Reiki 5 of the Souls Cadence – GearAscendancy.com

Slot: Feet

Tags: Reiki, Dancer, Support, Performance, Worn Item, Common, Tier 1, Feet Slot, Auditory, Movement, Grace, Stamina, Social, Aura, Auditory, Rhythm, Jewelry

Lore: On the island nation of Cyria, known for its floating pavilions and vibrant, artistic culture, dance is considered a language of the soul. The Cyrians believe that true communication transcends words and that the most profound truths—of sorrow, joy, history, and peace—can only be expressed through perfected, intentional movement. In their culture, Reiki is not just a healing art for the wounded but a harmonizing principle for the healthy, a way to align the body’s physical motion with the flow of its internal energy.

The Soul’s Cadence was first created for young acolytes in the temples of dance, to help them overcome their self-consciousness and find the rhythm of their own spirit. The temple artisans discovered that the hollowed seed pods of the native Whisper-Reed, when paired with the pearls found in Cyrian river oysters, created a chime that resonated with the frequency of life energy. They wove these simple chimes onto silken cords and imbued them with the most basic teachings of Reiki. The anklets proved so effective at centering a performer and captivating an audience that their creation spread from the temples to the street performers and from the floating pavilions of Cyria to the far-flung markets of Saṃsāra, traded by merchants who saw value in their simple, beautiful magic.

Description: The Soul’s Cadence consists of a pair of delicate anklets, woven from brightly colored silk threads in intricate patterns. Dangling from each anklet are four small, hollowed-out seed pods. The pods are teardrop-shaped, polished to a smooth, dark brown sheen, yet are incredibly light. Within each sealed pod, a single, tiny, luminous pearl is loosely encased, producing a soft, breathy chime with every movement of the wearer’s feet. The sound is not a sharp metallic jingle, but a gentle, melodic whisper, like soft notes played on a pan flute. When Reiki energy is channeled through them, the pearls within the pods begin to glow with a soft, silvery-white light visible through the pod’s thin shell, and their chiming becomes clearer and more supernaturally resonant.

Detailed Stats

Tier: 1
Rarity: Common
Attunement Requirement: The avatar must wear the anklets and engage in continuous, rhythmic movement—such as dancing, swaying, or even walking with a deliberate pace—for several minutes. The chimes will gradually align with the avatar’s internal energy, signaling attunement.
Magic Capacity: The item holds a small reservoir of Reiki energy. It does not recharge passively but instead gathers and stores kinetic energy from the wearer’s movements, slowly refilling its capacity as long as the avatar is dancing or walking.
Durability: Low. The silk and seed pods are resilient to the strains of performance but are not designed for the rigors of combat or harsh environments and can be easily damaged.

Passive Magic

Harmonious Motion: The anklets continuously channel a subtle flow of Reiki into the wearer’s lower body. This energy soothes muscle strain, enhances flexibility, and promotes a state of effortless grace. It helps the wearer maintain balance on difficult surfaces and reduces the fatigue associated with long periods of dancing or strenuous movement, making each step feel lighter and more precise.
Rhythmic Respiration: The constant, gentle chiming of the anklets acts as an auditory focal point. This helps the wearer unconsciously regulate their breathing, synchronizing it with the rhythm of their movements. This efficient use of breath greatly improves stamina, allowing for longer performances or journeys on foot before exhaustion sets in.
Subtle Allure: The anklets emit a very faint, almost subconscious field of positive energy. This aura doesn’t compel or charm observers, but it makes them more receptive and open to the wearer’s performance. It can capture the attention of a distracted crowd or encourage a more generous reception from an audience, fostering a warm, inviting atmosphere around the dancer.

Activable Magic

Dance of Soothing: The avatar can consciously channel their Reiki energy into a specific performance. By executing a slow, flowing, and deliberate dance, the melodic chimes of the Soul’s Cadence become imbued with calming magic. This creates a visible aura of shimmering silver light in a small radius around the dancer. Allies and non-hostile creatures within this aura feel their anxieties quieted, their fears lessened, and their spirits gently lifted. This is not a potent healing magic, but a form of mobile, area-of-effect emotional support that can bring focus and calm to a chaotic situation. This ability drains a significant portion of the item’s stored energy.
Step of Alacrity: The wearer can channel a quick burst of focused energy directly to their feet. For a few seconds, their movements become preternaturally swift and fluid. This allows the dancer to execute a stunningly complex series of steps in the blink of an eye, to cross a short distance with a burst of graceful speed, or to nimbly evade an unexpected obstacle. It is a momentary flash of brilliance, not a sustained increase in speed. This ability can be used several times before the item’s stored energy is depleted.

In the world of Saṃsāra, the “Reiki 5 of the Soul’s Cadence” is a specialty item. Its availability and the manner of its sale are heavily influenced by a region’s connection to the arts and its trade relationship with the island nation of Cyria, the anklets’ place of origin.

The Cyrian Cultural Emporium

In the grand port cities that have robust trade agreements with the Cyrian archipelago, one might find a dedicated Cultural Emporium. These establishments are serene and elegant, designed to showcase the pinnacle of Cyrian artistry. The air within smells of rare incense and imported Whisper-Reed wood. Soft, instrumental music plays from unseen magical chimes. The shop is run not by a mere merchant, but by a cultural attaché, an avatar of Cyrian descent who takes immense pride in presenting their heritage authentically. Here, the Soul’s Cadence would be displayed with reverence, perhaps laid gently upon a cushion of dark, rich silk inside a glass case, allowing customers to admire its craftsmanship.

The process of purchasing the item here is a quiet and informative experience. The proprietor would speak of the anklets’ history, the philosophy of dance they represent, and the specific qualities of the pearls and seed pods used. They might even inquire about the buyer’s own artistic inclinations to ensure the item is going to a worthy owner. Haggling is not practiced here; the price is set as a sign of respect for the artisan’s skill.

Cost: Approximately 40 Gild. While currency is accepted, the proprietor would be far more interested in a trade that perpetuates art. They might offer a discount in exchange for a rare musical instrument, a set of high-quality powdered pigments for calligraphy, or even a heartfelt performance of a song or story from the buyer’s own homeland.

The Performer’s Outfitter

Within the bustling entertainment districts of Saṃsāra’s megacities, one would find shops dedicated to performers of all kinds. These places are a delightful chaos of sensory information, cluttered with vibrant costumes, half-finished masks, pots of greasepaint, strange props, and gleaming musical instruments. The owner is often a retired performer themselves—a jaded musician or a boisterous actor with a keen eye for quality gear. In a shop like this, the Soul’s Cadence would be considered a practical tool of the trade. They might be found hanging from a hook on the wall, nestled between brass ankle bells, silver finger cymbals, and spools of colorful ribbon.

The transaction is brisk and professional. The shopkeeper knows exactly what the anklets do, but in practical terms. “Ah yes, the quiet chimes,” they might say, “Good for stamina, keeps you light on your feet. Audiences like the little glow they give off in a dim hall.” They would be able to spot a cheap imitation instantly and would pride themselves on selling only functional, reliable gear.

Cost: Around 50 Gild. The price is slightly inflated due to its status as a specialty import for a niche market. The shopkeeper would be very open to barter, willing to trade for anything another performer might find useful: a well-made lute, bolts of exotic fabric for costuming, or even a guaranteed set of tickets to a popular upcoming gladiatorial race or theatrical debut.

The Traveling Troupe’s Souvenir Wagon

Where the paved streets of a town give way to open fields, traveling performance troupes often make their temporary homes. After a dazzling show of acrobatics, storytelling, and dance under a large tent, members of the troupe will often sell wares from a colorfully painted wagon. Among the wooden toys, candied treats, and good-luck charms, one might find a pair of Soul’s Cadence anklets, presented as an exotic treasure from the troupe’s travels.

Buying the item here is a gamble. The seller is likely one of the dancers from the show, still flushed with the energy of their performance. The quality is inconsistent; some anklets might be genuine articles picked up during their travels, while others could be clever replicas crafted by the troupe’s own artisan to make extra coin. The sale is fast and relies on the charm of the seller and the festive atmosphere. They will spin a grand tale about the item’s origins, regardless of its authenticity.

Cost: The price is wildly inconsistent, ranging from 15 to 35 Gild, depending on the seller’s mood and the perceived wealth of the customer. These troupes are often in need of practical supplies more than currency, and would readily trade the anklets for fresh food, clean water, fuel for their steam-powered wagons, or simple materials like leather and wood to repair their gear.

The Second-Hand Curio Shop

In a dusty, forgotten alley of a major city or a quiet stall in a sprawling bazaar, there are shops that deal in the lost and found. These stores are treasure troves of the eclectic and the mundane, where a salt-stained naval spyglass might sit beside a collection of mismatched porcelain dolls. The proprietor is a collector of oddities, more interested in an item’s uniqueness than its function or origin. Here, a pair of Soul’s Cadence anklets might be found tangled in a wooden box of other second-hand jewelry and trinkets.

The purchase here is one of pure discovery. The shopkeeper would likely have no idea of the item’s magical properties. “Aren’t they lovely?” they might remark, shaking them gently. “They make such a pleasant, quiet sound. Picked them up from a sailor who said they came from a shipwreck.” The buyer must possess the knowledge to recognize the item’s true nature.

Cost: Likely the cheapest monetary price, perhaps only 10-15 Gild, as the cost is based solely on its aesthetic as a curious piece of jewelry. The proprietor would be almost entirely unwilling to haggle for currency but could be convinced to trade the anklets for any other strange or interesting object they have never seen before, something that has a better story attached to it.

In the world of Saṃsāra, the Soul’s Cadence is an instrument of grace and influence, not of direct confrontation. Its use in offense and defense is a dance of subtlety, relying on movement, misdirection, and the manipulation of emotion rather than force.

In a Crowded City Street or Bustling Market

This environment is characterized by chaos, tight spaces, numerous obstacles, and the presence of many neutral observers who can be turned into a help or a hindrance.

Defensive Roleplay: An avatar, being pursued by members of a local thieves’ guild, ducks into a crowded market square. The pursuers are closing in, ready to corner them. Instead of trying to fight or push through the crowd, the avatar leaps onto an empty market stall. They begin an impromptu, energetic dance. The Captivating Aura of the anklets immediately begins to draw the attention of nearby shoppers and merchants. The avatar’s movements, enhanced by Harmonious Motion, are fluid and beautiful, creating a spectacle. The pursuers are forced to stop; they cannot simply attack or grab the avatar without turning the entire crowd against them for disrupting the lovely performance. The dance becomes a shield of public opinion and attention, allowing the avatar to spot their own escape route while their enemies are stuck, unwilling to make a scene.

Offensive Roleplay: The avatar needs to help their companion apprehend a nimble pickpocket who is fleeing through the same crowded street. The pickpocket is too fast to catch in a straight chase. The avatar, seeing the target’s path, uses their own grace and the Step of Alacrity. They don’t chase the target, but instead perform a dazzling, short dance that intersects the target’s path. They use the burst of speed to precisely knock over a cart of fruit directly in front of the pickpocket, causing them to stumble and fall. The “offense” was not an attack on the person, but a precisely-timed attack on their environment, using the anklets’ grace to turn the chaotic market into a tool for capture without ever laying a hand on the target.

In a Grand Ballroom or Formal Court Setting

Here, the rules are social, not physical. Violence is unacceptable, and battles are won with influence, status, and by controlling the emotional state of the room.

Defensive Roleplay: During a tense political negotiation at a formal gala, an opposing diplomat begins to use aggressive, intimidating language, trying to provoke the avatar’s party into an emotional outburst. The atmosphere grows heavy with hostility. The avatar, perhaps under the guise of providing entertainment, begins a slow, deliberate dance in the center of the hall. They activate the Dance of Soothing. The melodic chimes of the Soul’s Cadence, imbued with Reiki energy, fill the space. The shimmering, silvery aura spreads from the dancer, and the ambient tension in the room begins to dissipate. The angry diplomat finds their fury abating, and neutral parties feel a sense of calm returning. The avatar has defended their party not by arguing, but by seizing control of the room’s emotional state, neutralizing the opponent’s aggressive social tactics and allowing for a more rational discourse to resume.

Offensive Roleplay: The avatar needs to discredit a pompous, well-regarded military general during a ball. The general is boasting of his fencing skill and challenges anyone to a “friendly” duel of forms, intending to use the display to further boost his prestige. The avatar, a dancer, accepts. The general expects an easy victory against a non-warrior. He begins his rigid, martial forms, but the avatar begins a fluid, evasive dance. Using the flawless balance from Harmonious Motion and a perfectly timed Step of Alacrity, the avatar doesn’t just dodge the general’s lunges, they flow around them, making the general appear clumsy and slow. The “offense” is an attack on the general’s pride. By effortlessly outmaneuvering him and making his martial prowess look foolish in comparison to their dance, the avatar humiliates him in front of his peers without ever needing to draw a weapon.

In an Ancient Ruin or Dangerous Wilderness

In these environments, the dangers are physical and often monstrous. The goal is survival, and the threats are rarely swayed by social grace.

Defensive Roleplay: Exploring a crumbling, subterranean ruin, the avatar’s party accidentally triggers a pressure plate. The ceiling begins to collapse, and the only escape is across a narrow, decaying stone beam spanning a deep chasm. The party hesitates, fearing the unstable footing. The avatar takes the lead. The Harmonious Motion passive gives them an unnatural sense of balance. They dance across the narrow beam as if it were a wide stage, the confident, rhythmic chiming of their anklets giving the others a focal point and the courage to follow. Their display of effortless grace turns a terrifying, life-threatening obstacle into a manageable path, defending the entire party from a fatal fall.

Offensive Roleplay: The avatar’s party is confronted by a large, slow, but incredibly tough magical guardian, like a golem or earth elemental. Its attacks are devastating, but it is bound to protect a specific artifact on a pedestal. The avatar’s companions cannot get close enough to damage it. The avatar begins a taunting, evasive dance just at the edge of the creature’s reach. Using their natural agility, enhanced by Rhythmic Breathing to maintain stamina, they become an irresistible, untouchable target. The guardian, a simple construct, becomes fixated on the dancer. The avatar’s “offense” is to completely absorb the creature’s attention, leading it in a clumsy circle. This dance of distraction allows the avatar’s allies to completely ignore the guardian, circle around behind it, and focus their efforts on either striking its weak points or disabling the artifact it is trying to protect.

Perception of Activation:

Sight

User’s Perspective: As the dance begins, the periphery of the user’s vision softens and blurs slightly, drawing their focus inward to their own motion. They perceive faint, silvery-white ribbons of light trailing from their ankles, tracing the intricate patterns of their steps upon the ground. The world seems to move in concert with them, its visual rhythm matching their own.
Observer’s Perspective: The first sign of activation is a soft, silvery-white glow emanating from within the seed pods of the anklets. As the user moves, this light stretches and flows, creating beautiful, ethereal traceries of light that hang in the air for a moment before fading. During the Dance of Soothing, a visible aura of shimmering, cool light expands from the dancer, like heat haze in reverse, washing over the immediate area.
Positives: The visual display is captivating and universally seen as beautiful and non-threatening. It can hold an audience’s attention or mesmerize a potential foe, creating hesitation.
Negatives: The effect is profoundly conspicuous, making stealth or subtlety impossible. The light show advertises the user’s position and magical nature to everyone in visual range.

Sound

User’s Perspective: The gentle, breathy chimes of the anklets become intensely clear and melodic, seemingly resonating inside the user’s own mind. It feels less like an external sound and more like the user’s own life energy has been given a voice. They can perceive complex harmonies within the chimes that others cannot.
Observer’s Perspective: The sound of the chimes becomes supernaturally resonant and pure. The gentle, whispering notes carry with surprising clarity, cutting through background noise not with volume, but with a unique tonal quality. The random chimes of walking coalesce into a clear, soothing melody when a magical dance is performed.
Positives: The sound is deeply calming and pleasant, capable of soothing agitated people and animals. It fosters an atmosphere of peace and can quickly de-escalate tense situations.
Negatives: This unique, magical sound is an unmistakable beacon. It will draw the attention of anyone nearby, for good or ill, and makes it impossible to move silently while the item is worn.

Touch

User’s Perspective: A cool, effervescent tingle begins at the user’s feet and spreads upwards through their entire body. It feels as if they are becoming lighter, their connection to the ground more fluid and energetic. The air around them feels softer, like moving through cool, flowing silk.
Observer’s Perspective: An observer standing within the radius of the Dance of Soothing feels a noticeable drop in the ambient temperature and a gentle, uncaused breeze that caresses the skin. The air feels cleaner and carries a refreshing coolness.
Positives: The sensation is invigorating for the dancer, promoting a feeling of lightness and tireless grace. For observers, the coolness is pleasant and calming.
Negatives: The dancer’s altered sense of touch and weight can be disorienting at first. The unnatural coolness felt by observers could be unsettling to those who are superstitious or particularly wary of magic.

Smell

User’s Perspective: The user perceives a faint, clean fragrance that seems to be released with every step. It is the scent of night-blooming jasmine and cool, fresh rain.
Observer’s Perspective: Those near the dancer will notice the same subtle, pleasant aroma. It is not overpowering but is distinct from any normal environmental smells, a clear indicator of the magic at work.
Positives: The scent is pleasing and adds another layer to the calming, beautiful nature of the performance, making the experience more immersive for an audience.
Negatives: The unique and magical fragrance is a clear trail for any creature that hunts by scent, making the user exceptionally easy to track.

Taste

User’s ‘s Perspective: A fleeting, sweet taste forms on the back of the tongue, reminiscent of honeysuckle nectar or water infused with mint. It is an internal, physiological response to the Reiki energy being channeled through movement.
Observer’s Perspective: No perception.
Positives: The pleasant taste can act as a grounding sensation for the user, helping them focus on the positive, creative aspects of their magical dance.
Negatives: For a dancer not expecting it, the sudden taste could be a minor distraction during a complex performance.

Extra-Sensory Perception: Empathic Resonance

User’s Perspective: The user becomes keenly aware of the “emotional texture” of their surroundings. Agitation and anger feel like a low, discordant hum. As they perform the Dance of Soothing, they feel their own calm energy flow outwards, actively smoothing this discordance into a pleasant, harmonious chord. They feel the audience’s collective mood shift in direct response to their movements.
Observer’s Perspective: An empathic observer perceives the dancer as a rhythmic beacon of tranquility. They are not just feeling calm; they are feeling the act of calming being broadcast in powerful, gentle waves that wash over the ambient emotional chaos of the area.
Positives: This provides the user with perfect, real-time feedback, allowing them to tailor their performance to achieve the maximum calming effect on those around them.
Negatives: If the initial emotional state of a crowd is one of violent rage or terror, the initial empathic backlash can be shocking and overwhelming for the user.

Extra-Sensory Perception: Kinetic Sight

User’s Perspective: Through their Mind’s Eye, the user perceives the world in terms of motion and intent. An angry person’s movements are seen as jagged, chaotic red lines. A calm person’s are gentle blue curves. Their own dance creates flowing, brilliant ribbons of silver energy. The dance becomes a visual art form, with the goal of weaving their silver ribbons around the chaotic red ones to soothe them.
Observer’s Perspective: An observer with Aura Sight sees the dancer’s personal aura transform. With each step, it unfurls and expands, creating a temporary “domain” of shimmering, rhythmic silver light that physically interacts with the auras of others, gently pressing on them and smoothing their ragged, chaotic edges.
Positives: This perception gives the user a tangible, visual goal for their magic, making it easier to focus their intent and energy.
Negatives: Focusing this intensely on the visual flow of kinetic energy can render the user oblivious to stationary threats, such as a drawn bow or a pre-set trap.

Extra-Sensory Perception: Magical Resonance

User’s Perspective: The user feels the rhythm of their own body—their heartbeat, their breath, the cadence of their steps—synchronize perfectly with the underlying pulse of the world’s ambient magic. It feels as if they are no longer moving on the world, but with it, a partner in a cosmic dance.
Observer’s Perspective: A magically-aware individual perceives a continuous, rhythmic pulse of Reiki energy emanating from the dancer. Unlike the sharp “ping” of a cast spell, this is a sustained, wave-like broadcast. Its signature is undeniably that of a harmonizing, life-affirming effect.
Positives: The profound feeling of connection is exhilarating and makes the act of dancing feel completely effortless and deeply powerful.
Negatives: A sustained, rhythmic broadcast of magic is exceptionally easy for other magic-users or magical creatures to detect, pinpoint, and analyze. It’s a continuous announcement of the user’s exact location and the nature of their power.

Artisan’s Recipe: The Anklets of Whispering Grace

This document outlines the traditional method for crafting a pair of enchanted anklets that mirror the function and spirit of the renowned “Soul’s Cadence,” designed to harmonize a dancer’s movements with their internal life energy.

Materials Needed

Whisper-Reed Pods: Eight mature, dried seed pods from a Whisper-Reed plant. The pods must be chosen for their lightness and structural integrity.
River Pearls: Eight small, perfectly spherical pearls harvested from freshwater oysters. The luster and flawlessness of the pearl directly impact the clarity of the resulting chime.
Spools of Silken Thread: A minimum of three different colors of high-quality silk thread. The silk must be strong enough to withstand constant motion and capable of holding a subtle enchantment.
Catalyst Dust: A single pouch containing a pinch of finely ground crystal that has been naturally charged with kinetic energy—typically sourced from the base of a powerful waterfall or a lightning-struck peak.
Beeswax Finishing Balm: A small cake of pure beeswax, mixed with a drop of lotus oil, used for the final sealing and polishing.

Tools Required

Artisan’s Weaving Frame: A small, often portable, loom designed for creating intricate braids and patterns.
Micro-Drill Set: A collection of extremely fine, hand-powered drills used by jewelers and fine woodworkers to bore holes in delicate materials without causing fractures.
Polishing Leathers: Several pieces of soft, supple leather used for buffing the seed pods to a high sheen.
Enchanter’s Focus Stone: A smooth, palm-sized stone (often jade or rose quartz) that has been attuned by the user to help focus the flow of their personal Reiki energy.
Ceramic Mixing Bowl: A small, non-porous bowl for holding the Catalyst Dust during the imbuement process.

Skill Requirements

Intricate Weaving: The crafter must be proficient in creating complex, durable braids that will not unravel through vigorous movement.
Fine Craftsmanship: A high degree of manual dexterity is required to hollow out, drill, and handle the fragile seed pods without damaging them.
Kinetic Reiki Channeling: The artisan must possess the specific skill of channeling their Reiki energy while in a state of continuous, rhythmic motion. A static meditation is insufficient; the magic must be woven with the energy of a dance.
Basic Alchemical Binding: The knowledge of how to use a catalyst (the Dust) to permanently bind a channeled enchantment to a physical object.

Crafting Steps

Preparation of the Chimes: The process begins with the Whisper-Reed pods. Using the finest bit from the micro-drill set, carefully hollow out the interior of each of the eight pods until they are thin, resonant shells. Once hollowed, place a single River Pearl inside each pod. The main opening is then sealed with a tiny, expertly applied drop of the beeswax balm. Finally, use the micro-drill again to bore a single, clean hole near the top of each pod, through which the silk thread will pass.
Polishing the Pods: Using the polishing leathers, buff the exterior of each sealed pod. This is a meditative process that can take several hours, aiming for a perfectly smooth, dark, and lustrous finish that will not snag on clothing or skin.
Weaving the Bands: Set up the weaving frame with the spools of colored silk thread. The crafter must weave two identical anklet bands. The pattern should be both beautiful and structurally sound, with loops intentionally integrated into the design where the chimes will be attached.
The Dance of Imbuement: This is the heart of the creation process. The crafter lays the woven bands and the eight prepared pods before them. They must then begin a slow, continuous, and rhythmic dance, holding their Enchanter’s Focus Stone. As they move, they must channel their Reiki energy through the stone and into their own body, focusing on the concepts of grace, stamina, and effortless motion.
Binding the Magic: While maintaining the dance, the crafter attaches the prepared pods to the woven loops on the anklets. At the base of each knot used to secure a pod, a tiny pinch of the Catalyst Dust is worked into the silk fibers. The dust acts as a magical mordant, drawing the kinetic Reiki energy being generated by the dance out of the crafter and permanently binding it to the anklets. The sound of the pods will subtly change during this process, shifting from a dull rattle to a soft, melodic whisper.
Final Sealing: Once all eight pods are securely attached, the dance can come to a gentle end. The final step is to take a small amount of the beeswax finishing balm and carefully work it into the knots containing the Catalyst Dust. This seals the enchantment, protecting it from wear and preventing the magic from dissipating over time. The Anklets of Whispering Grace are now complete.

Maiden and Great Stillness

It is read from the cracked tablets that in the dawn of the world, there was no quiet. The wind had a great voice that sang in the mountains, the rivers had a drumming song upon the stones, and the leaves of every tree had their own rustling dance. The people of this time knew the world through its rhythm. And among them was a maiden whose given name is dust. She was called the Maiden of the Still Air, for it was said that when she danced, the wind itself would quiet its great voice to watch her feet, so graceful were her movements.

Thus it came to pass that a calamity occurred. A Great Stillness, like a heavy blanket, fell upon the lands. The wind, which had a great voice, now had none. The rivers, which had a drumming song, became flat and silent like glass. The leaves, which knew a dance, hung limp and weary. The music of the world was forgotten. The crops tasted the dry dust and failed. A great despair came upon the people, for a world without rhythm is a world without a soul.

The Maiden of the Still Air danced. She danced to remind the leaves of their rustle, but they did not listen. She danced to remind the rivers of their flow, but they did not hear. Her own grace, which once commanded the wind, was now but a small, lonely movement in a world that was a tomb. A sadness great and wide filled her, for she was a part of the world’s rhythm, and the rhythm was dying.

So she took a journey. She would find the Heart of the Winds, a place spoken of in whispers, where the world’s first breath was said to have been taken. Her journey was long, across the silent plains and over the mountains that no longer sang. She came at last to a great cliff face where a waterfall once fell, but now it was only a frozen shape of stone, a memory of water. Behind this stone water, she found the mouth of a cave.

Inside, the air was not dead. A single, faint breath of a breeze touched her face. In the center of the cavern grew one last, ancient Whisper-Reed, its pods trembling, making the only sound left in the world. From this reed, a form appeared, a shape made of moving air and faint light. It was the Spirit of the Wind, asleep but not yet dead. It spoke to her, not in words, but in feelings put inside her head. It told her the world had forgotten the First Dance, the dance of creation that taught all things how to move. To break the Stillness, the dance must be performed. But, the spirit warned, the dance was too long and too mighty for a mortal body. To attempt it was to turn one’s own bones to dust before the final step.

The Maiden of the Still Air felt the sleeping world’s pain, and she did not hesitate. She would dance, even if it was her last act. She began in the center of the cavern, in the great silence, her feet beginning the first steps of the First Dance. The strain was immediate. Her muscles tore. Her breath came in ragged bursts. A tear of great effort and greater sorrow fell from her eye, but when it hit the ground, it did not splash. It became a solid, luminous pearl. As she danced on, more tears fell, each one a perfect, shining pearl upon the cavern floor.

The last Whisper-Reed, seeing her sacrifice, gave up its own life. Its hollow, teardrop-shaped pods fell from its stalk and landed around the pearls, encasing them. The Maiden danced on, and her very life-force, her own Reiki, began to unravel from her body in shimmering, colorful threads of silk. These magical threads wove themselves around her ankles, binding the pods with their pearl hearts to her feet. The moment the anklets were complete, a change occurred. Her fatigue vanished. Her torn muscles mended. Her breath became steady and rhythmic. The anklets, born of her sacrifice, now sustained her.

For three days and three nights, she performed the First Dance. Her feet, they did not stop. Each step was a different movement in nature. One was the unfurling of a fern. One was the crashing of a wave. One was the spiraling flight of a hawk. She danced the rhythm of life back into the memory of the world. On the third night, a great cracking sound was heard. The stone waterfall outside the cave fractured, and living water began to pour once more. From the cave mouth, a great gust of wind rushed forth, the awakened spirit, and it began to sing its great song across the lands once more.

The Great Stillness was broken. The clouds moved, the rains fell, the rivers drummed, and the leaves danced. But of the Maiden of the Still Air, nothing was ever seen again. Some say she became one with the wind, her spirit in every dancing leaf. All that was left was the legend of her sacrifice, and the story of the magical anklets that held the rhythm of the world in their gentle, whispering chimes.

Moral of the Story: One soul’s perfect rhythm can reawaken the music of the entire world.

Suggested conversions to other systems:

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

Anklets of Rhythmic Grace Wondrous item, uncommon (requires attunement by a character proficient in the Performance skill)

This pair of anklets is woven from brightly colored silk. Dangling from each are four small, polished seed pods that emit a gentle, melodic chime with every step.

Harmonious Motion. While wearing these anklets, you have advantage on Dexterity (Acrobatics) checks made to maintain your balance on difficult surfaces. Additionally, you can travel at a normal pace for up to 10 hours a day without making a forced march.

Step of Alacrity. These anklets have 3 charges. As a bonus action, you can expend 1 charge to increase your walking speed by 10 feet until the end of your current turn. The anklets regain all expended charges daily at dawn.

Dance of Soothing. As an action, you can begin a magical dance that lasts for 1 minute, provided you use your action each round to continue the dance. For the duration, each friendly creature within 15 feet of you (including yourself) who can see and hear you has advantage on saving throws against being frightened. This property cannot be used again until you finish a long rest.

Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition

The Carcosan Dancer’s Chimes Strange Item

A pair of silken anklets of impossible, shifting colors, adorned with what appear to be dark, hollowed-out seed pods. They emit a quiet, almost subliminal chime that is both beautiful and deeply unsettling. Their origin is unknown, but their artistry hints at realms beyond normal human experience.

Hypnotic Grace. The wearer gains one bonus die on any Art/Craft (Dance) roll made to captivate or entertain.

Dance of Distraction. The wearer may spend 1 Magic Point and make an Art/Craft (Dance) roll to perform a bizarrely captivating dance. Any observer who can see the performance must succeed on a POW roll or be mesmerized, unable to look away or focus on other tasks for as long as the dance continues. Investigators or dedicated NPCs may attempt a new POW roll at the end of each round to break the effect.

The Rhythm of Unreality. As an action requiring one full round, the wearer can perform a “soothing” dance that attunes allies to its unnatural rhythm. The wearer and any allies who watch the dance for the full round become temporarily hardened to lesser horrors. For the next hour, they do not need to make Sanity rolls for mundane terrors such as discovering a mutilated body (though witnessing a Mythos entity would still require a roll as normal). Using this ability costs the wearer 1D4 Sanity points, as the inhuman movements required to create the effect take a toll on their mind.

Blades in the Dark

The Whisper-Silk Shod Fine, Worn, Magical, Subtle

A pair of colorful silk anklets fitted with dark, hollow seed pods. They chime with a sound that seems to quiet the ever-present hum of the ghost field, making movement feel lighter and thoughts clearer.

Supernatural Poise. When you perform a feat of acrobatic grace under pressure—leaping between rooftops, balancing on a narrow ledge, or weaving through a chaotic brawl—you can take 1 Stress to gain Potency. This does not count as pushing yourself.

Captivating Performance. When you lead a Group Action where the plan is to create a distraction with a performance, you can suffer 1 Stress to grant the entire group +1d to their rolls.

Dance of Respite. During downtime, you can choose this special activity instead of indulging your vice. Describe a calming, private performance for another member of your crew. That character clears Stress equal to their best Action rating (dot count). You clear Stress equal to the character’s lowest Action rating.

Knave 2nd Edition

Anklets of the Endless Dance Inventory Slots: 1

A pair of durable silk anklets from which hang a total of eight hollow seed pods. Each pod contains a small, luminous pearl, and they chime with a soft, melodic whisper.

Tireless Rhythm. The wearer is immune to exhaustion and fatigue caused by overland travel (marching). They can travel continuously without rest.

Swift Step. As your action, you may move up to three times your normal speed. When you do, one of the eight seed pods on the anklets goes silent and dark.

Soothing Chime. As your action, you may dance on the spot. You and all allies within 30 feet who can see and hear you are immediately cured of any ongoing fear effects. When you do, one of the eight seed pods goes silent and dark.

Recharging. A pod that has gone silent can only be restored if the anklets are left to soak in a natural spring under the light of a full moon for one entire night. Each night of soaking restores one pod.

Fate Core System

The Chimes of Inner Cadence An Extra represented by a pair of delicate anklets with whispering chimes. They are an outward expression of an inner, harmonious truth.

This item grants the wearer a deeper connection to their own movement and its effect on the world, represented by a new core Aspect and several Stunts.

Character Aspect: A Dance That Quiets the World. This Aspect can be invoked for a bonus when attempting to use performance to create a calm atmosphere, to gracefully evade notice, or to express an emotion more profoundly than words ever could. A GM could compel this Aspect by having the gentle, melodic chiming attract unwanted attention in a place that demands silence.

Stunts

Effortless Grace: When you use the Athletics skill to Overcome an obstacle related to balance, endurance, or graceful movement (like walking a tightrope or dancing for hours), you gain a +2 bonus to your roll.
Step of Alacrity: Once per scene, you can spend a Fate Point to use your movement to instantly place yourself anywhere within your current zone, provided there is a plausible path for you to have danced or gracefully moved there. This is a free action.
Dance of Soothing: When you Create an Advantage using the Performance skill to calm a tense situation, you can give a free invocation of the Aspect you create to an ally, in addition to your own. You must describe how your dance visibly eases their anxieties.

Numenera & Cypher System

Kineto-Harmonizing Anklets A pair of anklets woven from a self-repairing, brightly-colored synth-fiber. Dangling from each are four polished, hollow nodules of a dark, organic material. Inside each, a tiny pearl-like object glows with a soft, silvery light, emitting a subsonic hum that resonates with biological life.

Level: 4 Form: Wearable anklets Effect: This artifact translates the wearer’s kinetic energy into a harmonizing bio-resonant field. Its effects are twofold:

Flow State: The wearer can activate the anklets as part of another action. For the next minute, any Speed-based defense rolls are eased.
Soothing Cadence: The wearer can take an action to begin a rhythmic dance. All living creatures chosen by the wearer within immediate range of the dancer find any tasks to resist fear or panic are eased for as long as the dance continues. The wearer must continue to use their action each round to maintain the effect. Depletion: 1 in 1d20 (On a roll of 1, the resonant pearls crack and the item becomes a pair of mundane, silent anklets).

Pathfinder 2nd Edition

Anklets of the Soul’s Cadence Item 3 [Uncommon] [Enchantment] [Invested] [Magical] Price 60 gp Usage worn anklets; Bulk —

These delicate anklets are woven from colorful silk, with several small, polished seed pods dangling from them. The pods chime with a gentle, melodic whisper, and a soft, silvery light glows within them when you are in motion.

Passive: While wearing the anklets, you gain a +1 item bonus to Performance checks that involve dancing, and to Acrobatics checks to Balance.

Activate [one-action] (concentrate, move); Frequency once per minute; Effect You Stride. Your movement does not trigger reactions that are normally triggered by movement (such as Attacks of Opportunity).

Activate [two-actions] (auditory, concentrate, enchantment); Frequency once per day; Effect You perform a captivating and magically soothing dance. Each enemy within a 15-foot emanation must attempt a DC 17 Will save.

Critical Success The creature is unaffected.
Success The creature is fascinated by your dance for 1 round.
Failure The creature is fascinated by your dance for 1 minute. It will not act hostilely toward you for the duration, though it will defend itself, and any hostile action by you or your allies against the creature breaks the effect for that creature.

Savage Worlds Adventure Edition

The Cyrian Dancer’s Chimes A pair of anklets woven from colorful silk with hollow, chiming seed pods. They are said to carry the rhythm of a lost, peaceful island culture.

This magical item allows a performer to channel their inner energy into their movements, creating supernatural grace and influence.

Requirements: Novice, Performance d6+ Effects:

Graceful Motion: The wearer gains a +1 bonus to all Agility-based Performance and Athletics rolls that involve balance or graceful movement.
Evasive Dance: While not wearing rigid armor, the wearer gains a +1 bonus to their Parry. This bonus is lost for one round if they are made Shaken or Stunned.
Soothing Performance (Power-like ability): As an action, the wearer may make a Performance roll to begin a calming dance. This action functions like the slumber power, but with the following changes:
- It affects a Large Blast Template centered on the dancer.
- It does not cause sleep. Instead, any enemy affected who fails their Spirit roll becomes non-hostile and unwilling to fight for the duration (5 rounds). They will defend themselves if attacked, which breaks the effect.
- Friendly characters within the template are not affected.
- Using this ability does not cost Power Points, but it causes the wearer to become Fatigued for one hour. This Fatigue cannot cause Incapacitation.

Shadowrun, Sixth World

The “Aura” Dancer’s Interface A piece of high-fashion focus technology from Saeder-Krupp’s “Aura” line, marketed to celebrity performers and high-class corporate entertainers. The anklets are woven from a smart-fabric that shifts in color and pattern, while the four chiming pods on each are polished synth-ivory containing sophisticated magical resonators.

Type: Qi Focus (Weapon Focus for Unarmed Adepts) Rating: 2 Activation: Always active for attuned adepts. Availability: 9R Cost: 18,000 nuyen

Kinetic Dance. This focus is specifically designed for adepts who view combat as a dance. It functions as a Rating 2 Weapon Focus that applies only to Unarmed Combat attacks made as part of a called shot to disarm or trip an opponent (see Called Shot, SR6 p. 110).

Evasive Flow. The wearer finds their movements are unnaturally fluid and difficult to predict. When using the Dodge Interrupt Action, the character gains 1 bonus Edge.

Captivating Rhythm. As a Minor Action, the adept can cause the chimes to ring with a supernaturally alluring tone. They gain +2 dice on their next Performing or Con skill test made that same turn.

Starfinder

Cadence Anklets of the Cyrian Dancer Level 4 Price 2,100 credits Hands —; Bulk L Type Magic Item; Category Worn Magic Item

Though technically worn on the ankles, this item occupies the wrist magic item slot. It consists of a pair of woven silk bands of bright colors, featuring hollowed-out seed pods that create a gentle, melodic chime with movement. They are artifacts of the lost Cyrian culture.

Dancer’s Poise. The wearer gains a +2 insight bonus to Acrobatics checks. In addition, when knocked prone, they can stand up as a swift action instead of a move action.

Tireless Rhythm. The wearer’s movements are efficient and graceful. When running or hustling, the wearer can move at this pace for twice as long as normal before needing to make Constitution checks.

Step of Alacrity. As a move action, the wearer can move up to their speed. This movement does not provoke attacks of opportunity. This ability can be used a number of times per day equal to the wearer’s Dexterity modifier.

Traveller (Mongoose 2nd Edition)

The ‘Dancer’s’ Personal Performance Enhancer (TL-11) Cost: Cr 30,000 Mass: —

An advanced wearable device appearing as a pair of stylish anklets made from advanced, self-cleaning polymers that mimic woven silk. The four ‘pods’ on each are sophisticated micro-impellers and sonic emitters that create a pleasant chime. The device subtly reads the user’s muscle tension and biometric data to enhance movement and social influence.

Motor Assistance Suite. The device reads the user’s intent and provides subtle kinetic assistance. This provides DM+1 to any checks involving feats of agility or fine motor control, such as Athletics (acrobatics) or Drive (any).

Audience Engagement Emitter. When used as part of a public performance involving dance or movement, the sonic emitters can be tuned to create subliminal, pleasing frequencies. This provides the user DM+2 on any Carouse or Persuade check made to influence the audience during the performance.

Predictive Evasion. The device’s biosensors can predict incoming threats based on enemy movements. Once per day, the user can have the device automatically provide the Dodge reaction to an attack without using their own reaction for the round. The user must be aware of the attack.

Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, 4th Edition

The Chimes of Fleeting Grace Encumbrance: 0 Price: 12 GC Availability: Scarce

These beautiful and strangely made anklets are highly prized by entertainers, spies, and duelists. Woven from silks of a style attributed to distant Cathay, they feature hollowed seed pods that chime with an unnatural, captivating melody. The Empire’s witch hunters view them with deep suspicion.

Unnatural Poise. The wearer feels a strange lightness in their step, making them difficult to pin down. When an opponent successfully hits the wearer with a Melee attack, the wearer may make a Challenging (+0) Dodge Test as a reaction. If successful, the hit becomes a miss. This ability can only be used once per round.

Captivating Rhythm. The chimes create a sound that can mesmerize the weak-willed. When making an Entertain (Dance) Test, the user may choose to affect one target within earshot. That target must make a Challenging (+0) Cool Test or gain one Broken Condition as they are stunned by the performance’s beauty for a single round.

A Moment’s Peace (Limitation). The magic of the chimes is subtle and not of the eight Winds of Magic. Should the wearer ever gain a Mutation, the chimes will crack and fall silent, their magic forever lost.