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Tapa 742 of the Discerning Weaver

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by

Dale
in

Lore: The 742nd pattern of this lineage was originally pounded into form by the reclusive bark-smiths of the Shifting Isles. Unlike battle-born relics, this length of cloth was soaked in the juices of the Oku berry, which reacts to the subtle vibrations of local history. The intricate geometric spirals on the cloth are not static; they slightly tighten or loosen when they come into contact with objects of significant craftsmanship or deceptive origins. It is a traditional tool for apprentices who have not yet fully mastered their Mind’s Eye, acting as a physical bridge between the user’s intuition and the object’s hidden truth.

Detail Stats

  • Tier: 1
  • Rarity: Common
  • Slot: Shoulder (Can be worn as a sash or draped over one shoulder)
  • Material: Fermented Inner Bark Fibre
  • Weight: 0.5 lbs

Skills Gained While Openly Worn

  • Appraisal: The wearer gains a fundamental understanding of market value and material integrity for mundane items found in the world.
  • Surface Reading: The wearer can more easily detect if a non-magical item has been recently repaired or altered to hide a defect.

Passive Magic

  • Steady Eye: While the cloth is touching the wearer’s skin, the time required to use the “Active” Mind’s Eye (Identify) is reduced by one minute, as the symbols on the cloth vibrate to help focus the user’s concentration.
  • Symbolic Resonance: When the wearer examines a written riddle or an ancient symbol, the Tapa cloth warms slightly if the wearer is on the right track to a solution, providing a subtle hint toward “Abstract Concepts.”

Activable Magic

  • Unfold Truth: Once per hour, the wearer can touch the Tapa cloth to an object and speak a word of command. The symbols on the cloth will briefly glow, revealing the material composition (e.g., “70% copper, 30% tin”) of the object even if it is painted or disguised.
  • Echo of Origin: By concentrating on a specific symbol on the cloth for one minute, the wearer can sense the general direction of the nearest library or archive that contains information regarding the item currently being “evaluated.”

Tags: Shoulder, Divination, Textile, Utility, Investigation, Lore-Bound, Tier-1, Cultural, Bark-Cloth, Ritual, Non-Combat, Perception, Patterned, Lightweight, Tradition, Identification, Senses, Artisan

In the world of Saṃsāra, obtaining a Tapa 742 of the Discerning Weaver involves navigating the specific merchant cultures of the island nations and understanding the value of bark-craft.

  • Methods of Obtaining the Item:
    • Apprenticeship Hand-me-downs: Many avatars receive this item from a mentor upon completing basic training in trade or archaeology. It is often gifted as a tool to help the student “evaluate” the world without becoming overwhelmed by the Mind’s Eye.
    • Cultural Exchange: In the 73 Island countries, visiting a bark-smith’s grove and providing the raw materials from a specific tree might result in a custom-pounded cloth.
    • Salvage and Ruins: Because these items are used by researchers, they are frequently found in the “forgotten areas” or ruins of old civilizations, often tucked inside a researcher’s satchel near a skeletal avatar.
    • Quest Reward: NPCs who fear their own insight or are being “shunned” by society for their Mind’s Eye abilities may offer this item to an avatar in exchange for a discreet negotiation or a library research task.
  • The Curio Shop (The High-End Specialist):
    • Description: These shops are usually located in the skyscrapers of metropolises or floating cities. They are filled with magic circuits and glowing crystals. The shopkeeper is likely a tier-2 or tier-3 gestalt mind who uses the items to verify their own inventory.
    • Buying Price: 15 to 20 Silver. The price is higher here because the item has been professionally cleaned and the symbols have been “re-tuned” to the local magical flow.
    • Selling Price: 8 Silver. These merchants are shrewd and will point out any fraying in the bark fibers to lower their offer.
  • The Open-Air Bazaar (The Trade Hub):
    • Description: Located near ship docks or Zeppelin mooring masts, these stalls are chaotic and high-energy. The “sellers’ market” mentality is most prevalent here. Steam-powered gears often clatter in the background as goods are moved from ships.
    • Buying Price: 10 to 12 Silver. This is the “suggested value” for a common tier-1 item. You might pay more if the merchant senses you are a “rule breaker” or a newly arrived soul who is confused by the world.
    • Selling Price: 5 Silver or 10 Nickel. Merchants here prefer quick turnover and will not pay a premium for lore.
  • The Alchemist’s Exchange (The Material Specialist):
    • Description: These shops smell of Oku berries and fermented fibers. They focus on the “utility” and “material” tags of an item. The shopkeepers are often experts in the industrial age mechanics of Saṃsāra and value the cloth for its alchemical properties.
    • Buying Price: 13 Silver. They offer a fair price based on the quality of the fermented inner bark.
    • Selling Price: 7 Silver. They may offer a slightly higher trade-in value if you are buying alchemical single-shot gunpowder components.
  • The “Buyer Beware” Back-Alley Dealer:
    • Description: Found in the “dark cave systems” or the underside of floating cities. There is no guarantee of authenticity.
    • Buying Price: 5 Silver. The price is suspiciously low, and the “Mind’s Eye” might reveal that the “Tapa 742” is actually a mundane piece of bark cloth painted with false symbols to mislead the possessor.
    • Selling Price: 2 Silver. They will buy almost anything, no questions asked, but for a pittance.

Strategic Application of the Tapa 742 of the Discerning Weaver

The Tapa 742 is primarily a tool of perception and evaluation, but in the hands of a clever avatar, its ability to reveal the “intrinsic truth” of the world becomes a vital asset in both defensive and offensive roleplay scenarios.

Defensive Roleplay and Utility

  • Environmental Hazard Mitigation: In Unsafe or Deathly areas where AC is reduced or eliminated, the Tapa 742 is used to evaluate the structural integrity of the surroundings. An avatar can use the “Unfold Truth” ability to check if a bridge is made of solid stone or a clever illusion/disguised rot. Knowing the “material composition” allows a party to avoid traps that would otherwise lead to a lethal fall.
  • Neutralizing Misdirection: Because some creatures and items in Saṃsāra use “false stats” to mislead the Mind’s Eye, the Tapa cloth acts as a physical double-check. A defender can watch the geometric spirals on the cloth; if the cloth tightens while an NPC is offering a “safe” drink or a “sturdy” shield, the wearer knows they are being deceived, allowing them to retreat before an ambush begins.
  • Negotiation and Social Defense: In high-stakes political intrigue, the “Surface Reading” skill allows an avatar to evaluate the gear of an opponent. If an adversary claims to be a lowly Tier 1 traveler but the Tapa cloth reveals their “tunic” is actually made of Tier 3 rhodium-threaded fibers, the avatar can roleplay a defensive shift in dialogue, realizing they are dealing with a much more powerful entity than they appear.

Offensive Roleplay and Strategic Strike

  • Exploiting Material Weaknesses: While the Tapa 742 does not grant a direct damage bonus, its “Unfold Truth” ability is used offensively to identify the specific vulnerabilities of a foe’s armor or a construct’s core. By revealing that a mechanical guardian is composed of 90% copper, an avatar can direct their allies to use spells or attacks that specifically target the conductivity or softness of that metal, turning a difficult battle into a coordinated strike.
  • Precision Targeting of Conduits: In the world of Saṃsāra, magic requires a conduit. An attacker can use the “Active” Mind’s Eye—aided by the “Steady Eye” passive—to quickly identify which of an enemy’s many worn items is their primary magical focus. By evaluating the “unique attributes” of a foe’s gear, the avatar can roleplay an offensive maneuver aimed specifically at sundering or disarming that conduit, effectively “silencing” the enemy’s ability to cast.
  • Strategic Planning in Combat: Before an engagement, an avatar can use the Tapa cloth to evaluate the battlefield. By sensing “Symbolic Resonance” or “Echo of Origin,” they might discover that a specific ancient pillar in the room is a magical battery or a load-bearing “abstract concept.” Roleplaying the destruction of these key environmental points can provide a massive tactical advantage, such as collapsing a ceiling on a monster or draining the mana crystals powering a foe’s defenses.
  • True Name Discovery: A character might use the Tapa’s “Appraisal” and “Surface Reading” to find clues about an ancient creature’s history in the local environment. If this leads to the discovery of the target’s True Name in a nearby library (sensed via “Echo of Origin”), the offensive power of the party’s spells is doubled, making the Tapa 742 the catalyst for a devastating offensive finish.

Perception of Activation: Tapa 742 of the Discerning Weaver

  • User’s Perspective
    • Tactile: The moment activation is triggered, the soft, fibrous texture of the bark cloth transforms. The wearer feels a rhythmic, pulse-like vibration against their shoulder, resembling a steady heartbeat. If an object of high material value is touched, the cloth becomes noticeably warm; if a deceptive or “false” object is touched, the fibers turn cold and slightly abrasive.
    • Visual: The user sees the blue geometric spirals on the cloth begin to rotate and expand. As the “Unfold Truth” ability activates, the user’s field of vision is overlaid with a translucent, shimmering grid that highlights the structural seams and chemical impurities of the target object.
    • Extra-Sensory: The user experiences a “cognitive anchoring.” The mental noise of a crowded environment fades into the background as their Mind’s Eye is funneled toward the target. They feel an intuitive “click” when their evaluation aligns with the object’s true nature, providing a sense of intellectual satisfaction and certainty.
  • Observer’s Perspective
    • Visual: To those nearby, the Tapa cloth appears to come alive. The intricate blue symbols glow with a soft, bioluminescent light that pulses in time with the wearer’s breathing. Small, golden sparks of “silver fire” mana may occasionally dance along the edges of the cloth as it processes the magical flow of the environment.
    • Auditory: A faint, low-frequency hum, similar to the sound of wind rushing through an old forest or the distant vibration of a tuning fork, emanates from the cloth.
    • Environmental: The air immediately surrounding the wearer may seem to grow still or “heavy” as the item acts as a conduit, drawing in ambient magic to fuel the identification process.
  • Positives
    • Clarity: The activation filters out sensory distractions, allowing the avatar to focus entirely on the “intrinsic details” without the risk of immediate mental overwhelm.
    • Validation: The physical feedback (heat/cold/vibration) serves as an objective confirmation of the Mind’s Eye’s findings, reducing the chance of falling for magical misdirection or illusions.
    • Efficiency: The “Steady Eye” passive significantly lowers the time required to perform a deep “Identify” action, making it viable to evaluate items during brief lulls in action or negotiation.
  • Negatives
    • Sensory Tunneling: Because the user is so focused on the evaluation, they may suffer a temporary loss of peripheral awareness, making them vulnerable to unexpected physical attacks or environmental hazards not directly related to the object of focus.
    • Conspicuousness: The glowing symbols and audible hum make “stealthy” evaluation nearly impossible in dark or quiet areas. The activation clearly signals to observers that the avatar is using a magical ability, which may cause NPCs to become defensive or suspicious.
    • Physical Drain: Prolonged or repeated activation in a short period can lead to a “static” feeling in the wearer’s nerves, a precursor to the cooldown periods required to prevent the Mind’s Eye from becoming overwhelmed.

Ritual of the Discerning Weaver: Tapa 742 Replication

  • Materials Needed
    • Inner Bark of the Oku-Nut Tree: Three square feet of raw, unblemished inner bark, harvested during a high-magic weather cycle.
    • Fermented Oku Berry Mash: One gallon of crushed berries used to treat the fibers for magical receptivity.
    • Blue Lapis Pigment: Fine-ground mineral powder mixed with a drop of the crafter’s own blood to bind the “Soul Domination” to the symbols.
    • Silver Fire Infusion: A small mana crystal (Tier 1) to be consumed during the pounding process to charge the conduits.
    • River Water: Pure water for rinsing the bark to ensure no “false stats” from soil impurities remain.
  • Tools Required
    • Stone Beater (I’e): A heavy, square-headed stone mallet with specific grooves carved into each face to create the geometric fiber texture.
    • Anvil Log: A seasoned hardwood log, preferably from an ancient grove, to act as the base for the pounding.
    • Fine Bone Stylus: Used for the precision drawing of the geometric spirals and the intricate “Symbolic Resonance” patterns.
    • Steam-Press: A mechanical transmission system powered by a small fire-water elemental boiler to flatten the final cloth.
  • Skill Requirements
    • Fiber Preparation (Basic): Knowledge of how to separate the bark layers without tearing the magical “meridian” lines of the plant.
    • TTRPG Symbolic Literacy: The ability to visualize and transcribe “stats” into physical geometric forms.
    • Mind’s Eye Focus: The crafter must be at least Tier 1 and capable of maintaining a “Passive” state of examination throughout the 10-hour process.
    • Alchemy (Beginner): To properly ferment the berry mash to the exact pH level required for fiber expansion.
  • Crafting Steps
    • Harvesting and Stripping: Carefully peel the Oku bark. Use the stone beater to gently loosen the outer layer, discarding everything but the soft, white inner bast.
    • Fermentation Soak: Submerge the inner bark in the Oku Berry mash for exactly one full day cycle. This expands the fibers and prepares them to hold the “Steady Eye” passive magic.
    • The First Pounding: Place the damp bark on the anvil log. Using the grooved stone beater, strike the fibers in a rhythmic pattern. This step mimics the “heartbeat” felt during activation and binds the layers into a single, cohesive cloth.
    • The Mana Infusion: Crushing the Tier 1 mana crystal into a fine dust, sprinkle it over the center of the cloth while it is still damp. Continue pounding until the “Silver Fire” sparks are no longer visible, having been absorbed into the fiber structure.
    • Inscribing the Truth: Use the bone stylus and the Lapis pigment to draw the 742nd pattern. The crafter must concentrate on the concept of “Evaluation” while drawing, ensuring each spiral is perfectly centered.
    • Steam Setting: Place the decorated cloth into the steam-press. Apply rotational power via the gear-and-pulley system to apply high pressure and heat. This sets the symbols and ensures the cloth will not fray when worn as a sash.
    • Final Attunement: The crafter must hold the finished item for one minute to perform a ritual attunement, verifying that the “Unfold Truth” ability responds to their thoughts.

First-Fiber and Eye-of-Bark-Smith

In the season when the sky-smoke was yet young and the Great Steam had not yet tasted the copper pipes of the world, there dwelt a being of many-thought named Oun. This Oun was a walker of the Uncharted, an avatar whose soul-domination was as the wind—everywhere and nowhere. It is whispered in the scrolls of the crumbling dark-caves that Oun was the first to hear the weeping of the Oku-trees, for the trees were burdened with the weight of seeing all things but knowing the names of none.

Oun did seek to capture the “intrinsic truth” of the world, but their Mind’s Eye was as a storm-tossed vessel, overwhelmed by the stats of the pebbles and the titles of the blades of grass. The “Overwhelm” did strike Oun, and for three sun-cycles, they wandered blind, the world a blur of unreadable quantifications.

Upon the fourth rising of the white-fire-star, Oun did crawl to the foot of the Mother-Oku. With hands that shook like the gears of a broken clockwork, Oun did strip the inner skin of the tree. They did not have the stone beater of the modern age, but used instead the heavy heart-stones of the river. Pounding. Pounding. The sound was the “Normal Ritual” of the first creation.

As the bark did flatten, Oun did weep, and their tears did mix with the crushed juices of the blue berries. The story-translation tells of “The Great Purity,” which we now know as the first attunement. Oun did not use a stylus, but their own silver-fire-mana did leak from their fingertips, etching the first spirals—the 001.

But the 001 was too powerful; it did burn the shoulder of Oun, for the Tier-level of the object was as the gods, and Oun was but a seedling. They did labor through seven thousand and forty-one failures. Each time the cloth did rot, or the symbols did lie, or the “Misdirection” of the world did poison the fibers.

When the Tapa 742 was finally struck, the world did grow silent. Oun did drape the sash over their soul-vessel and looked upon a simple stone. The stone did not just say “Stone.” It did speak of its heart of iron; it did reveal the “potential weaknesses” of its granite skin. Oun did walk into the “Deathly Areas” of the old world, and though their AC was as nothing, the Tapa did vibrate, showing them the paths where the ground was not ground, but a mouth of the deep.

The poorly-etched tablets say that Oun used the 742 to find the True Name of the World-Eater, a beast whose stats were hidden by a veil of ancient shadow. By concentrating for “a few minutes to dive deeper,” Oun did see the silver-thread of the monster’s life. With a single strike of an unattuned branch—which became attuned the moment it was held—Oun did strike the “Potential Weakness” and the world was saved from the Great Unmaking.

Oun did not keep the cloth. They did leave it in a “Library Interaction” of the first city, so that all who followed might learn that to see the world is to carry a “heavy burden to bear,” but to see the world clearly is to find the path through the “Unsafe Areas” of existence. The cloth was copied, the patterns pounded into the history of the 73 Islands, until the 742 became the mark of those who seek the truth beneath the paint.

The translation ends with a fragment of the “Ancient Unknown” tongue, which the scholars of Saṃsāra have struggled to bring into the primary thoughts of the modern avatar. It speaks of the weight of the eye and the softness of the bark.

The Moral of the Story: To see the truth of a thing is a shield far stronger than the thickest plate of steel, but he who stares too long into the deep stats must have a soft cloth to wipe the exhaustion from his soul.

Suggested conversions to other systems:

Dungeons & Dragons (5th Edition)

Item Name: Mantle of the Discerning Weaver Item Type: Wondrous Item, Common (Requires Attunement)

  • Game Mechanics: While wearing this sash, you can use an action to focus on an object or creature within 30 feet. For the next minute, you have advantage on Intelligence (Investigation) checks to discern the object’s true nature, material composition, or to detect if it is a magical illusion.
  • Active Ability (Identify): Once per long rest, you can cast the Identify spell as a ritual, using the sash as the required material component. When cast in this way, the spell also reveals the item’s current market value in gold pieces.
  • Passive Bonus: You gain a +1 bonus to Wisdom (Perception) checks made to find hidden compartments or secret doors.
  • Syntax: Wondrous item, common (requires attunement).

Call of Cthulhu (7th Edition)

Item Name: The Tapa of Teratological Truths Item Type: Occult Artifact / Tool

  • Game Mechanics: An Investigator possessing this bark-cloth fragment can spend 1D6 Luck points to automatically succeed on an Appraise or Library Use roll regarding an ancient artifact or strange biological specimen.
  • The Mind’s Eye: By spending 5 minutes in quiet concentration (Active Activation), the user may attempt a Hard Intelligence roll. Success reveals the specimen’s primary “Weakness” or a hint toward its “Species Name.”
  • Sanity Cost: Using the cloth to look behind the veil of a Mythos creature’s disguise requires a Sanity check (0/1D4). Seeing the “intrinsic truth” of the universe is often more than the human mind can bear.
  • Syntax: Occult Artifact. Provides a Bonus Die to Appraise checks when studying non-human origins.

Blades in the Dark

Item Name: The Spirit-Stitched Sash Item Type: Utility Item (0 Load / 1 Load when actively used)

  • Game Mechanics: This item functions as Fine Scholar’s Tools for the purposes of a Study or Survey action. When you use the sash to evaluate a target during a score, you may take +1d to your roll, but you risk 2 stress if the information is “overwhelming” or “complex.”
  • Special Ability (Spirit-Sight): You may expend a special armor use to negate a “Misdirection” or “False Stat” consequence inflicted by a supernatural foe.
  • Roleplay Hook: The sash vibrates when a “Safe Area” is nearby, granting a +1 Tier bump to the crew’s Lifestyle or Recovery rolls if used during Downtime to locate a secure hideout.
  • Syntax: Fine item, 1 load. Grants +1 effect when investigating the composition of arcane artifacts or spirit-tech.

Knave (2nd Edition)

Item Name: Bark-Sash of 742 Spirals Item Type: Wearable (1 Item Slot)

  • Game Mechanics: While this sash is worn, any Wisdom check made to identify the properties of a magic item or the value of treasure is made with Advantage.
  • Evaluation: Once per day, the wearer can ask the Referee one question about an object’s material or origin. The Referee must answer truthfully based on the “Mind’s Eye” stats.
  • The Weight of Truth: If the wearer is carrying more than 10 items (not counting the sash), the sash becomes “Overwhelmed.” The wearer takes 1D4 damage every turn until they drop their inventory below the limit or remove the sash.
  • Syntax: 1 Slot. Advantage on ID checks. Daily: Reveal 1 hidden property of a touched object.

Fate Core / Condensed

Item Name: The Tapa of Deep Truths Item Type: Unique Extra / Stunt-Granting Item

  • Aspect: Bark of the Discerning Weaver. This aspect can be invoked when performing a Notice or Investigate action to find hidden details or material flaws. It may be compelled by the GM to represent “Overwhelm” when the character is faced with too much information at once.
  • Game Mechanics: This item provides the following Stunt: Evaluate. Once per scene, you can use Investigate to create an advantage on an object or creature at a distance, representing the “Active Activation.” If successful, you gain a free invoke and discover one of the target’s hidden aspects or its highest-ranking skill.
  • Stress & Consequences: If the character fails a roll while using the Tapa to investigate a powerful magical concept, they may take mental stress or a consequence like Sensory Static or Blurred Reality.
  • Syntax: Extra: Tapa Cloth. Cost: 1 Refresh. +2 to Investigate when identifying material composition.

Numenera & Cypher System

Item Name: Spiral-Pulse Wrap Item Type: Artifact (Level 1d6)

  • Game Mechanics: This bark-cloth wrap is embedded with micro-circuitry that mimics magical symbols. It grants the wearer an Asset on all tasks related to identifying objects or understanding numenera.
  • Active Power (Depletion: 1 in 1d20): When the wearer spends 1 minute in concentration, they gain comprehensive data on a machine or creature within short range. This reveals the target’s Level, its primary function/ability, and one specific vulnerability.
  • Limitations: If used more than three times between rests, the user suffers an “Overwhelm” effect, increasing the difficulty of all Intellect tasks by one step for one hour.
  • Syntax: Artifact: Level 1d6; Depletion: 1 in 1d20. Grants one Asset to identification and understanding tasks.

Pathfinder (2nd Edition)

Item Name: Tapa of the All-Seeing Eye Item Type: Item 1, Invested, Magical, Divination

  • Game Mechanics: You gain a +1 item bonus to Perception checks to find hidden objects and to Crafting checks to identify items (including their material and market value).
  • Activate (Identify): Two Actions (Concentrate). The Tapa pulses with blue light. You perform the Identify Magic or Identify Alchemy action. On a success, you learn the item’s properties as normal, but you also learn if the item is cursed or has been magically disguised to show “False Stats.”
  • Overwhelm (Drawback): If you fail a check to Identify an item of a higher level than yourself while wearing the Tapa, you become Stupefied 1 for 1 minute as the Mind’s Eye clashes with the object’s complexity.
  • Syntax: Item 1. Usage: worn (sash); Bulk: L. Perception +1 item bonus.

Savage Worlds (Adventure Edition)

Item Name: Weaver’s Insight Sash Item Type: Enchanted Gear

  • Game Mechanics: The wearer gains a +1 bonus to Research and Notice rolls when evaluating objects, ancient ruins, or magical artifacts.
  • Active Power: By spending 5 minutes (a “few minutes” in-game) to focus, the wearer can make a Smarts roll. On a success, they learn the target’s Toughness and any Special Abilities (like Resistances or Weaknesses). On a Raise, they also learn one specific piece of “Abstract Concept” lore or a secret related to the object.
  • Cooldown: If the wearer uses the active power and fails the Smarts roll, they cannot use the sash again until they have completed a Long Rest, representing the strain on the Mind’s Eye.
  • Syntax: Minor Artifact. +1 Notice/Research (Evaluation). Smarts roll reveals stats and weaknesses.

Shadowrun (6th World Edition)

Item Name: Bark-Circuit Evaluation Sash Item Type: Awakened Focus (Detection)

  • Game Mechanics: This sash acts as a Force 1 Detection Focus. While active, the user gains a +1 bonus to Perception and Assensing tests. It allows the user to perceive the “auras” of objects, revealing their structural integrity and the presence of any hidden magical or technological “misdirection.”
  • Active Activation (Identify): By spending a Major Action and making an Assensing + Intuition test, the user can “dive deep” into an object’s code or aura. Each net hit reveals one piece of information: Material Composition, Manufacturer/Species, or a specific Weakness.
  • Drain/Overwhelm: Using the Active Activation more than once per hour requires a Soak test against 2S (Stun) damage as the sensory input begins to overwhelm the user’s neural pathways.
  • Syntax: Detection Focus (Force 1). Bonus: +1 Perception/Assensing. Requirement: Must be Awakened.

Starfinder (2nd Edition / Playtest)

Item Name: Xeno-Tapa Scanner Wrap Item Type: Magic Item (Lvl 1)

  • Game Mechanics: This item functions as a specialized Library Chip for any library research regarding creatures or materials previously viewed. It grants a +1 item bonus to Life Science and Physical Science checks to identify creatures or minerals.
  • The Mind’s Eye (Active): As a 1-minute activity, the wearer can focus on a technological or biological target. This functions as the Identify spell, but also reveals the target’s Damage Reduction (DR) or Energy Resistance (ER).
  • Slot: Shoulders.
  • Syntax: Level 1 Magic Item. Bulk L. Price: 15 credits. +1 Item bonus to ID checks.

Traveller (Mongoose 2nd Edition)

Item Name: The Weaver’s Bio-Bark Interface Item Type: TL 12 Sensory Augment

  • Game Mechanics: When worn, the user may apply a +1 DM to all Investigate and Electronics (Sensors) checks when examining artifacts or planetary lifeforms.
  • Data Analysis: If the user spends 10 minutes (Active concentration) scanning an object, they gain an Effect +1 bonus on any subsequent Broker or Science rolls related to that object, representing a perfect “evaluation” of its market value or chemical makeup.
  • Drawback: If the user rolls a natural 2 (Snake Eyes) on an investigation check while using the sash, they suffer the “Overwhelm” condition, incurring a -2 DM to all Skill checks for the next 1D6 hours.
  • Syntax: TL 12, 0.25kg, Cr 500. Provides +1 DM to Investigate/Sensors.

Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (4th Edition)

Item Name: Cloth of the Lore-Seeker Item Type: Magical Artefact (Common)

  • Game Mechanics: The wearer gains a +10 bonus to all Lore (Art), Lore (Science), or Evaluate tests. When using the “Mind’s Eye” (Perception) to examine an item, the wearer can discern if the item is touched by Chaos or carries a hidden curse.
  • Active Concentration: By spending 2 Rounds and passing a Challenging (+0) Perception Test, the user reveals the “Basic Stats” of a foe (current Wounds and highest Attribute).
  • The Weight of Truth: If the user fails a test to identify a “Corrupted” item, they must pass a Cool Test or suffer 1 Agi (Agony) as the psychological impact of the truth causes physical pain.
  • Syntax: Common Magic Item. +10 to Evaluate/Lore. Reveal Wounds on successful Perception Test.