Ofuda of Lingering Agony

Lore: The Ofuda of Lingering Agony is a somber creation born from the pain and torment that echoes through the realms of Saṃsāra. Crafted by a reclusive monk named Kuroshi who sought to harness the emotional turmoil of the world, this talisman is said to carry the weight of suffering and channel it into powerful magic.

Stats:

• Rarity: Common
• Level Requirement: Tier 1
• Roleplay Emphasis: Agony

Cost:

• Purchase Price: 25 gold pieces
• Crafting Components: Darkened vellum paper, ink infused with essence of tears, a shard of obsidian that has absorbed sorrowful emotions.

Magics:

• Agonizing Gaze: When activated, the Ofuda emanates a palpable aura of anguish that can affect the emotions of those nearby. This aura can cause feelings of unease, sorrow, or even despair, creating an atmosphere of emotional turmoil.
• Tormenting Touch: Once per day, the bearer can channel the Ofuda’s magic to inflict a brief but intense surge of emotional agony on a target by touching them with the talisman. This can hinder an opponent’s concentration, impair their actions, or impose disadvantage on their next roll.
• Ephemeral Connection: The bearer can choose to spend a charge from the Ofuda during a short rest to briefly glimpse into the emotional history of an object or place. This can provide insights into past events, uncover hidden secrets, or offer glimpses of the pain that might have transpired there.

Tags: Debuff, Divination, Minor Magic, Agony, Emotional Resonance, Sorrow Catalyst, Shadowed Divination, Torment Amplifier, Painful Insight, Despair Conduit, Mourning Relic, Echoed Agony, Obsidian Weave, Darkened Revelation

Usage: To activate the Ofuda of Lingering Agony, the bearer recites a solemn incantation etched onto the talisman while holding it in hand. Upon activation, the talisman exudes a tangible aura of emotional agony that lingers in the air, causing discomfort and unease to those nearby. This aura can be directed towards individuals or areas, influencing their emotional state.

The Tormenting Touch ability can be invoked by placing the Ofuda in direct physical contact with a target and speaking a command phrase written on the talisman. This causes the target to experience a surge of emotional turmoil, potentially hampering their actions and decisions in moments of vulnerability.

The Ofuda of Lingering Agony contains a limited number of charges, usually starting with three. Each charge can be expended during a short rest to activate the Ephemeral Connection ability. By touching the Ofuda to an object or focusing on a location, the bearer gains a fleeting insight into the emotional history tied to that object or place, potentially unearthing hidden truths or gaining a deeper understanding of past events.

Due to the nature of its powers, the Ofuda of Lingering Agony is often sought after by seekers of forbidden knowledge, those seeking to manipulate emotions, or those who wish to delve into the darker aspects of Saṃsāra’s history. It can be found in mysterious curio shops, occult bookstores, or enigmatic markets where collectors of esoteric artifacts gather. Shops selling this item might be adorned with dim lighting, heavy drapes, and an air of both curiosity and caution.

The Ofuda of Lingering Agony is a unique item with roleplay potential that leverages the power of emotional torment and sorrow. It can be used creatively in various environments to achieve both defensive and offensive objectives, providing opportunities for rich narrative interactions. Below are examples of how it might be employed for defense and offense in different settings:

• Urban Environments
  • Defense
    • Scenario: Surrounded by hostile guards in a crowded marketplace.
    • Roleplay Use: The bearer activates the Ofuda, creating a palpable aura of sorrow that unsettles the guards and nearby bystanders. The discomfort causes hesitation among the guards, making them less eager to act aggressively.
    • Interaction: Roleplay includes guards muttering about an unexplained heaviness in the air, visibly shuffling or lowering their weapons as their resolve falters.
  • Offense
    • Scenario: Targeting a noble at a formal gathering to expose vulnerabilities.
    • Roleplay Use: The bearer touches the Ofuda to a symbolic object in the noble’s possession, activating the Tormenting Touch. The noble is overwhelmed by emotional anguish, faltering in their public persona and revealing secrets under pressure.
    • Interaction: Characters might roleplay exploiting the noble’s moment of weakness, weaving in pointed questions or demands to further their objectives.
• Wilderness Settings
  • Defense
    • Scenario: The party is ambushed by territorial creatures in a dense forest.
    • Roleplay Use: The Ofuda is affixed to a tree, exuding a mournful aura. The creatures hesitate, confused and unsettled by the sorrowful energy, providing an opening for the party to escape or negotiate.
    • Interaction: Roleplay focuses on the creatures’ instinctive reactions, pacing anxiously or retreating slowly as they try to make sense of the unnatural feeling.
  • Offense
    • Scenario: Luring a predator out of hiding to protect a nearby village.
    • Roleplay Use: The Ofuda is activated and left in the predator’s hunting grounds. The aura of anguish draws the predator out, mistaking it for prey in distress, allowing the party to ambush it.
    • Interaction: Characters strategize around the predator’s movements, using the Ofuda’s effects to control the battlefield.
• Dungeon or Labyrinth
  • Defense
    • Scenario: Cornered by sentient traps or dungeon guardians.
    • Roleplay Use: The Ofuda’s Ephemeral Connection is used to uncover the emotional history of the dungeon. Insights into the creation of the traps or the nature of the guardians reveal weaknesses or alternative escape routes.
    • Interaction: Roleplay involves piecing together the emotional and historical clues, adding depth to the dungeon’s narrative.
  • Offense
    • Scenario: Confronting a vengeful spirit tied to the dungeon.
    • Roleplay Use: The Tormenting Touch is used to overwhelm the spirit with a surge of sorrow, disrupting its focus and causing it to falter. This allows the party to banish or subdue the spirit.
    • Interaction: Characters roleplay coaxing the spirit into releasing its anger or exposing its vulnerabilities for a decisive strike.
• Political or Diplomatic Settings
  • Defense
    • Scenario: Negotiating with a hostile faction at a tense meeting.
    • Roleplay Use: The Ofuda is activated subtly, creating an aura of melancholy that softens the aggression of the opposing faction. Their emotional discomfort makes them more open to compromise or less willing to escalate conflict.
    • Interaction: Roleplay involves the party guiding the discussion while observing the faction’s changing demeanor, using the aura’s effects to steer the negotiation.
  • Offense
    • Scenario: Discrediting a rival during a public debate.
    • Roleplay Use: The bearer uses the Tormenting Touch on the rival beforehand, leaving them emotionally unsettled. During the debate, the rival stumbles over their words or reveals vulnerabilities, weakening their position.
    • Interaction: Roleplay includes exploiting the rival’s mistakes while feigning ignorance of the Ofuda’s effects.
• Combat Scenarios
  • Defense
    • Scenario: Outnumbered by mercenaries in an open field.
    • Roleplay Use: The Ofuda is activated to project a powerful aura of sorrow, sapping the morale of the mercenaries. Some may retreat or hesitate, unwilling to engage further in the oppressive atmosphere.
    • Interaction: Characters might roleplay observing the mercenaries’ reactions, predicting which ones are most affected and adjusting their strategy accordingly.
  • Offense
    • Scenario: Facing a powerful mage who is highly disciplined and focused.
    • Roleplay Use: The Tormenting Touch is used to disrupt the mage’s concentration, causing their spells to falter or fail outright. This creates openings for the party to press their attack.
    • Interaction: Roleplay focuses on timing the touch for maximum effect, as well as creatively describing how the mage’s emotional turmoil affects their abilities.

The Ofuda of Lingering Agony offers rich roleplay opportunities by blending emotional manipulation with strategic gameplay. Its ability to evoke sorrow and anguish provides a unique tool for characters to influence their surroundings, often with profound narrative consequences.

Perception of the Ofuda of Lingering Agony:

• Sight:
  • The Ofuda is a dark vellum parchment, almost black in color, with intricate yet sorrowful symbols etched onto its surface using ink that seems to absorb light rather than reflect it.
  • When activated, faint wisps of shadowy energy curl around the edges of the Ofuda, giving it an aura of melancholy.
• Touch:
  • Running fingers over the Ofuda reveals its slightly rough texture, as if the paper itself carries a weight of sorrow. When touched during its active state, a chill runs through the fingertips, evoking a sensation of being in the presence of sorrowful memories.
• Hearing:
  • A faint, distant echo of whispered sighs and muffled sobs emanates from the Ofuda, giving it an eerie and mournful quality. When activated, this sound intensifies, creating an unsettling auditory backdrop.
• Smell:
  • The Ofuda carries a faint scent of old parchment and a subtle hint of rain-soaked earth, reminiscent of sorrow and memories. This scent becomes more pronounced when the talisman is activated, evoking a sense of emotional weight.
• Nonstandard Sense – Empathetic Resonance:
  • When near the Ofuda, those sensitive to emotions may feel a subtle, underlying current of sadness and anguish that emanates from the talisman. This sensation becomes more potent when the talisman is active, as if the emotions themselves are reaching out.

Crafting and Shops: Creating the Ofuda of Lingering Agony requires a skilled artisan who can channel the deep emotions associated with sorrow and suffering:

• Darkened Vellum: Vellum parchment, treated with natural dyes and techniques, is chosen for its deep, dark color. The vellum is aged and carefully prepared to create a tangible connection to sorrow.
• Ink of Tears: The ink used for inscriptions is infused with essence of tears, captured from moments of intense emotional pain. The ink darkens further as it absorbs the essence, imbuing the Ofuda with its sorrowful magic.
• Obsidian Shard: A shard of obsidian, chosen for its ability to absorb and contain energy, is inscribed with symbols of mourning. This shard is embedded within the center of the Ofuda, creating a focal point for its magic.

The Ofuda of Lingering Agony is found in rare and secretive shops, often referred to as “Empathic Curiosities” or “Sorrowsmith’s Sanctuaries.” These shops cater to those who seek to explore the depths of emotions and the darker aspects of magic. Shopkeepers are usually individuals who understand the importance of emotional balance and the need to explore even the most challenging aspects of existence.

The price of the item varies depending on its rarity and the level of craftsmanship. Shops that sell the Ofuda of Lingering Agony are often adorned with deep-colored fabrics, muted lighting, and an air of contemplation. Buyers interested in the talisman might find it displayed alongside other emotionally charged artifacts, symbolic relics, and items that evoke strong feelings. The shop’s ambiance is designed to inspire introspection and exploration of one’s own emotions.

Tale of Kuroshi and the Obsidian Weep

In the forgotten folds of time, when sorrow draped the land as a shroud, there lived a monk named Kuroshi. He was a man of silent steps and shadowed thoughts, dwelling in solitude atop the cliffs of Noontide Abyss. There, the winds carried the wails of those lost to despair, and the rocks wept rainwater blackened by grief.

Kuroshi, burdened by his own unspoken anguish, sought not peace but understanding. “If pain is eternal,” he mused, “let it be a tool, a mirror to the soul.” With this resolve, he began his craft. He gathered darkened vellum aged in the abyssal winds, ink distilled from the tears of mourners, and a shard of obsidian that had seen centuries of lamentation. Over weeks and months, he inscribed each talisman with runes of sorrow, binding the essence of grief into their fibers. Thus was born the Ofuda of Lingering Agony.

One day, a warrior named Hiyama ascended the cliffs, seeking the monk. Hiyama was famed for his unyielding strength but tormented by the memory of his fallen kin. “Master Kuroshi,” he pleaded, “I seek to end the reign of Lord Kaizen, who rules with cruelty unmatched. But his strength surpasses mine, and his mind is as unshakable as stone. What aid can sorrow bring against such a foe?”

Kuroshi handed Hiyama an Ofuda, his voice low and heavy. “This talisman carries the weight of grief. It will not strike down your enemy, but it will unearth his buried torment. In sorrow, even the mightiest crumble.”

Hiyama descended the cliffs and entered Kaizen’s court. He activated the Ofuda during a feast, pressing it against the lord’s gilded throne. The room darkened, a chill suffusing the air as shadowy tendrils wove through the hall. Lord Kaizen froze, his laughter silenced. Memories of his own cruelty, the loved ones he had betrayed, and the blood he had spilled surged through his mind. Overcome by anguish, he fell to his knees, his strength draining with each sob.

In that moment of vulnerability, Hiyama spoke not with his blade but with the weight of truth. He revealed Kaizen’s sins to the court, and the lord, unmasked and broken, abdicated his throne.

The Ofuda was said to have disintegrated that night, its purpose fulfilled. Kuroshi, upon hearing of its use, gazed toward the abyss and whispered, “Even grief has its place, if it leads to redemption.”

Moral of the Story: Even the heaviest sorrow can illuminate truths long buried. Grief, when embraced, may weaken cruelty and guide the lost toward atonement.

Suggested conversions to other systems:

Call of Cthulhu (7th Edition)

Ofuda of Lingering Agony

• Type: Magical Talisman
• Rarity: Uncommon
• Cost: 50 silver pieces or barter equivalent
• Activation: The user must make a successful Power (POW) roll to activate the talisman while reciting its solemn incantation.
• Effect:
  • Targets within a 10-yard radius experience unease and emotional turmoil for 1d4 hours.
  • Affected individuals suffer a -10% penalty to Psychology and Charm rolls due to impaired concentration.
  • The GM may introduce roleplay elements where the target becomes introspective, revealing vulnerabilities.
• Usage: Single-use. The talisman disintegrates into shadowy wisps upon activation.
• Crafting Requirements:
  • Art (Calligraphy): 50%
  • Occult Knowledge: 30%
  • Materials: Dark vellum, tear-infused ink, obsidian shard.

Blades in the Dark

Ofuda of Lingering Agony

• Tier: 1
• Usage: Consumable
• Cost: 2 Coin
• Load: 0 (Light)
• Effect:
  • Upon activation, the Ofuda creates an oppressive aura of sorrow that lingers for one scene.
• Game Mechanics:
  • Targets within range suffer a -1d penalty to Resolve actions as they are distracted by emotional anguish.
  • The user gains improved effect when interrogating or intimidating emotionally vulnerable NPCs.
  • If used strategically, the Ofuda can create a momentary distraction or confusion.
• Crafting Requirements:
  • Time: 4 downtime actions.
  • Roll: Tinker (Quality 2).
  • Materials: Shadow essence, obsidian shard, dark vellum.

Dungeons & Dragons (5e)

Ofuda of Lingering Agony

• Wondrous Item, Common
• Cost: 25 gp
• Activation: As an action, the user recites the Ofuda’s incantation while holding it.
• Effect:
  • Targets within a 30-foot radius must make a Wisdom saving throw (DC 13) or become afflicted by emotional agony for 1 minute.
  • Affected targets take a -1 penalty to all attack rolls and saving throws.
  • Additionally, the user may target one creature directly with Tormenting Touch (as a bonus action), imposing disadvantage on the target’s next ability check, attack roll, or saving throw.
• Crafting Requirements:
  • Proficiency: Calligrapher’s Supplies.
  • Materials: Tear-infused ink, darkened vellum, and obsidian shard (worth 15 gp).
  • Crafting DC: 14.

Knave

Ofuda of Lingering Agony

• Type: Magical Consumable
• Slot: 1 Inventory Slot
• Cost: 25 silver
• Activation: Requires reciting the solemn incantation and presenting the Ofuda toward a target or area.
• Effect:
  • All creatures within 10 feet must make a Will Save. On failure, they are overwhelmed by emotional anguish for 1d6 rounds.
  • Affected targets suffer a -1 penalty to attacks and checks due to distraction and emotional vulnerability.
  • The user can expend a charge to use Ephemeral Connection during a short rest, gaining insight into the emotional history of an object or location.
• Crafting Requirements:
  • Skills: Art (Calligraphy) and Alchemy.
  • Materials: Vellum, obsidian shard, tear-infused ink.
  • Crafting Time: 1 day.

Fate Core

Ofuda of Lingering Agony

• Aspect: “Echoes of Torment”
• Cost: 1 Fate Point or narrative barter.
• Activation: Invoke the item’s Aspect with a narrative action and spend 1 Fate Point.
• Effect:
  • The Ofuda creates the temporary Aspect “Shrouded in Agony” on a target or scene.
  • This Aspect can be compelled to distract or hinder opponents, causing them to falter or expose emotional vulnerabilities.
  • Can also be invoked to provide a boost for actions exploiting the target’s emotional state, such as interrogation or manipulation.
• Crafting: Requires a Crafting roll (Good [+3] difficulty) using sorrow-infused ink and darkened vellum as materials.

Numenera & Cypher System

Ofuda of Lingering Agony

• Level: 3
• Cost: 300 shins
• Activation: Requires an Intellect roll (Difficulty 3) to activate by focusing on the Ofuda and speaking its incantation.
• Effect:
  • Creates an aura of sorrow in a 10-foot radius for 10 minutes.
  • Affected creatures must make an Intellect Defense roll (Difficulty 4) or suffer from Distracted and Hindered effects for the duration.
  • The user can spend 1 charge during a short rest to use Ephemeral Connection, gaining insight into the emotional history of a touched object or location.
• Crafting Requirements:
  • Materials: 150 shins worth of infused ink, vellum, and obsidian shard.
  • Crafting Difficulty: 4 Crafting roll.

Pathfinder (2e)

Ofuda of Lingering Agony

• Item Type: Consumable (Talisman)
• Price: 30 gp
• Activation: Interact (1 action)
• Effect:
  • Targets within a 20-foot radius must make a Will save (DC 15) or be afflicted by anguish for 1 minute.
  • Affected creatures take a -1 status penalty to attack rolls and saving throws.
  • The user can expend 1 charge to use Ephemeral Connection, gaining a brief vision of an object’s emotional history.
• Crafting Requirements:
  • Skill: Trained in Crafting.
  • Materials: Vellum, obsidian shard, tear-infused ink worth 15 gp.
  • Crafting DC: 16.

Savage Worlds (Adventure Edition)

Ofuda of Lingering Agony

• Type: Consumable Magic Item
• Rarity: Rare
• Cost: 300 gold
• Activation: Requires a Spellcasting roll (TN 4) and recitation of the talisman’s incantation.
• Effect:
  • All targets within a Small Burst Template must make a Spirit roll (TN 6) or become Distracted and Vulnerable for 2 rounds.
  • The user may expend 1 charge to invoke Ephemeral Connection, gaining an emotional vision of an object or area.
• Crafting Requirements:
  • Arcane Background required.
  • Materials: Darkened vellum, obsidian shard, and infused ink worth 150 gold.

Shadowrun (6th Edition)

Ofuda of Lingering Agony

• Type: Magical Consumable
• Cost: 600¥
• Availability: 4R
• Activation: Simple Action
• Effect:
  • Targets within a 5-meter radius must resist with a Willpower + Intuition (Threshold 3) test.
  • On failure, targets experience an overwhelming emotional heaviness for 1d3 Combat Turns, suffering a -2 dice pool penalty to Perception and Leadership checks.
  • A single target in direct contact with the Ofuda suffers an additional -1 dice penalty to Concentration-related actions.
• Usage: Single-use. The talisman disintegrates into dark, ephemeral wisps upon activation.
• Crafting Requirements:
  • Skills: Artisan (Rating 4) or Magic Theory (Rating 3).
  • Materials: Obsidian shard, infused vellum, and distilled sorrow worth 300¥.

Starfinder

Ofuda of Lingering Agony

• Item Level: 4
• Price: 400 credits
• Bulk: L
• Usage: Single-use
• Activation: Standard Action
• Effect:
  • Targets within a 20-foot radius must succeed at a Will save (DC 14) or experience emotional anguish for 1 minute.
  • Affected targets take a -2 penalty to attack rolls, saving throws, and skill checks requiring focus.
  • As a secondary effect, the user may spend 1 charge to trigger Ephemeral Connection, granting insight into an object’s or area’s emotional history.
• Crafting Requirements:
  • Skill: Mysticism.
  • Materials: Vellum, obsidian shard, and tear-infused ink worth 200 credits.
  • Crafting DC: 16.

Traveller (Mongoose 2nd Edition)

Ofuda of Lingering Agony

• Type: Consumable Magic Item
• Cost: Cr400
• Activation: Requires a Social Roll (6+, DM+2) and recitation of its incantation.
• Effect:
  • Targets within a 5-meter radius must make an Endurance check (6+, DM-1) or become Distracted for 1d6 minutes.
  • Distracted targets suffer a -2 DM penalty on all focus-related tasks, including combat maneuvers and technical operations.
  • The user may invoke Ephemeral Connection to gain a brief emotional insight into an object or location’s history.
• Crafting Requirements:
  • Skills: Art (Calligraphy) 1, Life Sciences 1.
  • Materials: Tear-infused vellum, obsidian shard, and ink worth Cr200.
  • Time: 6 hours per talisman.

Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (4th Edition)

Ofuda of Lingering Agony

• Type: Enchanted Item (Single-Use)
• Rarity: Rare
• Cost: 15 gold crowns
• Encumbrance: Negligible
• Activation: Extended Action (1 Round, Challenging (+0%) Language: Magic Test).
• Effect:
  • Targets within 10 yards must make a Willpower Test.
  • Success: The target resists the effects.
  • Failure: The target becomes Distracted, suffering a -10 penalty to Fellowship-based tests for 1d3 Rounds.
  • Critical Failure: The target is incapacitated by emotional agony, unable to act for the duration.
  • The user may expend a charge to invoke Ephemeral Connection, gaining insight into the emotional history of an object or area.
• Crafting Requirements:
  • Skills: Intermediate proficiency in Trade (Calligraphy) or Lore (Magic).
  • Materials: Vellum, obsidian shard, and tear-infused ink worth 8 gold crowns.
  • Crafting Test: Average (+20%) difficulty requiring 4 hours.