Lore: Crafted by Baba Yaga herself, this item is a small talisman imbued with the essence of the ancient Slavic witch. It is rumored to bring on mild discomfort or aches when activated, as a way to remind the user of the frailties of their mortal body, but also granting them a brief moment of resilience in the face of adversity.
Stats:
- Type: Wondrous Item (Talisman)
- Rarity: Common
- Slot: Necklace
- Tier: 1
Roleplay: The user experiences a constant low-grade ache while wearing this talisman. Though mildly discomforting, it acts as a focal point, grounding the wearer in the world around them. It can become a conversational piece, especially with individuals who sense its magical aura, inviting curiosity, skepticism, or even disbelief.
Costs:
- Gold: 50
- Mana or Magic Points: 5 to activate
Magics:
- Reaction: Tier level times per day, when activated, the talisman temporarily increases the user’s resistance to physical pain. This nullify effects that cause the “stunned” or “paralyzed” conditions. Lasts for 1 minute.
- Deactivation: The talisman automatically deactivates after 1 minute or if removed.
Tags: Magic, Common, Baba Yaga, Achy, Physical resistance, Tier 1
Usage in Different Environments:
- Defense: In environments with effects that can stun or paralyze, such as swamps emitting paralyzing gases or ancient ruins with trap mechanisms, the talisman provides a useful layer of defense.
- Offense: Though not directly offensive, the talisman allows the user to resist stunning or paralyzing effects, which could otherwise prevent them from taking offensive actions like casting spells or using weapons.
Note: In the context of your high-magic realm where all things are magical and technology is constrained, this talisman operates through magical circuits, drawing from the ambient magical energies for its activation and deactivation. It does not need to be recharged but taps into the wearer’s own magic points or mana to activate its unique effect.
Perception of the Five Senses:
- Sight:
- Perceived: A rustic, almost primal, looking talisman made of aged wood and twisted vines, with arcane symbols etched into its surface.
- Description: The wood has a deep, earthy color and the etchings glow faintly with a soft green light when activated.
- Positives: The visual uniqueness and rustic charm of the talisman can attract attention and curiosity.
- Negatives: The visible arcane etchings may make some wary or suspicious of its origins and purposes.
- Touch:
- Perceived: The talisman feels surprisingly warm to the touch and has a textured surface due to the etchings.
- Description: A mild, constant ache transmits through the skin upon touching the item, feeling akin to a minor muscle soreness.
- Positives: The warmth and ache can feel grounding, acting as a tactile focal point.
- Negatives: Over prolonged periods, the constant ache might become discomforting.
- Smell:
- Perceived: A faint aroma of aged wood, mingled with the earthy scent of moss and herbs.
- Description: Smells like a forest after rainfall, imbuing a sense of nature.
- Positives: The smell can be calming and grounding.
- Negatives: Those sensitive to strong odors may find it overwhelming.
- Taste:
- Perceived: Not applicable as the talisman is not meant to be ingested.
- Hearing:
- Perceived: A faint, almost inaudible hum can be heard when the talisman is activated.
- Description: The sound is soft, like a whisper of the wind through the trees.
- Positives: The sound is soothing and not distracting.
- Negatives: Very sensitive individuals may find the sound unsettling.
Extra-Sensory Perceptions:
- Magical Sensing:
- Perceived: A steady flow of magical energy can be felt emanating from the talisman.
- Description: Feels like a quiet thrum of magical power, neither aggressive nor dormant.
- Positives: Allows magic-sensitive beings to recognize its utility.
- Negatives: The magical aura might attract unwanted magical attention.
- Emotional Resonance:
- Perceived: A feeling of both discomfort and resilience resonates emotionally from the talisman.
- Description: The item almost exudes a sort of stoicism, like it’s challenging the wearer to overcome discomfort.
- Positives: May bolster emotional strength in challenging situations.
- Negatives: Could potentially heighten emotional discomfort during times of stress.
Recipe:
- Ingredients:
- Aged wood from a birch tree, preferably harvested during a full moon.
- Vine from a creeping plant, like ivy or wisteria.
- Arcane ink made from crushed emeralds and owl feathers.
- A pinch of soil from a forest where Baba Yaga was rumored to have been.
- Essence of Aconite (also known as wolfsbane).
- Steps:
- Carve the piece of aged wood into an oval shape, about 3 inches in length.
- Use the arcane ink to carefully etch the necessary magical symbols onto one side of the wood.
- Let the inked wood sit in the pinch of soil for an entire night under the moonlight to imbue it with magical properties.
- Wrap the vine around the wood’s edges, making sure to cover all corners but not the etched symbols.
- Use the essence of Aconite to draw a small, secondary symbol on the back of the talisman.
- Hold the nearly-completed talisman and channel magical energy into it, activating the etched symbols and sealing the magical essence within.
- The talisman is now ready for use.
Note: The recipe above is intended for magical practitioners familiar with the arts of talisman crafting and should not be attempted without adequate knowledge and precautions.
The Legend of How Ache Becomes the Warrior’s Call
Long in the foggy stretches of the past-before-past, the tale of Baba Yaga’s talisman of ache told far and wide. Forest dark, forest wild, it where Baba Yaga dwelt, house on legs of chicken. One eve, a wanderer by name of Yuri stepped into the forest. His body ached from past war, limbs like heavy stones.
Yuri sought relief. Baba Yaga, seeing his heart-aches and bone-aches, made a thing, a small wood-spirit imbued with ache. “Carry this,” she said, voice like rustling leaves, “ache reminds you of alive.”
Days went on, Yuri faced many threats. Wolves with fur of night, men with swords like death’s scythes. Each time, talisman ached. Ache became reminder, turned into strength. Yuri fought, no longer burdened by ache but fueled by it. Became warrior strong, invincible.
But heed this, talisman is two-faced. Yuri grew over-proud. Ignored aches of his heart. The talisman, it grew heavier. One fateful day, face-to-face with dragon fire-made-flesh, Yuri faltered. Ache overwhelmed, and flames consumed.
He not live, but his tale did. Baba Yaga keeps talisman, gives anew to those in need, with cautionary tale of Yuri. For it not just item of ache, but item of wisdom.
Moral of the Story: Ache is both teacher and test. Listen to it, but let not pride make you deaf to what ache teaches.
Suggested conversion to other systems:
Call of Cthulhu
Name: Baba Yaga 217 of Ache
- Type: Talisman
- Effects: Adds +10 to CON rolls for enduring physical pain.
- Usage: Once per day.
- Cost: 2 Magic Points.
Dungeons & Dragons 5e
Name: Baba Yaga 217 of Ache
- Type: Wondrous Item, Common
- Effects: User gains temporary hit points equal to their Constitution modifier when activated. Lasts for 1 minute.
- Usage: Once per short or long rest.
- Attunement: Not Required
Knave
Name: Baba Yaga 217 of Ache
- Type: Talisman
- Effects: Grants a +1 bonus to saves related to physical ailments.
- Usage: Constant while equipped.
- Slots: 1
Numenera & Cypher System
Name: Baba Yaga 217 of Ache
- Type: Cypher
- Effects: Adds +1 to your Might Edge for ten minutes.
- Usage: One-time use.
- Level: 1
Pathfinder 2e
Name: Baba Yaga 217 of Ache
- Type: Talisman
- Effects: Grants a +1 item bonus to Fortitude saves.
- Usage: Affixes to armor. Activate as free action when needed.
- Rarity: Common
Savage Worlds
Name: Baba Yaga 217 of Ache
- Type: Magical Trinket
- Effects: Adds +1 to Vigor rolls related to resisting fatigue.
- Usage: Passive.
Shadowrun
Name: Baba Yaga 217 of Ache
- Type: Magical Focus
- Effects: Adds +1 to Body for resisting physical damage.
- Usage: Once per day.
- Cost: 2 Reagents.
Starfinder
Name: Baba Yaga 217 of Ache
- Type: Mystic Relic
- Effects: Gain temporary Stamina Points equal to half your level.
- Usage: Once per day.
Warhammer
Name: Baba Yaga 217 of Ache
- Type: Talisman
- Effects: Grants +1 to Toughness tests for resisting injuries.
- Usage: Once per battle.