Chaos and Order Mantle of Harmony

Lore: In the ever-shifting realm of Saṃsāra, where the threads of destiny intertwine with the fibers of reality, the Chaos and Order Mantle of Harmony stands as a testament to the balance that can be achieved between two seemingly incompatible forces. Forged during a rare celestial alignment, this garment was created by a mystic who sought to embody the unity of opposites. The mystic believed that the wearer could navigate Saṃsāra’s myriad challenges with grace and adaptability, embodying both the fluidity of chaos and the steadfastness of order. It is said that those who don the mantle can feel the pulsating energy of creation and destruction, learning to harness these forces to navigate the complexities of existence in Saṃsāra.

Stats:

• Defense: +2 to AC (Anima Coat), as the garment subtly shifts its form to deflect incoming attacks, channeling the essence of chaos to create unpredictability in its defense patterns.
• Offense: Grants the wearer the ability to cast a minor chaos or order spell once per day. The chaos spell can disorient opponents, causing them to miss their next attack due to the unpredictable fluctuations in the environment. The order spell can stabilize the wearer’s footing, granting them an increased chance of hitting their target as the ground beneath them becomes firm and unyielding.

Roleplay: This item particularly resonates with characters who are affectionate, as it symbolizes the harmonious balance between giving and receiving, push and pull, creation and dissolution. Wearing the Mantle of Harmony encourages acts of kindness and understanding, as the wearer becomes more attuned to the natural balance of the world and the importance of maintaining relationships within it.

Costs: Given its common rarity and role as a tier 1 item, the Mantle of Harmony is relatively accessible to adventurers. It may require the completion of a quest that embodies the principles of chaos and order, or the exchange of services or goods valued at approximately 100 gold pieces.

Magics: The Mantle of Harmony is imbued with a passive enchantment that enhances the wearer’s natural ability to adapt to changing circumstances, providing a subtle boost to all actions that require flexibility or stability. This enchantment does not consume traditional magic resources but instead draws from the wearer’s inner balance between chaos and order.

Tags: Balance, Harmony, Adaptability, Protection, Enchantment

Usage in Different Environments:

• Defense: In a volatile environment such as a battlefield or amidst natural disasters, the mantle’s chaotic aspect enhances the wearer’s ability to react spontaneously, using the disorder to their advantage. In contrast, within structured settings such as diplomatic negotiations or courtly settings, the mantle’s orderly side provides a sense of stability and predictability, shielding the wearer from attempts at manipulation or deceit.
• Offense: Against chaotic adversaries or in unpredictable terrains, invoking the mantle’s order magic can impose a semblance of structure, potentially turning the tide by creating a momentary advantage of predictability. Conversely, when facing rigidly structured foes or in highly controlled environments, unleashing chaos can break down defenses and create openings for attack.

The Chaos and Order Mantle of Harmony serves not just as a piece of gear but as a symbol of the wearer’s journey through Saṃsāra, embodying the understanding that affection, balance, and the interplay between chaos and order are crucial to navigating the complexities of their world.

Above is the sister garment known as the “Chaos and Order Mantle of Affection,” a unique artifact that embodies the dual nature of chaos and order magic. It is designed to occupy one gear slot and offers an array of abilities, making it a perfect fit for a tier 1 character with an emphasis on affectionate interactions.

Lore: The Chaos and Order Mantle of Affection is said to be woven from the very fabric of Saṃsāra’s essence, crafted by a master enchanter who sought to balance the chaotic unpredictability of emotions with the structured bonds of love and friendship. It is rumored that the cloak chooses its wearer, appearing to those whose hearts are true and intentions pure, guiding them through the tumultuous journey of life with wisdom and courage.

Stats

• Defense: Enhances the wearer’s ability to adapt to magical attacks by dynamically shifting between chaos and order-based defenses. It provides a moderate increase in resistance against elemental magic.
• Offense: The cloak does not directly enhance offensive capabilities but allows the wearer to use the environment to their advantage, creating order from chaos or vice versa to confuse and outmaneuver opponents.

Roleplay: For a character focused on affectionate interactions, the Mantle enhances their ability to connect with others, soothing over conflicts and drawing friends from foes. It might imbue their words with a calming magic or create a chaotic distraction to escape tense situations.

Costs and Magics

• Cost: Being of common rarity, the Mantle is not excessively expensive, but acquiring it might require a quest or significant deed rather than mere gold.
• Magic: The Mantle allows the wearer to cast minor spells related to emotion and perception without consuming traditional magic resources. These spells can calm anger, sow confusion among enemies, or strengthen the resolve of allies.

Tags

• Environment Usage: In a forest, the Mantle might cause the trees to bend, creating safe passage or hiding spots. In urban settings, it could subtly influence the mood of crowds or turn the layout of streets to the wearer’s advantage.
• Defensive Usage: The Mantle can create barriers of force or misdirect attacks by altering the perceived position of the wearer and their allies.
• Offensive Usage: While not directly offensive, it can manipulate the battlefield, making it easier for the wearer to exploit weaknesses or create openings for allies.
• Additional: Equilibrium, Unity, Affection, Adaptability, Stability, Fluidity, Resonance, Versatility, Perception, Mediation

The Chaos and Order Mantle of Affection is a testament to the balance that exists within the world of Saṃsāra, offering not just a piece of equipment but a companion to those who walk the path between chaos and order, embodying the affectionate spirit that binds all creatures of this high magic realm.

Activation Perception of the Chaos and Order Mantle

• Sight
  • What is Perceived: The wearer of the Chaos and Order Mantle perceives the world with enhanced clarity and contrast. Chaos aspects of the mantle allow the wearer to see in low light conditions as if it were day, and to notice patterns and details that would normally be invisible. The Order aspects sharpen focus, allowing for distant objects to be seen in great detail.
  • Description: The world appears more vivid, with colors more vibrant and edges sharper. Patterns of magic flow are subtly highlighted, making arcane energies visible to the naked eye.
  • Positives: Enhanced vision allows for better navigation and detection of hidden or distant threats, as well as a deeper appreciation of the beauty of Saṃsāra.
  • Negatives: Overstimulation of visual information can lead to distraction or overwhelm, particularly in environments rich with chaotic energies or intricate patterns.
• Hearing
  • What is Perceived: Sounds are filtered through the mantle, with chaos enhancing the ability to hear a wider range of frequencies and order providing a clarity that distinguishes even the softest whispers from background noise.
  • Description: The wearer can tune into specific sounds or conversations in a crowded room and detect the faintest footsteps of an approaching adversary.
  • Positives: Enhanced hearing aids in communication, eavesdropping, and the detection of otherwise imperceptible dangers.
  • Negatives: Sudden loud noises can become disorientating or even painful, requiring the wearer to adapt to the mantle’s amplification.
• Touch
  • What is Perceived: The mantle heightens tactile sensations, with chaos introducing a sensitivity to magical currents and order enhancing the perception of textures and pressure changes.
  • Description: The wearer feels the pull of magical energies and the slightest variations in air currents, textures, and surfaces.
  • Positives: Increased tactile sensitivity aids in the identification of magical traps, the detection of environmental changes, and the appreciation of intricate craftsmanship.
  • Negatives: The heightened sensitivity can lead to discomfort or pain from otherwise mundane textures or pressures.
• Smell
  • What is Perceived: The mantle enhances olfactory senses, allowing the wearer to detect and identify magical essences and the subtlest of scents carried by the winds of chaos and order.
  • Description: Fragrances and odors are intensified, with the ability to discern the components of complex scents or the trace magical signatures in the air.
  • Positives: This enhanced sense can be used to track beings or objects, identify poisons or potions by scent, and sense approaching weather changes.
  • Negatives: Overpowering or unpleasant odors can become nearly unbearable, potentially disorienting or nauseating the wearer.
• Taste
  • What is Perceived: Taste sensations are magnified, with a particular sensitivity to the magical properties of food and drink. Chaos allows for the detection of magical enhancements or poisons, while order clarifies and enriches the flavors.
  • Description: Every bite or sip provides a burst of flavor, revealing the quality of ingredients and the presence of any magical tampering.
  • Positives: The ability to discern the purity and safety of consumables, as well as to enjoy enhanced culinary experiences.
  • Negatives: Potentially overwhelming or confusing flavor sensations, and a heightened risk of becoming overly sensitive to less refined or magically altered foods.
• Extra-sensory Perceptions
  • Magical Awareness: The mantle grants an innate sense of magical flows and disturbances, allowing the wearer to perceive the presence of magic in their vicinity, including hidden enchantments and spells being cast.
    • Positives: Early warning of magical threats or opportunities to harness ambient magical energies.
    • Negatives: Constant exposure to magical perceptions can be mentally exhausting and distracting.
  • Emotional Resonance: The wearer can faintly sense the emotions of those around them, with chaos amplifying the strength of passionate feelings and order allowing for the discernment of subtle emotional states.
    • Positives: Aids in understanding and empathizing with others, potentially facilitating negotiations or detecting deceit.
    • Negatives: Unwanted emotional noise can be overwhelming, and strong negative emotions may affect the wearer’s mood.

Crafting Recipe: The Forging of the Chaos and Order Mantle

• Materials Needed:
  • Ethereal Silk: 5 yards, harvested from the Silver Spiders of the Ethereal Plane, known for its ability to conduct magical energies.
  • Chaos Thread: A spool, spun from the essence of a chaos storm, capable of shifting colors and patterns.
  • Order Filament: A spool, extracted from the core of a crystallized order shard, known for its unbreakable strength and stability.
  • Arcane Clasp: 1, forged from orichalcum, imbued with the essence of both chaos and order magic.
  • Elemental Dyes: A set of dyes made from concentrated elemental essences (fire, water, air, earth) for imbuing the cloak with additional protective properties.
  • Magic Ink: A vial, for inscribing runes of binding and balance on the inner lining of the mantle.
• Tools Required:
  • Loom of the Weave: A magical loom capable of weaving ethereal silk and enchanted threads into a cohesive magical fabric.
  • Enchanter’s Needle: A needle forged from pure moonlight, necessary for sewing with chaos thread and order filament.
  • Runecarving Set: A set of tools for inscribing magical runes, empowered to work with magic ink.
  • Alchemy Kit: For preparing and applying elemental dyes to the mantle.
• Skill Requirements:
  • Master Weaver: Ability to work with ethereal silk and enchanted threads, weaving them into a magical garment.
  • Enchantment Knowledge: Proficiency in enchanting fabrics and objects with specific magical properties.
  • Runecraft Expertise: Skilled in the art of inscribing runes, especially those that balance opposing forces.
  • Elemental Alchemy: Experience in the preparation and application of elemental dyes.
• Crafting Steps:
  • Preparation of Materials: Begin by treating the ethereal silk with elemental dyes using the alchemy kit, imbuing it with protective properties. Allow the silk to dry under the light of a full moon to enhance its magical conductivity.
  • Weaving the Fabric: Using the Loom of the Weave, integrate the chaos thread and order filament with the ethereal silk, creating a fabric that embodies the essence of both chaos and order. Focus on a design that visually represents the balance between these two forces.
  • Inscribing the Runes: Lay the woven fabric flat and use the runecarving set with magic ink to inscribe runes of binding and balance along the inner lining. These runes are crucial for maintaining the equilibrium between chaos and order within the mantle.
  • Sewing the Mantle: Employ the Enchanter’s Needle to assemble the mantle, ensuring that the chaos and order aspects of the fabric are aligned to maximize their potential. Attach the arcane clasp at the mantle’s front, securing it with a series of enchanted stitches that reinforce the garment’s magical integrity.
  • Final Enchantment: Conduct a ritual to activate the mantle’s magical properties, calling upon the forces of chaos and order to imbue the garment. This step requires a deep understanding of enchantment knowledge and a connection to the magical energies of Saṃsāra.
  • Testing and Tuning: Wear the mantle within a controlled environment to test its magical functions. Adjust the runes and enchantments as necessary to ensure the balance between chaos and order is maintained and that the mantle’s protective and sensory abilities are fully operational.

Completing this recipe will yield the Chaos and Order Mantle, a powerful artifact designed to aid those who walk the fine line between chaos and order.

Tale of the Cloak of Twain Paths

In times forgotten, before the sky kissed the earth and stars whispered to the oceans, there existed a realm of boundless chaos and impenetrable order. In this realm, two entities, Chaos and Order, danced in eternal rivalry, their dance birthing the world of Saṃsāra.

It was in such an epoch that a mantle was woven, a garment unlike any other, conceived at the confluence of conflicting forces. Crafted by a weaver who had dreamt of unity, the mantle bore the essence of both chaos and order, a testament to the weaver’s audacity.

The mantle, known to the ancients as the Cloak of Twain Paths, was said to possess the power to bridge the chasm between the unpredictable winds of chaos and the steadfast grounds of order. Its fabric, a marvel, shimmered with the hues of tempests yet held the calm of still waters.

Legend tells of a wanderer, affectionate of heart and curious of mind, who came upon the cloak. Draped in its folds, the wanderer traversed lands riven by strife, where the discord between chaos and order threatened to unravel the very fabric of reality.

With each step, the cloak’s magic wove a tapestry of balance, mending rifts where discord reigned. It was not merely a shield against the tempests of chaos or a beacon in the murk of order but a bridge over the abyss that divided them.

Yet, as all tales of power warn, the mantle demanded a price. For in wielding the forces of chaos and order, the wanderer’s essence became intertwined with the cloak’s fate. Where the wanderer sought to sow harmony, the cloak exacted its toll, drawing from the bearer’s life force to feed its insatiable hunger for balance.

In the end, the wanderer’s journey led to the heart of the realm, where chaos and order met in their eternal dance. There, the wanderer offered the cloak to the entities, beseeching them to accept it as a token of unity. Moved by the gesture, Chaos and Order fused their essences into the cloak, creating an artifact of unparalleled power, yet one that could only exist in harmony with the world around it.

The Moral of the Story: The tale of the Cloak of Twain Paths serves as a reminder that harmony is not merely the absence of conflict but the result of understanding the inherent value of opposing forces. It teaches that true balance requires sacrifice and that the quest for unity, though noble, carries with it the weight of personal cost.

Suggested conversions to other systems:

Call of Cthulhu (7th Edition)

Artifact Name: Chaos and Order Mantle

• Sanity Cost: 0/1d4 (viewing/using)
• Power: +10 to skill checks related to understanding or navigating chaotic environments or deciphering patterns and structures.
• Magic Points: Costs 1 MP per use to activate its perception enhancements or to attempt to stabilize or disturb an area’s metaphysical balance.
• Special: Once per day, the wearer can attempt a Hard POW roll to either calm a chaotic situation or introduce order into a structured scenario, at the Keeper’s discretion.
• Game Mechanics: Wearing the Mantle allows investigators to perceive supernatural phenomena more clearly, granting advantage on relevant rolls. Misuse or overuse may attract unwanted attention from entities embodying chaos or order.

Blades in the Dark

Item: Chaos and Order Mantle

• Type: Arcane Artifact
• Quality: Tier II
• Effect: Grants +1d to Consort or Sway actions when attempting to mediate or manipulate factions. Provides an additional +1d to Survey or Study in situations involving chaos or intricate planning.
• Usage: Consumes a load slot. Activating its powers requires a stress cost of 2, reflecting the mental strain of balancing chaos and order.
• Special Ability: “Harmonizer” – Once per score, you can attempt a risky attune action to either quell a volatile situation or bring disarray to an overly rigid scenario, enhancing your crew’s position.
• Game Mechanics: The Mantle adds depth to social and investigative encounters, offering creative problem-solving options but at the risk of the wearer’s sanity and stress.

Dungeons & Dragons (5th Edition)

Magic Item: Chaos and Order Mantle

• Type: Wondrous item, rare (requires attunement)
• Armor Class: Provides a +1 bonus to AC.
• Abilities:
  • Perception of Chaos and Order: Advantage on Wisdom (Perception) and Intelligence (Investigation) checks related to detecting magical effects, traps, and hidden structures.
  • Balance Shift: Once per long rest, the wearer can cast either calm emotions or confusion (spell save DC 15) without using a spell slot.
• Special: The Mantle adjusts its appearance based on the wearer’s alignment, reflecting their influence on the balance between chaos and order.
• Game Mechanics: This item introduces a dynamic element to encounters, encouraging strategic use of its abilities while enhancing defensive capabilities.

Knave

Item: Mantle of Chaos and Order

• Slot: Cloak (1 slot)
• Effect:
  • Grants +1 to all saves due to its protective magic.
  • Once per day, the wearer can either restore order or create chaos, acting as a charm person or cause fear spell respectively.
• Usage: Activating the mantle’s special effect requires the expenditure of a use of a magic item for the day.
• Game Mechanics: The Mantle offers a balance of defense and utility, fitting seamlessly into Knave’s minimalist inventory system while providing meaningful choices in its use.

Fate Core

Item: Chaos and Order Mantle

• Aspect: A Cloak Woven from the Fabric of Reality
• Skills Bonus: Provides a +2 bonus to all rolls involving understanding or navigating chaotic situations and deciphering patterns or creating order.
• Stunts:
  • Harmonize the Scales: Once per session, the wearer can invoke this stunt to automatically succeed at a create an advantage action, when trying to bring balance to a chaotic situation or introduce chaos into an overly orderly scenario.
  • Sense the Weave: The wearer gains an exceptional ability to detect magical disturbances or the presence of chaos/order magic, acting with a +2 bonus on related notice rolls.
• Game Mechanics: The mantle empowers the character with narrative control, enabling them to influence scenes significantly but within the balance of chaos and order. It encourages creative problem-solving and roleplay.

Numenera & Cypher System

Artifact: Chaos and Order Mantle

• Level: 4
• Effect: Grants an asset to tasks related to understanding or manipulating chaotic or orderly environments. Once per day, the wearer can either stabilize an area of flux or introduce variability into a predictable situation.
• Depletion: 1 in 1d20 (upon depletion, the mantle loses its powers for one week).
• Game Mechanics: The mantle is a versatile tool for explorers, enhancing their ability to interact with the Ninth World’s myriad mysteries and dangers. It encourages players to engage with the narrative’s deeper aspects, exploring the themes of chaos and order.

Pathfinder (2nd Edition)

Magic Item: Chaos and Order Mantle

• Type: Wondrous Item, uncommon
• Level: 5
• Bonuses: Provides a +1 item bonus to AC and saving throws.
• Activate:
  • Command: Once per day, the wearer can activate the mantle to cast harmony (as the calm emotions spell) or discord (as the confusion spell), using the wearer’s level as the caster level.
  • Special: The mantle also grants a +2 bonus to Diplomacy and Intimidate checks when attempting to influence others towards peace or conflict, reflecting the wearer’s attunement to chaos and order.
• Game Mechanics: This item introduces a dynamic approach to social and combat encounters, allowing characters to shift the balance of chaos and order to their advantage, with tangible benefits to defense and social interactions.

Savage Worlds

Item: Chaos and Order Mantle

• Type: Magical Artifact
• Effects:
• Armor: +1 to Toughness when worn.
• Special Abilities:
  • Balance the Scales: Once per game session, the wearer can activate the mantle to either soothe tensions (acting as the calm Power) or sow discord (mimicking the effects of the confusion Power), without the need for Power Points.
  • Perceptive Shift: Grants a +2 bonus to Notice rolls when attempting to discern hidden magical effects or the underlying order in chaotic environments.
• Game Mechanics: The Chaos and Order Mantle in Savage Worlds enhances a character’s survivability and situational awareness while offering strategic options in social and combat scenarios. It encourages players to think about the timing and context of using its powers to influence the game’s narrative direction.

Shadowrun (5th Edition)

Item Name: Chaos and Order Mantle

• Type: Magical Artifact
• Rating: 6
• Availability: 18F
• Cost: 250,000¥
• Effects:
  • Magic Boost: +2 dice pool bonus to any spellcasting, summoning, or counterspelling tests related to manipulating chaos or enforcing order.
  • Enhanced Perception: +2 bonus to Perception tests, specifically in detecting magical threats or anomalies.
  • Balance Aura: Once per day, the wearer can attempt to either soothe or agitate emotions in a crowd, functioning like a Control Emotions spell with a Force equal to the item’s rating.
• Game Mechanics: The mantle integrates Shadowrun’s magic system, offering both a boost to a magic user’s capabilities and a unique crowd control option, balanced by its high Availability and Cost, ensuring it’s a significant investment for players.

Starfinder

Item Name: Chaos and Order Mantle

• Item Level: 10
• Type: Magic Item (Armor Upgrade)
• Slot: Cloak
• Price: 13,000 Credits
• Effects:
  • Enhanced Defenses: Provides a +1 enhancement bonus to EAC and KAC.
  • Cosmic Balance: Grants the wearer the ability to cast conflict (as confusion) and harmony (as calm emotions) once per day each, with the spell level equal to half the item level.
  • Sensory Adaptation: Gives a +2 circumstance bonus to Sense Motive and Perception checks, reflecting heightened awareness of surroundings and intentions.
• Game Mechanics: Starfinder’s adaptation emphasizes the mantle’s role in balancing chaos and order through combat utility and diplomatic encounters, fitting within the game’s futuristic setting and technology-magic blend.

Traveller (Mongoose 2nd Edition)

Item Name: Chaos and Order Mantle

• Type: Psionic Artifact
• TL: 15
• Cost: 500,000 Credits
• Effects:
  • Psionic Shield: Provides a +2 bonus to all saving throws against psionic attacks.
  • Balance of Mind: Once per day, the wearer can use a psionic ability similar to Telepathic Projection to either calm or agitate emotions within a 30-meter radius. This ability does not require the expenditure of Psi Points.
  • Enhanced Perception: Grants a +2 bonus to Recon and Persuade skill checks, aiding in both negotiation and the detection of hidden dangers or items.
• Game Mechanics: This adaptation uses Traveller’s technology level and psionics system to fit the mantle into the universe, providing unique defensive and social advantages to characters.

Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (4th Edition)

Item Name: Chaos and Order Mantle

• Type: Enchanted Cloak
• Rarity: Very Rare
• Effects:
  • Magical Defense: Provides a +1 bonus to the wearer’s Toughness Bonus and a +10 bonus to Magic Resistance.
  • Aura of Equilibrium: Once per session, the wearer can attempt to impose order in a chaotic situation or introduce chaos into a situation that is too orderly. This is represented by a challenging (-10) Charm or Intimidate test, modified by the situation.
  • Perceptive Insight: Grants the wearer a +20 bonus to Perception tests involving magical auras, enchanted items, or detecting the use of magic within their vicinity.
• Game Mechanics: In Warhammer, the mantle serves as a powerful magical item that enhances defense, negotiation, and detection abilities, suitable for the grim and perilous adventures typical of the setting.