Ballad 71 of Astral Sojourn – GearAscendancy.com

Verse 1:
In realms unseen by mortal sight,
A tale unfolds in astral light.
A traveler bold takes to the night,
Unfettered from the earthly plight.

Verse 2:
He chants a spell with great intent,
To pierce the veil, his will is bent.
The arcane words in air are sent,
His earthly ties no longer lent.

Verse 3:
Now soaring high in astral sea,
Unbound by worldly gravity.
The lunar tides call out to he,
Who dares to dream so limit-free.

Verse 4:
He passes spirits, ghosts, and shades,
Through astral jungles, cosmic glades.
With astral winds, his course he aids,
In realms where light and dark evades.

Verse 5:
He finds a gate, an ancient door,
With runes unknown forevermore.
A cosmic key, an astral lore,
He steps beyond, his spirit soars.

Verse 6:
In galaxies where gods reside,
He walks with them, all fear subsides.
The cosmic truths, to him confide,
He learns the laws no mortals bide.

Verse 7:
But all must end, as tales unfold,
He longs for home, for love untold.
The spell he breaks, he now takes hold,
Of earthly form, his story bold.

Verse 8:
He wakes anew, his spirit fine,
But touched by realms that redefine.
No longer held by space or line,
A cosmic sage, by stars’ design.

Verse 9:
Remember well this tale of mine,
Of astral seas and sacred sign.
For you may too in heavens dine,
When soul from flesh does intertwine.

And so, the Ballad 71 of Astral Sojourn speaks to all who yearn to break the bounds of the physical world and wander the cosmic plains. A tale sung by minstrels and mages alike, it captures the essence of astral projection and the limitless possibilities that await those who dare to journey beyond the veil.

Carried Item: The Astral Locket of Sojourn
Lore: The Astral Locket of Sojourn is a meticulously crafted silver locket, inscribed with intricate celestial runes. Within its clamshell enclosure is where Ballad 71 of Astral Sojourn is inscribed. The locket is believed to be crafted by the ancient mage Eridanius, who was known for his mastery over astral travel. It has been passed down through generations of cosmic explorers and mystics, each adding to its rich history.

Motivation: The primary motivation for using this locket is to transcend the limitations of the physical realm and to explore the vast mysteries of the astral plane. It serves as both a guide and a protector for those willing to undertake the perilous journey into realms beyond comprehension.

Positives:

Astral Guidance: The locket helps in stabilizing one’s astral form, making astral projection more secure.
Enhanced Awareness: While in the astral plane, the user gains heightened senses, allowing them to perceive things they otherwise wouldn’t.
Knowledge Accumulation: The locket allows the user to better retain and recall the wisdom gathered during their astral journeys.

Negatives:

Limited Uses: The locket can only be activated three times per lunar cycle.
Energy Drain: Each use consumes a significant amount of the user’s magical energy.
Vulnerability: While the user is in astral form, their physical body is vulnerable to attacks and magical manipulation.

Tags: Astral, Magical, Legendary, Projection, Cosmic

Use: To activate the locket, the user must wear it around their neck and sing the Ballad 71 of Astral Sojourn. Upon completion of the ballad, the locket glows with a celestial light, indicating the activation of its powers.

Magic Manifested:

Astral Projection: Upon singing the ballad, the user’s astral form is separated from their physical body, allowing them to travel through the astral plane for a duration of 1 hour.
Celestial Shield: A protective barrier forms around the user’s astral form, offering some degree of protection against astral entities.
Cosmic Insight: While in the astral form, the user gains the ability to commune briefly with higher celestial beings, gaining insights that can be both enlightening and overwhelming.

The Astral Locket of Sojourn stands as a testament to the limitless possibilities that await those who dare to explore realms beyond the mundane. It is a powerful artifact, highly coveted by those who wish to transcend the physical and aspire for the cosmic.

The Astral Locket of Sojourn: Item Specifications

Slot:
- Neck
Stats:
- Magical Resistance: +2
- Charisma Bonus: +1
- Wisdom Bonus: +1
Size:
- Diameter: 2 inches
- Thickness: 0.5 inches
- Weight:
- 3 ounces

Perception of Senses

Sight:
- What is perceived: An intricate silver locket with celestial runes etched into it.
- Description: The locket radiates a soft, otherworldly glow when activated.
- Positives: Awe-inspiring design that captivates the observer.
- Negatives: Its glow might attract unwanted attention when activated.
Hearing:
- What is perceived: A subtle hum when in proximity.
- Description: The locket emits a low-frequency hum that resonates with arcane energies.
- Positives: Auditory cue that signals the item is magical.
- Negatives: The hum might be disorienting over extended periods of use.
Touch:
- What is perceived: A smooth, cool texture.
- Description: Feels like polished silver, but with an almost liquid coolness to the touch.
- Positives: Comfortable to wear for extended periods.
- Negatives: The metal may feel unnaturally cold at times.
Taste:
- What is perceived: Not applicable.
- Description: It’s generally not advised to taste magical artifacts.
- Positives: None.
- Negatives: Potential magical backlash or contamination.
Smell:
- What is perceived: A faint scent of ozone.
- Description: When activated, the locket gives off a smell akin to the air after a lightning storm.
- Positives: The smell may heighten senses and awareness.
- Negatives: Some may find the scent overwhelming or nauseating.
Extra-Sensory Perceptions
- Magical Resonance:
  - What is perceived: A thrum of magical energy.
  - Description: Sensitive individuals can sense a powerful aura emanating from the locket.
  - Positives: Easier identification of the item as a magical artifact.
  - Negatives: Could make the wearer a target for those seeking magical items.
- Astral Signatures:
  - What is perceived: Ethereal echoes.
  - Description: Those proficient in astral perception might sense past users’ astral trails, imprinted on the locket.
  - Positives: Potential insights into the experiences and wisdom of previous users.
  - Negatives: Risk of exposure to malevolent entities or residual curses from previous users.
- Temporal Awareness:
  - What is perceived: A slight distortion of time.
  - Description: Time seems to move differently when in close proximity to the locket.
  - Positives: An enhanced sense of focus and duration, useful in time-sensitive tasks.
  - Negatives: Disorientation and difficulty adapting to the normal flow of time after usage.

The Astral Locket of Sojourn offers a multi-sensory experience that aligns with its celestial origins and profound capabilities. While it offers considerable advantages, its powers come with their own sets of challenges and responsibilities.

Recipe to Recreate The Astral Locket of Sojourn

Ingredients Needed:
- Celestial Silver: A rare form of silver that is infused with astral energies; 200 grams.
- Moonstone Gem: A gem that resonates with lunar energies; 1 piece.
- Arcane Ink: Special ink made from the sap of the Eldertree and crushed mana crystals; 30 milliliters.
- Elemental Water: Water gathered from the Plane of Water; 50 milliliters.
- Elemental Fire: Fire essence collected from the Plane of Fire; a small vial.
Equipment or Utensils Required:
- Arcane Forge: For molding the celestial silver.
- Enchanting Table: To infuse the magical elements.
- Inscription Tools: Fine brushes and quills for rune inscription.
- Alchemy Set: For mixing elemental components.
- Crystal Focus: To channel magical energies during the crafting process.
Skills Needed:
- Metallurgy: Skill in metalworking for shaping the celestial silver.
- Enchanting: For infusing the magical properties into the locket.
- Rune Crafting: Expertise in arcane languages for inscription.
- Elemental Manipulation: To safely handle and combine elemental fire and water.
- Astral Knowledge: Understanding of the astral plane and its properties.
Crafting Steps:
- Silver Molding: Heat the celestial silver in the arcane forge until it becomes malleable. Use crafting tools to mold it into the shape of a locket.
- Gem Setting: Securely place the moonstone gem in the center of the locket.
- Elemental Infusion: In the alchemy set, cautiously mix elemental water and elemental fire to produce astral steam. Channel this through the crystal focus into the locket.
- Rune Inscription: Use the inscription tools to write the celestial runes using the arcane ink. Inscribe Ballad 71 of Astral Sojourn within the locket.
- Final Enchanting: Place the locket on the enchanting table and channel your magical energies to activate the inscriptions and the elemental components, sealing their powers into the locket.

Cost:

Crafting cost is around 5,000 gold pieces considering the rarity of the materials.
Retail price can go as high as 10,000 gold pieces due to the complexities involved in crafting.

Shops Where This Item is Sold:

The Celestial Emporium: A high-end store specializing in astral and cosmic artifacts.
Eridanius’ Arcane Wonders: Named after the legendary mage who is believed to have crafted the original locket.
The Astral Guild: Available for high-ranking members of this guild, who are specialized in astral travel and cosmic studies.
Moonshadow Bazaar: A secret market that only appears during lunar eclipses; frequented by collectors of rare and magical items.

The Astral Locket of Sojourn is not an item that can be casually crafted or easily purchased. It requires both specialized skills and rare materials, often making it the purview of those who are deeply committed to the study and exploration of the astral realm.

The Tale of Astral Wanderer Elios and the Locket of Sojourn

Long time ago, it were, Elios the Astral Wanderer find him a locket, the Astral Locket of Sojourn. Him get it from Eridanius’ Arcane Wonders, costly it be, but worth the powers it give. Elios hear tale, this locket contain Ballad 71 of Astral Sojourn, a song of otherworldly might. With hope to solve mystery of vanished city, Elios set out.

First, Elios sing ballad, runes glowing. His spirit rise up, up into astral realm, leaving body behind. Elios journey through the stars, time seem to slow. Moonstone gem light path, Elios follow.

There him find guardian, a creature of the astral plane, not want to let him pass. Elios speak the last verse of ballad, and the guardian bow, let him through. It be the wisdom of locket, make even guardian humble.

Elios find vanished city, float in the astral sea. Ruins tell of civilization grand, now but shadows. Elios see there a gem, big as a man’s fist, glowing same like moonstone in locket. Him understand, this gem must be reason for city vanish, draw it into astral realm. Elios think, think hard, then decide to sing ballad reverse, try to unbind the magic.

It work, it do! Gem lose glow, city start to fade, going back to real world. But Elios feel himself fade too, his astral form tethered to city. Him realize, if city go back, him stay in astral realm, lost forever.

So, Elios make choice, stop the song. City stay in astral realm, Elios find way back to body. Locket glow dimmer now, like it too tired.

Elios return, tell tale to all. Some say him a coward, not bring back city. Others say him wise, know when not to meddle with powers beyond. But all agree, the Astral Locket of Sojourn be a thing of wonder and caution, both gift and burden.

Now, tale of Elios and the Astral Locket be told when moon be full, as warning and wonder, about what be possible and what price one must pay.

Suggested conversion to other systems:

Call of Cthulhu (7th Edition)