Appearance of the Item: The Scepter of Insightful Conjuration is an intricately designed, 18-inch long wand made from the rare and magically conductive azurewood tree. It is embedded with various small gemstones that resonate with magical energy. At its tip, a multi-faceted amethyst prism catches and reflects light in a mesmerizing dance of color.
Appearance of the Minion: The minion summoned from this scepter appears as a humanoid figure with translucent skin that constantly shifts in hue, mimicking the colors of the amethyst at the scepter’s tip. It stands around 6 feet tall, and its eyes are entirely black, giving an air of deep wisdom and mystery.
Stat Modifiers
- Strength: +2
- Intelligence: +4
- Wisdom: +3
- Dexterity: +1
- Constitution: +1
- Charisma: +2
Skills
- Arcana: +8
- Insight: +6
- Investigation: +7
Size: Medium
Speed: 30 ft.
Armor: Magically-infused cloth armor equivalent to a Tier 3 armor in Saṃsāra, providing good protection while allowing for full mobility.
Gear
- A pouch containing rare reagents for spellcasting
- Scrolls of ancient knowledge
Weapons
- A dagger made of arcane crystal
- A staff that doubles as an arcane focus
Tools
- An alchemist’s kit for analyzing substances
- A set of artisan’s tools for deciphering ancient runes
Tags: Arcane, Summoned, Intelligent, Analytical
Behavior: The minion is highly analytical and is naturally inclined to study and evaluate situations, objects, and spells. It offers its summoner strategic advice during combat and puzzles, and it can even engage in complex magical analysis, making it an invaluable asset for understanding magical items, traps, or barriers.
Magics
- Arcane Bolt: A basic attack spell akin to a magic missile.
- Analytic Shield: Casts a shield that not only blocks attacks but also analyzes them to find weak points in the enemy’s offense.
- Insightful Blast: A spell that analyzes an opponent’s defenses before launching a precise magical attack that targets their vulnerabilities.
Roleplay Aspects: Analysis
Summoning this minion offers deep role-playing opportunities for those particularly interested in the analysis of magic and strategy. Given its analytical prowess, the minion frequently engages with its summoner in complex discussions about arcane theories and battlefield tactics. The conversations can lead to moral and ethical considerations, such as whether understanding an enemy through analysis obligates one to show them mercy, or how far one should go in deciphering dangerous arcane secrets. The relationship between the summoner and this analytical entity can serve as an intellectual partnership, as they navigate both the literal and ethical labyrinths that Saṃsāra presents.
Perception of Activation:
- Sight
- What’s Perceived: The gemstones embedded in the Scepter of Insightful Conjuration begin to glow intensely, while the space within a 30-foot radius starts to shimmer.
- Description: The intensity of the glow culminates in a bright flash that illuminates the area momentarily as the minion materializes.
- Positives: Provides clear visibility of the summoning area, confirming successful activation.
- Negatives: The bright flash may momentarily blind those looking directly at it.
- Sound
- What’s Perceived: A harmonious chord of otherworldly music resonates in the air.
- Description: The sound seems to emanate from the scepter itself and fills the surrounding area with ethereal, calming tones.
- Positives: Signifies the summoning is in process and can be soothing.
- Negatives: The distinct sound could alert enemies or unwanted attention.
- Smell
- What’s Perceived: A scent reminiscent of fresh rain and ancient tomes fills the air.
- Description: The aroma is complex, combining elements of earth, moisture, and age-old parchment.
- Positives: It provides a comforting and magical ambiance.
- Negatives: Some might find the mix of scents unsettling or distracting.
- Taste
- What’s Perceived: A fleeting taste of something like mint mixed with ozone.
- Description: This odd combination creates a tingling sensation on the tongue.
- Positives: Stimulating and helps focus the mind.
- Negatives: The taste is unexpected and can be disorienting for the unprepared.
- Touch
- What’s Perceived: A sudden, gentle wave of warm air washes over the summoner.
- Description: This sensation appears to radiate from the scepter as the minion is summoned.
- Positives: Provides a tactile confirmation that the summoning is complete.
- Negatives: The warmth could be mistaken for a potential threat like fire, causing momentary panic.
- Extra-Sensory Perceptions
- Temporal Awareness
- What’s Perceived: A brief dilation of time, making moments feel drawn out.
- Description: This heightened awareness allows the summoner to perceive actions in greater detail for a few seconds.
- Positives: Allows for a more measured response to immediate situations.
- Negatives: The return to normal time flow can be disorienting.
- Psychic Resonance
- What’s Perceived: A subtle mental connection with the summoned minion.
- Description: The summoner feels a slight melding of consciousness, offering insights into the minion’s abilities and emotions.
- Positives: Facilitates better coordination and strategic planning with the minion.
- Negatives: The connection might expose the summoner to unfamiliar or uncomfortable emotions from the minion.
- Magical Flux
- What’s Perceived: A brief surge of magical energy within and around the summoner.
- Description: This energy is drawn from the magical realms connected by the scepter.
- Positives: Briefly amplifies the summoner’s magical abilities.
- Negatives: Might disrupt ongoing spells or enchantments temporarily.
- Temporal Awareness
The activation of the Scepter of Insightful Conjuration is a multi-sensory event, providing both confirmation of the summoning and a range of cues that can be both advantageous and challenging depending on the circumstances.
Tale of Scepter, Insightful Summonings Bestowed
Long-ago times, lands of ancient, there lived mage of mighty might. Mage desired seek secrets, secrets behind veil of Saṃsāra. Gemstones bright, dragonbones rare, mage sought all for making staff of power. It said, arcane core plucked from heart of old star, light extinguished in dark of ages beyond recall.
Mage labored on high hill, under moon silver and sun gold. Chants he chanted, glyphs he sketched, all ways to tap into realms beyond, where minions dwell. Moon cycled many times, days into nights, seasons spiraled. Then, scepter complete, gleaming as dawn and radiant as dusk, magic pulsing like heart of world.
Mage raised scepter high. Words of power summoned forth creature unseen. But alas, minion emerged, not as thought, not as wanted. Reflection it was, mirror of mage’s own inner essence. Minion acted, good and bad, as the mage himself, its deeds imprinted from its summoner.
Time gone, mage learned: magic not just tool, but reflection. Each summoning a mirror, revealing layers unseen. Mage, realizing, used power wisely, ethically, no longer for mere curiosity but for balance, for good.
And thus, Scepter of Insightful Summonings known, still exists, still sought, but now with caution, with wisdom, as all knew: it mirrors the one who wields.
Moral of the Tale: The magic wielded reflects the essence of the wielder; use with wisdom, for it reveals as much about you as it does about the world.
Suggested conversion to other systems:
Call of Cthulhu
Summoning Artifact
- Type: Magical Item
- Properties:
- Summon: Use this item to summon a minion. Roll SAN to avoid losing 1D4 Sanity points.
- Duration: The minion lasts for rounds equal to the character’s POW.
Blades in the Dark
Minion-Calling Locket
- Type: Fine Arcane Implement
- Effect:
- Summon: During downtime, you can use this item to acquire a cohort for the next score.
- Tier: The tier of the minion is equal to the crew’s tier.
Dungeons & Dragons
Summoner’s Orb
- Wondrous item, rare (requires attunement)
- Summon: As an action, summon a creature with CR equal to half your level. Lasts 1 minute.
- Charges: Holds 3 charges. Recharges at dawn.
Knave
Enchanted Totem
- Type: Arcane Item
- Usage:
- Summon: Summons a creature of equivalent level for 1 hour.
Fate
Minion Summoner
- Type: Magical Device
- Aspect: “Summoner of Minions”
- Stunt:
- Use Lore to summon a minion in a scene. The minion has skills at Fair (+2).
Numenera & Cypher System
Summoning Device
- Type: Cypher
- Level: Variable
- Effect:
- Summons a minion of level equal to Cypher level for 28 hours.
Pathfinder
Minion’s Sigil
- Wondrous Item
- Effect:
- Summon: As a standard action, summon a minion with stats equivalent to a Summon Monster spell of your caster level.
Savage Worlds
Summoning Talisman
- Type: Magical Item
- Power: Summon Ally
- PP Cost: Varies
Shadowrun
Summoner’s Commlink
- Type: Magical Focus
- Effect:
- Summon: Use to summon a spirit with Force equal to user’s Magic attribute for 1 hour.
Starfinder
Summoner’s Sphere
- Type: Technological Item
- Usage:
- Summon: Summon a creature of CR equivalent to half your level for 10 minutes.
Traveller
Summoning Device
- Type: Psionic Artifact
- Effect:
- Summon: Use Telepathy skill to summon a minion for a scene.
Warhammer
Summoning Scroll
- Type: Arcane Item
- Effect:
- Summon: As a Half Action, summon a minion with stats equivalent to a creature in the Bestiary.