Spiritbound Bracers

From: Admonishing Band Spirit Guardian

Lore: The Spiritbound Bracers have a storied history entwined with the Admonishing Band’s spiritual practices and the pursuit of a deeper connection to the realm of spirits. Crafted by master artisans and inscribed with ancient runes, these bracers were created during a time when the Admonishing Band sought to enhance their members’ abilities to communicate with spirits. The runes etched into the bracers are said to be imbued with the essence of benevolent spirits, amplifying the wearer’s attunement to the spirit realm. The spirits themselves guided the artisans, imparting their wisdom and forging a bond between the wearer and the supernatural.

Use: The Spiritbound Bracers serve as conduits for the wearer’s spiritual energies, enabling them to forge stronger connections with spirits and resist unwanted intrusions into their mind and soul. When worn, the bracers enhance the wearer’s perception of the spirit realm, allowing for clearer communication and understanding of spirits’ messages. The ancient runes act as a shield against possession attempts and mental intrusions, empowering the wearer to fend off malevolent spirits seeking to manipulate or invade their consciousness. The bracers provide a sense of stability and protection, reinforcing the wearer’s spiritual defenses.

Stats:

• Level: Tier 1
• Bonus: +1 to Wisdom checks related to spirit communication
• Advantage: Saving throws against possession or mental intrusion

Skills gained:

• Spirit Communication: The wearer gains a +1 bonus to Wisdom checks when attempting to communicate with spirits or interpret their messages.
• Spiritual Resilience: The wearer has advantage on saving throws against possession, mental intrusion, or attempts by spirits to manipulate their mind.

Cost: The Spiritbound Bracers are revered as sacred artifacts within the Admonishing Band. Their intricate craftsmanship and the spiritual essence infused in the runes make them highly sought-after and valuable. At level 1, the estimated cost of the Spiritbound Bracers would be 400 gold pieces.

Tags:

• Spirit: Enhances the wearer’s connection to the spirit realm and their ability to interact with spirits.
• Protective: Provides a shield against possession and mental intrusions from malevolent spirits.
• Rare: Due to the specialized nature of their creation and the spiritual significance attached to them, Spiritbound Bracers are considered rare and not readily available in the market.
• Additional: Ethereal-Attunement, Mindshield, Rune-Bound, Psychic-Fortress, Soulguard, Spirit-Affinity, Arcane-Inscribed, Willpower-Fortified, Mental-Barrier, Aura-of-Clarity

The Spiritbound Bracers are rare and spiritually significant artifacts, often found in specialized shops or sacred locations throughout Saṃsāra, where relics of spiritual and arcane significance are traded. Here’s a description of the types of shops where the Spiritbound Bracers might be bought and sold, along with the cost variations depending on the environment.

• Sanctified Relic Emporiums (Cost: 450–600 gold pieces)
  • Location: These shops are found near holy sites, ancient temples, or spiritual retreats, where relics tied to the spirit realm are sold. These locations are often frequented by clerics, spirit hunters, and members of the Admonishing Band.
  • Atmosphere: The shop is peaceful, filled with soft chanting or the hum of spiritual energies. Shelves are lined with holy artifacts, bracers among them, glowing faintly with runic inscriptions. The air is fragrant with incense, and the bracers are stored in velvet-lined cases, revered as sacred objects.
  • Buying Process: Only those deemed worthy or in need of spiritual protection are allowed to purchase the bracers. Buyers may need to demonstrate their spiritual attunement or recount their connection to the spirit realm before making a purchase.
  • Cost Factors: The price is slightly elevated due to the spiritual significance of the items. A portion of the sale may also serve as an offering to the spirits or as a donation to the temple.
• Mystic Bazaars (Cost: 400–500 gold pieces)
  • Location: Mystic Bazaars are found in large, magically-infused cities where traders and merchants sell rare arcane items. These bustling marketplaces are filled with magical artifacts from all corners of the world.
  • Atmosphere: The shop is vibrant, with shelves packed with enchanted trinkets, runic scrolls, and other mystical wares. The bracers are displayed alongside items that enhance spiritual communication, with the faint glow of their runes easily visible.
  • Buying Process: Buyers can simply purchase the bracers, though prices vary depending on demand. Shopkeepers may offer guidance to ensure the bracers match the buyer’s spiritual or magical needs. Bartering is common, especially if the buyer has magical items or components to offer in exchange.
  • Cost Factors: The cost is standard but may fluctuate based on the availability of other spirit-based relics. A knowledgeable buyer might negotiate a lower price if they demonstrate familiarity with the item’s history.
• Admonishing Band Outposts (Cost: 500–700 gold pieces)
  • Location: Outposts of the Admonishing Band, usually located near spirit-haunted regions or sites of supernatural disturbances, where members of the Band gather and arm themselves for spiritual warfare.
  • Atmosphere: The outpost is both a guildhall and armory, stocked with items specifically crafted to protect against spirits and the supernatural. The bracers are displayed in alcoves alongside other gear designed to bolster spiritual defense, each set carefully maintained by the Band’s members.
  • Buying Process: Non-members must earn the trust of the Admonishing Band to buy these bracers. Completing a spirit-related quest or proving one’s worth in spiritual matters may be required before a purchase is permitted.
  • Cost Factors: The price reflects both the craftsmanship and the spiritual significance of the item. Members of the Band may receive discounts, while outsiders may be charged a premium for accessing such sacred items.
• Spirit Merchant Caravans (Cost: 350–450 gold pieces)
  • Location: These nomadic traders travel between regions afflicted by spiritual unrest, selling items that protect and empower those who venture into haunted lands.
  • Atmosphere: The bracers are sold in an open-air tent, filled with talismans, charms, and other relics that provide spiritual defense. The bracers are usually kept under protective glass, with faint tendrils of energy occasionally flickering across their surface.
  • Buying Process: Purchases are made through haggling and bartering. Spirit Merchant Caravans often take on buyers who can demonstrate knowledge of or personal connection to the spiritual realm, and may offer discounts in exchange for rare items or services.
  • Cost Factors: The price is lower due to the bracers being available on the road, but prices can vary depending on the buyer’s ability to barter or offer a trade of equal value.
• Black Markets of Haunted Cities (Cost: 600–800 gold pieces)
  • Location: In hidden corners of haunted or cursed cities, black markets trade in dangerous and rare artifacts that offer protection against supernatural threats.
  • Atmosphere: The shop is dimly lit, with an air of danger and secrecy. The bracers are kept under lock and key, displayed alongside other relics obtained through questionable means. The atmosphere is tense, as spirits often lurk in the shadows of these cursed locations.
  • Buying Process: Buyers must negotiate with shady dealers who may inflate prices due to the rarity of the bracers. Trust is essential, as dealing with black market merchants can carry risks of being cheated or receiving cursed items.
  • Cost Factors: Prices are heavily inflated due to the dangers involved in acquiring and selling such powerful artifacts. Buyers with spiritual knowledge or connections may be able to lower the price through negotiation.
• Temple-Run Artisan Shops (Cost: 400–550 gold pieces)
  • Location: In holy cities or towns with strong spiritual traditions, artisan shops run by clerics or spiritual artisans sell items imbued with divine energy, including the Spiritbound Bracers.
  • Atmosphere: These are small, intimate workshops where each item is crafted with care and precision. The air is calm and reverent, with faint hymns echoing in the background. The bracers are often custom-made or infused with specific spiritual blessings.
  • Buying Process: Buyers can request personalized inscriptions or blessings from the shop’s artisans, tailoring the bracers to their needs. The purchase may require a short waiting period for blessings or customization.
  • Cost Factors: The price varies based on the level of customization and the specific blessings requested. Standard bracers are reasonably priced, but adding additional spiritual enhancements or protections will raise the cost.

In the world of Saṃsāra, the Spiritbound Bracers are treated as rare, sacred artifacts, accessible only through trusted channels and often requiring a deep connection to the spiritual realm or a demonstrated need for their protection and power. Their value and cost reflect both their spiritual significance and their practical effectiveness in protecting against supernatural threats.

The Spiritbound Bracers are powerful magical artifacts designed to enhance the wearer’s connection to the spirit realm while offering protection against mental and spiritual attacks. These bracers can be used both defensively and offensively, depending on the environment and the challenges faced. Below are examples of how they can be roleplayed in various environments to highlight their dual nature.

• Haunted Forest (Defense: Protection Against Malevolent Spirits)
  • In the dense, eerie atmosphere of a haunted forest where malevolent spirits lurk, the Spiritbound Bracers become a vital defensive tool. The air is thick with spectral whispers, and spirits attempt to invade the minds of adventurers, sowing confusion and fear.
  • Defensive Roleplay: The wearer can feel the bracers grow warm as they sense the malevolent presence around them. As a spirit tries to invade their mind, the runes on the bracers glow faintly, creating an invisible barrier that repels the intrusion. The wearer may describe a sense of calm clarity washing over them, reinforcing their will as the bracers block the possession attempt. The spirits, deterred by the bracers, hover at a distance, unable to break through the wearer’s mental defenses.
  • Tactical Use: The Spiritual Resilience skill grants advantage on saving throws against possession, preventing spirits from influencing or controlling the wearer. This defensive boon allows the wearer to resist spiritual assaults, giving their allies time to regroup or counter-attack.
• Sacred Temple Ruins (Offense: Enhancing Spirit Communication for Tactical Advantage)
  • In the ancient ruins of a sacred temple, the Spiritbound Bracers can be used offensively to communicate with the lingering spirits who guard hidden knowledge or secrets within the ruins. These spirits might possess vital information that can turn the tide in a dire situation.
  • Offensive Roleplay: The wearer can focus their mind, activating the bracers to attune more deeply to the spirit realm. The wearer’s eyes may glow softly as they reach out to the spirits, offering a prayer or incantation that allows them to communicate. Through this connection, they can receive advice, warnings, or strategic insights from the spirits about the enemies ahead or traps hidden within the temple.
  • Tactical Use: The Spirit Communication skill offers a bonus to Wisdom checks when communicating with spirits. In this setting, the wearer can use the bracers to learn the layout of the temple, uncover hidden dangers, or even ask the spirits to distract or mislead enemies, creating tactical opportunities.
• Ghost-Infested Village (Defense: Warding Off Spiritual Attacks on the Party)
  • In a village plagued by vengeful ghosts, the Spiritbound Bracers can be used defensively not only for the wearer but to shield others from spiritual harm. The ghosts seek to drain life or manipulate the emotions of the living, sowing fear and madness.
  • Defensive Roleplay: The wearer may hold up their bracers as a protective ward, channeling their spiritual energy through the engraved runes. The glowing runes project a soft, ethereal light that spreads outward in a radius, forming a temporary shield around the party. As the ghosts attempt to attack, they are repelled by the shield’s energy, unable to breach the protection granted by the bracers.
  • Tactical Use: The wearer can use the bracers to protect allies, creating an area of mental and spiritual defense. The advantage against mental intrusion extends to the party, giving everyone a greater chance to resist the ghosts’ attempts to control or manipulate their minds. This shared defense allows the party to move through the haunted village without being overwhelmed.
• Ethereal Plane (Offense: Enhancing Interaction with Spirits)
  • While traveling through the Ethereal Plane, the wearer can use the Spiritbound Bracers offensively to directly engage with spirits that might otherwise be invisible or inaccessible. In this realm, spirits can offer information or be banished through communication and confrontation.
  • Offensive Roleplay: The wearer can describe the bracers acting like a conduit, amplifying their voice as they reach out to the wandering spirits. With the bracers on, the wearer can project their will, challenging hostile spirits to reveal their intentions or even subdue them. The wearer may describe the sensation of feeling the spirits’ emotions, and through negotiation or force of will, they can guide these spirits to assist in combat or flee the area.
  • Tactical Use: By enhancing the wearer’s communication with spirits, the bracers allow the wearer to interact more assertively with ethereal entities. The wearer can negotiate with spirits to fight alongside them, scout ahead, or even disrupt enemy plans. Alternatively, the bracers can be used to banish aggressive spirits, clearing a path for the party.
• Arcane Duel in a Mage’s Sanctum (Defense: Blocking Mind Control)
  • In a mage’s sanctum, where mental manipulation and control are common forms of attack, the Spiritbound Bracers are crucial for defense. The opposing mage might use charm, dominate, or possession spells to weaken the party’s resolve or turn allies against each other.
  • Defensive Roleplay: As the opposing mage attempts to control the wearer’s mind, the runes on the bracers flare to life, forming a mental shield around the wearer’s consciousness. The bracers push back against the mental intrusion, preventing the mage’s magic from taking hold. The wearer may feel the pressure of the mage’s will but remains steadfast, allowing them to retain control over their actions.
  • Tactical Use: The advantage on saving throws against mental intrusion provided by the Spiritual Resilience skill gives the wearer a significant defensive edge in resisting mind control or manipulation spells. This ability allows the wearer to remain free from enchantments, countering the mage’s offensive capabilities and staying focused in battle.
• Battleground Between the Living and Dead (Offense: Bolstering Communication with Fallen Warriors)
  • On a battlefield where the spirits of fallen warriors still roam, the Spiritbound Bracers can be used to forge alliances with these lingering spirits. The wearer can call upon the spirits for aid, turning the tide of the battle by drawing upon their wisdom or using their presence to rally the living forces.
  • Offensive Roleplay: The wearer may describe how the bracers glow as they reach out to the fallen spirits, summoning them to rise from the battlefield. The spirits, bound to the wearer through the bracers, might offer tactical advice, rally the living troops, or even form a protective barrier against the undead. The wearer feels empowered by the connection, guiding the spirits to support their cause.
  • Tactical Use: Using the Spirit Communication skill, the wearer can gather intelligence from the spirits or even temporarily bind their energy to aid the party. The bracers can turn spirits into a powerful force of support, offering insights or fighting on behalf of the living. This offensive use of the bracers helps shift the battlefield’s balance in favor of the wearer’s side.

In all of these environments, the Spiritbound Bracers shine as versatile tools, enhancing both offensive interactions with spirits and defensive measures against mental and spiritual threats. They offer a wide range of roleplaying opportunities, empowering the wearer to engage with the spirit realm while providing protection and spiritual resilience against malevolent forces.

Perception of Activation: Spiritbound Bracers

• User’s Perspective:
  • Sight: The engraved runes on the bracers pulse with a bright, ethereal glow. Wisps of light spiral outward, forming a soft, shimmering aura around the user’s arms. The glow intensifies when spirits are nearby, casting faint ghostly shadows that move with the bracers.
  • Sound: A low, harmonious hum fills the air, like a distant chorus of voices. The user can hear soft whispers, almost like advice or guidance from benevolent spirits, though the words are indistinct. When the bracers are activated to defend against an intrusion, there’s a sharp, ringing tone as the mental barrier forms.
  • Touch: A comforting warmth spreads through the user’s wrists and arms, almost like an embrace from the spirit realm. The bracers feel lighter, as though the spiritual energy they channel lifts some of their physical weight. When defending against possession, there is a noticeable pressure as the bracers push back against the invading force.
  • Smell: A faint scent of incense and aged wood fills the air, reminiscent of ancient temples or shrines. This scent grows stronger when spirits are present, offering a calming, protective reassurance.
  • Taste: The air feels crisp, with a slight metallic tang as if infused with arcane energy. There is a subtle sweetness, like fresh rain on a sacred altar.
  • Extra-Sensory Perception (ESP):
    • Spirit Awareness: The user feels a heightened sensitivity to nearby spiritual entities. The bracers subtly guide the user’s attention to hidden spirits or nearby threats, almost as if gently nudging their awareness.
    • Mental Clarity: When activated, the bracers grant a moment of pure focus, clearing away distractions and doubts. The user’s thoughts become sharper, and their connection to the spirit realm deepens, offering brief but profound insights.
    • Emotional Echo: The user experiences faint echoes of emotions from nearby spirits—sadness, longing, or sometimes peace. These echoes help the user understand the motivations and desires of the spirits they encounter.
• Observer’s Perspective:
  • Sight: To an observer, the bracers appear to shimmer with a soft, otherworldly light, casting faint, swirling patterns of luminescence around the wearer’s arms. The glow is not harsh, but enough to subtly illuminate the immediate area. When defending against spiritual attacks, a brief flash of light arcs outward, as though a barrier has been raised.
  • Sound: Observers hear a faint, melodic hum that seems to come from nowhere and everywhere at once. The sound grows slightly louder in moments of spiritual activity, accompanied by an almost imperceptible whispering, as though the spirits are communicating through the bracers.
  • Touch: Those standing near the user may feel a soft, tingling sensation in the air, as if the energy from the bracers creates a mild static charge. The closer one is to the user, the more they feel the aura of protection extending outward.
  • Smell: Observers may catch a faint whiff of sandalwood or sacred herbs, like those burned in rituals or spiritual ceremonies. The scent, though faint, lingers in the air around the wearer, adding to the artifact’s mystical presence.
  • Extra-Sensory Perception (ESP):
    • Aura of Protection: Observers with spiritual sensitivity may notice a subtle shift in the energy around the wearer, as if the bracers emit an invisible shield that wards off spiritual harm.
    • Spiritual Ripples: Sensitive individuals might feel the presence of spirits nearby or sense the disruption of malevolent entities, as if the bracers are creating ripples in the spiritual fabric around the user.
• Positives:
  • Spiritual Defense: The bracers provide a palpable sense of security, warding off mental and spiritual intrusions with ease. The wearer and their allies feel protected, and the wearer gains clarity and focus.
  • Enhanced Awareness: The bracers allow the wearer to perceive spirits more clearly, offering vital information in encounters with the supernatural. This heightened awareness can give tactical advantages in situations involving spiritual beings.
  • Spiritual Harmony: The wearer feels more connected to benevolent spirits, fostering trust and understanding. This can open new pathways for communication and interaction with spirits.
• Negatives:
  • Attention from Spirits: Activating the bracers can attract the attention of nearby spirits, both good and bad. While some spirits may offer help, others could become aggressive, feeling threatened or drawn to the artifact’s power.
  • Sensory Overload: In areas thick with spiritual energy, the bracers’ heightened sensitivity can be overwhelming for the wearer, bombarding them with too many emotions or spiritual impressions at once.
  • Exhaustion: Prolonged use of the bracers can drain the wearer, mentally and emotionally. The constant connection to the spirit realm, while empowering, can leave the wearer feeling drained or disoriented after intense spiritual encounters.
  • Fragile Balance: In highly sacred or cursed locations, the bracers may upset the natural spiritual balance, causing spirits to become agitated or leading to unforeseen consequences in the spiritual realm.

Recipe: Crafting the Spiritbound Bracers

• Materials Needed:
  • Ethereal Steel (2 ingots) – A rare metal known for its ability to channel spiritual energy, typically found in sacred or haunted sites.
  • Spirit-Infused Leather (1 strap) – Leather imbued with the essence of benevolent spirits, harvested from animals blessed by a spiritual guardian.
  • Glowing Runes (4) – Magical runestones inscribed with ancient spiritual symbols, attuned to both the wearer and the spirit realm.
  • Moonstone Dust (2 ounces) – Powdered moonstone used to stabilize the magical runes and enhance spiritual sensitivity.
  • Sacred Oils (1 vial) – Oils blessed by a high priest or priestess, used to anoint the bracers and bind them to the wearer’s spiritual energy.
  • Crystal of Clairvoyance (1) – A small, enchanted crystal embedded in the bracers, aiding in spirit communication and mental clarity.
• Tools Required:
  • Master Enchanter’s Anvil – Used to shape the Ethereal Steel and imbue it with spiritual energy.
  • Runic Inscription Kit – A specialized set of tools for engraving the runes and magical symbols onto the bracers.
  • Divine Hammer – An enchanted hammer used to forge the bracers without damaging their spiritual properties.
  • Quenching Basin – Filled with holy water or blessed oils, used to cool and stabilize the bracers after forging.
  • Ritual Engraving Needle – Used for precise carving of the intricate runes and glyphs needed to channel spiritual energy.
• Skill Requirements:
  • Smithing (Advanced) – The ability to craft with rare metals like Ethereal Steel and handle delicate materials like spirit-infused leather.
  • Runic Magic (Intermediate) – Knowledge of ancient runes and spiritual symbols, necessary for engraving the correct markings to bind spirits.
  • Divine Enchanting (Advanced) – The ability to channel spiritual energy and blessings into the item, imbuing it with the power of protection and communication with spirits.
  • Ritual Blessing (Basic) – Skill in performing sacred rites to sanctify and bless the materials and finished bracers.
• Crafting Steps:
  • Step 1: Shape the Ethereal Steel
    • Begin by heating the Ethereal Steel Ingots in a forge. Once softened, carefully shape them into the bands that will form the bracers. Use the Divine Hammer to forge the steel, ensuring that the bracers maintain their spiritual conductivity. Work on the Master Enchanter’s Anvil, focusing on smooth curves to create the perfect shape for the wearer’s wrists.
  • Step 2: Cool and Quench
    • Once the bracers are shaped, cool them in the Quenching Basin filled with holy water or sacred oils. This process stabilizes the metal and binds it to the spiritual properties needed for communication with spirits. The water should sizzle slightly, signifying the infusion of divine energy into the steel.
  • Step 3: Inscribe the Runes
    • Using the Runic Inscription Kit, carve the Glowing Runes onto the surface of the bracers. Each rune must be engraved with precision, as these symbols will channel spiritual energy to and from the wearer. The Moonstone Dust should be sprinkled into the engraved runes to empower them with spiritual clarity. After each rune is inscribed, chant an incantation to ensure the runes are properly attuned to the spirit realm.
  • Step 4: Bind the Spirit-Infused Leather
    • Attach the Spirit-Infused Leather to the inside of the bracers for comfort and additional spiritual attunement. The leather acts as a conduit between the wearer and the bracers, ensuring the spiritual connection remains stable during use. Secure it tightly, but gently, to preserve the leather’s spiritual properties.
  • Step 5: Embed the Crystal of Clairvoyance
    • Carefully insert the Crystal of Clairvoyance into the center of each bracer. This crystal will amplify the wearer’s ability to communicate with spirits and enhance their mental clarity. Ensure the crystal is properly aligned with the engraved runes to create a seamless flow of spiritual energy.
  • Step 6: Anoint with Sacred Oils
    • Anoint the entire surface of the bracers with Sacred Oils. As the oils are absorbed into the metal and leather, perform a ritual blessing to bind the spiritual energy to the bracers. This step is crucial in ensuring the bracers are properly attuned to their future wearer, granting them protection from malevolent spirits and enhancing communication with benevolent entities.
  • Step 7: Final Blessing and Attunement
    • The final step is to conduct a Ritual Blessing in a sacred space. Place the bracers on an altar and light incense or candles imbued with spiritual energy. The bracers must be blessed by a priest or spiritual guardian, ensuring they are fully activated. This final blessing bonds the bracers to their purpose—protection, communication, and spiritual resilience.
• Crafting Time:     Approximately 7 days, including the forging, engraving, blessing, and attunement processes.
• Difficulty:     High, due to the need for advanced enchanting, smithing, and spiritual attunement skills. A mistake in rune carving or spiritual binding could result in diminished power or misalignment with the wearer’s spirit.

Once completed, the Spiritbound Bracers will provide the wearer with enhanced spiritual communication, protection from malevolent spirits, and a deeper connection to the ethereal plane.

Tale of the Bonded Brace that Speaketh to Shadows

Long before, when sky and earth were yet tangled, there were those who walked with spirits, hearing words not meant for living ears. Among them stood the Admonish Ones, who were tasked to stand guard ‘tween the world of flesh and the land of whispering shades.

In that time, it is said the Brace of Spiritbind came to be, not by hands of men but by wills of the unseen. The story sayeth that a wise one of the Admonish Ones, named Saralin, did seek wisdom in the high places where the wind sings of what is gone and what shall come. There, she found herself lost in the realm betwixt realms, where shadows have voices but no form. Her heart was strong, but her ears were filled with the cries of the restless, their stories unspoken, their anger unchecked.

She could not turn away from these voices, nor could she command them. And so, she sat in silence, listening. For three days and three nights, her spirit wandered, adrift in the murmurings of the lost ones. Her body was still, but her soul moved like the wind among them.

On the fourth night, a great shadow came, and its form was not like the others. It was neither angry nor sorrowful, but wise with the knowing of ages. It spake to her, though its words were like rivers, flowing in and out of meaning. And it said, “Make upon thine wrist the bonds of both life and death, and you shall stand as bridge for those who are between.”

Saralin took the meaning deep within her, and when her soul returned to her body, she knew what must be done. Upon the mountain, she found the ore that was not of this earth, and she gathered the leathers from beasts that roamed in both the living and shadow worlds. But the runes—aye, the runes!—they were whispered to her by the great shadow in the language that bends the mind.

Thus, the Brace of Spiritbind was made, and with it, Saralin could speak to the spirits as if they were beside her in the flesh. The bracers shone with light that could not be seen, and those lost ones who sought mischief in the world of the living trembled before its glow. For it held both a kindness and a boundary, granting passage for those who sought it and defense for those who would be harmed by them.

In time, Saralin passed the bracers to others, but the story faded. Some say the runes changed each time a new wearer took the bracers, shaped by the spirits they encountered. But none knew for sure where Saralin went, only that the bracers remained, holding within them the whispers of both the living and the dead.

Moral of the Story: To hear the voices of shadows, one must bear both the weight of the living and the dead, for only then can true peace be found.

Suggested conversions to other systems:

Call of Cthulhu (7th Edition)

Spiritbound Bracers

• Artifact
• Description: A pair of ancient bracers engraved with glowing runes. These bracers protect the wearer from mental intrusions and enhance their ability to communicate with spirits.
• Game Mechanics:
  • Effect: Grants a +10% bonus to Occult or other skill rolls when attempting to communicate with spirits or interpret their signs.
  • Protection: The wearer gains a bonus die on all POW rolls to resist possession or mental intrusions from supernatural entities.
  • Sanity Impact: Extended use of the bracers may cause a gradual loss of Sanity as the wearer becomes more attuned to the spirit world (SAN loss: 0/1D3 per encounter with malevolent spirits).
  • Drawback: The wearer may be more susceptible to attracting the attention of otherworldly entities, especially during moments of heightened spiritual activity.

Blades in the Dark

Spiritbound Bracers

• Fine Item
• Description: These bracers are marked with runes that glow faintly in the presence of spirits, granting the wearer heightened spiritual awareness and protection from spirit-based attacks.
• Game Mechanics:
  • Load: 1 (Counts as a Fine Item)
  • Effect: The bracers provide potency in resistance rolls against ghostly possession and spirit harm. Additionally, they grant +1d when attempting to attune to or communicate with spirits.
  • Spirit Communication: When the wearer uses the Attune action, they gain an additional effect—communicating directly with a spirit allows the wearer to gain insight, ask a question, or resolve a lingering issue with a ghost.
  • Drawback: Extended use of the bracers may open the wearer to spiritual harm, attracting hostile attention from vengeful spirits or dark forces.

Dungeons & Dragons (5th Edition)

Spiritbound Bracers

• Wondrous Item, Rare (requires attunement)
• Description: The Spiritbound Bracers are inscribed with ancient runes, providing protection against mental intrusions and allowing the wearer to communicate with spirits more effectively.
• Game Mechanics:
  • Bonus: The wearer gains a +1 bonus to Wisdom (Insight) checks related to spirit communication.
  • Protection: The wearer has advantage on saving throws against possession, mind control, or mental intrusion effects caused by spirits or undead.
  • Spirit Communication: Once per day, the wearer can cast Speak with Dead or Commune without expending a spell slot.
  • Drawback: While wearing the bracers, the wearer is more likely to be targeted by spirits seeking communication or assistance.

Knave

Spiritbound Bracers

• Magic Item
• Description: These bracers, marked by ancient runes, heighten the wearer’s sensitivity to spirits and offer protection from mental control.
• Game Mechanics:
  • Effect: Grants the wearer a +1 bonus to Wisdom checks when attempting to communicate with spirits or interpret spiritual signs.
  • Protection: The wearer has advantage on saving throws against possession or mental domination from incorporeal entities such as ghosts or demons.
  • Spirit Communication: The wearer can, once per day, ask a single question of a nearby spirit, receiving cryptic but truthful information.
  • Drawback: Prolonged use of the bracers may cause hallucinations or unsettling spiritual visions, creating distractions or temporary penalties to Wisdom-based checks.

Fate (Core System)

Spiritbound Bracers

• Aspect: Spiritual Protector
• Description: A pair of bracers with inscribed glowing runes that offer protection from mental influence and enhance spiritual communication.
• Game Mechanics:
  • Aspect: “Spiritual Protector” – The bracers provide a constant barrier against mental influence and give the wearer an edge when interacting with spirits.
  • Invoke: The wearer can invoke the bracers to gain a +2 bonus on rolls when resisting mental intrusion or communicating with spirits.
  • Create an Advantage: The wearer can create an advantage in situations involving spirits or supernatural entities, such as gaining insight from a lingering ghost.
  • Compel: The GM may compel this aspect, drawing unwanted attention from spirits or causing the wearer to be overwhelmed by spiritual interference.

Numenera & Cypher System

Spiritbound Bracers

• Level 4 Artifact
• Description: These bracers enhance the wearer’s sensitivity to spirits, allowing for clear communication and providing resistance against mental attacks.
• Game Mechanics:
  • Level: 4
  • Effect: Grants an asset (reduces difficulty by 1 step) on any task related to communicating with spirits, interpreting spiritual signs, or resisting possession or mental intrusion.
  • Spirit Communication: Once per day, the wearer can communicate directly with a spirit, gaining information or insight into a particular matter (no roll required).
  • Depletion: 1 in 1d20 – After each use of the spirit communication ability, roll for depletion. On a 1, the bracers lose their enchantment until recharged through a ritual or process.

Pathfinder (2nd Edition)

Spiritbound Bracers

• Wondrous Item, Rare (requires attunement)
• Description: These bracers offer protection against possession and mental domination, while also enhancing the wearer’s ability to communicate with spirits.
• Game Mechanics:
  • Effect: The wearer gains a +1 item bonus to Wisdom-based skill checks related to spirit communication (such as Religion or Occultism).
  • Protection: The wearer gains advantage on all Will saving throws against possession, mental control, or any effects targeting their mind or soul from spirits and undead.
  • Spirit Communication: Once per day, the wearer can cast Speak with Dead or Divination as an innate spell without expending a spell slot.
  • Drawback: Using the bracers makes the wearer more visible to malevolent spirits, increasing the likelihood of spiritual encounters.

Savage Worlds (Adventure Edition)

Spiritbound Bracers

• Magic Item (Rare)
• Description: These magical bracers protect the wearer from mental attacks and enhance their ability to communicate with the dead and spiritual entities.
• Game Mechanics:
  • Effect: Grants a +1 bonus to Spirit rolls when resisting mental control, possession, or any supernatural influence. Additionally, the wearer gains a +1 bonus to Persuasion or Notice rolls when interacting with spirits.
  • Spirit Communication: Once per day, the wearer can use the Speak with Spirits power without expending Power Points.
  • Armor: +1 Armor against attacks from spirits, ghosts, or incorporeal entities.
  • Drawback: The bracers may attract the attention of hostile spirits, who seek to exploit the connection to the wearer’s mind and spirit.

Shadowrun (6th Edition)

Spiritbound Bracers

• Gear/Focus, Rating 3
• Description: A pair of intricately designed bracers inscribed with glowing runes that offer enhanced spiritual awareness and protection against mental intrusion.
• Game Mechanics:
  • Type: Focus (Spirit Focus), Rating 3
  • Effect: Grants +3 dice to any Astral Combat or Conjuring Tests involving spirits. Provides +3 dice to resist mental manipulation or possession attempts.
  • Spirit Communication: The wearer gains a +2 bonus on Assensing or Magic-related skill checks when attempting to communicate with spirits or detect astral entities.
  • Drain Resistance: Provides 1 bonus die to resist Drain from magic related to spirits.
  • Drawback: The wearer becomes more visible to spirits in the astral plane, increasing the likelihood of attracting attention from malevolent spirits.

Starfinder

Spiritbound Bracers

• Magic Item, Level 7
• Description: These mystic bracers enhance the wearer’s connection to the spirit world and provide defense against mental assaults from spiritual entities.
• Game Mechanics:
  • Armor Slots: 1
  • Effect: Grants the wearer a +2 insight bonus to Will saving throws against possession, mental domination, or telepathic attacks from spirits and incorporeal creatures.
  • Spirit Communication: Once per day, the wearer can cast Commune or Speak with Dead without expending a spell slot.
  • Spiritual Perception: The wearer gains darkvision (60 feet) when viewing spirits or incorporeal entities, allowing them to see ethereal beings that would normally be hidden.
  • Drawback: The bracers emit a faint glow when spirits are near, potentially revealing the wearer’s position to foes.

Traveller (Mongoose 2nd Edition)

Spiritbound Bracers

• Tech Level 14 Artifact
• Description: These high-tech bracers, infused with spiritual and advanced technology, allow the wearer to interface with ethereal entities while offering mental protection from invasive spiritual attacks.
• Game Mechanics:
  • TL: 14
  • Effect: Provides a +2 DM bonus to any task involving spirit communication, interpreting ghostly signs, or dealing with incorporeal entities. In addition, grants a +2 DM bonus to resist psionic or mental control from spiritual or ethereal forces.
  • Spirit Communication: Once per day, the wearer can communicate with an incorporeal entity or spirit, receiving one piece of valuable information.
  • Drawback: Use of the bracers in areas dense with spiritual energy may attract unwanted attention from entities in the spiritual realm, potentially triggering hostile encounters.

Warhammer (4th Edition)

Spiritbound Bracers

• Rare Magical Item
• Description: Crafted by ancient seers, these bracers protect the wearer from the malicious influence of the spirit world while heightening their ability to communicate with the dead.
• Game Mechanics:
  • Effect: The wearer gains a +10 bonus to any Lore (Spirits) or Channeling (Aethyric Spirits) Tests when dealing with incorporeal or undead entities. The bracers also provide +10 to Cool Tests to resist fear or terror caused by ghosts or spirits.
  • Spirit Communication: Once per day, the wearer can attempt to communicate with a spirit or ghost using a Language (Magick) or Channeling Test. If successful, the wearer gains useful information or guidance from the entity.
  • Protection: The wearer gains +1 Armor Point against attacks from incorporeal creatures.
  • Drawback: Prolonged use of the bracers may cause the wearer to experience strange visions or unsettling whispers from the spirit realm, imposing penalties to Perception or Willpower Tests over time.