Item Appearance: The Whispering Chalice is an intricately designed cup made of shimmering obsidian, about the size of a wine goblet. Elven-like engravings are etched into its surface, and a luminous gem rests at the base of the cup, giving off an otherworldly glow.
Minion Appearance: Minion #47 manifests as an ethereal wolf-like creature with glowing eyes and an aura of mist surrounding its form. It has silver fur and its fangs seem to shimmer with magical energy.
Stat Modifiers:
- Strength: Equal to summoner
- Dexterity: +2 above summoner
- Intelligence: -2 below summoner
Skills:
- Perception: High
- Animal Handling: Proficient (Roleplay note: The minion, despite being an ethereal beast, seems to have a keen understanding of other animals, and can be used to calm or direct them effectively.)
- Stealth: Moderate
Size: Medium
Speed: 40 ft.
Armor: Ethereal Hide: Provides an armor class similar to the summoner’s armor class +2
Gear: None (its ethereal nature is its main asset)
Weapons: Ethereal Fangs: Magical melee attack, deals damage equal to summoner’s main weapon
Tools: None
Tags: Ethereal, Summoned, Magical, Beast
Behavior: The minion is fiercely loyal to its summoner and acts to protect them. It seems to instinctively understand the dynamics of battle and positioning, and it exhibits exceptional skill in dealing with animals, calming them when they’re agitated and even seeming to communicate with them on a rudimentary level.
Magics:
- Ethereal Howl: A magical howl that can momentarily freeze enemies in place. Usable once per summon.
- Misty Escape: Allows the minion to become incorporeal for a short duration, avoiding physical attacks. Usable once per summon.
Roleplay Aspects – Animal Handling: Within the realm of Saṃsāra, the bond between the summoned minion and real-world animals is fascinating. Although an ethereal beast from another realm, Minion #47 displays an extraordinary capacity for Animal Handling. Summoners often find this ability incredibly valuable, using Minion #47 to calm hostile beasts, guide herd animals, or even communicate simple wishes and commands to pets and magical creatures.
Summoners who specialize in Animal Handling find that Minion #47 becomes an extension of their own skills and interests, reinforcing their existing bonds with animals and often opening new avenues of interaction. The ethical implications of this can be complex. On one hand, using Minion #47’s Animal Handling skills to force creatures to act against their nature might be considered an abuse of power. On the other hand, the potential for greater understanding and peaceful interaction between species adds a layer of ethical responsibility; it’s not just about what the summoner can do, but what they should do. This raises interesting dilemmas and opportunities for roleplay, as summoners must navigate these ethical landscapes in their adventures.
Perception of Activation:
- Sight:
- Perceived: Upon activation, the Whispering Chalice glows brighter, and the gem at its base pulses in a rhythmic manner.
- Description: The obsidian takes on a luminescent quality, and intricate patterns appear to move across its surface.
- Positives: The visual cues make it clear that the item is active and functioning.
- Negatives: The bright light could potentially give away the summoner’s position in a stealth situation.
- Sound:
- Perceived: A haunting melody emanates from the chalice, resonating through the air.
- Description: The sound is ethereal, resembling the harmonies of an otherworldly choir.
- Positives: The sound can be calming and invigorating to the summoner, perhaps even to nearby allies.
- Negatives: The melody can also attract unwanted attention.
- Smell:
- Perceived: A fresh, earthy scent fills the air, as though the very essence of a magical forest is released.
- Description: It’s an intoxicating mix of fresh rain, rich soil, and ancient wood.
- Positives: The scent is soothing and can put the summoner and allies at ease.
- Negatives: Particularly sensitive individuals may find the scent overwhelming.
- Taste:
- Perceived: A slight metallic tang is detectable in the mouth when the chalice is activated.
- Description: The taste resembles that of pure, mineral-rich water.
- Positives: Can be refreshing and focus-enhancing.
- Negatives: Some might find the metallic taste off-putting.
- Touch:
- Perceived: A gentle warmth emanates from the chalice upon activation.
- Description: The surface of the chalice becomes pleasantly warm, as though filled with a warm liquid.
- Positives: Adds a tactile confirmation of activation and can be comforting in colder environments.
- Negatives: If held too long, the warmth could become uncomfortably hot.
- Extra-Sensory Perceptions:
- Aura Sensing:
- Perceived: A radiant magical aura expands from the chalice.
- Description: The aura is a swirling mass of colors only visible to those attuned to magical energies.
- Positives: Enables the summoner to know the item is filled with potent magical energy.
- Negatives: Individuals skilled in detecting magic will also sense the item’s activation.
- Temporal Awareness:
- Perceived: Time seems to momentarily slow down when the chalice is activated.
- Description: This is a sensation rather than an actual warping of time, akin to heightened focus.
- Positives: Provides the summoner a fleeting moment to think or react.
- Negatives: The sensation might be disorienting for some individuals.
- Aura Sensing:
Activation of the Whispering Chalice is a multi-sensory experience, marked by distinct visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory, and tactile changes, along with shifts in extra-sensory perception. Each has its own benefits and drawbacks, ranging from the strategic to the experiential.
Crafting Recipe for Whispering Chalice
- Materials Needed:
- 1 pound of Obsidian
- 1 Enigmatic Gem (specifically, a gem with innate magical properties)
- 1 pint of Ethereal Essence (collected from a magical realm)
- 1 Silver Ingot
- 1 vial of Arcane Binding Glue (enchanted adhesive)
- 5 ounces of Eldritch Ink (for etching)
- Tools Required:
- Arcane Anvil (for shaping the obsidian)
- Gem Setter’s Kit (for setting the enigmatic gem)
- Enchanting Quill (for scribing runes)
- Alchemy Beakers (for mixing Ethereal Essence)
- Elemental Tongs (capable of handling magical materials)
- Fine Chisel and Hammer (for detailing)
- Elemental Furnace (capable of combining elemental fire and water to produce steam)
- Skill Requirements:
- Elemental Smithing Level 4 (for handling and shaping obsidian)
- Arcane Gem Setting Level 3 (for setting the enigmatic gem)
- Enchanting Level 5 (for scribing the runes)
- Alchemy Level 3 (for handling Ethereal Essence)
- Crafting Steps:
- Prepare the Arcane Anvil: Place the obsidian on the Arcane Anvil and use Elemental Tongs to manipulate it.
- Shape the Obsidian: Using the Elemental Furnace, produce steam magic to heat the obsidian, then shape it into the form of a chalice with the Arcane Anvil. You will need to activate the furnace using elemental fire and water to ensure that steam magic is at the correct potency.
- Inscribe Runes: Once the chalice shape is formed, use the Enchanting Quill and Eldritch Ink to inscribe the required arcane runes onto the surface of the obsidian. The runes must be precise, as they will be the channel through which the Ethereal Essence will flow.
- Set the Gem: Use the Gem Setter’s Kit to carefully set the Enigmatic Gem into the base of the chalice. The gem will act as a catalyst for the arcane energies channeled by the chalice.
- Alchemy Preparation: Place the Ethereal Essence into an Alchemy Beaker, then slowly mix it with the Arcane Binding Glue to create an amalgam.
- Imbue the Chalice: Pour the amalgam of Ethereal Essence and Arcane Binding Glue into the chalice. This will serve as the binding agent for the magical properties to be contained within.
- Seal the Chalice: Melt the Silver Ingot on the Elemental Furnace. Once melted, carefully pour it over the Enigmatic Gem setting to seal it in place, using the Elemental Tongs to avoid contact with the molten metal.
- Final Enchantments: With the chalice now assembled, the last step involves one final incantation to activate its properties. This should be done carefully, utilizing a high-level enchanting skill to ensure that the enchantments hold.
- Cooling and Stabilization: Let the Whispering Chalice cool down and stabilize its magical aura. It will need a resting period of at least 24 hours on the Arcane Anvil to complete this process.
Once all these steps are completed meticulously and in accordance with the skill requirements, you will have successfully crafted the Whispering Chalice.
Tale of Whisper-Yell Goblet
Long ago, in faraway time, Whispering Chalice existed. Old magicians, wise in strange lore, first made. Obsidian black like night and gem radiant like moon, it was. Mystery and riddles it held. People whispered, some chalice had voice. Voices many, from other realms even.
Magician named Thul-Azhar get it. He clever but greedy. Thul-Azhar called minions, many kinds, from goblet whisper. Minions listen him. Do what he say. He feel mighty. Whole villages bow before him. But, ah, he hear whispers too. Not from mouth, but mind. Whispers said things. Terrible things.
“More power,” whispers say. Thul-Azhar listened. Summon more minions, he did. From deeper realms, darker realms. Minions obey, but also bring sorrow. One dark day, minions turn. Not obey him. Village ruined. Thul-Azhar no more. Whispering Chalice lost. People said it buried itself, not wanting be found.
People say chalice still whispers. Who find it, get power, but whispers never stop. Always there. Echo in mind.
Moral of Tale: Goblet of whispers give might, but whispers also take. Listen not only to outside voice, but also inside voice. If not, you might become voice that whispers, a warning to others.
Suggested conversion to other systems:
Call of Cthulhu
Whisper-Yell Goblet
- Artifact Power: Summon Entity (80%)
- Sanity Loss: 1D4/1D8
- Special: The holder may attempt to summon an entity once per day. Failure may lead to summoning a malicious entity.
Blades in the Dark
Whisper-Yell Goblet
- Type: Arcane Implement
- Effect: Summon a Ghostly Minion
- Drawback: 2 Stress, Risk of summoning an antagonistic spirit.
- Quality: Tier+1
Dungeons & Dragons (5th Edition)
Whisper-Yell Goblet
- Wondrous Item, Legendary (Requires Attunement)
- Effect: Once per day, you can use an action to summon a CR 3 or lower creature to serve you for 1 minute.
- Drawback: Roll a Wisdom saving throw DC 16; failure results in summoning a hostile creature.
- Additional: Attunement requires a Wisdom save DC 18.
Knave
Whisper-Yell Goblet
- Type: Arcane Item
- Uses: 1 per day
- Effect: Summons a minion to serve for 1 turn.
- Drawback: Roll 1d6; on a 1, the summoned minion is hostile.
Fate
Whisper-Yell Goblet
- Type: Artifact
- Aspects: Once a Day Summoning, Risky Incantation
- Skills: +2 to Summoning-related tasks
- Stunt: Summon Minion: Once per session, summon a minion to assist you.
- Drawback: The GM may compel the “Risky Incantation” aspect to introduce complications.
Numenera & Cypher System
Whisper-Yell Goblet
- Level: 1D6+2
- Effect: Allows the user to summon a creature of the same level as the artifact for 28 hours.
- Depletion: 1 in 1D6
- Drawback: If depletion occurs, a hostile creature of level 1D6+4 is summoned instead.
Pathfinder (2nd Edition)
Whisper-Yell Goblet
- Level: 10
- Price: 600 gp
- Usage: Held; Bulk: L
- Activate: Operate Activation, Single Action
- Effect: Once per day, summon a creature up to level 5 to serve you for 1 minute.
- Drawback: DC 18 Will saving throw or summon a hostile creature.
- Requirements: Level 10, trained in Arcana.
Savage Worlds
Whisper-Yell Goblet
- Rarity: Legendary
- Activation: Standard Action
- Powers: Summon Ally (cost: 3 Power Points)
- Drawback: On a roll of 1 on the Skill die, summon a hostile entity.
- Notes: Can only be used once per day.
Shadowrun (6th Edition)
Whisper-Yell Goblet
- Device Rating: 5
- Availability: 12F
- Activation: Complex Action
- Effect: Once per day, summon a Force 5 spirit.
- Drawback: Roll against a threshold of 4; failure results in a hostile spirit.
- Restriction: Must be Awakened to use.
Starfinder
Whisper-Yell Goblet
- Level: 8
- Price: 8,000 credits
- Bulk: L
- Usage: Once per day
- Effect: Summon a CR 5 or lower creature to serve for 10 minutes.
- Drawback: Will saving throw DC 17, or summon a hostile entity.
Traveller
Whisper-Yell Goblet
- TL: 12
- Cost: 50,000 Cr
- Effect: Summon an NPC with skills at level 2 to assist you for 1 hour.
- Drawback: 8+ on 2D6 or summon a hostile NPC.
- Requirement: Psionic strength 8+ to use.
Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (4th Edition)
Whisper-Yell Goblet
- Rarity: Unique
- Effect: Once per day, summon a Daemonic entity to serve you for a combat encounter.
- Drawback: Make a Hard (-20) Will Power Test or summon a hostile Daemon.
- Requirements: Arcane Magic or Divine Magic at 3+ Advances.