Feng Shui 33 of the Lingering Shadow

Lore: This simple obsidian shard, worn as a pendant or kept in a pouch, was once used by healers focused on cleansing stubborn afflictions of the mind and spirit. The obsidian is said to absorb lingering negative energies and act as a protective buffer for the wearer.

Tier 1 Stats:

• +2 Willpower
• +1 Resistance (Mental afflictions)

Slot: Accessory

Skills:

• Willpower (Basic): The avatar gains an enhanced ability to resist mental influence and compulsions.

Passive Magics:

• Aura of Resilience: The avatar gains a subtle bonus to resist attempts to induce fear, doubt, or despair. Others feel a slight unease in the avatar’s presence.

Active Magics:

• Dispel Doubt (1 charge per day): The user can focus their energy to clear their mind or help an ally break free of a minor mental enchantment, confusion, or paralyzing fear.

Tags: Mental, Protection, Support, Roleplay, Resilience, Mental Fortitude, Cleansing, Aura Ward, Shadowbound, Spirit Defense, Focused Will, Emotional Barrier, Protection Charm, Fear Resistance

Description:  The shard itself might be smooth and rounded, or jagged and raw, depending on its history. It could radiate faint warmth, conveying a sense of determination despite its unsettling nature.

Notes: This item is heavily focused on bolstering mental defense. It plays into the role of a support character who can aid themselves and others in resisting negative influences.

Where you might find the Feng Shui 33 of the Lingering Shadow and how it’s likely sold on Saṃsāra:

• Shop Types:
  • Apothecaries and Mystical Repositories: These are your primary locations. Apothecaries that specialize in remedies for mental anguish or spiritual maladies might stock the item alongside herbs and tinctures. Mystical repositories, focused on objects with less tangible effects, would also be a likely place as the item offers protection and resilience.
  • Traveling Healers and Spiritual Guides:  Individuals versed in cleansing rituals or combating negative energies might carry these as tools.  They could offer the Feng Shui 33 of the Lingering Shadow to those in need, either as part of their services or as a separate sale.
  • Black Markets or Discreet Vendors:  Due to its unsettling aura and potential connection to darker energies absorbed from past use, the item might find its way into less reputable markets. This could appeal to characters desperate for protection or those seeking ways to subtly manipulate others with the aura of unease the object projects.
• Transaction Modes:
  • Bartering: In Saṃsāra, bartering is likely common alongside currency. Healers might accept rare ingredients, valuable information, or promises of service in exchange for the item.
  • Haggling:  Particularly in markets or with traveling merchants, the price is likely to fluctuate. Haggling skills would be important in securing a good deal.
  • Commission:  A skilled crafter could be commissioned to replicate or create a similar Feng Shui object. This would likely be the most expensive option but allows for customization based on the client’s specific needs.
• Cost: The cost would vary greatly depending on the factors mentioned above. Here’s a rough estimate:
  • Apothecary/Repository: 8-15 gold pieces or equivalent.
  • Traveling Vendors: Prices might be inflated, between 12-20 gold pieces.
  • Black Market: Could be surprisingly cheap, perhaps 5-10 gold pieces, due to the unsettling nature of the item. However, there’s less guarantee of its effectiveness or origin.

The Feng Shui 33 of the Lingering Shadow offers a subtle yet versatile tool for roleplay in both defensive and offensive situations. Here’s how it could be used:

• Defense (Resisting Mental Afflictions):
  • Stoic Resolve: The avatar, bolstered by the item’s Willpower bonus and Aura of Resilience, can project an air of calm determination through roleplay.  They can resist intimidation tactics, maintain composure despite disturbing information, and counter logical fallacies used to manipulate them.
  • Inner Focus:  During moments of intense pressure or potential mental intrusion, the avatar can clutch the shard and visualize it absorbing negative influence. This roleplay, coupled with the Dispel Doubt ability for extreme situations, can represent their mental fortitude and focused resistance.
  • Sharing Strength: The avatar can offer others a moment of solace, clutching the shard and focusing their aura to help an ally resist fear or despair.  Roleplay this act of compassion and bolstering their companion’s spirit.
• Offense (Subtle Mental Influence):
  • Unease as a Weapon: While not directly manipulative, the shard’s unsettling aura can be used to a character’s advantage.  Roleplay a subtly intimidating presence, leveraging the character’s body language and the object’s faint discomforting energy to make others uneasy or hesitant.
  • Weakening Resolve: During tense negotiations or interrogations, the avatar can strategically hold the shard near the target, subtly amplifying their own willpower through roleplay and the item’s bonus. This can pressure the target, making them more likely to concede or crack under pressure.
  • Seeding Doubt (Optional – GM Discretion):  In darker campaigns, the character might explore the shard’s negative energy more openly.  Roleplay a character who subtly manipulates the shard, focusing its aura on a target to introduce seeds of doubt or apprehension.  This morally ambiguous tactic requires careful handling and potential consequences determined by the GM.

Important Note: The Feng Shui 33 of the Lingering Shadow is not meant to be a mind-control device. It bolsters the user’s own mental defenses and subtly influences the environment through its aura. The effectiveness relies heavily on the player’s roleplaying skills and the situation’s context.

Above are examples of what this item could look like.

What someone might perceive during the activation of the Feng Shui 33 of the Lingering Shadow, including extra-sensory experiences:

• Perception of Activation:
  • Sight
    • Intensifying Aura: The obsidian shard may glow faintly, or the aura of unease around it becomes more pronounced, like subtle ripples of heat in the air.
      • Description: A shimmering, shadowy distortion that pulses in rhythm with the item’s activation.
      • Positive: Helps visualize the area of the item’s subtle influence.
      • Negative: Could become distracting if the effect is strong or sustained.
  • Sound
    • Low Hum or Buzz: A faint, almost subsonic hum emanates from the shard.
      • Description: A deep, resonating sound felt more as a vibration than audible noise.
      • Positive: A confirmation that the item is active.
      • Negative: Could become irritating with prolonged use.
  • Smell
    • Metallic Tang: A sharp, metallic scent, like iron or ozone, hangs faintly in the air around the shard.
      • Description: Similar to the smell after a lightning strike, but less intense.
      • Positive: A clue that the item is active, especially in circumstances where visual cues are harder to perceive.
      • Negative: Sensitive individuals might find the scent unpleasant or disorienting.
  • Touch
    • Temperature Changes: The obsidian shard could become slightly warmer or colder to the touch, depending on how it’s being used (protection vs. sowing doubt).
      • Description: A subtle, but perceptible change.
      • Positive: Provides tactile feedback regarding the item’s activation and intent of use.
      • Negative: Extreme temperature changes could be uncomfortable.
• Extra-Sensory
  • Empathic Resonance: The user becomes acutely aware of others’ emotional states, particularly negative feelings like insecurity, fear, or doubt.
    • Description: Emotions become almost tangible, a prickling sensation or a heavy weight in the air.
    • Positive: Enhanced awareness of those in distress, or potential threats masked by surface-level emotions.
    • Negative: Potential for sensory overload in emotionally charged situations, especially if untrained.
  • Trace Visions: If the object has absorbed potent lingering energies, the user might experience faint, fleeting visions of past afflictions tied to it.
    • Description: Fragmentary images, whispers, or emotional echoes.
    • Positive: Clues to the item’s history, or potential lingering vulnerabilities of the target.
    • Negative: Could be disturbing or traumatizing, especially if the past afflictions were severe.
• Notes
  • The intensity of these perceptions depends on the wearer’s own sensitivity and how actively the item is used.
  • Prolonged exposure and reliance on the item could heighten sensitivity to negative emotions, even when the item is not active.

Recipe: Imbuing the Obsidian of Resilience

• Materials Needed:
  • Obsidian Shard: A piece of raw or smoothly polished obsidian approximately 2-3 inches long. Obsidian represents resilience and the ability to absorb negativity.
  • Cleansing Herbs: A blend of protective and purifying herbs. Consider sage, rosemary, mugwort, and lavender.
  • Mortar & Pestle: For grinding the herbs.
  • Ritual Oil: A blend of essential oils associated with mental clarity and protection. Frankincense, sandalwood, and myrrh are good choices.
  • Engraving Tool: A fine tool for inscribing a symbol of protection.
• Tools Required:
  • Cauldron or Heatproof Bowl: For burning the cleansing herbs.
  • Small Cloth: For wiping and polishing the shard.
• Skill Requirements:
  • Herbalism (Basic): Knowledge of the properties of cleansing and protective herbs.
  • Meditation or Ritual Practice (Basic): Understanding of focusing intention and grounding oneself for the imbuing process.
  • Willpower (Basic): Ability to project mental resilience and determination into the object.
• Crafting Steps:
  • Cleansing and Preparation:
    • Thoroughly cleanse the obsidian shard with water and a soft cloth. Allow to air dry.
    • Undertake a brief meditation or grounding ritual to center yourself and focus your intent on protection and mental resilience.
  • Herbal Infusion:
    • Grind the cleansing herbs into a fine powder using the mortar & pestle.
    • Light the herbs in the heatproof bowl or cauldron, allowing the smoke to envelop the obsidian shard for several minutes.
  • Symbol of Protection:
    • Carefully engrave a symbol with protective meaning onto the obsidian. A simple triangle, eye, or a stylized shield are good choices.
  • Anointing and Imbuing:
    • Add a few drops of the ritual oil to the palm of your dominant hand.
    • Hold the shard in your dominant hand, visualizing it absorbing resilience and willpower. Recite a simple spoken charm or mantra of your own, or a traditional incantation for mental fortitude.
  • Setting and Charging:
    • Place the shard in a safe place where it will be undisturbed overnight. Allow it to absorb energy from moonlight or bury it in protective earth for additional grounding.
• Notes:
  • The crafting process is best performed during a waning moon, representing the release of negativity.
  • Personalization is encouraged. Adjust herbs, oils, and symbols based on the crafter’s traditions and preferences.
  • A crafter with strong existing willpower or protective abilities will find the item easier to imbue.

The Shadow-Kissed Stone
A Fragmentary Tale

The crumbling scrolls whisper of the Shadow Walker, a solitary traveler cloaked in mystery. Legend speaks of a shard, black as endless night, clutched in their weathered hand.  This shard, some tales claim, was a fragment of a fallen star, imbued with the resilience of the heavens.  Others murmur of a pact with a forgotten spirit, its touch leaving a faint chill on the soul.

One fragment speaks of a village plagued by nightmares.  Foul dreams, twisting and dark, haunted the sleep of young and old alike.  The Shadow Walker, drawn by the collective unease, arrived under the sickly glow of a half moon.  As the villagers huddled in fear, the Walker held aloft the obsidian shard.  The air grew strangely still, and a faint hum vibrated faintly.  Awakened by the unnatural quiet, villagers emerged from their dwellings, the terror in their eyes replaced by a newfound calmness.  Sleep, once a torment, returned, free from the grip of nightmares.

Another fragment tells of a warrior consumed by vengeance.  Haunted by the loss of loved ones, they swore to drown their sorrow in the blood of their enemies. The Shadow Walker, ever a beacon of stoicism, crossed paths with the warrior on the warpath.  With a sigh, they held out the shard.  The warrior, momentarily paralyzed by the cold emanating from it, felt a chilling clarity descend upon them.  The fog of vengeance lifted, revealing the emptiness of the path they were on.  Shamefaced, the warrior laid down their arms, seeking healing instead of destruction.

The fate of the Shadow Walker and the shard remains lost to the ages.  But the tales, like embers in the night, carry a sliver of truth.  The power of the shard, some say, lay not in dispelling darkness, but in fostering the inner strength to face it.

Moral:  True resilience lies not in the absence of darkness, but in the unwavering will to endure it.

Suggested conversions to other systems:

Call of Cthulhu

• Stat Block:
  • Sanity: +1d4 (initial)
  • Spot Hidden: +10%
  • Psychology: +10%
• Mechanics:
  • Small bonus to Sanity rolls helps resist the horrors of the Mythos.
  • Enhanced Spot Hidden aids in noticing subtle details or hidden motives
  • Psychology provides a bonus to understanding and resisting manipulation.
  • Sanity Risks: Prolonged use of the shard, or witnessing its full power, could lead to brief Sanity loss as the user becomes aware of the lingering darkness the item absorbs.

Blades in the Dark

• Stat Block:
  • Resolve: +1 die
  • Study: +1 die
• Mechanics:
  • Resolve helps resist stress and mental pressure of the dark, gritty setting.
  • Study assists in assessing others’ intentions or potential weaknesses.
  • Downside/Limited Effect: The item offers less direct help with physical or social action. It emphasizes internal fortitude and awareness in the face of danger.

Dungeons & Dragons (5th Edition)

• Stat Block:
  • Wondrous Item, Uncommon (requires attunement)
  • +2 Wisdom
  • +2 Passive Insight
  • Advantage on saving throws against being charmed or frightened
• Mechanics:
  • Bonus to Wisdom reflects mental resilience.
  • Passive Insight aids in noticing hidden motives and reading unspoken cues.
  • Advantage on saves against charm and fear aligns with the item’s core function.

Knave

• Stat Block:
  • +1 to Willpower saves
  • Grants advantage on rolls to resist mental compulsions or manipulation
• Mechanics:
  • Knave focuses on simple bonuses. The item grants increased resilience for specific situations, leaving narrative use to player creativity and GM discretion.
  • Downside: Provides no direct combat or exploration benefits, aligning with Knave’s player-driven ingenuity.

Fate

• Aspect: Shadow-Kissed Shard – This aspect can be invoked when resisting mental influence, peering into hidden motives, or seeking inner resolve in the face of darkness.  It can also be compelled when struggling with negative emotions, lingering doubt, or the chilling touch of the shard’s absorbed negativity.
• Stunt: Aura of Resilience: Once per session, when establishing a scene, the player can use this stunt to grant all allies in the scene a +2 bonus to Overcome rolls related to resisting fear, despair, or mental manipulation.

Numenera & Cypher System

• Type: Artifact
• Level: 4
• Effect:
  • The user is eased one step on the difficulty chart for tasks involving resisting mental intrusion, deception, or intense fear.
  • Once per day, as an action, the user can project a protective aura in a 10-foot radius. Allies within gain a +2 bonus to Intellect Defense rolls for 28 hours.
• Depletion: 1 in d100 on each use

Pathfinder (2nd Edition)

• Type: Wondrous Item (Accessory)
• Level: 2
• Traits:  Magical, Mental
• Effect: +2 Circumstance Bonus to Will saves, +2 Circumstance bonus to Perception checks to Sense Motive.  Additionally, the user gains immunity to the Intimidated condition.

Savage Worlds

• Setting Rule/Edge:  The Feng Shui 33 of the Lingering Shadow grants the player the Improved Strong Willed Edge (+2 to Will rolls and fear-related checks) and increases their Spirit die by one type (e.g., d6 to d8).
• Hindrance (Optional): Haunted (Minor) – The lingering negativity in the shard might cause the character to have disturbing dreams or fleeting visions.

Shadowrun

• Type: Focus (Accessory)
• Force: 2
• Effects:
  • +2 dice pool bonus to Willpower-based skills and resisting mental influence spells or effects.
  • Once per run, the user can spend a point of Edge to automatically succeed on a Willpower test to dispel a negative mental condition affecting themselves or an ally.
• Availability & Cost: Rare (14R), around 15,000¥
• Notes:   In Shadowrun, the item becomes a Focus, imbued with a touch of magical energy. The focus should emphasize mental fortitude with a tangible risk/reward factor through the use of Edge expenditure.

Starfinder

• Type: Hybrid Item (Accessory)
• Level: 2
• Effects:
  • +2 to Will saves.
  • Once per day, as a full action, the user can attempt to fortify the mind of a target within 30 feet (Will save DC = 16 + 1.5x CR). If successful, the target gains a +2 bonus to Will saves and is immune to the frightened condition for 1 hour.
  • Special: The item resonates with Envoy abilities, granting Empaths a +2 bonus to Will saves when worn.

Traveller (Mongoose 2nd Edition)

• Type: Personal Equipment (Accessory)
• Effects:
  • +1 DM to Willpower-based skill checks.
  • The user gains a +2 DM when attempting to resist psionic intrusion or social-based attempts at deception.
• Tech Level: TL 9-12 (depending on the rarity of magic in your Traveller setting).
• Notes:   In Traveller, the emphasis is on mitigating risk and practicality.  The item offers a moderate bonus while maintaining a grounded technological feel despite its magical properties.

Warhammer Fantasy Role-Play (4th Edition)

• Type: Talisman
• Effects
  • +10% to Willpower, Resolve, and Cool tests.
  • Grants immunity to the Fear condition.
• Corruption Potential: Prolonged use may increase susceptibility to minor Tzeentchian corruption. (GM’s discretion)  The unsettling aura of absorbed negativity might attract the attention of daemons or shadowy sorcerers.