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Dreamtime Melody Drum

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by

Dale
in

Lore: The Dreamtime Melody Drum is a sacred instrument with a rich history in the Aboriginal cultures of Saṃsāra. Crafted from rare, enchanted woods and adorned with intricate carvings representing ancestral stories, this drum embodies the concept of “Accompaniment.” It is believed that when played with sincerity, it resonates with the heartbeat of the Dreamtime, echoing the stories of the past, present, and future.

Stats:

  • Rarity: Common
  • Type: Musical Instrument (Drum)
  • Requirements: Proficiency with musical instruments (drum)
  • Weight: 5 lbs

Roleplay: The Dreamtime Melody Drum is a medium-sized handcrafted drum, covered with a stretched, enchanted hide. Its surface is adorned with Aboriginal symbols and motifs that depict the interconnectedness of all living things. When played, the drum emits a haunting, ethereal melody that evokes the presence of the Dreamtime.

Costs:

  • Gold: 20 GP
  • Roleplay: To acquire the Dreamtime Melody Drum, the character must seek out a wise elder or shaman from an Aboriginal tribe and prove their dedication to the traditions and values of the Dreamtime. This might involve completing a quest or showing their willingness to be an accompaniment to others on their spiritual journeys.

Magics:

  • Dreamtime Resonance: When played with skill and sincerity, the Dreamtime Melody Drum can create a harmonic connection between the player and the Dreamtime. This connection allows the character to experience and influence the dreams of themselves and others.
  • Accompaniment’s Blessing: While playing the drum, the character and their allies gain advantage on Charisma (Persuasion) checks and Wisdom (Insight) checks, fostering a sense of unity and cooperation.

Tags:

  • Roleplay: The Dreamtime Melody Drum encourages roleplay focused on companionship, empathy, and support. It may also be used to uncover hidden meanings in dreams, facilitate communication with spirits, or invoke the Dreamtime’s guidance.
  • Additional: Harmonic, Ethereal, Cooperation, Empathy, Ritual, Ancestral, Tranquil, Persuasion, Spiritual, Unity

Usage:

  • Defense: In defensive situations, the Dreamtime Melody Drum can be used to create a calming and soothing atmosphere, reducing tension and anxiety among the party. The harmonious resonance can deter hostile creatures or spirits from approaching.
  • Offense: While not a weapon in the traditional sense, the drum’s ability to enhance persuasion and insight checks can be used offensively to negotiate with adversaries, persuade them to change their course of action, or uncover hidden motives.
  • Environments: The Dreamtime Melody Drum is most potent in tranquil and natural settings, where the connection to the Dreamtime is strongest. It can be used effectively in serene forests, by the campfire under the night sky, or in the presence of sacred stones. Its power is diminished in noisy or chaotic environments.
  • Roleplay: The drum provides numerous opportunities for character development as the wearer learns to be an accompaniment to others on their spiritual journeys. It can be used to participate in tribal ceremonies, connect with ancestral spirits, or guide others in exploring the Dreamtime’s wisdom.

Dreamtime Melody Drum is a common and evocative item that encourages players to explore themes of accompaniment, unity, and spiritual connection in their roleplaying adventures within the world of Saṃsāra.

Perception of Activation: When the Dreamtime Melody Drum is activated, it’s not just a sound that is produced, but a ripple through reality, connecting the player and those around them to the ethereal realm of the Dreamtime.

  • User’s Perspective:
    • Sight: The intricate carvings on the drum seem to come alive, subtly shifting and glowing with an inner light as the rhythms connect with the Dreamtime. The world around may take on a dreamlike quality, with colors becoming more vibrant and shadows dancing with hidden meaning.
    • Touch: The drum vibrates with a life of its own, pulsating with the rhythm of the Dreamtime. A warmth spreads through the user’s hands and up their arms, connecting them to the ancient energies.
    • Sound: The drumbeat transcends mere sound, becoming a symphony of ancestral voices and stories. Whispers of guidance and echoes of ancient ceremonies weave into the music, creating a tapestry of sound that resonates deep within the soul.
    • Smell: The scent of ancient woods and resins intensifies, filling the air with the aroma of the Dreamtime. Hints of eucalyptus, campfire smoke, and rain-soaked earth mingle with the music, grounding the user in the natural world.
    • Taste: A subtle sweetness lingers on the tongue, like the taste of wild honey or the first dew of dawn. It is a fleeting sensation, a reminder of the delicate balance between the physical and spiritual realms.
  • Observer’s Perspective:
    • Sight: The drum seems to resonate with an otherworldly glow, its carvings shifting and swirling as the user plays. The air around the drum may shimmer with iridescent colors, and those nearby might catch glimpses of dreamlike images or fleeting shadows.
    • Sound: The drumbeat carries an almost hypnotic quality, drawing listeners into a state of tranquility and heightened awareness. The music seems to speak to something deep within, stirring emotions and memories long forgotten.
    • Touch: Observers might feel a tingling sensation or a sudden warmth as the drumbeat resonates through the air. The vibrations seem to massage their very being, easing tensions and opening their minds to the whispers of the Dreamtime.
  • Positives:
    • The connection to the Dreamtime is palpable, providing a sense of unity and belonging.
    • The drum’s music can soothe troubled minds, inspire courage, and foster cooperation.
    • The enhanced senses and heightened awareness can reveal hidden truths and provide guidance.
  • Negatives:
    • The dreamlike state can be disorienting, blurring the lines between reality and the Dreamtime.
    • The influx of emotions and memories can be overwhelming, especially for those unprepared for the intensity of the experience.
    • The connection to the Dreamtime can attract unwanted attention from spirits or entities dwelling within that realm.
  • Extra-Sensory Perceptions:
    • Temporal Awareness: The user may experience a heightened sense of time, perceiving the past, present, and future as interwoven threads in the tapestry of existence.
    • Empathic Connection: The user may feel a deep connection to the emotions and experiences of others, fostering empathy and understanding.
    • Spiritual Guidance: The user may receive guidance or messages from ancestral spirits or Dreamtime entities, offering wisdom and insight.
    • Precognitive Glimpses: The user may catch fleeting glimpses of future events or possibilities, though these visions are often symbolic and open to interpretation.
    • Heightened Intuition: The user’s intuition is amplified, allowing them to sense danger, discern motives, and make decisions with greater clarity.

Crafting the Dreamtime Melody Drum

  • Materials Needed:
    • Wood from a sacred tree imbued with Dreamtime energy (such as a Ghost Gum or Ironwood)
    • Hide from a spiritually significant animal (like a kangaroo or emu)
    • Natural fibers for binding and weaving (e.g., sinew, plant fibers)
    • Sacred ochre pigments for painting symbols
    • Resin or sap from a Dreamtime tree (for adhesive)
    • Feathers from a bird of symbolic importance (e.g., kookaburra, wedge-tailed eagle)
  • Tools Required:
    • Carving tools (knives, chisels, gouges)
    • Drum-making frame or mold
    • Paintbrushes or natural applicators
    • Fire for heating and curing
    • A secluded and spiritually resonant location
  • Skill Requirements:
    • Proficiency in woodworking and carving
    • Knowledge of Dreamtime symbols and lore
    • Ability to connect with the spiritual energy of materials
    • Musical inclination and rhythmic understanding
  • Crafting Steps:
    • Prepare the Wood: Carefully select a piece of wood from a sacred tree, ensuring it resonates with Dreamtime energy. Shape the wood into a circular frame using carving tools, respecting the natural form of the material.
    • Prepare the Hide: Cleanse and stretch the hide from the spiritually significant animal, ensuring it is taut and ready for drumhead creation.
    • Adorn with Symbols: Using ochre pigments, paint ancestral symbols and motifs onto the wooden frame, imbuing it with stories and Dreamtime significance.
    • Attach the Drumhead: Carefully stretch the prepared hide over the wooden frame, securing it with natural fibers and resin adhesive. Ensure the hide is taut and evenly tensioned for optimal resonance.
    • Add Symbolic Adornments: Attach feathers from a symbolic bird to the drum, weaving them into the fibers or securing them with additional resin. These feathers will enhance the drum’s connection to the Dreamtime.
    • Awaken the Drum: In a secluded and spiritually resonant location, play the drum with sincerity and intention, inviting the Dreamtime’s energy to flow into the instrument. Sing or chant traditional songs to awaken the drum’s spirit and connect it to the ancestral rhythms.
    • Consecrate the Drum: Offer the completed drum to the spirits of the land and the ancestors, seeking their blessings and guidance. This act of consecration will solidify the drum’s connection to the Dreamtime and enhance its magical properties.

Note: Crafting the Dreamtime Melody Drum is a sacred act, requiring respect for the materials, the traditions, and the spiritual forces at play. The crafter’s intention and connection to the Dreamtime will greatly influence the potency of the finished instrument.

Rhythm of Unity

In the time before time, when the land of Saṃsāra was still new, the spirits of the Dreamtime danced with the wind and whispered secrets to the trees. The tribes lived in harmony with the land, their lives guided by the rhythm of the Dreaming.

But discord arose, a disharmony that threatened to shatter the peace. The tribes, once united, became fractured, each following their own rhythm, their own song. The land wept, the spirits mourned, and the Dreamtime grew silent.

From the heart of the Dreaming emerged a wise woman, a keeper of ancient rhythms. She sought a way to reunite the tribes, to restore the harmony that had been lost. With the blessings of the spirits, she crafted a drum, its skin made from the hide of a sacred kangaroo, its frame carved with symbols of unity.

The wise woman journeyed from tribe to tribe, her drum beating a rhythm that echoed the heartbeat of the land. As she played, the spirits danced, the trees swayed, and the people listened. The rhythm spoke of a time when they were one, a time of shared dreams and common purpose.

Slowly, the tribes began to gather, drawn by the mesmerizing rhythm. They danced and sang together, their voices blending with the drumbeat, creating a symphony of unity. The land rejoiced, the spirits celebrated, and the Dreamtime awakened.

The Dreamtime Melody Drum became a symbol of harmony, a reminder that even in discord, there is a rhythm that can bring people together. It taught the tribes to listen to the heartbeat of the land, to respect the spirits, and to find unity in their diversity.

Moral: The Dreamtime Melody Drum sings the song of unity, a reminder that we are all connected, and that through rhythm and harmony, we can overcome discord and find our way back to each other.

Suggested conversions to other systems:

Call of Cthulhu (7th Edition)

Name: Dreamtime Melody Drum

  • Type: Occult Item
  • Rarity: Uncommon
  • Sanity Cost: 1 Sanity point to attune to the drum and experience the Dreamtime.
  • Powers:
    • Dreamtime Resonance: The user may spend 1 Magic Point and make a successful POW roll to enter a trance-like state and connect with the Dreamtime. This allows them to perceive and potentially influence the dreams of themselves or others within short range.
    • Accompaniment’s Blessing: While playing the drum, the user and all allies within short range gain a +2 bonus to any social skill rolls involving cooperation or persuasion.

Blades in the Dark

Name: Dreamtime Melody Drum

  • Type: Arcane Item
  • Effect:
    • Dreamtime Resonance: When performing a downtime activity to recover stress or reduce trauma, the user may use the drum to gain an additional +1d to their healing roll. They may also use the drum during a group ritual to allow all participants to gain this benefit.
    • Accompaniment’s Blessing: When performing a social action that involves teamwork or cooperation, the crew may use the drum to gain +1d to their action roll.

Dungeons & Dragons (5th Edition)

Name: Dreamtime Melody Drum

  • Rarity: Uncommon
  • Weight: 5 lbs.
  • Properties:
    • Dreamtime Resonance: While playing this drum, you can cast the Dream spell once per long rest without expending a spell slot.
    • Accompaniment’s Blessing: While playing this drum, you and all friendly creatures within 30 feet of you gain advantage on Charisma (Persuasion) checks and Wisdom (Insight) checks.

Knave

Name: Dreamtime Melody Drum

  • Tags: Arcane, Mystical, Healing
  • Effect:
    • Dreamtime Resonance: The user can use the drum to enter a trance and connect with the Dreamtime. This allows them to gain insight into their own dreams or the dreams of others. The GM may provide clues, warnings, or visions based on the situation.
    • Accompaniment’s Blessing: While playing the drum, the user and their allies gain a +1 bonus to all social interaction rolls.

Fate Core/Condensed

Name: Dreamtime Melody Drum

  • Aspect: Heartbeat of the Dreaming
  • Invoke:
    • Dreamtime Resonance: Enter a trance and connect with the Dreamtime to gain insight, communicate with spirits, or influence the dreams of yourself or others.
    • Accompaniment’s Blessing: Boost social skills and teamwork, enhancing cooperation and persuasion.
    • Compel: The drum’s connection to the Dreamtime can be unpredictable or overwhelming, potentially leading to distractions, unwanted spiritual encounters, or emotional turmoil.

Numenera & Cypher System

Name: Dreamtime Melody Drum

  • Level: 2
  • Form: Artifact (carried)
  • Effect:
    • Dreamtime Resonance: Spend 2 Intellect points to enter a trance and connect with the Dreamtime, gaining insight or influencing the dreams of yourself or others within short range.
    • Accompaniment’s Blessing: When performing a task that requires cooperation or teamwork, spend 1 Intellect point to gain an asset for yourself and one other participant.

Pathfinder (2nd Edition)

Name: Dreamtime Melody Drum

  • Aura: faint enchantment; CL: 5th
  • Price: 20 gp; Weight: 5 lbs.
  • Description: This handcrafted drum is adorned with Aboriginal symbols. When played, it emits a haunting melody that resonates with the Dreamtime.
  • Properties:
    • Dreamtime Resonance: While playing this drum, you can attempt a Performance check (DC 15) to enter a trance and connect with the Dreamtime. On a success, you gain visions or insights, and you can attempt to influence the dreams of yourself or others within 30 feet.
    • Accompaniment’s Blessing: While playing this drum, you and all friendly creatures within 30 feet gain a +1 circumstance bonus to Charisma (Persuasion) checks and Wisdom (Insight) checks.

Savage Worlds

Name: Dreamtime Melody Drum

  • Trappings: Handcrafted drum with Aboriginal symbols
  • Power Points: 4
  • Powers:
    • Dreamtime Resonance: The user may spend 2 Power Points to make a Spirit roll to enter a trance and connect with the Dreamtime. This allows them to gain visions or insights, and they may attempt to influence the dreams of themselves or others within short range.
    • Accompaniment’s Blessing: While playing the drum, the user and all allies within short range gain a +2 bonus to Persuasion and Common Knowledge rolls.

Shadowrun (6th Edition)

Name: Dreamtime Melody Drum

  • Type: Focus (Conjuring)
  • Force: 4
  • Background Count: 1
  • Powers:
    • Dreamtime Resonance: The user may use the drum to cast the Astral Projection spell, but instead of projecting their astral body, they enter a trance and connect with the Dreamtime. This allows them to perceive and potentially influence the dreams of themselves or others within short range.
    • Accompaniment’s Blessing: While playing the drum, the user and all allies within short range gain a +2 dice pool modifier to Social tests involving cooperation or persuasion.

Starfinder

Name: Dreamtime Melody Drum

  • Level: 5th
  • Price: 4,000 credits
  • Bulk: 1
  • Activation: Standard action (perform)
  • Frequency: once per day
  • Effects:
    • Dreamtime Resonance: The user can cast dream, targeting themselves or one other creature within 30 feet.
    • Accompaniment’s Blessing: While playing the drum, the user and all allies within 30 feet gain a +1 morale bonus to Diplomacy and Sense Motive checks.

Traveller (Mongoose 2nd Edition)

Name: Dreamtime Melody Drum

  • TL: 9
  • Law Level: 2
  • Tech Level: – (considered an artifact)
  • Effect: This artifact allows the user to connect with a psychic field and influence the dreams of others.
  • Functions:
    • Dreamtime Resonance: The user can attempt an INT check (DM+2) to enter a trance and connect with the Dreamtime. This allows them to gain insight into the dreams of themselves or others within short range.
    • Accompaniment’s Blessing: While playing the drum, the user and all allies within short range gain a +1 DM to any one Social skill check involving cooperation or persuasion.

Warhammer 40,000 (Wrath & Glory)

Name: Dreamtime Melody Drum

  • Rarity: Common
  • Availability: Forbidden Lore (or specific to psyker factions)
  • Warp Charge: 2
  • Effects:
    • Dreamtime Resonance: The psyker may make a Willpower test (DN 3) to enter a trance and connect with the Immaterium. This allows them to perceive and potentially influence the dreams of themselves or others within short range.
    • Accompaniment’s Blessing: While playing the drum, the psyker and all allies within short range gain +Rank to Fellowship tests.