Mystweave Net

From: Aquilscalyfinfur 837

A lightweight, durable net woven from enchanted fibers. This net can expand or contract to capture creatures of various sizes or to carry significant amounts of food or materials. When not in use, it shrinks to a pocket-sized bundle. The Mystweave Net is particularly useful for non-lethal captures or for transporting goods during flight, as it adjusts its weight distribution magically to avoid hindering the creature’s balance.

The Lore:

• Legends whisper of the Mystweave Net, a creation born from necessity and ingenuity.  In the remote corners of the world, where communities thrived in harmony with nature, these nets were woven from enchanted spider silk or luminous plant fibers imbued with a touch of magic.  The exact origin story is known to vary depending on the country in who is telling the story:
  • Whispers of the Fey:  In realms touched by the Feywild, mischievous sprites or benevolent dryads might have gifted the first Mystweave Net to a creature known for its respect for the natural world.  The net may retain a faint connection to the Fey, shimmering with otherworldly light when activated.
  • Druidic Legacy:  Ancient druidic orders, protectors of the wild, could have developed the Mystweave Net as a tool for sustainable hunting practices.  The enchantments woven into the net might resonate with the primal energies of the forest, allowing for effortless expansion and contraction.
  • Gifted by the Weavers:  In cultures with a strong weaving tradition, the Mystweave Net could be a closely guarded secret passed down through generations of master artisans.  The enchantments themselves could be a closely held secret, their intricate patterns woven directly into the net’s design.

The Use: The Mystweave Net offers a versatile tool for those who value both efficiency and respect for the natural world.

• Non-Lethal Capture:  The net’s ability to expand and contract allows for the capture of creatures of various sizes without inflicting unnecessary harm.  This is particularly valuable for hunters who seek to preserve the balance of the ecosystem or for those who wish to study captured creatures without causing lasting damage.
• Transportation During Flight:  The magical weight distribution ensures that even when loaded down with a significant amount of food or materials, the net won’t hinder the creature’s flight.  This makes it ideal for the Aquilscalyfinfur 837 who can soar through the air while carrying supplies for their community.
• Camping and Shelter:  The net’s ability to expand can also create a makeshift shelter or a secure enclosure for captured prey or valuable goods while on the move.
• Tactical Advantage:  When used strategically, the net can be employed to entangle enemies, create distractions, or even deployed as a makeshift wall during combat encounters.

Mystweave Net – Tier 1 Stats

• Tier: 1
• Type: Tool
• Cost: 500 Gold Pieces (Due to the rarity of the enchanted materials and the skill required to create it)
• Requirements: None
• Tags: Magical, Versatile, Expandable, Weightless
• Skills that benefit from using the Mystweave Net:
  • Hunting: A bonus to Stealth rolls when using the net for capturing prey.
  • Athletics: A bonus to Strength (Athletics) checks when using the net to restrain or entangle creatures.
  • Animal Handling: A bonus to Animal Handling checks when calming or soothing a creature captured in the net.
  • Survival: A bonus to Survival checks when using the net to create a makeshift shelter.

Where and How It’s Sold

• Elven Enclaves:  Those elven communities who maintain a deep connection with nature might be the primary crafters of the Mystweave Net.
  • Method:  Sale would likely be through barter rather than direct currency, exchanging nets for rare reagents, knowledge, or services of equal value.
  • Restrictions: Even if willing to trade, they may prioritize equipping their own communities first, limiting availability to outsiders.
• Arcane Markets: The net might find its way into marketplaces catering to exotic magical items.
  • High Price: Expect to pay a hefty price, as these markets cater to wealthy individuals or powerful organizations.
  • Questionable Origins:  Merchants might be less scrupulous, potentially acquiring the net through underhanded means, with no guarantee of its ethical creation or use.
• Isolated Communities: Smaller villages, particularly those in tune with the wilderness, might possess a skilled artisan capable of crafting a less potent version of the Mystweave Net.
  • Limited Functionality: Their net might lack the full weight-neutralizing properties or the same degree of expansion.
  • Local Materials:  The materials used would depend on the local environment (spiders, unusual plant fibers, etc.), impacting the net’s appearance and enchantments.

Environments and End Results

• Lush Forests: These are ideal locations for hunters and gatherers to employ the Mystweave Net. Uses include:
  • Sustainable Hunting: Capturing prey without causing significant harm, promoting balance within the ecosystem.
  • Resource Gathering: Securely transporting delicate fruits, rare herbs, or other valuable natural resources over long distances.
• Mountains and Cliffs: Rangers or nomadic tribes navigating treacherous terrain might find the Mystweave Net invaluable for:
  • Safe Traversal: Creating a makeshift bridge between chasms or securely lowering someone down a steep cliff face for exploration.
  • Rescue Operations: Extracting injured individuals from perilous heights or retrieving lost supplies using the net’s expansion ability.
• Arid Deserts:  Nomadic tribes or explorers venturing through harsh deserts might use the Mystweave Net for:
  • Resource Preservation: Transporting limited water supplies with the weight-neutralizing magic preventing strain and exhaustion.
  • Shelter: Creating makeshift tents for shade and protection against sudden sandstorms.
• Trade Caravans:  Long-distance traders might covet the Mystweave Net for securing goods and protecting them during treacherous journeys.
  • Secure Transport: Safely carrying precious cargo or fragile artifacts without fear of accidental breakage or theft.
  • Defense: When confronted by bandits or predators, the net could be used to entangle attackers or create makeshift barricades.

Additional Considerations

• Rarity: Authentic Mystweave Nets, particularly those with full capabilities, would remain rare and sought-after treasures.
• Reputation: The use of the Mystweave Net implies a level of respect for nature, potentially influencing a character’s social standing with certain factions or communities.
• Misuse: In the wrong hands, the Mystweave Net could be used for poaching, illegal smuggling, or capturing individuals against their will, underscoring the power and potential for abuse of such tools.

Sensory experiences tied to the activation of the Mystweave Net within the world of Saṃsāra.

• Sense: Sight
  • Perceived:
    • Faint Luminescence: When the net is activated, its fibers begin to glow with a soft, otherworldly light.
    • Shimmering Patterns: Enchantments woven into the net may become visible as gently shifting patterns or subtle runes.
  • Description: The level of shimmer depends on both the net’s quality and the intended function (a powerful expansion might emit a brighter light).
  • Positives: Provides visual indication of activation. The glow could aid in tracking the net if used in darkness.
  • Negatives: May attract unwanted attention in surroundings where it’s vital to remain unseen.
• Sense: Touch
  • Perceived:
    • Lightness: As it expands or contracts, the net gives the sensation of becoming lighter or heavier, even though its physical weight never truly changes.
    • Dynamic Fibers: The fibers may feel subtly taut when expanded, conveying a sense of tension and the vast potential space they could enclose.
  • Description: This tactile feedback is the result of the weight distribution magic woven into the net.
  • Positive: Provides confirmation of its unique properties and guidance on how best to manipulate it for its intended purpose.
  • Negative: If the net is damaged, this sensation could become erratic, hindering its proper use.
• Sense: Sound
  • Perceived: A low hum or a whisper-like rustling of the fibers as they shift and adjust during activation.
  • Description: This is directly tied to the magic of expansion and weight manipulation working within the net’s fibers.
  • Positive: Serves as an additional confirmation that the net’s enchantments are functioning correctly.
  • Negative: Could interfere with stealthy use, particularly in quiet environments
• Sense: Smell
  • Perceived: A subtle scent, dependent on the materials used in its construction. Possibilities include:
    • Earthy Aroma: Suggestive of natural fibers or plant-based enchantments.
    • Metallic Tang: If infused with metals for reinforcement.
    • Faint Ozone Scent: A hint of otherworldly magic.
  • Description: This scent is an inherent property of the net and likely most noticeable in close proximity.
  • Positive: Can be used, with a sensitive nose, to track the net if lost or stolen.
  • Negative: Creatures with a keen sense of smell might be drawn to the net’s unique scent.
• Sense: Taste
  • Perceived: Only relevant if the Net comes in direct contact with a character’s mouth. There might be a faint, lingering taste echoing whatever scent it gives off.
  • Description: Likely an unpleasant experience, and more of a warning against placing the net in one’s mouth.
  • Positive: Can reinforce caution in handling this unusual magical item.
  • Negative: A creature with a tendency to put things in their mouths could become fixated on it.
• Extra-Sensory Perception
  • Perceived: A gentle ‘tugging’ sensation, a subtle hint of the potential space the net could encompass with full expansion.
  • Description: This is akin to a mental impression, particularly for those with a natural sensitivity to magic.
  • Positive: Provides an intuitive guide on how to direct the net’s expansions and contractions for ideal placement and function.
  • Negative: In areas overflowing with chaotic magical energies, this sense could become overwhelming, making it difficult to control the net effectively.

Crafting recipe for the enchanting Mystweave Net: The Spinneret’s Gift
Note: The name references the close connection between the Net’s creation and natural materials like spider silk or plant fibers, emphasizing a harmony with the environment.

• Materials Needed:
  • Primary Component:
    • Luminous Spider Silk: An exceedingly rare material, spun by spiders dwelling in faintly magical groves or moonlight-drenched woods.
    • Nightshade Vine Fibers: Tough yet supple fibers derived from carefully treated Nightshade vines, known for their subtle luminescence in darkness.
  • Enhancing Elements:
    • Moonstones: Crushed moonstones imbued with a faint magical radiance, used to amplify and stabilize the enchantments.
    • Fey Feathers: Feathers from elusive nocturnal birds, possessing a natural affinity for weight-altering enchantments.
    • Elemental Essence: A tiny amount of elemental essence (air, earth, etc.), attuning the net to a specific environment and adding a subtle magical effect depending on the chosen essence.
• Tools Required:
  • Specialized Loom: A loom constructed of ancient wood or treated bone, capable of handling the delicate and magically sensitive fibers.
  • Crafting Implements: Fine needles, shears, and threaders specifically designed for working with the delicate fibers and moonstone dust.
  • Enchanting Workstation: A secure location with the necessary tools for magical enchantments and the inscription of complex runes.
• Skill Requirements:
  • Weaving (Master): Exceptional weaving skills honed over years of practice, specifically with delicate and unusual materials.
  • Enchanting (Advanced): Knowledge of enchantments dealing with expansion, weight manipulation, and the binding of magic into threads.
  • Nature Lore (Proficient): Deep understanding of the natural world, the properties of magical plants, and places where the required components might be found.
• Crafting Steps:
  • Harvesting and Preparation:
    • Meticulously gather the Luminous Spider Silk or prepare the Nightshade Vine Fibers, ensuring their properties remain intact.
    • Seek out the Fey Feathers, a task demanding patience and respect for these elusive creatures.
    • Carefully grind the Moonstones into a fine, shimmery powder.
  • Weaving the Base Net
    • Using the specialized loom, weave the spider silk or plant fibers into a fine, durable net of the desired size.
    • Infuse the threads with the moonstone powder as you weave, attuning the net’s base to the enchanting process.
  • Enchantment and Inscription
    • Prepare your enchanting workstation, focusing on the concepts of lightness, expansion, and magical balance.
    • Bind the Fey Feathers into the net’s weave in intricate patterns dictated by the weight manipulation enchantments.
    • Carefully etch supporting runes along the net’s threads, stabilizing the magic and allowing for controlled activation of its properties.
    • Infuse the net with the chosen Elemental Essence, subtly altering its appearance and capabilities according to the chosen element.
  • Testing and Calibration
    • In a safe environment, test the net’s expansion and contraction, ensuring smooth functionality through both touch and mental commands.
    • Test the weight distribution magic, meticulously ensuring the net does not hinder movement when fully laden.
• Important Notes
  • Specific ingredients, enchanting rituals, and the exact appearance of the Net could vary heavily depending on the crafter’s culture and traditions.
  • Collaboration between a skilled weaver, an enchanter, and someone adept in nature lore might be needed for the finest Mystweave Nets.
  • This crafting process demands respect for the natural world and a genuine understanding of the delicate balance between magic and nature.

The Net of Woven Moonlight
A Fractured Fairytale

In the time before stories, when starlight painted whispers upon the first caves, there lived a creature known as the Weaver of Gossamer.  They spun nets of impossible fineness, each shimmering strand catching stolen whispers of moonlight.  Legends say these nets held a curious magic, able to capture both the fleeting beauty of a firefly and the immensity of a celestial body.

One night, a cunning Hunter, garbed in the pelts of twilight, approached the Weaver.  “Grant me,” he purred, “a net that captures all I desire.”  The Weaver, wary but intrigued, presented a net spun from the luminescence of a captured moonbeam.

The Hunter, eyes gleaming with avarice, used the net to snare unimaginable riches:  mountains of gold, flocks of phoenixes, even the very whispers of the wind.  Yet, with each capture, a strange emptiness gnawed at his heart.  The gold felt cold, the phoenixes sang a mournful song, and the silence of the captured wind was deafening.

One day, the Hunter approached the Weaver, his net overflowing with stolen treasures.  “Why do these things bring me no joy?” he lamented.

The Weaver, their voice a rustle of starlight, replied, “You have captured only the fleeting reflections of beauty, not its essence. True treasures cannot be contained, for their magic lies in their freedom.”

The Hunter, humbled, released his captures.  The wind sang a joyous song, the phoenixes soared back to the heavens, and the gold, touched by the returning wind, shimmered with a newfound warmth.  The net, forever bound to the magic of captured moonlight, became a reminder:  True treasures cannot be contained, for their magic lies in the dance between freedom and respect.

Moral:  Greed captures only hollow reflections.  True treasures lie in the appreciation of the world’s inherent magic.

Suggested conversions to other systems:

Call of Cthulhu

• Emphasis: Sanity costs, connection to cosmic mysteries, echoes of forbidden knowledge.
• Artifact Lore: Tie the Net to an ancient, unknown civilization with a strange understanding of space, or perhaps to creatures like the Mi-Go who manipulate reality. Knowledge of the Net’s origin involves perilous occult research.
• Sanity Loss: Each use of the Net costs a small amount of Sanity. The Net’s expansion and contraction reveal impossible geometries or trap echoes of things meant to be unheard.
• Drawbacks: The Net may malfunction spectacularly.  Instead of expanding, it could shrink to a near microscopic point, trapping the contents forever.  It could also rip a hole in reality, momentarily revealing the horrifying truth of the universe.

Blades in the Dark

• Emphasis: Faction asset, high-stakes scores, potential for supernatural attention.
• Faction Asset: The Net could be the prized possession of a cult specializing in smuggling strange artifacts, a band of beast hunters capturing creatures for the Leviathan blood trade, or  a crew known for pulling off impossible heists.
• High Risk, High Reward:  The Net allows for unique scores –  stealing a whale mid-transport, capturing a noble’s ghost, or escaping a collapsing Deathlands vault – but every success raises alarms from the Bluecoats to the terrifying entities lurking beyond the veil.
• Ghostly Complications: Using the Net might attract ghost attention – those trapped within the Net, creatures drawn to the thinning of boundaries, or powerful entities seeking to exploit this curious tool.

Dungeons & Dragons (5th Edition)

• Emphasis:  Item rarity, potential for scaling with level, character build possibilities.
• Stat Block:
  • Rarity: Very Rare (possibly even Legendary if the full lore is implemented)
  • Requires Attunement
  • Expand and Contract: As an action, the net can expand to several times its size or contract to a pocket-sized form. Expanded, it can restrain creatures or carry significant weight with ease.
• Potential Scaling: As the wielder levels, they might learn additional secrets of the Net: capturing incorporeal creatures, briefly shrinking a foe to a miniature size, or using the Net to create temporary cover on the battlefield.
• Build Synergy: Certain character classes (Rogue, Ranger, Druid) would benefit greatly from its stealth, hunting, or utility-focused uses.

Knave

• Emphasis: Simple but dangerous, item weirdness, and drawbacks.
• Stat Block:
  • +2 to Hunting, Trapping, or Athletics checks when utilizing the Net.
  • Expand and Contract: As an action, the Net either expands significantly or shrinks to a pocket-sized form. When expanded, any items within seem weightless to the carrier.
• Weirdness:  Using the net might attract otherworldly moths with reality-warping dust on their wings. It might also occasionally trap echoes of sounds, replaying them at random and embarrassing moments. The net could also refuse to open after a particularly audacious capture.

Fate

• Emphasis: Narrative power within the world of Saṃsāra, invoking Aspects, potential for compels.
• Aspects:
  • Net of the Gossamer Weaver: Grants bonuses when using the Net for stealthy captures, carrying large objects, or maneuvering.
  • Echoes of the Unknown: The Net occasionally catches whispers of the past or hints of the future, usable for compels or fleeting precognition.
  • Legacy of the First Hunters: Represents the Net’s history, a potential source of narrative power but also of compels – attracting strange attention or entanglements with old rivals.
• Mechanics:
  • Invokes: Players can creatively invoke Aspects for bonus dice when using the Mystweave Net in actions like ambushes, escaping restraints, or carrying heavy loads during a daring chase.
  • Compels: Aspects can be used against the character, with the Net malfunctioning at a crucial moment, emitting otherworldly light that gives away their position, or snagging on their equipment, hindering movement.

Numenera & Cypher System

• Emphasis: The weirdness of the prior worlds, depletion of abilities, unpredictable effects.
• Descriptors & Foci:
  • Descriptors: Could be “Experienced” and “Web-Woven”.
  • Foci: Possibilities include “Traps With Ease” or “Manipulates Space”
• Mechanics:
  • Difficulty Easements: Descriptors and Foci can decrease the difficulty of tasks such as capturing creatures, restraining foes, climbing using the net, or carrying heavy objects over long distances.
  • Cyphers: One-use Cyphers could grant powerful single-use bonuses to Net capabilities – expanding it vastly, allowing it to capture incorporeal entities, or teleporting its contents to a different location.
  • Depletion: Each use of the expansion and weight nullification could deplete a stat pool (perhaps Might), requiring recovery before subsequent uses.
• GM Intrusions: Could manifest as warping side effects – altering the size of the trapped creature, creating a temporary tear in reality, or attracting the attention of transdimensional denizens curious about the spatial anomaly.

Pathfinder (2nd Edition)

• Emphasis:  Tactical combat, action economy, character build synergy.
• Stat Block:
  • Rarity: Unique
  • Expand and Contract: As a single action, the Net can either expand or contract to its original size. While expanded, it can engulf and restrain creatures or objects while remaining weightless.
• Mechanics:
  • Grapple and Restraining: Expanded Net can grapple larger creatures, aiding in capture and restraint. Rules for escaping a grapple would still apply.
  • Tactical Movement: The Net can be thrown like a lasso, then instantly contracted to drag a target.
  • Build Synergy: Certain feats might focus on Net-based combat, such as improved grappling, disarming with the Net, or using it while flying.

Savage Worlds

• Emphasis: Fast-paced action, cinematic flair, Wild Cards vs. Extras.
• Stat Block:
  • Utility: The Net grants a +2 bonus to Athletics (Climbing), Agility (Trapping), and Boating (for creating nets) rolls.
  • Expand and Contract: Requires a simple Strength roll. If successful, the Net expands several times its size or contracts to a pocket-sized form, negating the weight of items within.
• Mechanics:
  • Bennies: Bennies can represent a lucky throw ensnaring a difficult target, narrating a creative use of the net to escape a grapple, or soaking the negative effects of a Wild Die roll when the Net malfunctions.
  • Wild Card vs. Extras: Important enemies might possess tricks to escape, cut through the Net, or counter its use as a tactical tool.
  • Hindrances: Introduce Hindrances like “Distrust of Magic” (social penalties in some communities) or “Attracts Curious Creatures” (otherworldly beings drawn to its strangeness).

Shadowrun

• Emphasis: Tech vs. magic, black market dealings, potential for essence drain.
• Description: The Net appears to be a combination of advanced tech and potent magical rituals. Perhaps it’s a spider silk weave with cybernetic implants, or a mesh of monofilament infused with a bound nature spirit.
• Essence Drain: Each use of the Net could drain a small amount of the user’s Essence, representing the subtle spiritual toll of manipulating its hybridized nature.
• Black Market Find: The Net would be incredibly valuable on the black market – a unique asset for smugglers, shadowrunners, or those seeking to trap otherwise elusive magical entities.
• Mechanics:
  • Astral Signature: The Mystweave Net leaves a distinct astral signature when used, potentially drawing unwanted attention from astral patrollers, entities attuned to spatial disturbances, or other mages seeking the source of this unusual power.
  • Rigging Upgrade: Allow for custom upgrades – neural interface for silent activation, nano-blades in the net for added combat function, or a maglock system to capture cybernetic limbs for restraint purposes.

Starfinder

• Emphasis:  High-tech integration, exotic origins, potential for scaling with level.
• Stat Block:
  • Item Level: Determines its base expansion capabilities, precision of the weight nullification, and potential for upgrades.
  • Hybrid Tech (Magic & Tech): Functions as a unique technological device enhanced through magical enchantments.
  • Expansion & Weightlessness: Provides a scalable bonus to acrobatics and athletics checks when using the net for maneuvers, as well as allowing the carrying of otherwise cumbersome objects with ease.
  • Origin: Tie it to a vanished precursor race associated with otherworldly weaving techniques or a bio-engineered species known for its manipulation of gravity.
• Mechanics:
  • Power Source: Consider a rechargeable energy source for the net’s functions. Higher-level Nets might possess longer-lasting power sources or allow for additional functionality.
  • Environmental Interaction: Powerful magnetic fields could augment the net’s expansion, while areas of artificial gravity could disrupt the weightlessness effect.
  • Knowledge (Arcana) or (Engineering): Required to fully understand and potentially upgrade the Net’s features.

Traveller

• Emphasis: Gritty realism, limited resources, potential for long-term consequences.
• Stat Block:
  • TL (Tech Level): Depends on the campaign. A high TL item in a standard low TL setting, or jury-rigged tech in a more advanced one.
  • Weight and Expansion Capabilities: Realistic limitations depending on the net’s materials. User relies on skill and experience to utilize it effectively.
  • Artifact Status: The Mystweave Net would be an incredibly unusual find, with many underestimating its utility or misunderstanding its true nature.
• Mechanics:
  • Rare Maintenance: Finding materials or individuals capable of understanding the net’s properties would be a challenge, especially in low-TL settings or remote locations.
  • Reputation: Using an obviously advanced technological device could grant unique social status or brand the user as an oddity with unknown affiliations. depending on the local culture and overall technological awareness.
  • Malfunction Potential: Especially relevant if the tech is jury-rigged, the Net could tear under duress, or the weight-altering properties could malfunction, with objects becoming incredibly heavy at the most inopportune moment.

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 expand and reduce the Net’s weight, but carries a significant chance of gaining a Corruption Point with each use.
  • Heretical Lore: Understanding the net’s true origins would mean delving into dangerous, likely forbidden knowledge of Chaos, alien technology, or dark Aeldari craft.
• 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.
  • Dark Reputation: In either setting, overt use of the Mystweave Net would immediately garner suspicion, potentially branding the user as a heretic, chaos cultist, a consort of xenos, or worse.
  • Relic of the Past: The Net 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.