Desolate Soul Soup

From: Accursed Rune of Desolation

Lore: The Desolate Soul Soup holds a somber history steeped in ancient folklore. Legends speak of a long-forgotten kingdom consumed by sorrow and plagued by a terrible curse. In a desperate attempt to find solace and reprieve, the kingdom’s royal alchemist, known as Alara the Bereft, crafted the recipe for the Desolate Soul Soup. Alara sought to harness the power of the Accursed Rune of Desolation, blending it with Spirit-infused Bone Broth, Withered Herbs collected from desolate graveyards, and the elusive Shadowy Essence derived from the ethereal realm. The result was a dark soup that possessed both restorative properties and a melancholic aura, acting as a double-edged remedy for those who dared to consume it.

Use: The Desolate Soul Soup serves as a restorative concoction with both benefits and drawbacks. When consumed, it provides temporary hit point regeneration, allowing the imbiber to recover lost vitality and endure more in the face of adversity. Additionally, the soup grants resistance to necrotic damage, shielding the consumer from the harmful effects of dark forces. These properties make the soup particularly valuable to adventurers facing foes that wield necrotic powers or exploring regions teeming with undead creatures.

However, the Desolate Soul Soup comes with a price. Upon consumption, the imbiber experiences haunting visions and a deep sense of despair. These visions might manifest as fleeting glimpses of lost souls or unsettling scenes from the past, instilling a sense of melancholy and unease. The emotional toll can affect the consumer’s mental state, potentially influencing their decision-making or ability to cope with challenging situations.

Tier One Stats:

• Temporary Hit Point Regeneration: Restores 1d6 hit points upon consumption.
• Resistance to Necrotic Damage: Grants resistance to necrotic damage for 1 hour.

Skills:

• Endurance: The Desolate Soul Soup aids in fortifying the imbiber’s physical resilience, allowing them to withstand more damage and endure in combat.

Preparation: To prepare the Desolate Soul Soup, follow these steps:

• Combine the Accursed Rune of Desolation, Spirit-infused Bone Broth, Withered Herbs, and Shadowy Essence in a cauldron or large pot.
• Simmer the mixture over low heat, allowing the flavors and properties to meld together for a specific duration.
• Once the soup reaches the desired consistency and potency, carefully ladle it into bowls or serving vessels.

Cost: Due to the rarity and specialized nature of the ingredients, the Desolate Soul Soup is relatively expensive, especially for a level one character. The cost can range from 30 to 50 gold pieces per bowl, depending on the availability and demand for the ingredients. It is often reserved for those with the means to acquire such unique and unusual components.

Process Tags:

• Alchemy: The creation of the Desolate Soul Soup involves alchemical techniques and rituals, combining magical ingredients to produce the desired effects.
• Consumable: The soup is meant to be consumed for its restorative and protective properties, albeit with potential side effects.
• Additional: Melancholic, Restorative, Ethereal, Macabre, Occult, Haunting, Soul-Bound

The Desolate Soul Soup offers adventurers and spellcasters a chance to fortify themselves against the perils of the necrotic realm. It acts as a temporary source of vitality and protection, allowing characters to withstand the assault of undead creatures or combatants employing necrotic powers. However, the haunting visions and sense of despair it induces may challenge the consumer’s emotional well-being, requiring them to confront their inner demons while battling external threats.

The Desolate Soul Soup is not commonly found in typical marketplaces or general stores due to its unique nature and specific ingredients. Instead, it is usually obtained through specialized sources that cater to adventurers, occultists, or individuals with a taste for the mystical and macabre.

The recipe for the Desolate Soul Soup may be available in magical apothecaries, occult shops, or secret alchemical guilds. These establishments are often tucked away in obscure corners of bustling cities or located in eerie and atmospheric locales such as old, forgotten graveyards or hidden catacombs. They are frequented by those who delve into necromantic arts, seek to commune with spirits, or require sustenance that offers more than mere nourishment.

The environment where the Desolate Soul Soup is sold often reflects its dark and melancholic nature. Shadowy candlelight, shelves adorned with ancient tomes and bone artifacts, and an air of mystery characterize these establishments. The ambiance is designed to evoke a sense of reverence for the arcane and the macabre, attracting those with a taste for the esoteric.

The end results of consuming the Desolate Soul Soup vary depending on the individual and their intentions. Adventurers who find themselves facing undead adversaries or traversing treacherous necrotic realms may consume the soup to bolster their resilience. The temporary hit point regeneration can provide a vital edge during combat, ensuring they can endure and press forward.

Additionally, the resistance to necrotic damage granted by the soup is particularly beneficial in environments rife with dark energies or encounters involving necromantic spells or creatures. It allows the imbiber to withstand the harmful effects of necrotic forces, offering protection against life-draining powers or curses associated with the undead.

The haunting visions and sense of despair induced by the soup can be harnessed in various ways. Characters skilled in communing with spirits or seeking to delve into their own emotions may purposefully consume the soup to facilitate connections with the ethereal realm or gain insights into their own psyche. It can be a tool for introspection, helping individuals confront and navigate their inner turmoil.

Desolate Soul Soup may have cultural or ritualistic significance in certain occult or necromantic practices. It could be used as part of ceremonies, communions with ancestral spirits, or offerings to appease the restless dead. The soup’s somber aura and effects might be embraced and incorporated into rituals or rites performed in the presence of the deceased.

Desolate Soul Soup is sought after by those who appreciate its unique properties and are willing to navigate the shadows it casts upon the soul. It is a consumable that bridges the physical and ethereal realms, providing sustenance and fortification while also offering glimpses into the depths of sorrow and despair.

A Broth of Woe-Made-Flesh

Long ago, in time before count, word-scribes speak of place swallowed by sad.  Kingdom of, uh, Much-Tears, yes, ruled by King Stone-Heart.  Bad magic, a hex-curse, fell like ill rain. All joy seep, seep, seeping away. No smiles. No sun. Only gray.

King Stone-Heart, he yell at wizard-smart man, “Fix! Make happy come back!”  Wizard, name Alara Lost-Much, she think long.  She go deep, deep to earth-bone, find bad rune, Rune-Hurt-Make.  She take, uh, broth of ghost-fed bones, dead-place weeds, and shadow-stuff.  Mix, mix, mix in big pot.  Make soup. Black like night-angry, with shiny bits like sad stars.

King, he eat.  Feel… strong, yes.  Bad-touch hurt less. But! See… things.  Lost ones.  Bad memories. Cry much, but… different cry. Hard cry, but… clean cry.

People of Much-Tears, they also eat.  Stronger, yes. Fight hex-curse better. But sad, oh, so sad. See bad things too.  They fight. They sad. They strong.

Kingdom… change.  Not happy, no. But… understand. Sad is part of all.  Stone-Heart, he not stone no more. He… soft stone.  He see, he feel, he… lead better.  Kingdom not same.  But… live.

Moral of Story:  Sad-hurt is part of all.  Run not from it. Eat the soup of hurt-strong.  Makes you…  different strong.  Maybe… better strong.

Suggested conversions to other systems:

Call of Cthulhu (7th Edition)

Desolate Soul Soup

• Sanity Loss: 1/1d4
• Effect: Upon consumption, the investigator gains 1d6 temporary HP and resistance to damage from attacks or spells that deal necrotic damage. This resistance halves the damage taken from such sources for one hour. However, they are immediately beset by disturbing visions of the dead and echoes of forgotten tragedies.
• Charges: The soup is a single-serving meal.
• Story: If the group are facing a Mythos entity, this will increase the damage for the entity by double but will negate all Sanity loss for one hour.
• Skills: If Occult is above 50% when consumed, increase resistance to damage by double for one hour.
• Suggested Adaptation Notes:  Call of Cthulhu focuses on horror and the fragility of the human mind. The soup’s benefits are offset by the Sanity loss, emphasizing the price of gaining power from a dark source. The temporary HP and resistance reflect the soup’s protective qualities but are minor in the face of Mythos threats.

Blades in the Dark

Desolate Soul Soup

• Item Type: Alchemical
• Effect: When you consume the Desolate Soul Soup, you gain increased potency when resisting harm from consequences related to the supernatural or the dead for one scene. However, you also take a -1d penalty to Consort or Sway rolls for the remainder of the score due to the overwhelming sorrow it evokes.
• Usage: Consumed as part of Downtime activities. May require a successful Acquire Asset roll to obtain or a Fortune roll to properly concoct.
• Quality: The quality of the soup can affect the magnitude of the bonus and the duration, determined by the roll to acquire or concoct it.
• Tier: The tier of the soup will add +1d to Resist rolls and will reduce the penalty by 1d (min 1d) to Consort or Sway rolls. The tier is equal to the tier of the avatar who made it.
• Suggested Adaptation Notes: Blades in the Dark emphasizes the risks and consequences of a criminal life. The soup provides a temporary advantage against supernatural threats but hinders social interactions, reflecting its melancholic nature. The Acquire Asset or Fortune roll adds an element of uncertainty and resource management.

Dungeons & Dragons (5th Edition)

Desolate Soul Soup

• Item Type: Wondrous Item, uncommon
• Effect: When consumed, this soup grants the imbiber 1d6 temporary hit points and resistance to necrotic damage for one hour. Immediately after consumption, the imbiber must make a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw or be overwhelmed with sorrow, suffering disadvantage on ability checks for 10 minutes.
• Charges: The soup is a single-serving meal.
• Tier: The tier level of the soup allows the imbiber to add their tier level to all saving throws for one hour and adds their tier level to the temporary hit points.
• Suggested Adaptation Notes: D&D 5e’s mechanics translate well to the soup’s properties. The temporary HP and resistance are straightforward, while the Wisdom saving throw represents the mental toll. The DC and disadvantage duration can be adjusted for balance.

Knave

Desolate Soul Soup

• Item Type: Consumable
• Defense Bonus: Upon consuming the soup, the imbiber gains +4 to their defense against necrotic damage for one hour.
• Effect: The imbiber gains 1d6 temporary HP. However, for the next hour, they must also make a WIL save at the start of each turn. On a failure, they are overcome with despair and cannot take any action that turn.
• Charges: The soup is a single-serving meal.
• Tier: Add the tier number to all WIL saves for one hour. Increase the defense bonus by +1 for each tier.
• Suggested Adaptation Notes: Knave’s streamlined system focuses on simple mechanics. The soup’s benefits are potent but risky, in line with the game’s high-risk, high-reward style. The WIL save represents the soup’s psychological impact, and its frequency ensures a significant potential drawback. The defense bonus against necrotic damage makes this a niche but potentially powerful item.

Fate (Core)

Desolate Soul Soup

• Aspect: Melancholy Sustenance of the Forlorn
• Permission: Requires the Food aspect, and a suitable narrative justification to consume.
• Effect: When a character consumes the Desolate Soul Soup, they may invoke the Melancholy Sustenance of the Forlorn aspect for free once to gain a +2 bonus to overcome actions that involve resisting or enduring physical harm, especially from necrotic or supernatural sources. They may invoke it a second time for free to succeed with a cost relating to mental or spiritual challenges. However, after the scene, they must immediately take on a new aspect, such as Haunted by the Past or A Glimpse into the Abyss, reflecting the soup’s sorrowful influence. This new aspect can be compelled as normal.
• Tier: The number of times the soup may be invoked is equal to the tier of the character.
• Fate points: The character gains one Fate point for each unused invocation.
• Suggested Adaptation Notes: Fate’s narrative-driven mechanics focus on aspects and story. The soup provides a powerful but temporary benefit, offset by a lasting narrative consequence (the new aspect). The free invokes represent the soup’s potency, while the forced aspect represents its emotional toll.

Numenera & Cypher System

Desolate Soul Soup

• Type: Cypher (Consumable)
• Effect: Upon consumption, the imbiber adds +4 to their Might Edge for one hour when defending against damage or effects from undead or necrotic sources. They also immediately recover 1d6 points to their Might Pool. However, they must also make an Intellect defense roll (difficulty 4). On a failure, they are wracked with visions of loss and despair, suffering 1d6 Intellect damage (ignores Armor).
• Level: The level of the cypher is equal to the tier of the creature that created it (1d6). Add the tier level to any Might Pool recovery.
• Form: A dark, shimmering broth served in a plain bowl.
• Suggested Adaptation Notes:  Numenera’s focus on cyphers and resource pools (Might, Speed, Intellect) is reflected here. The soup provides a defensive bonus and Might recovery, but risks Intellect damage, representing the mental strain. The difficulty of the Intellect roll can be adjusted based on the desired level of risk.

Pathfinder (2nd Edition)

Desolate Soul Soup

• Item Type: Consumable, Alchemical Elixir
• Level: 1 (Adjust based on tier of the creator)
• Usage: Held in 1 hand; Bulk L
• Activate: Interact (Consumable)
• Effect: Upon consuming the Desolate Soul Soup, the imbiber gains 1d8 temporary hit points and a +2 status bonus to saving throws against effects with the death or negative traits for one hour. However, they must also make a DC 15 Will save or become stupefied 1 for 10 minutes due to the overwhelming sorrow the soup evokes. Add the tier level of the creature that created the soup to the saving throw DC.
• Craft Requirements: Supply magical ingredients associated with necromancy and despair, with a value of at least 4 gp.
• Suggested Adaptation Notes: Pathfinder 2e’s detailed item rules are applied here. The temporary HP and saving throw bonus are clear benefits. The Will save and stupefied condition represent the soup’s drawback. The DC, temporary HP, and crafting requirements can be adjusted for balance.

Savage Worlds (Adventure Edition)

Desolate Soul Soup

• Item Type: Consumable, Special
• Effect: When a character consumes the Desolate Soul Soup, they gain a +2 bonus to their Vigor rolls to resist damage or effects from undead or necrotic sources for one hour. They also immediately recover 1d6+2 from Fatigue. However, they must also make a Spirit roll (at -2 if they lack the Brave Edge). On a failure, they suffer a level of Fatigue from the overwhelming despair. On a success they gain the Brave Edge for one hour.
• Tier: Add the tier level to all Vigor rolls. For each tier level add +1 to recover from Fatigue.
• Suggested Adaptation Notes: Savage Worlds’ focus on Bennies, Edges, and Hindrances is incorporated here. The Vigor bonus and Fatigue recovery are beneficial, but the Spirit roll and potential Fatigue level represent the soup’s negative impact. The -2 penalty reflects the soup’s potent sorrow. Modifying the bonus, Fatigue recovery, and penalty based on the intended power level is recommended.

Shadowrun (6th Edition)

Desolate Soul Soup

• Type: Magical Consumable (Fetish)
• Effect: Upon consuming the Desolate Soul Soup, the runner gains a +3 dice pool bonus to resist Drain or damage from spells or powers with the Death or Necrotic descriptor for one hour. They also immediately recover 1d6 boxes on their Stun track. However, they must also make a Willpower + Intuition (4) Test. Failure imposes a -2 dice pool penalty to all Charisma-based tests for the rest of the run, as they are overwhelmed by sorrow and visions of the dead.
• Availability: 12R (Restricted)
• Cost: 300¥
• Street Index: x1.5
• Tier: Add the tier level to the Willpower + Intuition test threshold.
• Suggested Adaptation Notes: Shadowrun’s blend of magic and technology is reflected in the soup being a magical fetish. The dice pool bonus to resist Drain and Stun recovery are valuable for shadowrunners. The Willpower + Intuition test and Charisma penalty represent the soup’s dark side. The availability, cost, and threshold can be adjusted for balance.

Starfinder (2nd Edition)

Desolate Soul Soup

• Item Type: Technological/Magical Item (Consumable)
• Level: 1 (Adjust based on tier of the creator)
• Price: 50 credits
• Effect: When consumed, the creature gains 1d8 temporary Hit Points and a +2 circumstance bonus to saving throws against fear effects and effects with the death descriptor for one hour. However, they must also succeed at a DC 13 Will saving throw or take a -2 penalty to all Charisma-based skill checks for 10 minutes, as they are filled with an overwhelming sense of despair.
• Bulk: L
• Capacity: 1 use
• Tier: Add their tier level to the Will saving throw. For each tier level increase the saving throw bonus by +1.
• Suggested Adaptation Notes: Starfinder’s blend of technology and magic allows for the soup to be either technological or magical. The temporary HP and saving throw bonus are useful for explorers. The Will save and Charisma penalty represent the emotional toll. The DC, temporary HP, and price can be adjusted for balance.

Traveller (Mongoose 2nd Edition)

Desolate Soul Soup

• Item Type: Consumable (Drug)
• Effect: Upon consuming the Desolate Soul Soup, the Traveller gains a +2 DM to all Endurance checks made to resist the effects of vacuum, disease, or toxins for one hour. They also immediately recover 1d6 points of Endurance. However, they must also make an immediate Edu check with a DM -2. Failure means they are distracted by haunting visions and suffer a -2 DM to all skill checks for the next hour. The Edu check can be offset by the Psionics skill if it is above 4.
• Availability: 6+ (Uncommon)
• Cost: Cr50
• Legality Class: 2 (May be restricted in some jurisdictions)
• Tier: Add their tier level to all skill checks.
• Suggested Adaptation Notes: Traveller’s focus on skills and characteristics is reflected in the soup’s mechanics. The DM bonus to Endurance checks and Endurance recovery are valuable for survival. The Edu check and skill check penalty represent the soup’s distracting nature. The availability, cost, and legality class can be adjusted for balance.

Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (4th Edition)

Desolate Soul Soup

• Item Type: Potion
• Rarity: Rare
• Effect: When consumed, the imbiber gains a +20 bonus to Toughness Tests against damage or effects originating from Undead or creatures with the Daemonic trait for one hour. They also immediately recover 1d10+5 Wounds. However, they must also make a Challenging (+0) Willpower Test. On a failure, they gain the Broken condition due to the overwhelming sorrow the soup evokes, as their Resolve is reduced to 0.
• Encumbrance: 0
• Availability: Difficult (–20)
• Tier: For each tier level, add +10 to all Toughness Tests.
• Suggested Adaptation Notes: Warhammer’s grim and perilous setting is well-suited for the soup’s dual nature. The Toughness bonus and Wound recovery are significant. The Willpower Test and Broken condition represent the psychological impact. The rarity, availability, bonus, and Test difficulty can be adjusted for balance. The chance to instantly gain the broken condition is a significant risk and should be carefully considered.