating the device, the user gains a +20% bonus to Science (Chemistry), Science (Biology), and Pharmacy checks made to identify unknown liquids, plants, or poisons in the field.
    • Toxin Mitigation Aura (Passive Ability): The subtle pressure field grants a Bonus Die on Constitution checks against airborne spores, volatile fumes, or contact poisons when examining hazardous samples.
    • Incantation of Elemental Scrutiny (Active Effect): The investigator expends 1 Magic Point and whispers a brief diagnostic chant while touching a liquid or tissue sample with the prongs. The cylinder immediately flashes green to indicate whether the substance is toxic, venomous, magical, or benign, bypassing the need for a full laboratory analysis.
    • Pulse of Neutralizing Frequency (Active Effect): The investigator expends 1 Magic Point and depresses the plunger without vocalizing. The device discharges a compressed pulse of neutralizing energy at an organic target within 5 feet. The target suffers 1d4 points of force/chemical damage and has any active chemical or potion effects suppressed for 1d4 rounds. Because this activation is executed without vocal chanting, the impact energy is reduced by 25%.
    • Chanted Ritual of Deep Extraction (Active Ritual): By chanting continuously for at least 1 minute while drawing a fluid sample, the user isolates the core chemical component. Any drug, medicine, or poison crafted from this sample has its potency or damage increased by +25%.

Blades in the Dark – The Assay Syringe

  • Item Classification: Fine Arcane Alchemical Gear
  • Tier & Load: Tier 1 Item (1 Load when carried on a belt or bandolier).
  • Quality: Fine (+1 Quality bonus to relevant action rolls when analyzing, extracting, or neutralizing alchemical substances).
  • Keywords: Alchemical, Arcane, Diagnostic, Forensic, Tool.
  • System Mechanics & Syntax
    • Diagnostic Precision (Passive Ability): When you take an action using Study or Tinker to examine, identify, or extract unknown poisons, drugs, or magical reagents while whispering an incantation, you gain +1d to your action roll due to the item’s arcane-chemical resonance.
    • Toxin Neutralization (Active Ability – 1 Stress): Spend 1 Stress and depress the rear plunger without vocalizing to discharge a neutralizing energy wave into a contaminated target or object. This action purges minor toxins or inflicts a Tier 1 force/alchemical impact on an organic foe, setting the effect of your defensive or neutralizing maneuver to High.
    • Refined Extraction (Active Ability – 1 Stress): Spend 1 Stress while taking time to chant a full diagnostic invocation while extracting a biological sample. The resulting reagent increases the potency of the next alchemical creation or potion made with it, raising the quality level of the crafted item by +1.

Dungeons & Dragons (2024 Revision) – Living Assay Cylinder

  • Item Type: Wondrous Item
  • Rarity: Common
  • Attunement: Requires Attunement (1 minute of vocal tuning while testing a fluid sample)
  • Slot: Tool / Held Item
  • Armor Class & Durability: Armor Class 11, Hit Points 10 + owner’s maximum Hit Points.
  • System Mechanics & Syntax
    • Analytical Aura (Passive Effect): While holding this item, you have Advantage on Intelligence (Arcana), Intelligence (Nature), and Wisdom (Medicine) checks made to identify plants, poisons, chemical compounds, or biological samples.
    • Incantation of Scrutiny (Bonus Action): As a Bonus Action, you whisper a brief 1-round chant into the aperture while touching a sample with the prongs. The crystal illuminates to reveal whether the substance is toxic, poisonous, magical, or mundane.
    • Silent Neutralizing Burst (Action): As an Action, you press the plunger without speaking a word, releasing a 5-foot emanation of neutralizing force. A target creature within 5 feet must make a DC 13 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, the target takes 1d4 Force damage and any active potion or alchemical buff on it is suppressed until the end of its next turn. On a successful save, the target takes half as much damage and suffers no suppression. Because this magic is released silently without chanting, the damage is reduced by 25% from its full potential.

Knave (2nd Edition) – Cylinder of the Assayer

  • Item Slots: 1 Item Slot (Carried in hand or stored in a tool pouch).
  • Item Quality: 3 Quality (When Quality reaches 0, the item breaks and must be repaired).
  • Armor Defense Bonus: +1 Defense against poison and chemical hazards while held.
  • Tags: Utility, Alchemical, Diagnostic, Tool.
  • System Mechanics & Syntax
    • Field Identification (Passive Effect): Add +2 to all Wisdom or Intelligence checks made to identify unknown liquids, plants, monsters’ venom, or alchemical reagents while holding this tool.
    • Diagnostic Whisper (Active Spell / 1 Action): Whispering a 1-round incantation while touching a substance with the silver prongs immediately reveals its exact chemical effects, toxicity, and magical properties to the user.
    • Neutralizing Shock (Active Attack / 1 Action): Expend 1 point of Item Quality and depress the plunger without chanting to emit a concentrated force beam. An organic target within 5 feet must make a Constitution Save against your attack roll or take 1d4 Force/Alchemical damage and have any active poison or chemical effect within its body neutralized.
    • Deep Extraction (Active Ritual / 1 Turn): Spending 1 full exploration turn chanting over a biological sample isolates its pure essence, granting a +2 bonus to any roll made to craft potions or remedies using that ingredient.

Fate Core System – The Living Assay Cylinder

  • Item Type: Personal / Field Tool Stunt Artifact
  • Aspects:
    • High-Concept Aspect: Electrum Biological Testing Cylinder
    • Invocation Aspect: Cellular Memory Resonance
    • Flaw Aspect: Conspicuous Emerald Glow and Whispered Chants
  • System Mechanics & Syntax
    • Analytical Scrutiny (Stunt): When you use Crafts or Investigate to examine, analyze, or identify unknown biological samples, poisons, or magical flora while whispering a diagnostic karakia, you gain a +2 bonus to your roll.
    • Refined Extraction (Stunt): Once per scene, by taking an action to chant a full-scene diagnostic invocation while drawing a fluid sample with a fluid collector, you isolate its core active ingredient. The next potion or alchemical creation crafted using this sample gains an extra free invoke on its created aspect.
    • Silent Neutralizing Pulse (Stunt): You can depress the rear plunger without speaking a word to discharge a neutralizing energy wave into an organic target or contaminated object. Spend 1 Fate Point to make a Crafts or Physique attack against a target in your immediate zone. Because the spell is cast silently without verbal chanting, the attack’s shift value is reduced by 1 on a successful hit.

Numenera & Cypher System – Living Assay Resonator

  • Level: Level 2 (Difficulty 2)
  • Form: A palm-sized electrum cylinder with retractable silver prongs and an internal glass reservoir, used for biological and chemical testing.
  • Depletion: 1 in 1d20 (Rolled after using an active neutralizing or extraction ability).
  • System Mechanics & Syntax
    • Diagnostic Precision (Passive Effect): While holding or operating the cylinder, any Intellect-based tasks made to identify, analyze, or process plants, animal fluids, poisons, or chemical compounds are eased by 1 level.
    • Toxin Shielding (Passive Effect): The user gains an asset (reducing task difficulty by 1 level) on Speed defense rolls against airborne spores, volatile fumes, or contact poisons when examining hazardous specimens.
    • Elemental Scrutiny (Active Ability – Cost: 1 Intellect Point): The user whispers a brief diagnostic chant for 1 round while touching a sample with the prongs. The cylinder flashes bright emerald, immediately revealing whether the sample is toxic, venomous, magical, or mundane.
    • Silent Neutralizing Burst (Active Ability – Cost: 2 Might Points): The user depresses the rear plunger without speaking a word, discharging a burst of neutralizing energy through the prongs at a target within immediate range (10 feet). An organic target takes 2 points of force/alchemical damage and has any active chemical or potion effects suppressed for 1 round. Because this activation is executed silently without vocal chanting, the impact deals 1 less point of damage than a standard chanted force spell.
    • Deep Extraction (Active Ability – Cost: 2 Intellect Points): By chanting continuously for 1 minute while drawing a fluid sample into the reservoir, the user isolates its core active component. Any cypher or artifact crafted using this sample has its effective level increased by +1.

Pathfinder (Second Edition) – Living Assay Cylinder

  • Item Name: Living Assay Cylinder (Item 2)
  • Traits: Magical, Alchemical, Divination, Evocation, Attachment
  • Usage: Held in 1 Hand; Bulk: L
  • Price: 35 gp
  • Hardness: 6; HP: 20 (BT 10)
  • System Mechanics & Syntax
    • Analytical Resonance (Passive): While holding the cylinder, you gain a +1 item bonus to Crafting checks to identify alchemical items, as well as Nature and Medicine checks to identify plants, poisons, or biological fluids.
    • Elemental Scrutiny [one-action] (Frequency: once per minute): Requirements: You touch a sample with the silver prongs while whispering a diagnostic karakia. Effect: The crystal flashes emerald, revealing whether the sample is toxic, venomous, magical, or mundane.
    • Chanted Deep Extraction [two-actions] (Frequency: once per day): Traits: Concentrated, Manipulate, Alchemical. Requirements: You chant a diagnostic karakia for 1 round while drawing a fluid sample. Effect: You isolate the core active ingredient of the sample. Any alchemical item crafted using this sample as an ingredient has its DC increased by +1 or its healing/damage output increased by +2.
    • Silent Neutralizing Burst [one-action] (Frequency: at-will): Traits: Force, Alchemical. Requirements: You depress the rear plunger without speaking a word. Effect: Emits a 5-foot emanation of neutralizing force. Target creatures in the area take 1d4 force damage with a DC 16 basic Fortitude save. On a failed save, any active potion or alchemical buff on the target is suppressed until the end of its next turn. Because this spell is cast silently without chanting, the damage is reduced by 25% (round down, minimum 1 damage).

Savage Worlds (Adventure Edition) – Living Assay Cylinder

  • Type: Arcane Device / Alchemical Tool
  • Rank: Novice
  • Weight: 1 lb
  • Power Points: 10 (Recharges 1 PP per hour)
  • System Mechanics & Syntax
    • Analytical Precision (Passive): The user receives a +1 bonus to Healing and Science tests made to analyze, identify, or treat poisons, diseases, biological samples, and alchemical substances.
    • Elemental Scrutiny (Active Power – 1 PP): The user whispers a diagnostic chant while touching a specimen with the silver prongs. This casts the detect arcana/poison power, immediately revealing the exact chemical properties, toxicity, and magical nature of the sample.
    • Deep Extraction (Active Power – 2 PP): By chanting a full-round ritual incantation while drawing a fluid sample, the user isolates its core compound. This casts the boost trait power on the user’s next Science (Alchemical) roll to craft potions or remedies using that ingredient.
    • Silent Neutralizing Wave (Active Power – 2 PP): The user depresses the plunger directly without speaking, casting a localized environmental protection/dispel power against a single target within 1 inch (2 yards). It deals 2d4 force/alchemical damage to an organic foe and neutralizes active chemical buffs or poisons. Because this activation is executed silently without vocal chanting, total damage output is reduced by 25% (subtract 2 from the total damage roll).

Shadowrun (6th World) – Living Assay Focus

  • Item Type: Alchemical Focus / Diagnostic Tool
  • Availability: 2(R)
  • Cost: 1,200 Nuyen
  • Rating: Rating 1
  • Karma Cost to Attune: 3 Karma (Simple attunement via 1 minute of vocal tuning while testing a fluid sample)
  • Device Rating: 1
  • System Mechanics & Syntax
    • Analytical Resonance (Passive Ability): While held or attached to a tool belt, the user receives a +1 Dice Pool bonus to Biotech, Chemistry, and Alchemy tests made to identify unknown biological specimens, toxins, or magical compounds.
    • Toxin Mitigation Aura (Passive Ability): Provides 1 point of Cover/Protection to the user against airborne spores, volatile fumes, or contact poisons when examining hazardous specimens.
    • Incantation of Elemental Scrutiny (Active Effect): The user spends a Minor Action to whisper a brief diagnostic chant into the aperture while touching a sample with the silver prongs. The cylinder flashes emerald, immediately revealing whether the substance is toxic, venomous, magical, or mundane.
    • Silent Neutralizing Shockwave (Active Effect): The user spends a Major Action to depress the rear plunger directly without speaking a word. All targets within a 2-meter radius are targeted by a Close-Range Alchemical Attack (Damage: 3S, Armor Penetration: -1). Any active potion or alchemical buff on a hit target is suppressed for 1 Combat Turn. Because this action is executed silently without vocal chanting, the Net Damage is reduced by 25% (round down).
    • Chanted Deep Extraction (Active Ritual): By spending 1 full minute chanting continuously while drawing a fluid sample with a fluid collector, the user isolates its core component. Any alchemical preparation crafted using this sample has its Potency increased by +1.

Starfinder (2nd Edition) – Living Assay Module

  • Item Level: Level 1
  • Price: 300 Credits
  • Bulk: L (Light)
  • Category: Tech-Magic Diagnostic Tool / Held Wondrous Item
  • Capacity: Self-Charging Arcane Battery (1 Charge / Hour)
  • System Mechanics & Syntax
    • Analytical Resonance (Passive): While holding this item, the operator gains a +1 item bonus to Life Science and Physical Science checks made to identify plants, poisons, chemical compounds, or alien biological samples.
    • Elemental Scrutiny [one-action] (Frequency: 1/Minute): Requirements: You touch a sample with the silver prongs while whispering a diagnostic incantation. Effect: The crystal flashes emerald, revealing whether the sample is toxic, venomous, magical, or mundane.
    • Chanted Deep Extraction [two-actions] (Frequency: 1/Day): Requirements: You chant a vocal ritual for 1 round while drawing a biological sample into the reservoir. Effect: You isolate the core active component of the sample. Any serum or medicinal item crafted using this sample as an ingredient has its DC increased by +1 or its effect duration increased by 25%.
    • Silent Neutralizing Burst [one-action] (Frequency: At-Will): Traits: Force, Alchemical, Tech-Magic. Requirements: You depress the rear plunger directly without speaking a word. Effect: Emits a 5-foot emanation of neutralizing force. Targets in the area take 1d4 force damage (DC 15 Fortitude save). On a failed save, active chemical buffs on the target are suppressed for 1 round. Because this activation is executed silently without chanting, the damage output is reduced by 25%.

Traveller (Mongoose 2nd Edition) – Resonance Assay Cylinder

  • Tech Level (TL): TL 4 (Mechanical Steam / High-Magic Hybrid Frame)
  • Item Type: Personal Tool / Forensic Kit
  • Mass: 0.5 kg
  • Price: Cr 150
  • System Mechanics & Syntax
    • Analytical Field (Passive Effect): When held or attached to a field kit, the user receives a +1 DM to Science (Biology), Science (Chemistry), and Medicine skill checks made to analyze unknown fluids, flora, or toxins.
    • Diagnostic Whisper (Active Effect): The user whispers a brief 1-round incantation into the rear aperture while probing a sample with the silver prongs. The cylinder immediately identifies the chemical composition, toxicity level, and magical properties of the substance without requiring laboratory equipment.
    • Silent Neutralizing Burst (Active Effect): The user depresses the plunger directly without vocalizing. The cylinder releases a directional neutralizing shockwave targeting a single individual within 2 meters. The target must succeed on an END Check (Difficulty 8+) or suffer 1d6-2 Force/Alchemical damage and have any active chemical or poison effects in its system suppressed for 1d6 rounds. Because this activation is executed silently without verbal chanting, total damage is reduced by 25%.
    • Chanted Deep Extraction (Active Effect): By spending 1 minute drawing a fluid sample while chanting continuously, the user isolates its pure essence. Any medical compound or poison synthesized from this sample receives a +2 DM to its effectiveness roll.

Warhammer (Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition) – Living Assay Cylinder

  • Item Rarity: Common
  • Item Type: Magical Tool / Trade Tool (Apothecary)
  • Encumbrance: 0 (1 when unmounted)
  • Attunement: Requires 1 minute of vocal tuning while testing a fluid sample.
  • System Mechanics & Syntax
    • Analytical Resonance (Passive Ability): While holding or operating the cylinder, the user gains a +10% bonus to Trade (Apothecary), Lore (Plants), and Heal Tests made to identify unknown liquids, poisons, or biological samples.
    • Toxin Mitigation Aura (Passive Ability): The user gains +1 Success Level (SL) on Toughness Tests made to resist airborne spores, poisonous fumes, or contact toxins when conducting field tests.
    • Incantation of Elemental Scrutiny (Active Effect): The user uses an Action to whisper a brief diagnostic karakia while touching a sample with the silver prongs. The crystal illuminates green, revealing whether the sample is toxic, venomous, magical, or mundane.
    • Resonant Neutralizing Blast (Active Effect): The user uses an Action to depress the rear plunger directly without speaking a word. A target within 2 yards must pass a Challenging (+0) Endurance Test or suffer a Damage +2 Force/Alchemical hit, and any active potion or chemical effect on the target is suppressed for 1 Round. Because this activation is executed silently without vocal chanting, total damage is reduced by 25%.
    • Chanted Deep Extraction (Active Ritual): By chanting continuously for 1 Minute while drawing a fluid sample into the reservoir, the user isolates its core active component. Any potion or salve crafted using this sample increases its SL by +1.