Ballad of Fourteen Attendants

In halls of alabaster bright,
Where lords and ladies held their might,
Fourteen attendants took their stand,
Bound to serve with noble hand.

The eldest, with a weathered face,
Knew secrets of forgotten grace,
His wisdom whispered on the air,
A gentle guide beyond compare.

A maiden fair, with flowing hair,
Her touch a balm, beyond compare,
A healer true, with soothing art,
To mend a wound or weary heart.

A huntsman keen, with eyes so bright,
Tracked beasts of darkness and of night,
His arrows flew both swift and true,
Protecting those he held in view.

A bard, whose voice like honey poured,
Sang tales of battles, kings, and hoard,
With every note, a world unfurled,
And ancient legends once more whirled.

A scholar deep, in tomes engrossed,
Where secrets old were long embossed,
His mind a labyrinth of lore,
Unlocking mysteries evermore.

A smith, with hammer held aloft,
His anvil rang with rhythms soft,
From molten fire, he shaped and wrought,
Blades of power, finely sought.

A nimble youth, with footsteps light,
A courier swift, a guiding light,
Through tangled wood or city maze,
Word he bore, through endless days.

A cook, whose cauldron bubbled low,
With spice and herb, a fragrant blow,
Her dishes roused a drooping soul,
And kindled warmth within the whole.

A gardener green, with tender hand,
Nurtured blooms on barren land,
Her touch coaxed life from lifeless sod,
A whispered prayer to a waiting god.

A stable hand, with horses keen,
Whispered secrets, seldom seen,
His bond with mounts, a silent word,
Through fields and forests, spirits stirred.

A seamstress deft, with needle fine,
Fashioned garments, a silken shine,
Her stitches wove both form and grace,
A beauty born in humble space.

A jester bold, with laughter bright,
Dispelled the shadows with his light,
His wit a weapon, sharp and keen,
Revealing truths behind the scene.

Through feast and famine, joy and strife,
Their service bound, a way of life,
Fourteen attendants, loyal band,
The hidden heart of Saṃsāra’s land.

Carried Item: The “Ballad of Fourteen Attendants” is inscribed upon a set of fourteen simple wooden beads. Each bead bears a carved symbol representing one of the attendants described in the ballad (a weathered face, a healing hand, an arrow, a harp, etc.).

Magical Powers:

• Lore: The ballad carries the echoes of wisdom and experience from across Saṃsāra. When sung, it can provide the singer with fleeting insights on history, lore, or the motivations of others.
• Motivation: The stories within the ballad ignite a spark of determination within the singer and those who hear it. It imbues them with a sense of purpose and a reminder of the importance of simple, dedicated service.
• Positives:
  • The ballad grants a temporary boost to skills related to insight, perception, and any tasks that involve care, craftsmanship, or teamwork.
  • When sung in a place of power, it can faintly echo the presence of individuals who once embodied the qualities of the fourteen attendants, providing clues or faint guidance.
• Negatives:
  • The ballad’s magic is subtle and fleeting. Its effects are more akin to inspiration than tangible power.
  • If sung with ill intent or a selfish heart, the magic falters, potentially even causing confusion or minor mishaps.

Tags: Lore, Insight, Support, Teamwork

Use: The ballad is commonly sung by:

• Mentors or teachers looking to inspire their students or apprentices.
• Traveling bards in need of a tale that resonates with any audience.
• Leaders seeking to rally support and boost the morale of their followers.

Magic Manifested: When sung, the beads faintly glow, and a spectral echo of the attendant corresponding to the current verse momentarily appears beside the singer, offering whispers of guidance or a symbolic representation of their skills.

Slot: None (the ballad itself is sung, though the beads act as a focus)

Stats: None (the ballad’s power lies in its effects on the singer and surroundings)

Size: (For the beads) Each bead is approximately the size of a large marble.

Weight: (For the beads) The entire set would weigh about the same as a handful of coins.

Perception of the Five Senses:

• Sight: The beads appear as simple wooden spheres, but closer observation reveals the intricate carvings on each, depicting symbols related to the fourteen attendants.
• Touch: The beads are smooth and worn, suggesting long use and an unknown history. A faint warmth emanates from them.
• Hearing: When the beads are gently shaken, they produce a soft, rhythmic clicking sound, almost like a whispered echo of the ballad itself.
• Smell: The wood possesses a subtle, earthy scent, with hints of old parchment and dried herbs.
• Taste: (Not advised!) The beads leave a faintly metallic tang on the tongue, a curious side effect of their magical nature.
• Extra-Sensory Perceptions:
  • Mind’s Eye:  When held while the ballad is sung, the beads amplify the user’s intuition. They sense fleeting impressions of the past, echoes of emotions left behind in a place, or the underlying motivations of those around them.
    • Positives: Greater understanding of their surroundings, insight into others.
    • Negatives: Can be overwhelming if untrained, or if exposed to sites of great emotional turmoil.
  • Magical Resonance: Those attuned to magic can feel a faint pulse within the beads, resonating with the themes of wisdom, service, and determination contained within the ballad.
    • Positives: Can aid in identifying magical locations or items with similar properties.
    • Negatives: The resonance is subtle and difficult to interpret without focused training.

Recipe to recreate the beads upon which the ballad is inscribed:

• Ingredients:
  • Fourteen wooden beads (size of large marbles) – Material can vary (common woods like maple or oak, or rarer materials like driftwood or petrified wood for sentimental value).
  • Fourteen small carving tools (distinct for each symbol – tiny chisels, gouges, etc.)
  • Sandpaper (various grits)
  • Leather cord (optional, for wearing as a necklace)
• Equipment/Utensils:
  • Steady workbench or table
  • Vise (optional, to hold the bead while carving)
  • Magnifying lens (helpful for detailed carving)
  • Bowl of water (for dipping tools)
  • Staining/finishing materials (optional, for aesthetics)
  • Rags or cloth
• Skills Needed:
  • Fine motor control and dexterity
  • Patience and focus
  • Wood carving skills (ability to create detailed symbols)
• Crafting Steps:
  • Preparation: Choose your wood type and ensure the beads are well sanded smooth. Select or sketch the fourteen symbols representing the attendants (weathered face, healing hand, arrow, harp, etc.).
  • Carving: Using the appropriate carving tools, meticulously carve each symbol onto a designated bead. Take your time and ensure clean lines and details.
  • Sanding: Once carved, meticulously sand each bead to remove any rough edges and achieve a polished finish.
  • Finishing Touches: (Optional) You can stain or oil the beads for a richer look. Let them dry completely before assembly.
  • Assembly: (Optional) String the beads onto a leather cord if desired to wear them as a necklace.

Cost and Availability: Since the magic lies in the ballad and not the beads themselves, these wouldn’t be commonly sold in shops.  However, a skilled woodcarver might be commissioned to create a similar set of beads for a cost depending on the chosen wood and the complexity of the carvings. The price could range from a few silver pieces for simple carvings in common wood to several gold pieces for intricate designs in rare materials.

The true value of the Ballad of Fourteen Attendants lies not in the physical beads but in the knowledge and stories they represent.

Bard’s Beads an’ the Echo of Old Ways

Now, all across Saṃsāra, from the king’s gilded hall to the farmer’s humble hut, there be a tale whispered. A story of a time long gone, when battles were yet to come, and heroes yet to rise. They speak of the Ballad of Fourteen Attendants, a song not of swords nor spells, but of the quiet strength what makes a land endure.

It began, they say, with a bard named Ellion, his voice worn thin as old leather. Ellion, who’d seen more winters than most, an’ more sorrows too. Yet, in his eyes danced a spark, stubborn as fireweed after frost. Ellion, he wandered the land, singin’ old songs, collectin’ new ones, and always, always, watchin’ with that clever glint of his.

One dusk, under the boughs of a tree older than empires, Ellion found his prize. Fourteen simple folk, goin’ about their lives with a grace kings would envy. A healer, her hands steady as starlight. A hunter, his step silent as falling leaves. A scholar, lost in a maze of parchments, and a dozen more souls, bound not by blood, but by service.

Ellion, he watched, an’ he listened. Saw how they mended wounds, fed the hungry, taught the young, and kept the fires alight when darkness crept near. And Ellion, with his fading voice, knew a song must be sung.

He strung the tale like jewels – a weathered face for wisdom, a healing hand for mercy, an arrow for vigilance. He wove it around fourteen simple beads, wood worn smooth as river stones. And when he sang, they say even the wind held its breath.

The ballad, it spread. Not with a roar, mind you, but with the quiet power of seeds takin’ root. Ellion taught it to others, who taught it on. Lords and ladies, at first, they scoffed, wantin’ songs of battles won. But soon… soon even the proudest warrior listened. For they saw, in the bead’s worn wood, a mirror of their own strength, made true by the simple folk they so often overlooked.

The ballad, it taught ’em somethin’ important –  that a realm ain’t built on just might or magic, but on the steady hearts and skillful hands what keep it runnin’.  And to this day, when they sing the ballad, when them beads gleam with a humble light, folks remember. They remember that the truest heroes, they might walk unseen, their names lost to time, but their spirit woven into the very soul of Saṃsāra.

Suggested conversions to other systems:

Call of Cthulhu

• Emphasis: Investigation, Sanity, Historical Insight
• Stat Block:
  • Lore (Ballad of Fourteen Attendants): Base skill 20%, with potential for significant bonuses depending on the relevance of the information sought.
  • Sanity: Singing the ballad or focusing on the beads while in a location of historical or emotional significance can trigger a SAN check (difficulty depending on the intensity of the location and the character’s mental state). A successful check offers profound insights along with a slight Sanity boost. Failure leads to disturbing visions and a drain on Sanity.
• Game Mechanics: The ballad acts as a key to unlocking hidden knowledge. Investigators might learn clues about ancient rituals, the motivations of historical figures, or even secrets related to the Mythos. However, the act of delving into such knowledge risks destabilizing the investigator’s mind.

Blades in the Dark

• Emphasis: Social Manipulation, Crew Reputation, Downtime Activities
• Stat Block:
  • Insight: +1d when attempting to read a situation, discern motivations, or understand another faction’s plans.
  • Resolve: +1d when resisting emotional turmoil or mental strain during downtime.
• Game Mechanics: The Ballad of Fourteen Attendants strengthens a crew’s understanding of their surroundings and their own resolve. It might inspire the crew to take on Score opportunities related to supporting the downtrodden or uncovering mysteries hidden within the city of Doskvol. During downtime, it could be used to reduce Stress or even unlock new crew upgrades related to knowledge and observation.

Dungeons & Dragons (5th Edition)

• Emphasis: Roleplaying, Inspiration, Skill Support
• Stat Block:
  • Wondrous Item (requires attunement): While attuned and singing the ballad, gain a +1 bonus to Insight, History, and Perception checks. Additionally, you may use an action to expend a use of Bardic Inspiration, targeting any creature that can hear the ballad.
• Game Mechanics: The ballad becomes a tool for bards or lore-focused characters. It enhances their ability to perceive details and motives, while also giving them a unique way to bolster their allies in a support role.

Knave

• Emphasis: Simplicity, Resourcefulness, Item Quirks
• Stat Block:
  • Unique Item – The Ballad Beads: This item has no mechanical bonus but acts as a catalyst. When singing the Ballad of Fourteen Attendants while holding the beads, the player can roll a d20. On a 10+, they momentarily glean insights or receive aid related to one aspect of the ballad (wisdom, healing, protection, etc.). However, on a 1-9, a minor mishap occurs, potentially hindering the character or their allies.
• Game Mechanics: This becomes a less reliable but potentially powerful item in the hands of a Knave. It emphasizes a risk-reward scenario, where the promise of hidden knowledge comes with the danger of unexpected consequences.

Fate

• Emphasis: Narrative Focus, Aspects, Inspiration
• Stat Block:
  • Aspect: Song of the Fourteen Attendants – Use this aspect to invoke when seeking hidden knowledge related to history, motivation, or the skills emphasized in the ballad. It can aid in creating advantages, overcoming obstacles, or even defending against social manipulation.
  • Stunt: Attendant’s Insight – Once per scene, when singing the ballad, ask a single, direct question of the GM related to your current situation. The GM must answer truthfully, providing useful insight or clues.
• Game Mechanics: In Fate, the ballad becomes a powerful tool for shaping the narrative. Its primary functions are uncovering information and guiding decisions through a combination of Aspects and Stunts.

Numenera & Cypher System

• Emphasis: Exploration, Discovery, Cyphers
• Stat Block:
  • Artifact (Level 3): The Ballad of Fourteen Attendants is not an artifact itself, but the beads become conduits for subtle cyphers. When holding them while singing, you may expend 1 Intellect point to manifest a minor cypher-like effect related to the current verse (momentary vision, an unexpected healing surge, enhanced tracking, etc.).
• Game Mechanics: The ballad transforms the beads into a sort of unpredictable cypher generator. It emphasizes the strange and wondrous aspects of the Numenera setting, providing unexpected boons balanced by the cost of Intellect.

Pathfinder (2nd Edition)

• Emphasis: Character Build Integration, Lore, Skill Bonuses
• Stat Block:
  • Unique Item: The Ballad Beads. While singing the Ballad of Fourteen Attendants, gain a +2 circumstance bonus to Lore checks related to history, and a +1 circumstance bonus to Perception, Diplomacy, and Survival checks.
  • Background: Ballad Keeper. You have memorized the Ballad of Fourteen Attendants, gaining the above bonuses and access to special lore-related feats (at the GM’s discretion).
• Game Mechanics: In Pathfinder, the ballad becomes a character-building element. It would suit bards, scholars, or any character seeking to bolster their knowledge-based skills.

Savage Worlds

• Emphasis: Pulp Action, Bennies, Situational Use
• Stat Block:
  • Edge: Ballad of Attendants – You have learned the Ballad of Fourteen Attendants. Once per session, when singing the ballad, you and all allies within earshot gain a Benny. However, this also attracts unwanted attention (GM’s discretion).
  • Setting Rule: The Ballad’s Resonance – In specific locations (ancient battlegrounds, forgotten libraries, etc.), the Ballad subtly amplifies magic. Spellcasters who sing it gain a +1 to casting rolls.
• Game Mechanics: Savage Worlds emphasizes the ballad’s ability to inspire and turn the tide at crucial moments. The potential drawback keeps things in line with the system’s pulpy, high-risk feel.

Shadowrun

• Emphasis: Tech vs. Magic, Street-Level Intrigue, Skill Augmentation
• Stat Block:
  • Magical Focus (Power 3): The Ballad Beads serve as a focus for awakened characters. While holding the beads and singing the ballad, gain +2 dice to any Knowledge, Perception, or Influence skill tests related to history, discerning motives, or understanding social dynamics.
• Game Mechanics: The ballad blends with the magical undercurrent of Shadowrun. It becomes a tool for runners who specialize in information gathering, manipulation, or who dabble in the mystic arts. The beads themselves might possess a history within the Sixth World, potentially tied to ancient traditions or awakened groups.

Starfinder

• Emphasis: Space Exploration, Technology Meets Magic, Skill Versatility
• Stat Block:
  • Hybrid Item (Magical): The Ballad Beads grant a +1 bonus to Culture checks, along with a +1 bonus to either Sense Motive or a single Profession skill (player’s choice).
  • Envoy Improvisation: Ballad Teachings – Once per day, before making a skill check, an Envoy can begin singing the ballad. If they do, they can substitute the skill they’re attempting for one in which they are trained.
• Game Mechanics: In Starfinder, the ballad emphasizes resourcefulness and adaptability. It becomes a tool particularly useful for Envoys, but versatile enough to benefit other classes exploring the setting’s blend of technology and ancient mysteries.

Traveller

• Emphasis: Gritty Exploration, Character Backgrounds, Scrappy Survival
• Stat Block:
  • Personal Gear: Ballad Beads (Unique). These beads have been passed down in your family/culture, along with the Ballad of Fourteen Attendants. Provides a +1 DM to Social checks when interacting with individuals who share a common cultural background or who value tradition and service.
  • Career/Background Benefit: Those with certain careers (Scholar, Entertainer, specific planetary/cultural backgrounds) gain an additional +1 DM when utilizing the beads for relevant tasks.
• Game Mechanics: Here, the ballad becomes intertwined with character identity and heritage. It’s less about overwhelming power and more about subtle advantages during social interactions and knowledge-based situations within the vast and unforgiving Traveller universe.

Warhammer (Fantasy or 40K)

• Emphasis: Grim Setting, Religion, Struggle Against Darkness
• Stat Block:
  • Holy Relic: The Ballad Beads (Minor): When a character of faith (or a psyker in 40k) sings the ballad, they gain a temporary +5 bonus to Willpower and can sense faint traces of the Immaterium (Warp). This may reveal hidden dangers, glimpses of the past, or the touch of Chaos.
• Game Mechanics: In the Warhammer setting, the ballad takes on a darker, more spiritual significance. It becomes a tool for those who fight against the encroaching darkness, offering both protection and a perilous connection to the psychic forces of the world. There’s a constant risk that using it may attract unwanted attention from the more sinister denizens of the universe.