Lore: The Tear of Manipulation is a dark gem, half-submerged in a gnarled wooden amulet. It is said to be a physical manifestation of Baba Yaga’s malicious cunning and deceptive abilities. Many believe it’s created from the tears she sheds while laughing at the misfortunes of those who dare to deceive her. This amulet has an eerie appeal, luring those who are prone to abusive behavior.
Stats
- Type: Amulet
- Slot: Neck
- Rarity: Common
- Tier: 1
- Weight: 1 lb
Roleplay: Characters who wear this amulet may feel a heightened sense of manipulative power and control over weaker beings. Ethical dilemmas might occur when the amulet’s magic conflicts with the wearer’s morals or the society’s norms.
Costs
- Currency: 50 gold pieces
- Material: 1 dark gemstone, 1 piece of ancient wood
- Crafting Time: 3 days
- Availability: Rarely, mostly found in Baba Yaga’s realm or dark markets
Magics
- Ability: Once per day, the wearer can cast ‘Charm Person’ on a target within 30 ft. Success depends on the victim’s will save.
- Passive: The wearer gains a +1 to Deception and Intimidation checks.
Tags: Magical, Cursed, Emotional, Manipulation
Usage in Different Environments
- Defense: In defensive scenarios, this amulet could manipulate an enemy into not attacking or turning against its allies.
- Offense: On the offensive, the amulet can be used to gain the upper hand by making an enemy temporarily docile or even to incite infighting among enemy ranks.
Warning: This item has a corrupting influence. Each time the wearer uses the amulet’s ability, they must make a Wisdom saving throw to avoid gaining a point of Corruption. Accumulating Corruption might result in severe ethical consequences, social ostracization, or even transformation into a darker form.
Perception of the Five Senses and Extra-Sensory Perceptions
- Sight
- What is Perceived: A dark gemstone set in gnarled ancient wood, emitting a soft, ominous glow.
- Description: The amulet appears to absorb light around it, making the darkness appear darker.
- Positives: Difficult to spot when needed, making it easier to conceal.
- Negatives: Its eerie appearance can attract unwanted attention if seen.
- Touch
- What is Perceived: The amulet feels colder than it should, with an almost slick texture.
- Description: The wood feels like rough skin, and the gem feels like a tear.
- Positives: Easy to grip.
- Negatives: The coldness can be unsettling.
- Smell
- What is Perceived: The scent of damp forest mingled with an unidentifiable metallic aroma.
- Description: A musty, earthen smell.
- Positives: The smell is not strong and is generally unnoticeable.
- Negatives: When noticed, the scent can be unsettling or nauseating.
- Taste
- What is Perceived: It’s inadvisable to taste it, but if one did, it would taste like bitter ashes.
- Description: A biting, acrid flavor.
- Positives: None.
- Negatives: Could induce vomiting or sickness.
- Sound
- What is Perceived: Faint, almost inaudible whispers when held close to the ear.
- Description: Whispering voices that you can’t quite understand, but feel like they’re trying to tell you something.
- Positives: Can alert the wearer to its magic or intent.
- Negatives: The sound can be disturbing, affecting concentration.
- Extra-Sensory Perceptions
- Mind’s Eye: A vague sense of dark, oppressive power surrounding the amulet.
- Sixth Sense: A feeling that the amulet wants to be used, almost encouraging manipulative behavior.
Recipe for Creating Baba Yaga’s Tear of Manipulation
- Ingredients
- 1 dark gemstone (preferably obsidian or onyx)
- 1 piece of ancient, gnarled wood from a tree struck by lightning
- Tears of a deceitful person
- Hair strands from a manipulator
- 1 black candle
- Steps
- Purification: Begin by purifying all the materials with saltwater and sage smoke.
- Gemstone Enchanting: Place the dark gemstone at the center of a pentagram drawn on a surface. Surround it with the tears and hair strands.
- Chant and Candle: Light the black candle and chant an incantation to imbue the gemstone with manipulative energies.
- Wood Preparation: Carve a small indentation in the ancient wood, just large enough to hold the gemstone.
- Combining: Place the enchanted gemstone into the wooden indentation.
- Sealing Ritual: Use the wax of the black candle to seal the gemstone in place. While doing so, recite a sealing incantation to bind the magic within.
- Final Blessing: Hold the amulet and visualize dark energies surrounding it, focusing on its intended manipulative use.
- Extinguish: Extinguish the black candle to complete the ritual. The Tear of Manipulation is now ready for use.
Note that this is a magical process involving manipulation energies; ethical considerations should be taken into account.
The Tale of Deception’s Gem and Wood Twisted
Long ages past, Baba Yaga, giver-taker of fortunes, cried tear not usual. Was tear of laughter, deep and dark. She laugh at mortal men, their puny lies and schemings, thinking selves clever. Yet, tear fell not to waste. Landing upon twisted, lightning-struck tree, it mingled there, root deep with deceit and treachery of world.
Villager name Ivan, clever-smart but heart-dark, hear whispers of tear’s powers. Not believe in simple tales, but lured by promises of influence over men and women. Into forest deep he ventured, nights three and days three, battling beasts and losing path again and again.
Finally, under moon that grins like skull, find tree, twisted and dark. Plucked gemstone now formed from tear and wood and fashioned into amulet. Felt power surge, cunning fill veins. Return to village, full of new might, bending wills and twisting truths.
But gem and wood not just give, also take. Soon Ivan not know when lying, when speaking truths. Loved ones turn away, suspicious, fearful. Finally, alone and lost in his deceptions, understood. Power of amulet was double-edged; it manipulated him as he manipulated others.
Too late, back to forest he went, seeking Baba Yaga, to rid of cursed amulet. Finding her not easy, but eventually stood before her, begging release. Baba Yaga laugh, same laugh that shed the dark tear, accepting amulet back, leaving Ivan empty and broken.
Moral of the Tale: In seeking to manipulate, one becomes the manipulated; the essence of deception consumes not just the deceived, but the deceiver.
Suggested conversion to other systems:
Call of Cthulhu
Item: Baba Yaga’s Tear of Manipulation
- Type: Amulet
- Effects:
- Grants a +10% bonus to Persuade and Fast Talk skill checks.
- May cast “Charm” once per day.
Dungeons & Dragons 5e
Item: Baba Yaga’s Tear of Manipulation
- Type: Wondrous Item (Amulet), attunement required
- Effects:
- Grants a +1 bonus to Charisma (Deception) and Charisma (Intimidation) checks.
- You can cast “Charm Person” once per long rest.
Knave
Item: Baba Yaga’s Tear of Manipulation
- Slot: Neck
- Effects:
- Provides a +1 bonus on all Charisma-based checks.
- Once per day, turn an enemy into an ally for 1 minute.
Numenera & Cypher System
Item: Baba Yaga’s Tear of Manipulation
- Type: Cypher
- Effects:
- Adds +1 to all social interactions that involve deception.
- Provides a single use of the “Influence” ability.
Pathfinder 2e
Item: Baba Yaga’s Tear of Manipulation
- Type: Magical Item
- Level: 1
- Effects:
- Grants a +1 item bonus to Deception and Intimidation checks.
- Casts “Charm” as a 1st-level spell once per day.
Savage Worlds
Item: Baba Yaga’s Tear of Manipulation
- Type: Magical Trinket
- Effects:
- Adds +1 to Persuasion and Intimidation rolls.
- Once per day, may cast “Confusion” on a target.
Shadowrun
Item: Baba Yaga’s Tear of Manipulation
- Type: Focus
- Effects:
- Adds 1 point to the Con and Intimidation skills.
- Allows the use of “Control Thoughts” spell once per day.
Starfinder
Item: Baba Yaga’s Tear of Manipulation
- Type: Mystical Amulet
- Effects:
- Grants +1 to Bluff and Intimidate checks.
- Once per day, can cast “Charm Person” as a spell-like ability.
Warhammer
Item: Baba Yaga’s Tear of Manipulation
- Type: Talisman
- Effects:
- Adds +10 to Charm and Intimidate Tests.
- Once per session, may automatically succeed on a social check related to manipulation.