Baba Yaga 37 of Whispering Absence

Lore: Crafted by a witch who was an acolyte of Baba Yaga, this mysterious trinket embodies the essence of absence. It is said that Baba Yaga herself whispered the incantations that would later be imbued into this item. A small, intricate locket, when opened, it reveals an empty space, symbolic of absence. It is rumored to have the power to make its user unnoticed, blending them into their surroundings like a forgotten memory.

Stats:

Weight: 0.5 lbs
Material: Enchanted Ebony Wood and Moonstone
Requires Attunement: Yes
Slot: Trinket

Roleplay: While wearing this trinket, the user feels an eerie calmness and emptiness within. Conversations may drift to the topics of what is missing, lost, or absent. It might make other characters uncomfortable or provoke thoughts about things they have lost or are missing.

Costs:

Monetary Value: 50 gold pieces
Maintenance: Must be bathed in moonlight once a lunar month to maintain its magical properties.

Magics: Aura of Absence: Once per day, the user can activate the locket to emit an aura within a 10-foot radius, making everyone inside the aura less noticeable. Lasts for 1 minute.

Tags: Enchantment, Illusion, Common Rarity, Requires Attunement, Enchanted Trinket, Illusory Artifact, Shadowed Presence, Lunar Essence, Obscurement Magic, Aura Manipulation, Stealth Focused, Arcane Concealment, Forgotten Path, Mystical Veil

Usage for Defense: The Aura of Absence can be particularly useful for escaping dangerous situations. If the user and their allies are surrounded, activating the aura will cause enemies to become disoriented and momentarily forget the presence of the user and their allies. This can provide a crucial window of opportunity for escape.

Usage for Offense: While not directly offensive in nature, the locket can be used to create a tactical advantage. Activating the Aura of Absence during a stealth mission can make it easier for the wearer to get close to an enemy without being detected, thereby setting the stage for a surprise attack.

Environments:

Forest: In a forest, the trinket can make you blend in with the trees and foliage, adding an extra layer of natural camouflage.
Urban: In an urban setting, activating the aura may cause the city’s denizens to ignore you, mistaking you for just another unremarkable passerby.
Cave/Dungeon: In the darkness of a cave or dungeon, the Aura of Absence can make you almost invisible, giving you the opportunity to avoid traps or guardians.

Note that the item’s efficacy may vary depending on the awareness and magical sensitivity of those around you.

Perception of the Senses for Baba Yaga 37 of Whispering Absence

Sight:
- What is Perceived: The locket appears as an intricate piece of carved ebony wood with a moonstone centerpiece.
- Description: The craftsmanship is exquisite, and it has a lustrous sheen. When looked at for too long, the locket seems to fade slightly from view.
- Positives: Easy to conceal due to its size and occasional transparency.
- Negatives: Its mysterious aura can attract unwanted attention from those sensitive to magic.
Hearing:
- What is Perceived: A faint, ethereal whisper emanates from the locket when opened.
- Description: The whispers are unintelligible but calming, like a far-off conversation you can’t quite make out.
- Positives: Can be soothing and may help in concentrating during arcane studies.
- Negatives: The whispers may distract or unnerve others nearby.
Smell:
- What is Perceived: The scent of a forest after rain.
- Description: Earthy and refreshing, as though capturing the essence of nature itself.
- Positives: Calms the mind and aids in relaxation.
- Negatives: May clash with other scents or draw attention from creatures sensitive to such smells.
Taste:
- What is Perceived: Not applicable, as it is not meant to be ingested.
- Description: N/A
- Positives: N/A
- Negatives: N/A
Touch:
- What is Perceived: A slight chill to the touch.
- Description: The locket feels slightly cold and leaves a tingling sensation when held.
- Positives: The cold can be invigorating and may awaken the senses.
- Negatives: Extended contact may cause discomfort.
Extra-Sensory Perceptions:
- Magical Sensing:
  - What is Perceived: An aura of enchantment and illusion magic.
  - Description: Arcane practitioners may sense the locket’s magical aura when in proximity.
  - Positives: Identifiable by those proficient in the arcane as a magical artifact.
  - Negatives: Those with magical detection abilities may sense the locket, making it harder to conceal its nature.
- Emotional Resonance:
  - What is Perceived: A feeling of emptiness or absence.
  - Description: Those who are sensitive to emotions may feel a void or emptiness emanating from the trinket.
  - Positives: Could be useful in rituals or practices centered around the concept of emptiness or letting go.
  - Negatives: Prolonged exposure could lead to feelings of melancholy or existential dread.

Recipe for Crafting Baba Yaga 37 of Whispering Absence

Ingredients:
- 1 piece of Ebony Wood, 3 inches in diameter
- 1 Moonstone, small size
- Moonlight-infused water (collected during a full moon)
- Elemental essence of Fire and Water
- Parchment imbued with Illusion and Enchantment spells
- 1 Black Feather from a crow
- 1 Vial of Whispered Words from an acolyte of Baba Yaga
Steps:
- Carving the Locket: Begin by carving the Ebony Wood into the shape of a locket. Pay special attention to intricate designs that would hold the moonstone.
- Setting the Moonstone: Place the moonstone at the center of the carved locket. Use elemental essence of Fire to permanently meld it into the wood.
- Infusing the Parchment: Take a parchment imbued with Illusion and Enchantment spells, and wrap it around the locket. Place it inside a circle of Elemental Water and Elemental Fire.
- Moonlight Bath: Submerge the wrapped locket in a bowl filled with Moonlight-infused water. Leave it under the moonlight for a complete lunar cycle.
- Incantation of Absence: While holding a black feather, recite the Whispered Words from an acolyte of Baba Yaga over the locket.
- Final Binding: Unwrap the parchment from around the locket, and place it inside the locket’s hollow core. Seal the locket and hold it up to the night sky, asking for Baba Yaga’s blessing.
- Cleansing and Activation: Submerge the finished locket in a mixture of salt and Moonlight-infused water for one hour to cleanse and activate its properties.

Upon completing these steps, the Baba Yaga 37 of Whispering Absence will be fully functional and ready for attunement.

Tale of Unheard Whispers and the Locket of Baba Yaga 37

In long ago, when stars yet converse with soil, and forests possess voice, curious artifact born—Baba Yaga 37 of Whispering Absence. Crafted was this enigma, not by hand mortal, but by ancient disciple of Baba Yaga. Feared and revered, it was in lands of varied shapes and shifting reality.

Locket it was, dark like midnight ebony, moonstone center like eye to otherworld. Whisper it did, voice like cold wind passing through dense woods in the hour of night. Once held by a wanderer, name lost to scroll of ages, forgotten but never truly vanished.

Wanderer was of unique kind, seeker of what-not-there, walker of pathways unwalked. Drawn was he to locket, like moth to flame that burns not. Locket he wore, around neck, close to beating life organ, his heart. Soon, odd things unfold.

He walk through bustling market, yet no eye fall upon him. He pass through forest, yet no beast heed his steps. Invisible became he, but not in way of literal understanding. Unnoticed, that’s what he turn into, a void in world full of matter and essence.

Troubles emerge. Unseen, he was, even by those close to spirit. Family forget his face, love forget his touch. Slowly fade did he, like mist before morning sun, until one moonless eve, vanished did he completely. But locket remained, found on road barren, by next passerby of destined fate.

Moral of tale speaks clear, yet vague like water reflection on rippling pond: Seek not absence from world too eagerly, lest world make your absence permanent.

Suggested conversion to other systems:

Call of Cthulhu