Appearance: This item appears as a crimson-hued orb, no larger than the palm of a hand. The surface is etched with ancient runes that glow faintly in dim light. The core of the orb seems to be a constantly shifting mini-firestorm.
Lore: This orb was created by Halthor the Warcaster, a magician who excelled in combative magics. It is said that Halthor believed that deception on the battlefield is as crucial as brute strength. These orbs were mass-produced by apprentice magicians, under Halthor’s guidance, and are quite common among the militaries and mercenaries who wish to add a layer of illusion to their strategies.
Stats:
- Tier: 1
- Slot: Off-hand
- Range: 30ft
- Duration: 1 minute
- Activation Time: 1 action
- Senses Activated: Sight, Sound
Roleplay: To activate the Ember Mirage, the player must grip the orb firmly and evoke the incantation, “Flarum Ignis Illusio,” while focusing on a specific location or object within range. The player can add more flair, drama, or tactical details to this incantation to increase its effectiveness.
Costs:
- Material: 100 gold pieces worth of elemental fire crystals
- Activation Cost: Drains a small amount of the user’s life energy (1 HP per tier level)
Magics:
- Type: Spatial Illusion
- Illusion Created: An area within a 10ft radius appears to be engulfed in violent flames, complete with the roaring sound of a firestorm.
Tags: Illusion, Fire, Aggressive, Area Effect, Strategic Deception, Battlefield Utility, Visual Dominance, Auditory Illusion, Psychological Warfare, Arcane Focus, Disorientation Tool, Crowd Control, Perception Manipulation, Elemental Representation
Defensive Use: In a defensive scenario, the illusion can act as a deterrent, making enemies hesitant to walk into or through the illusionary firestorm. This allows for the creation of temporary safe zones or barriers, which can give the user and their allies time to reposition, heal, or prepare for the next stage of combat. The roaring sound can also mask other noises, offering an auditory smokescreen for stealthier movements.
Offensive Use: Offensively, the Ember Mirage can cause chaos among enemy ranks. Those who are not aware of the illusion may try to douse the “flames” or save their allies, wasting valuable time and resources. It can also force enemies into unfavorable positions, making them easier targets for real attacks. The illusion’s aggressive nature can also create a psychological impact, causing enemies to become frightened or panicked, thereby lowering their effectiveness in combat.
The Ember Mirage is especially effective in environments where fire hazards are a genuine concern, like wooden structures or dry forests, as the illusion will seem all the more real. Conversely, in places where fire is less likely, the effectiveness may be reduced, though the surprise element could still offer an advantage.
Perception of Senses
- Sight:
- Perceived: Illusory flames engulfing the area.
- Description: Vivid, dancing flames that seem real to the eye, complete with flickers and embers.
- Positives: Highly effective in deterring enemies and creating false barriers.
- Negatives: Allies who are not informed may also be deterred, affecting their movements and strategies.
- Sound:
- Perceived: Roaring sound of a firestorm.
- Description: A crackling, booming noise that mimics a fire raging out of control.
- Positives: Adds to the believability of the illusion and can mask other sounds for stealth purposes.
- Negatives: The loud noise could potentially alert more distant enemies to your presence.
- Touch:
- Perceived: None
- Description: As a tier 1 item, only two senses can be activated; in this case, sight and sound were prioritized.
- Positives: N/A
- Negatives: N/A
- Taste:
- Perceived: None
- Description: As a tier 1 item, only two senses can be activated; in this case, sight and sound were prioritized.
- Positives: N/A
- Negatives: N/A
- Smell:
- Perceived: None
- Description: As a tier 1 item, only two senses can be activated; in this case, sight and sound were prioritized.
- Positives: N/A
- Negatives: N/A
- Extra-Sensory Perceptions:
- Emotional Resonance:
- Perceived: A sense of dread or urgency.
- Description: Those in proximity might feel an inexplicable sense of danger or urgency.
- Positives: Increases the effectiveness of causing panic or retreat among enemies.
- Negatives: Could potentially affect allies if they are sensitive to emotional resonance.
- Temporal Dissonance:
- Perceived: A sense that time is moving slower.
- Description: The illusion is so captivating that it might give the feeling that time is being stretched.
- Positives: Could make enemies waste more time reacting to the illusion.
- Negatives: Might disrupt the timing and coordination among allies.
- Emotional Resonance:
Recipe for Crafting the Ember Mirage:
- Ingredients:
- 1 palm-sized orb made of clear quartz.
- Elemental fire crystals worth 100 gold pieces.
- 1 vial of Phoenix Feather Ink.
- A scroll of parchment for inscribing runes.
- Steps:
- Cleansing the Quartz: Cleanse the quartz orb in a bath of saltwater while reciting a purification incantation. This is to remove any residual energies.
- Elemental Infusion: Crush the elemental fire crystals into a fine powder and mix them with the Phoenix Feather Ink in a cauldron. Heat the mixture until it turns into a molten form.
- Rune Inscription: Using a quill made from a flame-resistant feather (preferably Phoenix or Fire Drake), dip it into the molten mixture of elemental fire crystals and Phoenix Feather Ink. Carefully inscribe the runes of illusion and fire onto the orb.
- Binding: Once the runes are inscribed, hold the orb and channel your own magical energies into it to bind the elemental fire into the quartz. This is done by reciting a binding incantation that locks the elemental essence into the physical form of the orb.
- Sealing: Seal the orb’s energies by placing it in a circle of salt and reciting a sealing incantation. This will contain the magic and prevent it from leaking out.
- Final Blessing: Conduct a ritual to bless the orb, asking for the favor of gods, spirits, or whatever entities are revered for magical craftsmanship in the realm of Saṃsāra.
- Quality Check: Test the orb’s efficacy by casting a minor spatial illusion. If successful, the Ember Mirage is ready for use; if not, repeat steps 3 to 6.
After completing these steps, the Ember Mirage is crafted and ready for its role in casting illusions that captivate sight and sound, in line with its tier 1 capabilities.
Tale of Ember Mirage
A Chronicle of Illusions and Valor
Long past in times veiled by mist, Halthor, famed Warcaster, conceived an orb—a marvel! Eclipsing straightforward magic, it mixed illusion with warfare, bending not just elements but senses and minds. Halthor sought no mere power; he envisioned an asset, a tool that armies or lone heroes could wield for diversifying their tactics, giving substance to illusion.
In battles many and in skirmishes more, the Ember Mirage manifested its worth. Yet there exists one tale, now marred by the corruption of languages forgotten and the slow grinding of time’s teeth, that eclipses all in illustrating its strange, illusory potency.
Once rose a terror, a beast—Ghordrak by name, a creature of scales and smog. Villages laid to cinder, forests made barren, Ghordrak’s lust for devastation was insatiable. Armies numerous and heroes valiant all shattered against its scaly wrath.
Here enters the tale Taran, a soldier inexperienced yet brimming with reckless courage. Not magic in his veins but valiance in his heart, Taran sought to halt the monster. Armed only with his steel and Ember Mirage, he stood as a mountain before the marauding beast.
“Flarum Ignis Illusio,” spoke Taran, his voice quaking yet imbued with an indomitable will. Fire illusioned roared to life, mimicking the destructive beauty of a firestorm. Even the senses of Ghordrak, sharp beyond mortal comprehension, wavered in disorientation. The sound—nay, the spectacle—halted its advance.
Seizing the fleeting moment, Taran lunged. Not at Ghordrak but at the giant boulder beside it. His steel, enchanted temporarily by the Ember Mirage’s resonance, shattered the rock, causing an avalanche of stone and debris to rain upon the beast. Confused, wounded, and ensnared, Ghordrak roared, the fire within its belly extinguishing. Villagers, hearing the monster’s defeat, emerged, capturing it henceforth. A feast they made, a festival they held, all in Taran’s honor.
The Ember Mirage’s tale, though now twisted by the vagaries of translation and marred by the imperfections of recollection, serves as testament to its layered complexity. Not a device for mere spectacle or harmless trickery, but a tool requiring the cleverness of its wielder to manifest its full, daunting potential.
Moral of the Story: Even illusions bear weight when wielded by hands both clever and brave.
Suggested conversion to other systems:
Call of Cthulhu
Ember Mirage
- Type: Magical Artifact
- Effects:
- Illusory Firestorm: Once activated, create an illusory firestorm within a 10ft radius, affecting Sight and Sound senses.
- Requires a successful POW roll to activate.
- Duration: 1D4 rounds
Dungeons & Dragons 5e
Ember Mirage
- Wondrous Item, common (requires attunement)
- Range: 30 feet
- Duration: 1 minute
- As an action, you can activate this orb to create an illusion in a 10-foot-radius circle centered on a point you can see.
- Anyone inside the radius must make a Wisdom saving throw DC 12 or believe the illusion to be real.
- The illusion affects Sight and Sound senses.
- Activating the orb costs the user 1% of their max HP.
Knave
Ember Mirage
- Type: Off-hand
- Effects:
- Create a 10-foot radius illusion affecting Sight and Sound.
- Range: 30 feet.
- Duration: 1 minute.
- Costs 1% of max HP to activate.
Numenera & Cypher System
Ember Mirage
- Type: Cypher
- Level: 1
- Effect:
- Create an illusion within immediate range that appears to be a violent firestorm.
- Lasts for 28 seconds (1 round).
- Affects the senses of Sight and Sound.
Pathfinder 2e
Ember Mirage
- Type: Wondrous Item
- Level: 1
- Price: 50 gp
- Activation: [One Action] Visual and Auditory
- Create an illusion in a 10-foot radius affecting Sight and Sound senses for 1 minute.
- Will DC 15 to disbelieve.
- Activation cost is 1% of the user’s maximum HP.
Savage Worlds
Ember Mirage
- Type: Magical Item
- Range: Smarts x 2 in feet
- Duration: 3 (1/round)
- Effects:
- Create a Medium Burst Template illusion of a firestorm.
- Targets must succeed in a Smarts roll to disbelieve.
Shadowrun
Ember Mirage
- Type: Magical Focus
- Force: 2
- Activation: Simple Action
- Effects:
- Create an illusion in a 3-meter radius.
- Targets must succeed in a Logic + Willpower (2) Test to disbelieve.
Starfinder
Ember Mirage
- Type: Mystical Item
- Level: 1
- Price: 200 credits
- Usage: 1/short rest
- Effect:
- Create a 10-foot radius illusion of a firestorm.
- Will DC 12 to disbelieve.
Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay
Ember Mirage
Type: Arcane Item
Effects:
Create a 4-yard radius illusion affecting Sight and Sound senses.
WP test to disbelieve.
Lasts for 1D10 rounds.