Crystalized Healing Salve

From: Aquilscalyfinfur 837

Contained within a small, crystal jar, this salve is a blend of rare herbs, magic-infused water, and powdered dragon scales. When applied to wounds, it accelerates natural healing processes, reduces inflammation, and prevents infections. The salve is especially formulated to work with the unique biology of Saṃsāra’s creatures, making it an invaluable tool for recovery after battles or accidents. Its compact size ensures that Talonsky can carry it on all its journeys, prepared for any eventuality.

Lore of the Crystalized Healing Salve

• Ancient Wisdom: The salve’s recipe originates in ages past, its knowledge passed down through generations of healers within nomadic tribes or hidden enclaves. These healers learned, through trial and error and careful observation of the natural world, how to harness its inherent restorative properties.
• Dragon Scale Essence:  Powdered dragon scales are the key ingredient, though acquiring them is a perilous endeavor. Legends speak of offerings left in dragon lairs in exchange for a few discarded scales, or a brave healer soothing an injured dragon and receiving a scale as a sign of gratitude.  Dragons are revered for their long lifespans and resilient hides, traits the salve seeks to echo.
• Crystal Infusion: The salve isn’t simply a mixture, but infused within a small crystal jar.  Specific types of quartz or other gemstones amplify the salve’s potency, and their gentle energies seep into the mixture over time. These crystals might be found in sacred springs or near places of natural power.

The Use of the Crystalized Healing Salve — The salve extends beyond simple battlefield wounds for both Talonsky and the Saṃsāran community:

• Treating Serious Injuries: Its primary function is the accelerated healing of deep cuts, burns, broken bones, and other injuries sustained during hunts or in clashes with hostile creatures. It reduces the time needed for severe injuries to heal from weeks to mere days.
• Maintaining Overall Health: The salve can treat minor ailments such as insect stings, rashes from poisonous plants, and even some internal illnesses. It bolsters the body’s natural resistance, promoting overall health and vitality.
• Taming and Bonding:  The salve facilitates the taming of wild creatures.  By treating an animal’s injuries, a healer can gain the creature’s trust, creating the foundation for a potential bond or alliance.
• Communal Care:  The salve is essential for communities within Saṃsāra. It allows for faster recovery from accidents which are a harsh reality of living in harmony with the wilderness, and can help combat the spread of diseases that might threaten a settlement or herd.

Tier 1 Stats, Skills, Cost, Requirements, and Tags

• Tier: 1
• Type: Consumable
• Cost: 100-300 Gold Pieces (depending on the rarity of its ingredients and the skill of its creator).
• Requirements:  Though applying the salve is simple, crafting it requires specialized skills.
• Tags: Healing, Non-Lethal, Versatile, Natural
• Skills Improved with the Crystalized Healing Salve:
  • Medicine:  Provides a bonus to Medicine skill checks for diagnosing wounds, applying the salve effectively, and identifying potential side effects.
  • Survival:  Bonus to Survival skill checks when foraging for the specific herbs required, or to knowledge checks identifying plants with similar properties that might be substituted in a pinch.
  • Nature:  Bonus to Nature skill checks regarding knowledge of dragon lore, identifying the right type of crystals to use, or awareness of sacred places where ingredients might be found.

Where and How It’s Sold

• Nomadic Healer Caravans: Small, self-sufficient caravans travel between remote villages and hidden enclaves, carrying not only the Crystalized Healing Salve but the knowledge to craft it.
  • Method of Exchange: Barter is typical: precious metals, rare knowledge, or services rendered in defense or resource gathering could be considered equal payment.
• Elven Markets: Elves dwelling in harmony with the natural world might maintain trade relationships with the nomadic caravans or isolated healers, acquiring the salve.
  • Limited Availability: Elves are likely to use the salve responsibly and sparingly, making it available only in dire need or to those who travel into dangerous wilds.
• Outpost Markets: Settlements established on the outskirts of dangerous territories might maintain a small stock of the salve, acquired through strenuous trade or as a gift of goodwill from healers seeking passage and supplies.
  • High Price and Risk: In such markets, the Crystalized Healing Salve will be exorbitantly expensive due to scarcity and its life-saving potential. There’s also a risk of less scrupulous merchants diluting the salve or selling ineffective counterfeits.

Environments and End Results

• Battlefields and Dangerous Expeditions: Where combat with hostile creatures or perilous journeys are commonplace, the salve is a necessity. Its use can make the difference between life and death for adventurers, scouts, and those defending their communities.
• Healing Lodges: Enclaves with a focus on natural healing likely maintain a supply of the Crystalized Healing Salve. These lodges are used for:
  • Treating Severe Injuries: Accelerating the recovery of those too gravely wounded for traditional healing methods.
  • Post-Birth Care: Aiding in rapid healing and recovery for both mothers and newborns of various species.
  • Combating Disease: In conjunction with other methods to bolster natural defenses and prevent the spread of contagion.

Additional Considerations

• Rarity: The Crystalized Healing Salve is inherently a rare commodity. Its ingredients may be difficult to obtain, and the knowledge to craft it remains closely guarded.
• Repurposing: In dire circumstances, the salve might be used to heal prized animals – mounts, hunting companions, or creatures aiding in agriculture.
• Misuse: In the wrong hands, it could be used by those deliberately inflicting injuries to then exploit the swift recovery the salve provides – for example, in illegal fighting rings or to cruelly accelerate the work of domesticated animals.

Sensory experiences tied to the Crystalized Healing Salve within the world of Saṃsāra.

• Sense: Sight
  • Perceived:
    • Faint Shimmer: The salve possesses a gentle shimmer, suggestive of the powdered dragon scales and the crystal-infused nature of the concoction.
    • Variations in Hue: The salve’s color can vary slightly depending on the specific herbs used, and the dragon scale might add hints of its own coloration.
  • Description: The shimmer and hue become more distinct in sunlight or bright firelight.
  • Positive: Provides a visual indicator of the salve’s potency and its otherworldly ingredients.
  • Negative: A pale or dull salve might indicate improper crafting or that it has been degraded over time, hindering its effectiveness.
• Sense: Touch
  • Perceived:
    • Slightly Cool Temperature: The crystal container and the salve itself feel slightly cooler to the touch than the surrounding environment.
    • Unique Texture: The salve may be smooth and slightly waxy, with a hint of grittiness from the powdered dragon scales.
  • Description: This tactile feedback hints at the inherent properties of the salve, designed to soothe and promote healing.
  • Positive: Provides a sense of reassurance when applied to a wound.
  • Negative: If the salve feels overly hot or unnaturally slick, it could be a sign of contamination or that the recipe has been altered.
• Sense: Sound
  • Perceived: A faint crackling sound when the crystallized salve is disturbed or spread, reminiscent of tiny crystals shifting.
  • Description: This sound is most noticeable in very quiet environments.
  • Positive: Can serve as a subtle indicator that the salve is fresh and potent.
  • Negative: Excessively loud crackling could indicate overdrying or that the salve’s composition has been improperly balanced.
• Sense: Smell
  • Perceived: A subtle, earthy fragrance with hints of the various herbs utilized, overlaid with a faint metallic tang from the dragon scales.
  • Description: This scent is dependent on the exact recipe and the specific type of dragon scale used. It is most prominent when the jar is opened.
  • Positive: A familiar and reassuring smell, especially to experienced healers.
  • Negative: An unpleasant or overly pungent smell might indicate the salve has spoiled or that harmful ingredients have been added.
• Sense: Taste
  • Perceived: Only relevant if a tiny amount of the salve comes into contact with the mouth. It would have a bitter, medicinal taste with a lingering metallic aftertaste.
  • Description: A mostly unpleasant experience, and more of a warning against consuming the salve incorrectly.
  • Positive: Can discourage animals or curious creatures from eating the salve.
  • Negative: Children may be tempted by the salve’s appearance, necessitating careful storage.
• Extra-Sensory Perception
  • Perceived: A very faint tingling sensation or a sense of soothing coolness when the salve is first applied to a wound.
  • Description: This is a subtle intuitive feeling, a sign of the salve’s inherent magical properties as it begins its work.
  • Positive: Provides reassurance that the salve is activating its healing properties.
  • Negative: If this sensation is replaced by burning or sharp pain, it could indicate an allergic reaction or an incompatible ingredient.

Crafting recipe for the potent Crystalized Healing Salve: The Echoes of Dragon Scales
Note: This recipe emphasizes the careful harvesting and blending of natural ingredients with a respect for the creatures and environment that provide them.

• Materials Needed:
  • Base Components:
    • Spring Water: Collected from a source imbued with natural life energies, ideally found near places of healing or natural power.
    • Dragon Scale: One or two scales, respectfully acquired (through trade or as a gift from a willing dragon).
    • Essential Herbs: A specific blend of healing herbs (e.g., comfrey for mending bones, echinacea to boost resistance, etc.). The fresher the herbs, the more potent the salve.
  • Enhancing Elements:
    • Crystal Shard: A small shard of quartz or another crystal known for its healing properties.
  • Ritual Components:
    • Offering Bowl: A simple clay bowl for presenting the dragon scale with offerings of respect and thanks.
    • Moonlight: The crafting process should ideally begin under a full moon, infusing the salve with lunar energies.
• Tools Required:
  • Mortar and Pestle: To carefully grind the dragon scales and herbs to the correct consistency.
  • Ceramic or Glass Jar: A small jar with a tight seal for storing the final salve, preferably carved from natural materials.
  • Purification Tools: Incense burner or similar tools used for cleansing the working space and ingredients.
• Skill Requirements:
  • Herbalism (Proficient): A deep knowledge of medicinal herbs, their properties, and proper harvesting techniques.
  • Survival (Knowledgeable): Understanding of safe practices when seeking out natural resources, such as the spring water and specific herbs.
  • Ritual/Nature Lore (Proficient): Knowledge of respectful rituals, offerings for natural spirits, and symbolic practices attuned to the healing properties invoked in the process.
• Crafting Steps:
  • The Offering and Collection:
    • Journey to a lair of a dragon known for its age and potential wisdom.
    • Respectful Ritual: Present offerings in the bowl (rare food, crafted items), and state your purpose and need for a scale for healing purposes. If the dragon agrees, it might shed a scale willingly.
    • Gather the Spring Water: If not done beforehand, respectfully collect spring water from its source.
  • Preparation:
    • Purify the Space: Cleanse your workspace with incense or natural smoke, focusing on invoking healing energies.
    • Prepare the Herbs: Carefully dry and prepare the herbs according to traditional methods.
    • Grind the Scale: With focus and respect, meticulously grind the dragon scale into a fine powder using the mortar and pestle.
  • Infusion and Blessing:
    • Moonlight Infusion: In the ceramic jar, combine the ground dragon scale, prepared herbs, and the spring water. Place the sealed jar under a full moon to absorb its gentle energies.
    • Crystal Blessing: Submerge the crystal shard within the mix. Let it rest for several days, attuning its energies to the salve.
  • Finalization and Storage:
    • Decant and Store: Once the salve has reached the proper consistency and a shimmering hue, carefully transfer it into the designated crystal jar.
    • Sealing Blessing: Offer a final blessing or prayer emphasizing gratitude and the intended use of the salve for good. Seal the jar tightly.
• Important Notes
  • Specific rituals, offerings, and the exact herbal blend will vary based on the crafter’s culture and their relationship with the natural world.
  • Acquiring a dragon scale ethically is the primary challenge of crafting this salve.
  • Proper storage in a cool, dark place is vital to maintain the salve’s potency.

The Vial of Whispering Scales

Tales whispered on the wind, etched upon weathered stones, speak of the Vial of Whispering Scales.  Lost to time, the lore originates from a bygone era where dragons soared through star-dusted skies and whispers held the power to mend or break.

Legends claim a valiant shepherd, protector of his flock against fangs and talons, stumbled upon a hidden grotto. Within, bathed in an unearthly glow, a vial pulsed with an emerald light. Nestled inside, a single, shimmering scale shimmered with an otherworldly sheen.

Drawn by an unseen force, the shepherd grasped the vial. A voice, both ancient and young, echoed in his mind, a dragon’s lament. It spoke of a foolish hunt, a grievous wound, and a desperate plea for solace. The shepherd, touched by the creature’s sorrow, sought healing herbs whispered to him by the wind itself.

With reverence, he concocted a salve, infusing it with the dragon’s essence from the scale. The vial pulsed ever brighter. As dawn painted the sky, a magnificent beast descended, a magnificent dragon bearing a wound that mirrored the shepherd’s creation.

The shepherd, trembling but resolute, applied the salve. The dragon roared, a sound that shook the very mountains, then sighed in relief. A bond, forged in respect and empathy, bloomed between the unlikely pair.

The dragon, forever grateful, became the shepherd’s protector, a silent guardian against all threats. The tale of the Vial of Whispering Scales became a beacon of hope, a testament to the power of understanding, compassion, and the healing touch that transcends even the barriers of language.

Moral: True healing comes not from force, but from listening to the whispers of those in need, be they beast or man.

Suggested conversions to other systems:

Call of Cthulhu

• Emphasis: Sanity costs, a potential connection to forgotten knowledge,  the possibility of attracting unnatural attention.
• Ancient Origins:  Link the salve to a prehuman civilization that coexisted with or even harnessed dragons. Its recipe might be carved onto forgotten ruins or whispered by entities from beyond the stars.
• Sanity Cost:: Every use of the salve could chip away at one’s Sanity.  The extraordinary healing it provides brushes against realities the human mind is not meant to comprehend.
• Drawbacks:  The salve might carry a lingering echo of a dragon’s consciousness. Using it too often could draw the attention of dragons themselves, or worse, otherworldly creatures drawn to the scent of alien magic.

Blades in the Dark

• Emphasis: Faction resource, reputation, attracting unwanted attention.
• Faction Asset:  The Crystalized Healing Salve could be a prized possession of a cult specializing in forbidden rituals, a shadowy apothecary supplying the underworld, or even a gang of daring hunters specializing in capturing or injuring monstrous creatures.
• Unique Scores:  The salve facilitates scores that are otherwise impossible: rescuing a poisoned noble, healing a monstrous ally after a botched heist, or even mending spectral wounds sustained in a ghostly encounter.
• Entanglements: Overuse of the salve attracts the attention of rival factions seeking this healing power, predatory creatures drawn to its unique “scent”, or the vengeful ghosts of dragons slain for their scales.

Dungeons & Dragons (5th Edition)

• Emphasis:  Item rarity, synergy with character classes, potential for scaling.
• Stat Block:
  • Rarity: Very Rare (Legendary if tied to a lost civilization)
  • Charges: The salve holds a limited number of charges (3-5). Each use heals a significant amount of Hit Points. Once depleted, the only way to replenish the salve is a perilous quest to acquire a new dragon scale.
• Scaling Potential: As the player levels, the salve’s charges could increase or a successful crafting check might allow for adding additional properties – healing a diseased condition, or temporarily granting resistance to a damage type.
• Build Synergy:  Paladins, Rangers, Clerics, and Druids benefit significantly from the potent healing capabilities, amplifying their roles as protectors and caretakers.

Knave

• Emphasis: Simplicity, potential drawbacks, and consequences.
• Stat Block:
  • Uses: Usable a limited number of times (perhaps 3) before being depleted. Replenishing requires a dangerous quest.
  • Heals: Each use significantly restores HP, eliminating the need for tracking smaller cuts and bruises.
• Weirdness and Drawbacks:  The salve might give off a faint glow at night, attracting unwanted attention.  It could also temporarily turn the user’s skin faintly iridescent, leading to suspicion or superstitious reactions in some settings.  Repeated use might carry the risk of developing draconic scales, hindering movement or social interactions.

Fate

• Emphasis: Narrative power, invoking Aspects, the potential for compels.
• Aspects:
  • Infused with Dragon Scales: Grants bonuses when using the salve for its intended healing purposes, interacting with dragons, or recalling lore about their kind.
  • Elixir From a Bygone Age: Represents the salve’s ancient and mysterious origins. Can be invoked for healing techniques beyond conventional knowledge, but also compels in situations where it attracts unwanted attention from those desiring its secrets.
  • Echoes of Compassion: Reflects the legend of the compassionate shepherd. Allows for invoking empathy in difficult situations, whether attempting to heal a wary creature or soothe a raging beast.
• Mechanics:
  • Invokes: Players creatively invoke Aspects for bonus dice on actions related to healing, dealing with dragons, negotiating with other natural forces, or using knowledge gleaned from ancient lore.
  • Compels: Aspects can be used against the character, with the salve temporarily failing at critical moments, attracting dangerous attention due to its otherworldly glow, or causing internal conflict when used on a gravely wounded enemy.

Numenera & Cypher System

• Emphasis: The weirdness of the prior worlds, depletion of abilities, unpredictable effects.
• Descriptors & Foci:
  • Descriptors: Could be “Experienced” and “Nature-Crafted”.
  • Foci: Possibilities include “Heals the Wounds” or “Whispers of Ancient Lore.”
• Mechanics:
  • Difficulty Easements: Descriptors and Foci can decrease the difficulty of tasks related to rapid healing, identifying wounds, knowledge of dragons and ancient civilizations, and calming injured creatures.
  • Cyphers: One-use Cyphers could grant extraordinary healing boosts – temporarily regenerating lost limbs, or mending seemingly untreatable wounds for a short duration.
  • Depletion: Each use might deplete a stat pool (perhaps Might, as it draws heavily on natural vitalities) requiring recovery before subsequent use.
• GM Intrusions: Could manifest as the salve hardening unexpectedly, the temporary development of draconic features, or attracting otherworldly entities associated with dragons or relics of the prior worlds.

Pathfinder (2nd Edition)

• Emphasis:  Tactical combat potential, action economy, character build synergy.
• Stat Block:
  • Rarity: Unique
  • Charges: The salve holds a number of charges, with each use restoring a significant amount of Hit Points. Replenishing requires a perilous quest to acquire another dragon scale.
  • Rapid Healing: As an action, the user can administer the salve, restoring Hit Points and potentially removing a lingering condition (poisoned, diseased, etc.).
• Mechanics:
  • Crafting Requirements: Requires high-level Nature and Medicine checks, as well as access to thematically appropriate materials, to replenish the salve’s charges.
  • Build Synergy: Certain feats or class features might focus on the Crystalized Healing Salve, making its use more efficient, increasing the number of charges it holds, or adding temporary bonuses after its use (resistance to draconic breath weapons for a few rounds).

Savage Worlds

• Emphasis: Fast-paced action, cinematic flair, Wild Cards vs. Extras.
• Stat Block:
  • Utility: The salve grants a +2 bonus to Healing skill rolls and, once per combat, the user may spend a Benny to immediately stabilize an Extra (preventing death due to wounds).
  • Rare Resource: Replenishing the salve requires a successful and dangerous quest for another dragon scale, and perhaps a relevant Common Knowledge roll.
• Mechanics:
  • Bennies: Bennies can represent a lucky application of the salve for dramatic effect, narrate a creative use like mending an ally’s broken weapon with its crystal jar, or even resist a debilitating condition caused by a dragon’s attack.
  • Wild Card vs. Extras: Important NPCs should have abilities allowing them to partially mitigate the salve’s effects. Hostile dragons are immune to its healing properties and might actively seek to destroy it.
  • Hindrances: Introduce Hindrances like “Distrust of the Unnatural” (social penalties) or “Haunted by Dragons” (attract the attention of dragon-like threats).

Shadowrun

• Emphasis: Tech vs. magic, black market dealings, potential for essence drain.
• Description: The Crystalized Healing Salve could be a rare fusion of ancient magic and modern technology,  enclosed in a sleek chrome container with subtle energy currents humming within.
• Essence Drain: Each use of the salve could drain a small amount of the user’s Essence, representing the subtle spiritual toll of manipulating its hybridized nature.
• Black Market Find: The salve is available only on the black market – a unique asset sought by bio-hackers intrigued by its natural properties, corps interested in reverse-engineering it, or even shadowrunners who see its value in the dangerous world they inhabit.
• Mechanics:
  • Astral Signature: The Crystalized Healing Salve leaves a distinct astral signature when used, potentially drawing unwanted attention from astral patrollers, magical entities attuned to disturbances in nature, or opposing forces seeking the source of this power.
  • Rigging Upgrade: Allow for custom upgrades – bio-resonance emitters to amplify its healing properties without Essence drain, a built-in medical scanner for enhanced diagnosis, or a scrambler to mask the astral signature.

Starfinder

• Emphasis:  High-tech integration, exotic origins, potential for scaling with level.
• Stat Block:
  • Item Level: Determines its base healing capabilities, the rarity of the dragon scale used, and its potential for upgrades.
  • Hybrid Tech (Magic & Tech): Functions as a unique technological device enhanced through powerful nature-attuned enchantments.
  • Healing Boost: Provides a scalable bonus to Medicine checks for treating injuries and potentially removing harmful conditions.
  • Origin: Tie it to a vanished precursor race associated with biomancy or a genetically engineered species known for its regenerative abilities.
• Mechanics:
  • Power Source: Consider a rechargeable energy source or replaceable bio-batteries for the salve’s functions. Higher-level versions might possess more robust power sources or allow for additional functionality.
  • Environmental Interaction: Powerful electromagnetic fields could augment the salve’s effectiveness, while areas of negative energy or necrotic zones could hinder its healing properties.
  • Knowledge (Life Sciences) or (Mysticism): Required to fully understand and potentially upgrade the salve’s features.

Traveller

• Emphasis: Gritty realism, limited resources, potential for long-term consequences.
• Stat Block:
  • TL (Tech Level): Depends on the campaign setting. A high TL item in a standard low TL setting, or jury-rigged tech in a more advanced one.
  • Practical Utility: Removes non-lethal conditions such as fatigue, shock, and minor wounds over a set period. It can accelerate the natural healing of more serious wounds but to a lesser degree.
  • Artifact Status: The Crystalized Healing Salve would be an incredibly unusual find, potentially misidentified as a primitive alien medical device, or misunderstood and feared due to its magical origins.
• Mechanics:
  • Rare Maintenance: Finding materials or individuals capable of repairing or understanding the salve’s enchantments would be a challenge, especially in low-TL settings or remote locations.
  • Reputation: Using an obviously magical device could grant a unique social status depending on local culture. Some might view the user as a gifted healer blessed by the gods, while others might fear or distrust them.
  • Malfunction Potential: Especially relevant if the salve is of a higher TL in the setting, it could fail at unpredictable moments, or attract unwanted attention from those who would seek to understand and exploit its technology.

Warhammer (Fantasy or 40K)

• Emphasis: The corrupting influence of forbidden power, suspicion of the unfamiliar.
• Stat Block:
  • Mark of the Unnatural: Grants the ability to heal wounds rapidly, but carries a significant chance of gaining a Corruption Point with each use.
  • Heretical Lore: Understanding the salve’s true origins would mean delving into dangerous, likely forbidden knowledge about the rituals of the Old Ones, dark Aeldari craft, or the whispers of healing spirits.
• Mechanics:
  • Perils of the Warp/Insanity: In Fantasy Warhammer, utilizing the power of the enchantment might risk mental contamination or warp-inflicted mutations. In 40k, it could lead to latent psyker abilities manifesting, or attract the unwanted attention of the Inquisition.
  • Witch Hunter’s Interest: In either setting, overt use of the Crystalized Healing Salve would certainly catch the attention of organizations like Witch Hunters in Fantasy or the Inquisition in 40k.
  • Relic of the Past: The salve may be a heavily sought-after relic, fought over by Inquisitors, Chaos cults, or Xenos factions analyzing its potential or seeking to corrupt it further. The user becomes a target in an ongoing, shadowed conflict.