Hexe 358 of Absence

Lore: Hexe 358 of Absence was crafted by the enigmatic sorceress Elara, who dwelled in the Forgotten Vale. Elara, renowned for her mastery of the void and absence, channeled her understanding of nothingness into this creation. The gear, seemingly simple, holds a profound ability to manipulate the very essence of presence and absence.

Stats:

• Defense: +2 against detection spells
• Offense: +1 to misdirection or illusion-based attacks

Roleplay: This gear fosters a unique connection with the concept of absence. The wearer might find themselves overlooked or forgotten in crowds, their presence barely registered. It’s ideal for characters who value subtlety over direct confrontation, offering a unique approach to interactions and conflicts.

Slot:

• Amulet or cloak clasp

Costs:

• 80 gold pieces
• A small vial of Voidwater (a rare ingredient found in shadowy realms)

Magics:

• Aura of Neglect: Makes the wearer less noticeable, granting a bonus to stealth checks.
• Veil of Forgetfulness: Once per day, allows the wearer to cast a minor spell that makes an NPC momentarily forget their presence, useful for evading or sneaking past guards.

Tags: Enchanted, Cursed, Absence, Stealth

Use in Defense: The Hexe 358 of Absence excels in defensive strategies. Its ability to make the wearer seem less noticeable or memorable is invaluable for avoiding detection and escaping dangerous situations. It is particularly effective in urban environments, where blending into the crowd is essential.

Use in Offense: Offensively, the item can be used to create opportunities for surprise attacks or to bypass obstacles undetected. In natural environments, this can mean slipping past enemies or wildlife unnoticed, while in more structured settings like dungeons or fortresses, it can be used to avoid traps or guards.

The Hexe 358 of Absence provides a Tier 1 character with a unique tool, enhancing their ability to control their presence and influence their surroundings subtly. It’s a perfect fit for characters who prefer cunning and guile over brute force.

The Hexe 358 of Absence is a subtle and elegant piece of gear, taking the form of either an amulet or a cloak clasp. It features a smooth, dark stone, possibly obsidian or a similar material, set in a simple, unadorned silver frame. The stone has a peculiar quality to it – it seems to absorb light rather than reflect it, giving it an almost ethereal, shadowy appearance. This understated elegance allows it to be worn conspicuously without drawing undue attention, perfectly embodying its intrinsic magic of absence and neglect.

Perceptions

• Sight (Visual Perception)
  • What is Perceived: The item subtly alters the way light interacts with the wearer, making them less noticeable.
  • Description: The wearer appears slightly faded or out of focus to others, especially at the edge of their vision.
  • Positives: Enhances the wearer’s ability to blend into their surroundings or go unnoticed.
  • Negatives: Can make direct eye contact or face-to-face interactions more challenging, as others might find it hard to focus on the wearer.
• Hearing (Auditory Perception)
  • What is Perceived: Sounds made by the wearer seem quieter or more distant.
  • Description: Footsteps, the rustle of clothing, and even the wearer’s voice might seem suppressed or muted.
  • Positives: Aids in moving silently and speaking without attracting unwanted attention.
  • Negatives: Can be a hindrance in situations where clear communication is vital.
• Touch (Tactile Perception)
  • What is Perceived: A faint, continuous vibration when in contact with the skin.
  • Description: This vibration is reminiscent of a gentle hum, almost as if the item is alive.
  • Positives: The constant vibration can heighten the wearer’s awareness of their surroundings.
  • Negatives: Might be distracting or unsettling, especially during moments of rest or inaction.
• Smell (Olfactory Perception)
  • What is Perceived: The item occasionally emits a scent similar to that of falling leaves or a quiet, empty room.
  • Description: This smell is subtle and not always noticeable, but when it is, it evokes a sense of solitude and quiet.
  • Positives: Can be comforting to those who find peace in solitude.
  • Negatives: The scent may trigger feelings of loneliness or isolation.
• Taste (Gustatory Perception)
  • What is Perceived: Occasionally, the wearer might taste a faint, metallic tang when the item is in use.
  • Description: This taste is ephemeral and hard to pinpoint, akin to the aftertaste of a memory.
  • Positives: Can serve as a reminder of the item’s presence and capabilities.
  • Negatives: The unusual taste might be off-putting or distracting in moments of concentration.
• Extra-Sensory Perceptions
  • Emotional Perception
    • What is Perceived: A heightened sense of the emotional state of being overlooked or forgotten.
    • Description: The wearer becomes more attuned to feelings of absence, both in themselves and in others.
    • Positives: Enhances empathy and understanding of those who feel ignored or invisible.
    • Negatives: Can lead to a heightened sense of personal isolation or sadness.
  • Spatial Perception
    • What is Perceived: An increased awareness of empty spaces and voids in the immediate environment.
    • Description: The wearer gains a subtle intuition about the absence of things, be it objects, people, or even sounds.
    • Positives: Can aid in detecting hidden compartments, traps, or unseen threats.
    • Negatives: This constant awareness of emptiness can be disorienting or lead to a sense of disconnection from the physical world.

The Hexe 358 of Absence provides a complex tapestry of sensory and extra-sensory experiences, each shaping the wearer’s interaction with the world of Saṃsāra in unique ways. These perceptions, while offering distinct advantages, also come with challenges that must be navigated carefully.

Crafting Recipe: Whisper of the Void – Hexe 358 of Absence

• Materials Needed:
  • Obsidian Shard: A dark stone, known for its ability to absorb light and magical energies.
  • Silver of Silence: A piece of silver that has been kept in a place of absolute quiet for a full lunar cycle.
  • Essence of Emptiness: Extracted from the heart of an abandoned ruin where no foot has tread for centuries.
  • Dust of Forgotten Memories: Collected from the pages of ancient, unread books.
  • Breath of the Solitary Wind: Captured from a breeze in a desolate place.
  • Ink of Ephemeral Shadows: Made from the ashes of a shadowflame, a rare and mystical fire that burns without light.
• Tools Required:
  • Artisan’s Loom of Shadows: For weaving magical energies into physical forms.
  • Chisel of the Night: To inscribe runes of absence and neglect.
  • Cauldron of Echoes: A special cauldron that amplifies the properties of ingredients steeped in solitude.
  • Phantom Tongs: For handling materials imbued with intangible qualities.
• Skill Requirements:
  • Mastery in Shadowcraft: Deep understanding of magic that manipulates light, shadows, and absence.
  • Expertise in Rune Inscription: Skill in etching runes that channel the essence of emptiness and silence.
  • Sensitivity to the Ethereal: The ability to perceive and manipulate energies associated with absence and neglect.
• Crafting Steps:
  • Preparation of Materials:
    • Polish the Obsidian Shard under the light of a new moon to enhance its light-absorbing properties.
    • Infuse the Silver of Silence with the Essence of Emptiness in the Cauldron of Echoes.
  • Forming the Base:
    • Shape the Silver of Silence into the frame for the amulet or cloak clasp using the Phantom Tongs.
    • Secure the Obsidian Shard within the silver frame.
  • Inscribing Runes:
    • Use the Chisel of the Night to carefully inscribe runes of absence and neglect onto the Obsidian Shard and the silver frame.
    • Each rune must be charged with an intention of silence and solitude.
  • Infusion of Essence:
    • Sprinkle the Dust of Forgotten Memories over the item while it lies within the Artisan’s Loom of Shadows.
    • Expose the item to the Breath of the Solitary Wind to bind the energies together.
  • Final Touches:
    • Paint the runes with the Ink of Ephemeral Shadows to activate their magic.
    • Perform a ritual of solitude, meditating on the nature of absence and void.
  • Consecration:
    • The item must be left in a place of quiet isolation for one night, allowing it to fully absorb the essence of its surroundings.
    • Retrieve the item at dawn, completing the ritual with a chant of binding.

Crafting the Hexe 358 of Absence is a delicate process that requires not only technical skill but also a deep emotional connection to concepts of absence and solitude. This recipe ensures that the item is imbued with the necessary magical and emotional essences for its intended purpose in the world of Saṃsāra.

Echo of the Vanished
Tale of Hexe 358 of Absence

In the veiled epochs of Saṃsāra, long before the dawn of the Industrial Age, there existed an artifact steeped in the essence of absence, known as Hexe 358. Its origins trace back to a tale, ancient as the stars, translated from tongues long lost to time.

In a forgotten corner of the world, where the whispers of the wind spoke of lost memories, there lived a sorceress named Elara. She was a master of the unseen, a weaver of the void. Her heart, a sanctuary of silence, yearned to understand the nature of absence.

One moonless night, as shadows danced at the edge of reality, Elara embarked upon a quest to craft an artifact that could harness the power of the unperceived. She sought the essence of things forgotten, the whisper of the unspoken, and the shadow of the unseen.

In her secluded tower, Elara toiled, her hands weaving the ethereal elements into a tangible form. The Hexe 358 emerged, not as a beacon of light, but as an echo of the void, a testament to the unseen and unremembered.

The artifact, once donned, bestowed upon its bearer the gift of unnoticeability. In crowded streets or in the company of many, the wearer moved unseen, unheard, like a ghost among the living. It became a coveted item for those who sought to walk the path of shadows.

But with time, the story of the Hexe 358 evolved. It was said that the wearers began to feel the weight of their unperceived existence. They walked through life like specters, witnessing the world but never truly a part of it. Their presence faded from the memories of those they once held dear.

The Hexe 358 of Absence became a legend, a whisper in the annals of Saṃsāra. It was sought by many, but those who found it learned the solemn truth of its power.

Moral of the Story: The tale of Hexe 358 teaches us that the ability to evade notice, though powerful, carries with it a profound cost. To exist without leaving a mark is to walk a solitary path, removed from the fabric of shared existence. The story serves as a reminder that while the allure of invisibility and avoidance is tempting, the true essence of life lies in connection and presence.

Adaptations for other systems:

Call of Cthulhu (Latest Edition)

Name: Hexe 358 of Absence

• Type: Artifact
• Effects:
  • Stealth Bonus: Provides a bonus to Stealth rolls.
  • Sanity Loss: Using the artifact can potentially cause minor sanity loss due to feelings of isolation.
  • Special: Reduces the chance of being noticed in social and exploration scenarios.
  • Usage: Wearable (amulet or cloak clasp)

Blades in the Dark

Name: Hexe 358 of Absence

• Type: Arcane Implement
• Effect:
  • Adds +1d to Finesse or Prowl rolls when trying to go unnoticed.
  • Using the item may incur a -1d to social interaction rolls (Consort or Sway) due to the aura of absence.
  • Usage: Attune to the item to harness its power.

Dungeons & Dragons (5th Edition)

Name: Hexe 358 of Absence

• Type: Wondrous Item, uncommon (requires attunement)
• Properties:
  • Grants advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks.
  • Disadvantage on Charisma (Persuasion) checks, as the wearer seems distant or disconnected.
  • Usage: Attunement required by any class.

Knave

Name: Hexe 358 of Absence

• Type: Magical Item
• Effect:
  • +1 bonus to Luck rolls related to avoiding detection.
  • -1 penalty to Charisma checks in social interactions.
  • Usage: Equipped as an accessory.

Fate Core System

Name: Hexe 358 of Absence

• Type: Aspect (Magical Item)
• Effect:
  • Grants an aspect like “Shrouded in Unnoticeability” with a free invoke for avoiding detection.
  • Compel: “Aura of Detachment” to represent challenges in making meaningful connections.
  • Usage: Must be worn and invoked as an aspect during gameplay.

Numenera & Cypher System

Name: Hexe 358 of Absence

• Type: Artifact
• Level: 3
• Effect:
  • Provides an asset for tasks related to stealth or remaining unnoticed.
  • Increases the difficulty of tasks related to social interaction due to the wearer’s unnoticeable presence.
  • Depletion: 1 in 1d20 (roll after each major use)

Pathfinder (Latest Edition)

Name: Hexe 358 of Absence

• Type: Magical Item (Accessory)
• Effects:
  • Stealth Bonus: +2 on Stealth checks.
  • Social Penalty: -2 on Diplomacy checks.
  • Special Ability: Grants the ability to cast “Invisibility” once per day as a 2nd-level spellcaster.
  • Usage: Worn as an amulet or cloak clasp.

Savage Worlds

Name: Hexe 358 of Absence

• Type: Magical Item
• Effects:
  • Stealth Bonus: Adds +2 to Stealth rolls.
  • Social Interaction: Imposes a -1 penalty on Persuasion rolls due to the wearer’s unnoticed presence.
  • Usage: Worn as a piece of equipment.

Shadowrun (Latest Edition)

Name: Hexe 358 of Absence

• Type: Magical Gear
• Effects:
  • Stealth: +2 dice pool bonus to Stealth and Infiltration tests.
  • Social Interaction: -1 dice pool penalty to Social tests due to the aura of absence.
  • Usage: Worn, requires activation to use its magical properties.

Starfinder

Name: Hexe 358 of Absence

• Type: Hybrid Item
• Level: 4
• Effects:
  • Bonus: +2 to Stealth skill checks.
  • Penalty: -1 to Diplomacy skill checks.
  • Special: Grants a limited “invisibility” effect once per day, lasting for 1 minute.
  • Usage: Worn as an accessory, requires activation.

Traveller (Mongoose Edition)

Name: Hexe 358 of Absence

• Type: Ancillary Device
• Effects:
  • Stealth: Provides a bonus to Stealth checks.
  • Social Interaction: Reduces effectiveness in social situations (apply a DM -1 to all Social checks).
  • Usage: Carried or worn, activated when needed.

Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (Latest Edition)

Name: Hexe 358 of Absence

• Type: Enchanted Item
• Effects:
  • Stealth: Grants a bonus success level on Stealth and Concealment tests.
  • Social Interaction: Imposes a penalty of -1 SL on Fellowship tests due to the wearer’s unnoticed nature.
  • Usage: Worn as a piece of jewelry or accessory.