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Chameleon Skin Cloak

—

by

Dale
in ,

From: Aquavianthrope

This versatile cloak is made from the skin of chameleons and can change color to match the creature’s surroundings. It enhances its natural camouflage abilities even further.

Common             Tier: 1

Simple passive: (Always on if worn)
Stealth: (+2) The Aquavianthrope possesses natural stealth abilities, and with the Chameleon Skin Cloak, it or other creatures becomes even more adept at moving silently and remaining unnoticed. It can effectively utilize its camouflage abilities to its advantage when attempting to hide or remain undetected.
Survival: (+2) Gives creatures a connection to their environment and its keen senses makes it skilled in surviving in various terrains and conditions. It can track prey, find sources of water, identify edible plants, and navigate through challenging environments.
Deception: (+2) With its chameleon-like abilities and ability to blend into its surroundings, the creature can effectively deceive others by assuming different identities or disguises. It can manipulate its appearance and behavior to gain an advantage in social interactions or avoid detection.
Attuned actionable: (May be continuing or have charges)
When the creature takes the Hide action, it gains a +5 bonus to Dexterity (Stealth) checks until it moves or takes another action.

Cost: 90 gold

Tags: Light Armor, Camouflage, Wilderness, Ambush, Adaptation, Invisibility

Lore: The Chameleon Skin Cloak is a versatile garment crafted from the skin of chameleons, known for their remarkable color-changing abilities. This cloak is designed to enhance the Aquavianthrope’s natural camouflage, allowing it to blend seamlessly with its surroundings and remain hidden from prying eyes.

Use: When the Aquavianthrope takes the Hide action while wearing the Chameleon Skin Cloak, it gains a +5 bonus to Dexterity (Stealth) checks until it moves or takes another action. The cloak’s chameleon-like properties enable it to adapt its coloration to match the environment, providing enhanced camouflage and making the Aquavianthrope nearly invisible to the untrained eye.

The Chameleon Skin Cloak is particularly valuable for sneaking, scouting, or ambushing. It allows the Aquavianthrope to effectively disappear into its surroundings, whether it’s dense foliage, rocky terrain, or urban environments. By utilizing the cloak’s camouflage capabilities, the Aquavianthrope gains a significant advantage in stealth and can approach or observe targets undetected.

Legends and stories often attribute the creation of the Chameleon Skin Cloak to ancient tribes or skilled artisans who possess an affinity for chameleons and their natural abilities. These craftsmen undergo intricate rituals or utilize unique techniques to prepare and imbue the cloak with the chameleon’s essence, enabling it to replicate the creature’s remarkable color-changing properties.

In the world of Saṃsāra, the Chameleon Skin Cloak is a specialized and sought-after item, particularly valued by those who engage in activities requiring stealth, survival, or deception. Shops that sell such an item are typically found in specific locales, catering to adventurers, scouts, hunters, and those involved in the more clandestine arts.

  • Curio and Alchemy Shops: These shops are often found in bustling cities, hidden away in narrow alleyways or behind unassuming facades. The proprietors are usually eccentric alchemists, herbalists, or enchanters who dabble in rare and unusual items. The Chameleon Skin Cloak would be displayed alongside other enchanted garments, potions, and artifacts that enhance the wearer’s abilities. The cloak might be kept behind glass or under a protective enchantment, with the shopkeeper personally handling transactions for such a rare item.
  • Adventurer’s Outposts: Located in frontier towns, near the borders of wild regions or deep forests, these outposts cater to adventurers and explorers preparing for dangerous expeditions. The Chameleon Skin Cloak would be a prized possession here, sold by veteran hunters or retired scouts who understand its value. The cloak would likely be displayed on a mannequin or hung from a sturdy rack, allowing potential buyers to see its craftsmanship up close.
  • Black Market Stalls: In the shadowy corners of cities, where law and order are tenuous, black market stalls flourish. Here, the Chameleon Skin Cloak might be sold by unscrupulous dealers who trade in rare and exotic items. The cloak could be displayed in a dimly lit booth, shrouded in secrecy, with buyers needing to prove their worth or connections to even be allowed a glimpse. The price might be negotiable, but only for those who can afford the steep cost or who have something equally valuable to trade.
  • Tribal Craftsmanship: In more remote areas, where traditional craftsmanship is revered, the Chameleon Skin Cloak might be bought directly from the artisans or tribes known for their affinity with chameleons and their environment. These cloaks would be handcrafted, imbued with the essence of the jungle or forest where the artisans live. Buyers might need to gain the trust of the tribe or prove their respect for nature to purchase such an item. The transaction might be part of a larger ritual or ceremony, emphasizing the cloak’s significance.

Cost: The Chameleon Skin Cloak typically costs around 90 gold pieces. However, in different regions or under certain circumstances, the price could fluctuate. In a bustling city with many adventurers, the cloak might be more expensive due to high demand, potentially reaching 120 gold pieces. In contrast, in a remote tribal village, the price might be lower, around 75 gold pieces, though the buyer might also be required to offer something of equal cultural or spiritual value in addition to gold.

Purchasing the Chameleon Skin Cloak in Saṃsāra would be an experience that reflects the world’s diverse cultures and the cloak’s unique attributes, with each shop or vendor adding their own flavor to the transaction.

The Chameleon Skin Cloak in the world of Saṃsāra offers versatile options for both defense and offense, particularly in environments where stealth, subterfuge, and strategic positioning are key. Below are examples of how this cloak can be utilized in different environments for both defensive and offensive purposes.

  • Dense Forest or Jungle:
    • Defense: In the thick underbrush of a forest or jungle, the Chameleon Skin Cloak allows the wearer to blend seamlessly with the foliage. This natural camouflage makes it difficult for predators or enemies to spot the wearer, especially when they are stationary or moving slowly. The cloak’s enhanced stealth abilities allow the wearer to remain hidden in plain sight, avoiding ambushes or bypassing patrolling enemies. In a roleplay scenario, this could mean quietly evading a band of hostile creatures or lying in wait as a dangerous predator passes by.
    • Offense: The cloak’s camouflage abilities can turn the wearer into a silent hunter. In dense environments where visibility is limited, the wearer can use the cloak to approach targets undetected, gaining a tactical advantage. Roleplaying this, a character might use the cloak to close in on a target quietly, striking from the shadows with a ranged or melee attack, then retreating into cover before the enemy can react. The ability to disappear into the environment after an attack allows the wearer to employ hit-and-run tactics effectively.
  • Urban Environments:
    • Defense: In the crowded streets, alleyways, or rooftops of a city, the Chameleon Skin Cloak helps the wearer blend with the surrounding architecture. Whether hiding in the shadows of a narrow alley or against a stone wall, the wearer can avoid detection by guards, watchmen, or rival thieves. In a roleplaying context, this might involve slipping past city guards undetected during a curfew or avoiding the gaze of suspicious onlookers while tailing a target.
    • Offense: The cloak allows the wearer to set up ambushes in the city with great precision. By using the environment—such as crouching in a shadowed corner or blending against a building—the wearer can surprise an unsuspecting target. This can be roleplayed as a thief or assassin using the cloak to strike at a mark, whether it’s an enemy agent in a crowded marketplace or a noble in a darkened alley, then vanishing into the night before anyone can raise the alarm.
  • Mountainous or Rocky Terrain:
    • Defense: In a rocky or mountainous region, the Chameleon Skin Cloak allows the wearer to merge with the stone and earth, making it difficult for enemies to detect them among the rocks. Roleplaying this, a character might use the cloak to evade aerial predators by pressing against a cliff face or to avoid detection by a patrolling enemy group by hiding among boulders. This can be particularly useful when escaping pursuit in rugged terrain, where the ability to hide quickly can mean the difference between life and death.
    • Offense: In mountainous terrain, the wearer can use the cloak to approach enemies from above or below, taking advantage of the natural cover provided by the environment. For example, roleplaying might involve sneaking up on an enemy encampment by climbing down a cliff face unseen, then launching a surprise attack. Alternatively, the wearer could use the high ground to observe enemy movements and plan an ambush, striking when the enemy is most vulnerable and retreating to higher ground for safety.
  • Desert or Open Plains:
    • Defense: In an open or sparsely vegetated environment like a desert or plain, the Chameleon Skin Cloak’s ability to mimic the sandy or grassy terrain allows the wearer to avoid detection. This might be roleplayed as lying low in the sand during a sandstorm, blending with the landscape to avoid being seen by hostile forces or predatory creatures. The wearer can use the cloak to stay hidden while traveling across open ground, minimizing the risk of being spotted from a distance.
    • Offense: Even in such open environments, the wearer can use the cloak to set up ambushes or to approach unsuspecting targets. By moving carefully and using the natural contours of the land, the wearer can close the distance on enemies without being detected. Roleplaying might involve sneaking up on a caravan in the desert, using the cloak to approach undetected, then launching a surprise attack from the rear or flanking the guards before they can respond.
  • Underground or Cave Systems:
    • Defense: In the dark, labyrinthine passages of caves or underground tunnels, the Chameleon Skin Cloak allows the wearer to blend with the shadows and the rough, stony surfaces. Roleplaying this, a character might evade detection from creatures that rely on sight or light to hunt, or from enemy patrols in an underground fortress. The wearer could also use the cloak to hide from monsters or other dangers lurking in the depths, pressing against a wall or ceiling to avoid notice.
    • Offense: The cloak’s properties make it ideal for ambushes in confined spaces. In a roleplay scenario, the wearer might use the cloak to hide in the shadows of a tunnel, waiting for enemies to pass by before striking from behind. Alternatively, the wearer could infiltrate an underground lair or dungeon, using the cloak to remain undetected as they move through the corridors, disabling guards or traps before they can raise an alarm.

Roleplaying Dynamics: The Chameleon Skin Cloak offers opportunities for creative roleplaying, allowing the character to interact with their environment in ways that rely on wit, strategy, and the cloak’s unique properties. Whether used defensively to escape and evade, or offensively to ambush and strike with precision, the cloak enhances the wearer’s ability to control the flow of battle and exploration, turning the environment itself into an ally.

Perception of Activation:

  • Sight:
    • What’s Perceived: The cloak shimmers slightly as its color begins to shift, blending seamlessly into the surrounding environment. The change is subtle and gradual, with colors shifting through shades of green, brown, gray, or whatever hues match the surroundings.
    • Description: Observers would see the cloak’s surface taking on the textures and colors of nearby objects, such as leaves, rocks, or bark. The edges of the cloak seem to blur, making it difficult to discern where the cloak ends and the environment begins.
    • Positives: Provides effective visual camouflage, making the wearer almost invisible to the naked eye when stationary or moving slowly.
    • Negatives: The cloak may still slightly reflect light, which could reveal its presence to a keen observer, especially in bright conditions or if the wearer moves quickly.
  • Sound:
    • What’s Perceived: A faint rustling or whispering sound, similar to leaves or fabric brushing together, might be heard as the cloak activates.
    • Description: The cloak produces a barely audible sound as it adjusts its texture and coloration. This sound is often masked by environmental noise, such as wind or other natural sounds.
    • Positives: The sound is subtle enough that it’s unlikely to draw attention, especially in a natural environment where similar noises are common.
    • Negatives: In a completely silent setting, the sound could potentially be noticed by someone with acute hearing.
  • Touch:
    • What’s Perceived: A slight tingling sensation spreads across the wearer’s body as the cloak activates, accompanied by a cool, smooth feeling as the cloak shifts.
    • Description: The cloak’s texture becomes more pronounced, with the wearer feeling the scales or slight ridges of the chameleon skin as it adjusts to the environment.
    • Positives: The cloak’s activation enhances the wearer’s tactile awareness, making them more attuned to their surroundings.
    • Negatives: The tingling sensation might be distracting, especially for those unaccustomed to it, potentially affecting concentration or focus.
  • Smell:
    • What’s Perceived: A faint earthy or natural scent, reminiscent of the surrounding environment, emanates from the cloak as it activates.
    • Description: The cloak might emit a slight odor that blends with the natural scents of the area, such as the smell of leaves, damp earth, or wood.
    • Positives: The scent further enhances the wearer’s ability to blend in by masking any unnatural odors they might carry.
    • Negatives: In environments with distinct or pungent odors, the cloak’s scent might not blend as effectively, potentially standing out to creatures with keen senses of smell.
  • Taste:
    • What’s Perceived: Not directly applicable, as taste is unlikely to be involved in the activation of the cloak.
  • Extra-Sensory Perceptions:
    • Magical Aura:
      • What’s Perceived: Magic users or those with heightened mystical senses might perceive a faint, shimmering aura around the cloak as it activates, indicating its enchantment is at work.
      • Description: The aura might appear as a soft glow or a ripple of energy, visible only to those attuned to magical energies. It pulses gently as the cloak adjusts to the environment.
      • Positives: Allows magically attuned individuals to sense the cloak’s activation and recognize it as a powerful magical artifact.
      • Negatives: The aura could potentially be detected by other magic users or creatures sensitive to magic, revealing the wearer’s presence.
    • Mind’s Eye Awareness:
      • What’s Perceived: The wearer may experience a heightened sense of awareness, as if they can feel the environment around them more intimately. This awareness extends beyond the physical, giving the wearer an intuitive understanding of how best to blend in.
      • Description: This perception feels like a mental map forming in the wearer’s mind, highlighting areas of cover, shadow, and advantageous positions in the surroundings.
      • Positives: Enhances the wearer’s ability to move stealthily and take advantage of the environment, potentially revealing hidden paths or safe routes.
      • Negatives: The flood of sensory information might be overwhelming for those not trained in dealing with such perceptions, leading to confusion or hesitation.

Positives of Activation Overall:

  • Enhanced Camouflage: The cloak’s primary benefit is its ability to render the wearer nearly invisible in a variety of environments, providing a significant advantage in stealth-based situations.
  • Heightened Environmental Awareness: The wearer gains an improved sense of their surroundings, making them more adept at navigating and surviving in challenging terrains.
  • Blending of Senses: The combination of visual, auditory, and extra-sensory enhancements allows the wearer to integrate with the environment almost seamlessly, making it difficult for enemies to detect them.

Negatives of Activation Overall:

  • Limited Effectiveness in Certain Environments: The cloak’s effectiveness is reduced in environments with unnatural or extreme elements, such as brightly lit areas, loud noises, or strong, unnatural smells.
  • Potential for Detection by Magic Users: The cloak’s magical aura might be sensed by others with mystical abilities, potentially giving away the wearer’s position to those attuned to such energies.
  • Sensory Overload: The influx of sensory information, particularly through the Mind’s Eye Awareness, might be disorienting or overwhelming, particularly for those unused to such sensations. This could affect decision-making or reaction time in critical situations.

Crafting Recipe: Chameleon Skin Cloak

  • Materials Needed:
    • Chameleon Skins (5): Harvested from large chameleon species, these skins must be intact and untreated, preserving the natural color-changing properties.
    • Thread of Invisibility (1 spool): A rare and magical thread that is woven with invisibility enchantments, found in hidden markets or crafted by skilled weavers.
    • Essence of the Forest (3 vials): A concentrated magical essence derived from the heart of ancient forests, enhancing the cloak’s ability to blend with natural surroundings.
    • Camouflage Dye (2 flasks): A specially prepared dye that shifts colors to match the environment, extracted from rare plants and minerals.
    • Binding Runes (4): Inscribed on small, flat stones, these runes are used to bind the magical properties to the cloak, ensuring the enchantment is permanent.
    • Lightweight Fabric Base (1 bolt): A high-quality, durable fabric used as the base for the cloak, lightweight enough to not hinder movement.
  • Tools Required:
    • Enchanted Loom: A loom specifically designed for weaving magical materials, capable of handling the delicate nature of the Chameleon Skins and Thread of Invisibility.
    • Runic Engraver: A tool used to inscribe the Binding Runes with precision, ensuring the runes’ magic is correctly applied.
    • Alchemy Kit: Needed to prepare the Essence of the Forest and Camouflage Dye, as well as to stabilize the Chameleon Skins before crafting.
    • Needle of Fine Stitching: A finely crafted needle designed for delicate work, used to stitch the skins together without damaging their properties.
  • Skill Requirements:
    • Alchemy (Expert): Required to prepare and stabilize the Essence of the Forest and Camouflage Dye, and to ensure the Chameleon Skins retain their properties during crafting.
    • Tailoring (Master): Necessary to handle the Chameleon Skins and Thread of Invisibility with care, and to sew them together seamlessly with the Lightweight Fabric Base.
    • Runic Inscription (Advanced): Needed to accurately inscribe the Binding Runes and apply them to the cloak, ensuring the magical properties are correctly bound.
    • Magic Weaving (Advanced): Required to weave the Thread of Invisibility into the Chameleon Skins, ensuring the cloak’s enchantments are activated during the crafting process.
  • Crafting Steps:
    • Prepare the Chameleon Skins:
      • Begin by carefully cleaning and preserving the Chameleon Skins using the Alchemy Kit. Apply a light coat of Essence of the Forest to each skin to enhance its natural properties and prevent deterioration.
      • Set the skins aside to dry in a shaded, cool area for 24 hours.
    • Prepare the Camouflage Dye:
      • Using the Alchemy Kit, mix the Camouflage Dye with a few drops of Essence of the Forest. The dye should take on a shimmering, color-shifting quality as the essence is absorbed.
      • Gently apply the dye to the preserved Chameleon Skins using a soft brush, ensuring even coverage. Allow the skins to dry completely.
    • Weave the Base Fabric:
      • Set up the Enchanted Loom with the Lightweight Fabric Base and begin weaving the Thread of Invisibility into the fabric. This step requires precision and patience, as the thread is delicate and must be woven evenly throughout the fabric.
      • Once the base fabric is woven, cut it into the appropriate shape and size for the cloak.
    • Stitch the Chameleon Skins:
      • Using the Needle of Fine Stitching, carefully sew the Chameleon Skins onto the woven fabric base. Pay close attention to the alignment of the skins, ensuring they overlap slightly to create a seamless appearance.
      • Reinforce the edges and seams with additional stitches, using the Thread of Invisibility to maintain the cloak’s lightweight and flexible properties.
    • Inscribe the Binding Runes:
      • Use the Runic Engraver to inscribe the Binding Runes onto the small stones. These runes must be precisely crafted, as any error could weaken the cloak’s enchantment.
      • Once the runes are inscribed, attach them to the inside of the cloak at strategic points (such as the shoulders and hem), using the Thread of Invisibility to sew them in place.
    • Activate the Enchantment:
      • Lay the completed cloak on a flat surface in a naturally lit area, preferably outdoors where it can absorb ambient magic.
      • Chant the activation incantation (specific to the region’s magical tradition) while holding the cloak, focusing on the intention to bind the cloak’s properties permanently. As the chant progresses, the Binding Runes will glow faintly, indicating that the magic is taking hold.
      • Once the runes cease glowing, the cloak is complete.

Final Notes:

  • Testing: Test the cloak’s effectiveness in various environments to ensure the camouflage properties are functioning as intended.
  • Maintenance: The Chameleon Skin Cloak requires occasional recharging with Essence of the Forest to maintain its properties, particularly if used frequently in hostile environments.

Tale of the Everchanging Shroud

Long ago, in the days when the earth was young and the skies were close, there lived a mighty hunter named Aruk-Tash. Aruk-Tash was known throughout the lands for his unmatched skill in stalking the great beasts of the wild. Yet, as the years passed, Aruk-Tash grew weary, for the beasts had learned to fear him, and they hid in the deepest shadows where his eyes could not see and his spear could not reach.

One night, as Aruk-Tash lay restless beneath the twinkling sky, a voice, soft like the whisper of the wind through the reeds, called to him from the darkness. It spoke in words that were old before time itself and offered him a gift, a gift that would change his fate forever.

“Find the skin of the ever-shifting one,” the voice murmured. “Weave it into a shroud, and you shall walk unseen among all living things.”

Aruk-Tash, driven by desire and curiosity, sought out the creature of which the voice spoke—the ever-shifting one, a chameleon of such size and age that it was said to have seen the world’s first dawn. For many moons, Aruk-Tash tracked the creature through forests deep and ancient, until at last, he found it basking in the golden light of a hidden glade.

With reverence and care, Aruk-Tash slew the creature, taking its skin as the voice had instructed. He returned to his village and, using the skills passed down from his ancestors, wove the skin into a cloak. But the cloak was unlike any other—its colors danced and changed like the leaves in autumn, and its fabric shimmered like the scales of the great fish that swam in the deepest seas.

Donning the cloak, Aruk-Tash found that he could move among the trees as a shadow, unseen by even the sharpest eyes. He became the greatest hunter the world had ever known, for no beast, no matter how wise or cunning, could escape his grasp.

Yet, as the seasons turned and the years wore on, Aruk-Tash began to change. The cloak that had granted him such power also took from him his place among his people. No longer could they see him as he walked among them, and soon, even he forgot the sound of their voices. He became as one with the forest, silent and alone, until he was little more than a whisper on the wind, a legend told by firesides to children who would one day forget his name.

And so it was that the Everchanging Shroud was passed down through the ages, from one hand to the next, each bearer learning the same lesson—though the cloak grants the wearer great power, it demands a price that few are willing to pay.

Moral of the Story: To walk unseen is to walk alone; power gained at the cost of connection is a burden heavier than any cloak.

Suggested conversions to other systems:

Call of Cthulhu (7th Edition)

Item: Chameleon Skin Cloak

  • Description: This cloak, crafted from the skin of an ancient, mystical chameleon, grants its wearer the ability to blend seamlessly into their surroundings. The item is especially useful for investigators needing to avoid detection.
  • Game Mechanics:
    • Stealth Bonus: Wearing the Chameleon Skin Cloak provides a +20% bonus to the Stealth skill when the wearer is stationary or moving slowly.
    • Camouflage: If the wearer spends one round preparing to blend in with their environment, they can become nearly invisible, making it extremely difficult to detect them visually. Enemies must make a Spot Hidden check with a penalty die to notice the wearer.
    • Sanity Cost: The cloak has an unsettling effect on the wearer, causing a 1/1D4 loss of Sanity points each time it is used for a prolonged period (more than an hour).
    • Usage Restriction: Prolonged use of the cloak may lead to paranoia and a feeling of isolation. After each significant use, the Keeper may require the wearer to make a POW check; failure indicates that the wearer becomes increasingly detached from reality, potentially leading to longer-term psychological effects.

Blades in the Dark

Item: Chameleon Skin Cloak

  • Description: A light and supple cloak woven from the enchanted skin of a chameleon, allowing the wearer to blend into their surroundings and evade detection.
  • Game Mechanics:
    • Effect: When wearing the Chameleon Skin Cloak, the user gains potency on actions related to stealth or deception, such as sneaking, hiding, or lying in wait.
    • Armor Rating: The cloak provides +1 armor against any action where visibility is a factor (e.g., being seen by a guard, spotted by an enemy).
    • Special Ability: When the wearer takes the “Hide” action, they gain +1d to their roll, and their position is considered “Controlled” due to the enhanced camouflage.
    • Stress Cost: Using the cloak in a daring or extreme situation may cost 1 stress to maintain its effectiveness, especially in a high-risk scenario where failure would have significant consequences.

Dungeons & Dragons (5th Edition)

Item: Chameleon Skin Cloak

  • Wondrous Item, uncommon (requires attunement)
  • Description: This magical cloak, made from the skin of a mystical chameleon, grants the wearer the ability to blend in with their surroundings, becoming almost invisible when standing still.
  • Game Mechanics:
    • Stealth Bonus: While wearing this cloak, you have advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks made to hide.
    • Camouflage: As an action, you can cause the cloak to blend into your surroundings. Until you move, you gain a +10 bonus to Dexterity (Stealth) checks to hide. This effect ends if you move, make an attack, or cast a spell.
    • Attunement: The cloak requires attunement by a creature with proficiency in Stealth. The attunement process takes 1 hour, during which the wearer must focus on the cloak’s properties in a natural environment.
    • Drawback: Prolonged use (more than 4 hours continuously) can cause a feeling of detachment, requiring the wearer to make a DC 12 Wisdom saving throw. On a failure, the wearer gains a level of exhaustion.

Knave

Item: Chameleon Skin Cloak

  • Description: A rare cloak made from the skin of a chameleon, it allows the wearer to meld with their surroundings, making them almost impossible to detect.
  • Game Mechanics:
    • Stealth: The wearer gains a +4 bonus to Stealth rolls while the cloak is worn.
    • Camouflage: If the wearer spends one round preparing to hide, they may become nearly invisible, gaining a +6 bonus to Stealth rolls and becoming undetectable unless the observer rolls a success on a Wisdom check (with a penalty equal to the Stealth bonus granted by the cloak).
    • Usage: The cloak is light and can be worn over other clothing or armor. However, the wearer must remain relatively still for the camouflage to be effective. Moving too quickly or engaging in combat negates the Stealth bonus.
    • Encumbrance: The cloak takes up 1 inventory slot.

Fate

Item: Chameleon Skin Cloak

  • Description: A mystical cloak crafted from the skin of a chameleon, allowing the wearer to blend seamlessly into their surroundings and evade detection.
  • Game Mechanics:
    • Aspect: The Chameleon Skin Cloak can be invoked to gain the aspect “Invisible in Plain Sight.” This aspect can be used to gain a bonus when attempting to hide or move stealthily.
    • Invoking the Aspect: Once per scene, the wearer can invoke the cloak’s aspect without spending a Fate Point, provided they are in a natural environment or a setting with sufficient cover.
    • Compel: The GM may compel the aspect, causing the cloak’s camouflage to malfunction at a critical moment, revealing the wearer or drawing unwanted attention.
    • Refresh Cost: The cloak may cost 1 Refresh to acquire as an item with this aspect, depending on the campaign’s balance and the GM’s discretion.

Numenera & Cypher System

Item: Chameleon Skin Cloak

  • Level: 3
  • Description: This cloak, made from the skin of an ancient chameleon creature, grants the wearer the ability to blend into their surroundings, making them difficult to detect.
  • Game Mechanics:
    • Stealth Enhancement: The wearer gains an asset on any task involving hiding or moving unnoticed while wearing the cloak.
    • Camouflage: As an action, the wearer can activate the cloak’s camouflage ability. For the next 10 minutes, the wearer becomes nearly invisible, gaining two assets on Stealth tasks. This effect ends if the wearer moves too quickly, attacks, or draws attention to themselves.
    • Depletion: After each use of the camouflage ability, roll a d20. On a roll of 1, the cloak’s camouflage ability is depleted, and it no longer provides the invisibility effect until repaired or recharged.
    • Cypher Compatibility: The cloak counts as an artifact in the Cypher System, and its use should be considered in line with other artifacts in the campaign.

Pathfinder (2nd Edition)

Item: Chameleon Skin Cloak

  • Wondrous Item, uncommon (requires attunement)
  • Description: This magical cloak, created from the skin of a large, mystical chameleon, allows the wearer to blend with their surroundings, becoming nearly invisible when stationary.
  • Game Mechanics:
    • Stealth Bonus: The wearer gains a +2 item bonus to Stealth checks while wearing the cloak.
    • Camouflage: The wearer can activate the cloak as a single action, gaining the benefits of the Invisibility spell for 1 minute or until they move, make an attack, or cast a spell. The cloak can be activated once per day.
    • Attunement: The wearer must spend 10 minutes in a quiet environment to attune to the cloak. Once attuned, the cloak becomes bound to the wearer and provides its bonuses.
    • Drawback: Prolonged use (more than 1 hour of continuous wear) causes mild disorientation, imposing a -1 penalty on Perception checks until the wearer takes a 10-minute rest.

Savage Worlds

Item: Chameleon Skin Cloak

  • Description: A rare and powerful cloak made from the skin of a chameleon, allowing the wearer to blend into their surroundings, making them almost invisible.
  • Game Mechanics:
    • Stealth Bonus: The cloak grants the wearer a +2 bonus to Stealth rolls.
    • Camouflage: When the wearer takes an action to blend into their surroundings, they gain a +4 bonus to Stealth rolls for the next 5 minutes or until they move. This ability can be used once per encounter.
    • Edges: The wearer is considered to have the Danger Sense Edge while wearing the cloak, as it heightens their awareness of their surroundings.
    • Hindrance: The cloak’s camouflage effect does not work in areas with no natural cover or in brightly lit environments, where it may instead draw attention due to its unusual appearance.

Shadowrun (6th Edition)

Item: Chameleon Skin Cloak

  • Description: A cloak made from genetically engineered chameleon skin, enhanced with nanotechnology to provide superior camouflage capabilities in urban and natural environments.
  • Game Mechanics:
    • Concealability: The wearer gains a +4 bonus to Stealth tests when attempting to avoid visual detection. This bonus applies in both urban and natural environments where the cloak can blend with surroundings.
    • Chameleon Effect: As a Free Action, the wearer can activate the cloak’s adaptive camouflage, causing it to change color and texture to match the surrounding environment. This effect lasts for 10 minutes per activation and can be used twice per day.
    • Electronic Countermeasures: The cloak also provides a +2 bonus to avoid detection by standard visual sensors, though it is less effective against advanced thermal or ultrasonic sensors, providing only a +1 bonus against these.
    • Drain: The nanotechnology powering the cloak requires a power source, which is integrated into the garment. After each use, roll 1D6; on a 1, the power source is depleted and must be recharged before the cloak can be used again.

Starfinder

Item: Chameleon Skin Cloak

  • Level: 4
  • Price: 2,300 credits
  • Bulk: L
  • Description: A high-tech cloak designed using chameleon DNA and advanced bio-fibers, allowing the wearer to blend into their environment and avoid detection.
  • Game Mechanics:
    • Stealth Enhancement: The cloak grants a +2 enhancement bonus to Stealth checks.
    • Adaptive Camouflage: As a move action, the wearer can activate the cloak’s camouflage ability. For the next 5 rounds, the cloak grants a +10 bonus to Stealth checks. This effect ends if the wearer attacks, takes damage, or moves faster than a normal move action.
    • Energy Requirement: The cloak requires a small power source to maintain its adaptive camouflage, consuming 1 charge per activation. It has 10 charges and can be recharged with a standard battery pack.
    • Environmental Adaptation: The cloak’s camouflage is effective in a wide range of environments, including urban settings, forests, and even barren planets. However, it offers no benefit in environments with no cover or in areas where the natural environment is highly uniform, such as a featureless desert.

Traveller (Mongoose, 2nd Edition)

Item: Chameleon Skin Cloak

  • Tech Level: 11
  • Cost: Cr 10,000
  • Description: An advanced piece of clothing designed with adaptive materials that can change color and texture to match the wearer’s surroundings, making them almost invisible to the naked eye.
  • Game Mechanics:
    • Stealth Bonus: The wearer gains a +2 DM bonus to any Recon or Stealth checks when attempting to hide or remain undetected in environments with sufficient cover.
    • Adaptive Camouflage: The cloak can be activated as a Minor Action, allowing the wearer to blend into their environment for up to 10 minutes. This effect is particularly effective in low-light conditions or natural environments but is less effective in well-lit or urban areas, reducing the bonus to +1 DM in such environments.
    • Durability: The cloak is made from a lightweight, durable material that offers minimal protection (1 Armor) but does not hinder movement.
    • Power Supply: The cloak uses a compact power cell that needs to be replaced after 10 hours of use. The cloak becomes less effective (providing no bonus) if the power cell is depleted.

Warhammer (Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, 4th Edition)

Item: Chameleon Skin Cloak

  • Rarity: Rare
  • Encumbrance: 1
  • Description: This cloak, crafted from the skin of a magical chameleon, allows the wearer to blend into their surroundings, becoming almost invisible to the naked eye.
  • Game Mechanics:
    • Stealth Bonus: The wearer gains a +10 bonus to Stealth (Agility) tests while wearing the cloak, provided they remain stationary or move slowly.
    • Chameleon Effect: As a free action, the wearer can activate the cloak’s camouflage ability, allowing them to hide in plain sight. This grants the wearer the Invisible condition for 1D10 rounds, after which the cloak requires 1 hour to recharge.
    • Drawback: The cloak is sensitive to sudden movements or bright light, which can disrupt the camouflage effect. If the wearer is exposed to a bright light source (such as a torch or flash of magic), they must make a Challenging (+0) Agility Test to maintain the camouflage. Failure results in the camouflage being lost until the wearer can retreat to cover.
    • Maintenance: The cloak is delicate and must be maintained regularly. Every month of use requires a Challenging (+0) Trade (Tailor) or Trade (Clothier) test to prevent wear and tear from diminishing the cloak’s effectiveness.