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Minion 37 Shard of The Green Epoch

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by

Dale
in

Summoning Item Appearance: The Shard of The Green Epoch is an elongated emerald crystal held in a filigree setting of twisted vines made of brass. When held up to the light, intricate patterns within the crystal seem to writhe and move, giving the impression of a small, contained forest.

Minion Appearance: Summoned from the Shard, the minion takes the form of a Sylvan creature that mirrors elements of its summoner’s appearance. Covered in bark-like skin, with hair resembling cascading leaves and moss, its eyes glow a soft green. It bears an ethereal quality, exuding an aura of natural mysticism.

Minion Attributes

  • Stat Modifiers:
    • Strength: +2
    • Dexterity: +3
    • Wisdom: +4
  • Skills:
    • Perception: High
    • Nature: High
    • Stealth: Medium
  • Size: Medium
  • Speed: 30 feet
  • Armor: Natural Armor (AC equivalent to summoner’s)
  • Gear:
    • Herbal Pouch
    • Rune-inscribed Talisman
  • Weapons:
    • Thorn Whip
    • Vine Bow
  • Tools:
    • Chimes of Opening
    • Potion Flask

Minion Tags: Elemental, Sylvan, Shape-shifter

Minion Behavior: Once summoned, the minion displays an uncanny knack for understanding the situation at hand. Its behavior is autonomous yet strongly influenced by a telepathic bond with its summoner. This being is particularly attuned to the nature around it and can fluidly navigate through a variety of landscapes. It has a defensive disposition, preferring to thwart attacks rather than initiate them.

Minion Magic Abilities

  • Animal Shape-shifting:
    • The minion has the unique ability to shift into different animal forms. These forms can range from a small, swift bird to a lumbering bear, offering different advantages depending on the context. While in animal form, the minion maintains its stat modifiers and can still use some of its magical abilities.
  • Bird: Allows for reconnaissance and delivering messages.
  • Bear: Increases strength and can act as a tank in combat.
  • Wolf: Aids in tracking and adds pack advantage.

Roleplay Aspects: Animal Shape-shifting, in particular, adds a profound layer to the role-playing experience. The summoner, through their bond with the minion, feels a deep, instinctual understanding of the natural world when the minion shape-shifts. The experience is as enlightening as it is ephemeral, given the temporary nature of the summoning. It often leads the summoner to reflect on their own connection or disconnection from the natural world. Ethical questions may arise about whether it’s right to pull this creature from its realm, even if its service is willingly given. How does one respect the autonomy and individuality of a being so deeply bound to one’s own fate, even if just for a short time?

Perception of Activation:

  • Five Senses
    • Sight: When the Shard of The Green Epoch is activated, the emerald crystal pulsates with a gentle light, illuminating the surrounding area with a soft, verdant glow. The filigree vines around the crystal tighten as if alive, coiling around the shard.
      • Positive: Provides enough light to see in dark areas.
      • Negative: The bright green light might attract unwanted attention.
    • Sound: A tranquil symphony of forest sounds emanates from the shard—birdsong, rustling leaves, and a distant waterfall, all harmonize to produce an enchanting melody.
      • Positive: The calming nature sounds may soothe the summoner and allies.
      • Negative: The noise might be a giveaway in situations requiring stealth.
    • Smell: A rich aroma of wet earth, moss, and fresh foliage fills the air, as though one were standing in the middle of an ancient forest.
      • Positive: The scent can be invigorating and might provide momentary relief from foul odors.
      • Negative: Strong smell may be distracting or nauseating for some.
    • Touch: The holder of the shard feels a palpable surge of energy run through their arm, warm but not uncomfortably so, akin to sunlight filtering through tree canopies.
      • Positive: The warm sensation may alleviate minor physical discomfort.
      • Negative: The surge of energy might be startling or disruptive.
    • Taste: A subtle taste of spring water, imbued with natural minerals, lingers in the mouth of the one who activates the shard.
      • Positive: Provides a refreshing sensation.
      • Negative: The unique taste might be off-putting to some.
  • Extra-Sensory Perceptions
    • Temporal Awareness: The summoner feels a fleeting but poignant awareness of the cyclical nature of time, as if understanding the eternal loop of seasons in a brief moment.
      • Positive: A deeper understanding of time can aid in strategic planning.
      • Negative: The sensation can be disorienting and momentarily overwhelming.
    • Emotional Resonance: A wave of empathic energy resonates between the summoner and the soon-to-be-summoned minion, forming a preliminary emotional bond.
      • Positive: Enhances the intuitive communication between summoner and minion.
      • Negative: Strong emotions from the minion may temporarily cloud the summoner’s judgment.
    • Spatial Recognition: An innate understanding of the surrounding topography and natural elements floods the summoner’s mind.
      • Positive: Offers a tactical advantage in navigating the terrain.
      • Negative: The influx of information can be mentally exhausting for a brief period.

Crafting Recipe: Shard of The Green Epoch

  • Materials Needed
    • 1 Pristine Emerald Crystal, approximately 4 inches in length
    • 1 Silver Ingots, for the filigree
    • Essence of Elemental Earth, 3 vials
    • Essence of Elemental Water, 2 vials
    • Essence of Elemental Air, 1 vial
    • 5 leaves of a Mandrake Root
    • A feather from a Phoenix
  • Tools Required
    • Arcane Alchemy Table
    • Elemental Forge
    • Enchanting Grimoire
    • Set of Precision Chisels
    • Mortar and Pestle
    • Silver Melting Crucible
    • Elemental Resonance Spectrometer
    • Incantation Scrolls for Elemental Binding
  • Skill Requirements
    • Mastery in Elemental Alchemy
    • Advanced Skill in Metallurgy
    • Proficiency in Arcane Enchantments
    • Intermediate Skill in Gem Cutting
  • Crafting Steps
    • Preparation of Emerald Crystal:
      • Place the emerald crystal on the Arcane Alchemy Table.
      • Refer to the Enchanting Grimoire for preliminary chants and cast a purification spell on the crystal.
    • Elemental Infusion:
      • Place the purified emerald crystal into the Elemental Forge.
      • Inject Essence of Elemental Earth, Water, and Air into the forge’s infusion ports.
      • Engage the Elemental Resonance Spectrometer to monitor the infusion process.
    • Silver Filigree Crafting:
      • Melt a silver ingot in the Silver Melting Crucible.
      • Using Precision Chisels, carve intricate vine patterns to serve as the encasement for the crystal.
      • Cool and solidify the silver vine filigree.
    • Mandrake and Phoenix Additions:
      • Grind 5 leaves of Mandrake Root using a Mortar and Pestle.
      • Insert the ground Mandrake and Phoenix feather into a prepared infusion vial.
      • Chant the Mandrake-Phoenix Fusion spell from the Enchanting Grimoire.
    • Assembly and Binding:
      • Return to the Arcane Alchemy Table.
      • Place the elemental-infused emerald crystal onto the table and wrap it with the silver vine filigree.
      • Pour the Mandrake-Phoenix infusion over the assembly.
      • Use the Incantation Scrolls for Elemental Binding to seal all components together.
    • Final Enchantments:
      • Open the Enchanting Grimoire to the chapter on ‘Advanced Object Enchantments.’
      • Cast the binding, stability, and activation spells listed to finalize the crafting of the Shard of The Green Epoch.
    • Quality Assurance:
      • Use the Elemental Resonance Spectrometer to scan the completed shard for any inconsistencies or imbalances in its elemental structure.

Upon successful completion of all these steps, you will have crafted a Shard of The Green Epoch, an intricate item capable of summoning powerful minions. Note that errors in any step can result in an unstable or ineffective item. Exercise extreme caution and diligence throughout the crafting process.

Tale of Emerald Fragment from Epoch Green

Long time, way long before-now, in lands of much mystic, Shard of Epoch Green born. They say, made by wizard elder, yes, but not ordinary wizard. This wizard, not born in realm this, but from far away sky beyond. Wizard comes, wisdom plenty, crafts shard emerald, elemental spirits trapping inside.

Emerald Shard, unique gift has. Minions call can, loyal always. They, too, not realm this from. Distant home have. Powerful beyond sight, much mirroring master, even though form takes beast and man both.

Time passing, heroes many and avatars try owning shard. Stories, ah, so many stories. Fables dark and bright both. Yet, one tale stands out most. Young mage, ambitious but not wise, acquire shard somehow. “Now, unstoppable am,” he thinks, minions summoning without care. Minion, shape-shifts to wolf and eagle, summon does. Commands to do deeds of not good, very not good.

Magic abuse, Minion also unhappy. Nature true of minion, not dark but balance love. Rift between, wider grows. Catastrophe, waiting to happen, yes.

Final straw, breaks. Minion summoned, orders disobey, turns to bear fearsome. Mage attack, tries banishing. But shard, respond not. Elemental spirits, angry become, shatter shard does. Minion and mage both, to realm unknown sent, never return.

Moral of Tale: Power in hands wrong, destruction brings, not just holder to but world around. Respect magic, and magic respects back.

Suggested conversion to other systems:

Call of Cthulhu

Item: Emerald Fragment from Epoch Green

  • Effect: Summon a minion with skills and stats mirroring the summoner.
  • Usage: Once per day
  • Sanity Loss: 1D4
  • Mechanics:
  • Summon Minion: Make a Power roll. If successful, summon a minion that will stay for rounds equal to one-tenth of your current Sanity.
  • Statistical Parity: The minion has the same skill percentages as the summoner.
  • Roleplay Element: Engage in a sanity roll when summoning entities from other realms, contemplating the ethical implications.

Blades in the Dark

Item: Emerald Fragment from Epoch Green

  • Type: Arcane Implement
  • Load: 2
  • Usage: Once per Score
  • Effects:
    • Summon: Use Attune to summon a minion.
    • Duration: The minion lasts for Ticks equal to the summoner’s Tier.
    • Mirror Stats: The minion has Quality equal to the summoner’s Tier.

Dungeons & Dragons

Name: Emerald Fragment from Epoch Green

  • Type: Wondrous item, Legendary
  • Usage: Once per Long Rest
  • Features:
    • Summon Minion: Use an action to summon a minion with the same stats as the summoner. Duration is equal to the summoner’s level in rounds.
    • Mirror Stats: The minion has the same stats and equipment as the summoner.

Knave

Item: Emerald Fragment from Epoch Green

  • Type: Gem
  • Usage: Once per day
  • Effect: Summon a minion with stats mirroring the summoner for a duration of 10 minutes.
  • Mechanics: Stat Mirror: The minion has the same attributes as the summoner.

Fate Core

Item: Emerald Fragment from Epoch Green

  • Type: Mystical Artifact
  • Aspect: Once per session
  • Mechanics:
    • Summon Minion: Use a Fate point to summon a minion with skills and aspects that mirror the summoner.
    • Duration: The minion lasts for a number of exchanges equal to the summoner’s highest skill rank.

Numenera & Cypher System

Item: Emerald Fragment from Epoch Green

  • Type: Artifact
  • Level: Variable
  • Effect: Summon a minion mirroring the summoner
  • Depletion: 1 in 1d10
  • Mechanics:
    • Summon Minion: Use an action to summon a minion that mirrors the summoner’s stats.
    • Duration: Lasts for rounds equal to the artifact’s level.

Pathfinder 2nd Edition

Name: Emerald Fragment from Epoch Green

  • Item Level: Variable
  • Type: Wondrous Item
  • Usage: Once per day
  • Bulk: L
  • Mechanics:
    • Summon Minion: As an action, the user can summon a minion with statistics equal to the user’s. The minion lasts for rounds equal to the user’s level.
    • Mirror Stats: The minion possesses the same abilities, skills, and gear as the summoner.

Savage Worlds

Name: Emerald Fragment from Epoch Green

  • Type: Magical Artifact
  • Weight: 1 lbs
  • Usage: Once per session
  • Mechanics:
    • Summon Minion: As an action, you can summon a minion. The minion lasts for rounds equal to the summoner’s Spirit die.
    • Statistical Parity: The minion has the same attributes and skills as the summoner.

Shadowrun 6th Edition

Name: Emerald Fragment from Epoch Green

  • Type: Magical Focus
  • Availability: 16F
  • Cost: Variable
  • Mechanics:
    • Summon Minion: As a Complex Action, summon a minion with statistics mirroring the summoner. The minion lasts for Combat Turns equal to the user’s Magic attribute.
    • Statistical Parity: The minion has the same attributes and skills as the summoner.

Starfinder

Name: Emerald Fragment from Epoch Green

  • Item Level: Variable
  • Type: Mystical Relic
  • Usage: Once per long rest
  • Bulk: L
  • Mechanics:
    • Summon Minion: As a standard action, summon a minion with statistics mirroring the summoner for rounds equal to the summoner’s level.
    • Statistical Parity: The minion has the same abilities and skills as the summoner.

Traveller

Name: Emerald Fragment from Epoch Green

  • Type: Psionic Artifact
  • Weight: 0.5 kg
  • TL: N/A
  • Mechanics:
    • Summon Minion: As a Complex Action, summon a minion with stats that mirror the summoner. The minion lasts for minutes equal to the summoner’s Psionic Strength.
    • Statistical Parity: The minion has the same attributes and skills as the summoner.

Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition

Name: Emerald Fragment from Epoch Green

  • Type: Arcane Object
  • Encumbrance: 1
  • Rarity: Very Rare
  • Mechanics:
    • Summon Minion: As an action, summon a minion with statistics mirroring the summoner. The minion lasts for rounds equal to the summoner’s Will Power Bonus.
    • Statistical Parity: The minion has the same attributes and skills as the summoner.