Ofuda of Swift Winds

Lore: In the days of yore, the legendary wind spirit, Hayate, would traverse the land aiding those who could not keep up with its swift gusts. A wise old monk, during one of his high-mountain meditations, managed to bond with Hayate. Grateful for the company, Hayate offered its blessings upon a talisman, the “Ofuda of Swift Winds”. Passed down through generations, it now finds itself in the hands of those that respect the power of the winds and wish to harness its speed for their endeavors.

Detailed Stats:

• Material: Sacred rice paper, with the kanji for “Wind” and “Speed” inscribed in deep-blue ink.
• Dimensions: 15cm x 5cm
• Level: Tier 1
• Rarity: common
• Durability: Fragile. Do not expose to water or excessive heat.
• Charges: Holds 3 charges. Expends one charge per use.

Roleplay: While holding the Ofuda, players may feel a light gust of wind caressing their face, even indoors or on still days. The wind’s direction might provide subtle hints or guide the user, especially in athletic endeavors. This light breeze often points in the direction the user needs to go, making it easier to trace a path during races or similar challenges.

Costs:

• Purchase Price: 15 gold pieces.
• Recharging Price: 5 gold pieces per charge (can be recharged by a monk or cleric trained in wind-related rituals).

Magics:

• Swift Gust: Upon activation, the Ofuda grants the user a burst of speed, doubling their movement speed for 10 seconds.
• Wind’s Guidance: Once per day, it can guide the user through difficult terrains, giving advantage on athletic checks for climbing or jumping for 1 minute.

Tags: Movement, Wind, Guidance, Speed, Agility, Flight, Evasion, Athletics, Momentum, Dexterity, Breeze, Lightness, Navigation, Aeromancy

Defensive Use: The Ofuda can be activated to help dodge incoming projectiles or evade enemies. By doubling the user’s speed, they can swiftly move out of harm’s way or navigate through a dangerous environment, such as a collapsing bridge or a rockslide.

Offensive Use: In situations where speed is of the essence, the Ofuda allows for quick maneuvers to flank an enemy or to close the gap for a surprise attack. The advantage on athletic checks can also be used to leap onto a higher vantage point or clear obstacles when chasing down a foe.

Environments: Ideal for open terrains where speed can be utilized, such as plains, deserts, or lightly forested areas. It’s also beneficial in urban environments for chase scenes through busy streets or over rooftops. The Ofuda, however, loses some of its efficacy in cramped spaces or heavy forests where wind can’t flow freely.

Note: Overusing the Ofuda without letting the wind spirit rest might draw the ire of Hayate, so users should be wary and respectful.

Perception of Ofuda of Swift Winds:

• Sight:
  • Perceived: The Ofuda is a delicate rice paper inscribed with deep-blue kanji characters. The gentle shimmer of the paper in light makes it seem almost ethereal.
  • Positives: Its ethereal look makes it a sought-after item, not just for its power but also as a work of art. It easily stands out among other talismans.
  • Negatives: Its distinct appearance might attract unwanted attention, especially from those familiar with its legend or those after magical artifacts.
• Touch:
  • Perceived: The Ofuda feels light and delicate to the touch, almost like a fragile leaf. However, when activating its powers, a faint thrum of energy can be felt.
  • Positives: This energy thrum serves as feedback to the user, confirming that the Ofuda’s magic is in effect.
  • Negatives: Its fragility means it can easily be damaged if not handled with care.
• Sound:
  • Perceived: When held up to the ear, soft whispers of wind can be heard, a gentle reminder of Hayate’s presence.
  • Positives: The whispers can be soothing, and in quiet moments, it can provide guidance or wisdom.
  • Negatives: In eerie or silent environments, the whispers might be unsettling to some.
• Taste:
  • Perceived: Not typically tasted, but if done, the Ofuda might have a taste reminiscent of clean mountain air after a rainfall.
  • Positives: Provides a sensation of freshness and purity.
  • Negatives: It’s not meant for consumption, and tasting it frequently might degrade its magic or offend Hayate.
• Smell:
  • Perceived: The scent of fresh ink and rice paper with a subtle undertone of mountain mist.
  • Positives: The scent can be grounding and calming, providing a connection to nature.
  • Negatives: Over time, if not stored properly, the rice paper might develop a musty odor.
• Aura Perception:
  • Perceived: Those with the ability to perceive magical auras would see a gentle blue whirlwind surrounding the Ofuda.
  • Positives: It serves as a beacon for those seeking aid in their athletic endeavors or for protection.
  • Negatives: Magical beings or hunters might be drawn to its aura, seeking to capture or harness its power.

Recipe for the Ofuda of Swift Winds:

• Ingredients:
  • Sacred rice paper: harvested under a full moon from the rice fields blessed by wind spirits.
  • Deep-blue ink: made from the petals of the Azure Windflower, found on high-altitude mountain peaks.
  • A quill from a Tengu (crow-like yokai) for inscribing.
  • Essence of Hayate: a vial of captured wind from the highest mountain peak during a storm.
• Steps:
  • Begin by setting the rice paper on a flat, clean surface within a room with open windows.
  • Using the Tengu quill, dip into the deep-blue ink and begin inscribing the kanji for “Wind” and “Speed”.
  • As you inscribe, chant the ancient verses of the wind, calling upon Hayate to bless the Ofuda.
  • Once inscribed, hold the Ofuda up to the open window, allowing it to catch the natural breezes.
  • Open the vial of Hayate’s essence and gently wave the Ofuda over it, capturing the spirit within the talisman.
  • Seal the Ofuda’s power by folding it thrice and then tying it with a strand of silken thread.
  • Store in a wooden box with a lining of leaves from the Ginkgo tree to maintain its freshness and potency until use.

Note: Only those in tune with the wind spirits should attempt to craft the Ofuda, as Hayate’s ire can be fierce when offended.

Tale of Hayate’s Grace

In the days of the oldest wind and first breath of the sky, there roamed a spirit swift as the flight of thought, called Hayate. Across the lands and seas it raced, never still, its presence known only through the whisper of reeds, the sway of treetops, and the fleeting caress of a sudden breeze. Hayate was a thing untamed, a child of the boundless skies, belonging neither to earth nor to mortal hands.

It is told that in an age of endless wars, there arose a monk who sought peace not in the quarrels of men but in the silence of heights that touched the heavens. Atop the sharp and lonely peaks, where only the winds dared tread, this monk meditated, his heart a still pond reflecting the unceasing dance of Hayate’s currents. For countless moons, he sat unmoved, his spirit like the mountain itself—resolute yet yielding to the will of the wind.

In time, Hayate grew curious, for never had it encountered one who did not struggle to harness or oppose it. The monk, though mortal, neither chased Hayate nor turned from its presence. Instead, he listened, his breathing matched to the rhythm of the skies. And so, Hayate descended to speak with him, its voice the whisper of a thousand breezes.

“Why do you linger here, frail one, in the domain of my wandering?” asked Hayate.

The monk replied, “I seek not to catch the wind, nor to stop it, but to learn its way. For the wind has no master and no end, yet it guides without dominion and moves without fear.”

Pleased by this wisdom, Hayate tarried long in the monk’s company. Together they sang the ancient songs of the air, wove patterns of unseen currents, and played among the clouds. Their bond grew so deep that Hayate, though untethered to mortal bonds, chose to gift the monk a token of their friendship.

From its very essence, Hayate formed the Ofuda of Swift Winds, a talisman inscribed with the eternal symbols of wind and speed. “Take this,” said Hayate, “that you may carry my swiftness even when I am not near. But let this token serve as a reminder: the wind is free, and so too should your heart remain.”

The monk descended from the mountain, bearing the talisman, and shared Hayate’s blessings with those in need. The Ofuda passed from hand to hand, aiding travelers in peril, messengers in haste, and warriors in their time of greatest need. Yet, always, those who wielded it were warned: to overreach the favor of Hayate was to court its wrath.

And so the Ofuda survives, its fragile form enduring the eons like a thread of the wind’s eternal dance. It whispers to its bearer the same truth Hayate spoke to the monk long ago: to move with the wind is to embrace freedom, but to strive against it is folly.

Moral of the Story: The wind teaches that strength lies not in resistance but in harmony. True freedom is found in moving with the forces that shape the world, not in defying them.

Conversion to other systems:

Call of Cthulhu:

Ofuda of Swift Winds

San Cost: 1/1D4

Charges: 3

Effects: When activated, the user’s movement speed doubles for 10 seconds. Additionally, once per day, the user can gain a bonus die on any DEX roll relating to athletic endeavors such as climbing or jumping.

Purchase Price: $300 (adjusted for 1920s price)

Recharge: A ritual involving wind-related chants that costs $100 in materials.

Dungeons & Dragons 5e:

Ofuda of Swift Winds

• Wondrous item, uncommon
• Charges: 3
• Effects: As an action, you can expend a charge to double your movement speed for 10 seconds. Additionally, once per day, you can gain advantage on any Strength (Athletics) checks for climbing or jumping.
• Cost: 15 gp
• Recharge: A 1-hour ritual that can be performed by a cleric or monk which costs 5 gp per charge.

Knave:

Ofuda of Swift Winds

• Slots: 1
• Charges: 3
• Effects: When activated, double your movement for 10 seconds. Once per day, gain a +2 bonus on athletic-based rolls for 1 minute.
• Cost: 15 gold coins
• Recharge: A wind-related ritual performed by a monk or similar figure, costing 5 gold coins per charge.

Numenera & Cypher System:

Ofuda of Swift Winds

• Type: Anoetic Cypher
• Level: 3
• Effect: Doubles the user’s movement for 10 seconds. Once a day, grants the user an asset on any might-based task relating to athletic endeavors.
• Cost: 15 shins
• Recharge: Requires a special wind-related ritual that costs 5 shins per charge.

Pathfinder 2e:

Ofuda of Swift Winds

• Type: Talisman
• Level: 2
• Activate: Operate Activation
• Effect: When activated, gain a +20-foot status bonus to your Speed for 1 round. Once per day, gain a +1 circumstance bonus to Athletics checks for 1 minute.
• Price: 15 gp
• Recharge: Requires a 1-hour ritual performed by a cleric or monk, costing 5 gp per charge.

Savage Worlds:

Ofuda of Swift Winds

• Type: Magic Item
• Charges: 3
• Effects: When activated, double your Pace for 1 round. Once per day, gain a +2 to Athletics rolls for 3 rounds.
• Cost: 150 dollars (or equivalent in the setting’s currency)
• Recharge: Ritual involving wind chants, costs 50 dollars per charge.

Shadowrun:

Ofuda of Swift Winds

• Type: Foci (Level 2)
• Activation: Simple Action
• Effects: When activated, double your Movement for 1 Combat Turn. Once a day, gain +2 dice to any Athletics-related test.
• Cost: 3,000¥
• Recharge: Requires a ritual involving wind spirits that costs 1,000¥ per charge.

Starfinder:

Ofuda of Swift Winds

• Level: 2
• Type: Mystic Magic Item
• Charges: 3
• Usage: 1/round
• Effects: When activated, double your land speed for 1 round. Once per day, gain a +1 bonus to Athletics checks for 1 minute.
• Price: 700 credits
• Recharge: A ritual performed in a zero-gravity environment that simulates wind currents, costing 200 credits per charge.

Warhammer (Fantasy Roleplay):

Ofuda of Swift Winds

• Type: Arcane Object
• Charges: 3
• Effects: When activated, double your Movement for 1 round. Once per day, gain a +10% bonus to any Athletic tests.
• Cost: 30 gold crowns
• Recharge: Requires a ritual involving the invocation of wind spirits, costing 10 gold crowns per charge.