From: Fragrantite
Ingredients: 2 units of Raw Fragrantite dust, 1 vial of distilled night-blooming jasmine, and 3 drops of Silver Fire (Mana).
Process: The dust is steeped in the jasmine essence under a cloudless moon. The resulting sludge is rubbed onto a Fragrantite weapon guard.
Effect: During combat, every parry releases a “Sensory Distraction” cloud. This cloud forces the opponent to make a check or suffer a penalty to their next attack as their vision is blurred by a localized, violet-scented fog.
Tags: Combat-Alchemy, Buff-Vapor, Combat-Alchemy, Buff-Vapor, Tier-1, Sensory-Distraction, Dueling-Tool, Fragrantite-Alchemy, Reaction-Trigger, Jasmine-Base, Defensive-Buff, Vision-Blur
The Duelist’s Ghost-Mist (Formula 663) is a sophisticated application of Combat-Alchemy designed for the “Sellers’ Market” of high-stakes dueling. Unlike traditional poisons that target the blood, this formula targets the sensory perception of the opponent, turning a successful defense into a potent opening. It is a favorite among the “Fencing-Alchemists” of the upper spires, where style and tactical subversion are valued as much as the strike itself.
Lore
- Formula 663 was perfected by a blind duelist who claimed he could “see” the scent of his opponents’ intentions. He realized that by saturating a weapon’s crossguard with a highly reactive Fragrantite sludge, the heat and kinetic energy of a parry could be used to flash-vaporize the mixture. The night-blooming jasmine acts as a “carrier” for the Fragrantite’s resonant frequency, creating a mist that specifically disrupts the focus of any creature relying on visual or olfactory tracking. In the dueling pits of Saṃsāra, it is often called “The Coward’s Violet,” though those who use it prefer the term “Strategic Atmospheric Management.”
Tier One Stats
- Activation Trigger: Successful Parry or Weapon-to-Weapon Contact.
- Cloud Duration: 1 Round (6 seconds).
- Penalty: The opponent suffers a -2 penalty to their next Attack roll and -1 to AC due to “Blurred Vision.”
- Charges: 5 applications per weapon treatment (One treatment lasts for one combat encounter or 1 hour of active carry).
- Detection: The violet-grey mist is visible as a soft, shimmering haze; it requires a Mind’s Eye (Active) check of 14 to realize the mist is magically induced and not natural steam.
Skills Acquired (If Used)
- Reactive Precision (+1): Through the process of timing the parry to release the mist, the user gains a temporary boost to their defensive coordination.
- Aromatic Timing: The user learns to breathe in sync with the jasmine release, allowing them to remain unaffected by their own cloud while gaining a +1 bonus to Initiative in subsequent rounds.
- Tactical Displacement: The user acquires the ability to “flicker” within the mist, making them harder to target with ranged attacks (Granting a +1 bonus to Defense against projectiles).
Preparation
- Moon-Steeping: The Raw Fragrantite dust must be mixed with the distilled jasmine in a silver bowl and left in the open air under a cloudless moon for exactly four hours. If a cloud passes over the moon, the “Silver Fire” will not bond correctly.
- Silver Fire Infusion: The 3 drops of Silver Fire must be stirred in clockwise using a Fragrantite rod until the mixture turns from a dull grey to a vibrant, oily violet.
Process
- The Smearing: The resulting sludge is thick and pungent. It must be rubbed specifically into the “grooves” or “filigree” of a weapon’s guard or hilt.
- Kinetic Bonding: Once applied, the user must strike the weapon three times against a hard stone. This “awakens” the Fragrantite within the sludge, bonding it to the metal of the weapon.
- Thermal Release: During combat, the friction and heat of a parry act as the catalyst. The Fragrantite “flashes,” consuming a portion of the jasmine carrier and releasing it as a concentrated, violet-scented fog that clings to the opponent’s face.
Additional Information
- Buyer Beware: Counterfeit Formula 663 often uses common lavender and charcoal dust. While it smells pleasant, it lacks the “Silver Fire” bond and will not vaporize during combat, merely making the user’s weapon oily and difficult to grip.
- The “Sellers’ Market” Volatility: Because night-blooming jasmine is seasonal, the cost of the ingredients can triple during the winter months.
- Non-Lethal Utility: The Ghost-Mist is considered a “Clean” tool in most Guild-sanctioned duels, as it does not cause permanent injury or “Mana-Burn” to the opponent.
- Environmental Interaction: In “Unsafe Areas” where the air is already stagnant, the Ghost-Mist can linger for up to 3 rounds, creating a small “Sanctuary of Scent” for the user.
The acquisition of The Duelist’s Ghost-Mist (Formula 663) requires access to specialized alchemical circles, as the preparation involves the volatile bonding of “Silver Fire” with organic floral essences. In the world of Saṃsāra, this formula is treated as a high-end combat performance enhancer rather than a common poison.
High-Spires Perfumeries & Essence Ateliers
These elegant, glass-fronted shops cater to the nobility and professional duelists of the upper districts. They focus on the aromatic purity of the formula.
- How it is Bought: The seeker is presented with “Scent-Strips” to verify the quality of the jasmine base. The merchant then performs a “Silver-Fire Test,” where a drop of the sludge is placed on a cold plate; it should emit a faint violet spark without any heat. It is sold in decorative, lead-lined vials to prevent the moon-charge from dissipating.
- How it is Sold: These ateliers rarely buy back used or opened vials, as the “Silver Fire” loses potency once exposed to sunlight. They may buy raw, unrefined night-blooming jasmine from foragers.
- Cost: 45 to 55 Silver per vial (enough for one weapon treatment/5 charges).
Dueling-Pit Apothecaries
Located beneath the grand arenas and training halls, these shops are gritty and smell of ozone and sweat. They provide “Ready-to-Apply” versions for immediate use.
- How it is Bought: The formula is often sold in “Sludge-Pots.” The merchant will apply the mixture directly to the seeker’s weapon guard for an additional fee. It is a “Buyer Beware” market; if the violet hue is too dark, the mixture may be “over-cooked” and could damage the weapon’s finish.
- How it is Sold: Fighters who find themselves in debt often sell half-used pots of the mist. The merchant will weigh the remaining sludge and offer a fraction of the value.
- Cost: 30 to 40 Silver. The price is lower here, but the jasmine is often lower-grade “Day-Mock” jasmine, which has a shorter duration of effect.
“Ghost-Market” Alchemy Stalls
Found in the “Unsafe Areas” where law is secondary to survival, these stalls deal in reclaimed or “Extracted” formulas.
- How it is Bought: It is often sold in unmarked ceramic jars. The “Silver Fire” may have been replaced with common mana-residue, making the mist less effective. The buyer must check the “Resonance” of the jar; if it doesn’t vibrate when tapped, the Fragrantite dust has settled and “died.”
- How it is Sold: These stalls buy any “shimmering sludge” brought in by scavengers, often mixing different batches together to create a “Muddy” version of the formula.
- Cost: 12 to 18 Silver. This is the only place to find the mist at a low price, but there is a 20% chance the mixture will cause a “Backfire,” blurring the user’s vision instead of the opponent’s.
Guild Requisition Vaults
For those with a Writ of Dueling or a quest involving high-profile infiltration, the mist is treated as a tactical utility.
- How it is Bought: It is issued in standardized “Unit-Vials.” The seeker must prove they have the Alchemy (Aromatic Branch) skill to apply it correctly, or a Guild smith will do it for them.
- How it is Sold: The Guild does not buy back the formula, but they accept it as a “Donation” in exchange for Reputation points within the Alchemists’ Circle.
- Cost: 25 Silver (Subsidized for Guild members).
The Shifting Haze: Tactical Deployment of the Ghost-Mist
The Duelist’s Ghost-Mist (Formula 663) is a tool of misdirection and sensory sabotage. In the world of Saṃsāra, where a single misstep can lead to a “Deathly Area” or a blade’s edge, the mist provides a momentary sanctuary of confusion. Roleplaying its use requires a focus on the sudden, rhythmic transition from a physical clash to a floral, obscuring vapor.
Offensive Roleplay: The Violet Opening
Offensively, the mist is not a weapon itself, but the “Herald of the Strike.” It is used to strip an opponent of their reaction speed and visual certainty.
- The Riposte of Shadows: After a successful parry, the user roleplays the “Flash-Vaporization.” As the blades scream against each other, the player describes a sudden, violent puff of violet smoke that erupts directly into the opponent’s face. While the foe is rubbing their eyes or coughing from the “Thick Jasmine,” the user describes their avatar slipping into a low stance for a precision strike against the “Blurred” target.
- The Scented Feint: A duelist may purposefully “Clash” their weapon against a shield or pillar to trigger a cloud early. The roleplay focuses on the user disappearing into their own mist. The player describes the opponent swinging wildly at the “Ghost-Scent” of jasmine while the actual duelist circles behind them for a “Back-Stab” or a disarming maneuver.
- Pressure Tactics: In a “Sellers’ Market” duel, the user can roleplay “Stoking the Mist.” By making rapid, non-lethal contact with the opponent’s weapon, they keep the cloud perpetually active. The player describes the opponent becoming increasingly frustrated and panicked as the “Violet-Fog” never clears, forcing them to fight by sound alone while the user remains “Anxiety-Free.”
Defensive Roleplay: The Floral Shield
Defensively, the mist acts as a “Reactive Screen” that punishes aggression and allows for a clean escape from superior numbers.
- The Crowded Withdrawal: If surrounded in a “High-Spires” ballroom or a narrow alley, the user roleplays a “Circle-Parry.” By clashing with multiple blades, they create a massive “Jasmine Bloom.” The player describes the attackers losing sight of their target and each other. Amidst the “Ozone and Flower” aroma, the user roleplays a silent exit, leaving the attackers to swing at shadows.
- The Anti-Precision Ward: When facing a “Saffron Seeker” or an archer, the user roleplays “Waving the Blade.” The motion triggers a thin trail of mist that hangs in the air like a ribbon. The player describes how the “Silver Fire” resonance in the mist distorts the light, making the user’s silhouette appear to “flicker” or “shift” three inches to the left, causing incoming projectiles to whistle harmlessly past.
- The Sensory Anchor: In environments of “Magical Darkness” or “Heavy Soot,” the user roleplays the mist as a “Familiar Scent.” While the opponent is lost in the dark, the user describes focusing on the “Bitter Jasmine” they applied to their own hilt. This acts as a sensory “North Star,” allowing the user to maintain their “Anxiety-Free” status while the opponent succumbs to environmental “Panic.”
Environmental Variations
- In the Under-City Drains: The roleplay centers on the “Heavy Air.” In damp, stagnant environments, the Ghost-Mist does not dissipate quickly. The player describes the violet fog “clinging” to the wet stone walls, creating a permanent “Zone of Distortion” that lasts the entire combat encounter.
- Within Floating Gardens: The roleplay focuses on “Scent-Camouflage.” Because the area already smells of flowers, the opponent doesn’t realize the “Ghost-Mist” is active until their vision begins to blur. The user roleplays the “Natural Predator,” moving seamlessly between real jasmine bushes and the “Formula 663” clouds.
- During High-Wind Sprints: On a rooftop or open plain, the mist is “Directional.” The player roleplays positioning themselves “Up-Wind” of the opponent. They describe the parry releasing a “Vapor-Bolt” that is carried by the breeze directly into the enemy’s eyes, while the user’s own face remains clear and unobstructed.

Perception of Activation:
User’s Perspective
- Sight: At the moment of a successful parry, the user sees a violent, localized flash of violet light erupting from their weapon’s guard. This is followed by the rapid expansion of a shimmering, translucent fog that appears to “stick” to the opponent’s silhouette like a glowing shroud.
- Sound: A distinct, high-pitched ping—similar to a tuning fork being struck—resonates through the hilt of the weapon. This is immediately followed by a soft, rushing whoosh as the sludge flash-vaporizes into the atmosphere.
- Smell: The user is enveloped in a concentrated, cooling wave of night-blooming jasmine. It is floral and sweet, but underscored by a sharp, metallic “electric” scent that clears the sinuses.
- Touch: The weapon’s hilt becomes momentarily cold to the touch, vibrating with a fine, high-frequency static that makes the user’s palm tingle. The user feels a reduction in the “heaviness” of the opponent’s strike as the kinetic energy is converted into vapor.
- Taste: A faint, flowery sweetness coats the tongue, accompanied by a dry, mineral aftertaste that mimics the sensation of licking a silver spoon.
- Extra-Sensory (Tactile Foresight): The user experiences a “Vibrational Map.” For a few heartbeats, they can feel the exact position and tension of the opponent’s limbs through the resonant vibrations of the mist, even if the opponent is moving behind them.
- Extra-Sensory (Olfactory Focus): The user feels a mental “Snap.” The jasmine essence acts as a psychological anchor, sharpening their concentration and allowing them to track the “scent-thread” of the opponent’s next movement before it begins.
Observer’s Perspective
- Sight: To those watching, the clash of blades is punctuated by a beautiful but disorienting burst of purple smoke. The mist seems to have a weight of its own, swirling aggressively around the opponent’s head and torso, causing their outlines to blur and waver like a heat mirage.
- Sound: They hear the metallic ring of the duel, followed by a strange, melodic hum that lingers in the air for a second longer than the physical strike.
- Smell: Spectators are suddenly struck by a powerful, out-of-place aroma of fresh flowers. In the grit of a dueling pit, this scent is jarring and marks the user as a practitioner of Formula 663.
- Touch: Those standing very close may feel a brief, cool breeze and a slight prickle of static electricity on their skin as the “Silver Fire” in the mist dissipates.
- Extra-Sensory (Sympathetic Vertigo): Observers often feel a brief moment of lightheadedness or “phantom swaying” if they stare too intently into the violet cloud, as the Fragrantite interferes with their own spatial perception.
Positives
- Reactionary Opening: The primary benefit is the immediate -2 penalty to the opponent’s next attack, effectively “buying” the user a defensive window or an offensive opening.
- Visual Obscurement: The “Blurred Vision” effect makes it difficult for the opponent to land precision strikes or target specific weak points in the user’s armor.
- Psychological Edge: The sudden eruption of light and scent often triggers a “Panic Check” in less experienced foes, disrupting their combat rhythm.
- Mana-Neutral: Unlike active spells, the Ghost-Mist uses kinetic friction for activation, allowing the user to save their personal mana for other abilities.
Negatives
- Short Duration: The cloud is fleeting, lasting only a few seconds. If the user does not capitalize on the “Blur” immediately, the advantage is lost.
- Limited Charges: With only 5 applications per treatment, the user must be strategic about which parries they choose to “invest” in during a long skirmish.
- Scent-Signature: The jasmine is unmistakable. After the first activation, an intelligent opponent will know the user is using Formula 663 and may shift to “Blind-Fighting” or area-of-effect attacks to compensate.
- Wind Sensitivity: In extremely high-wind environments, the mist can be blown away before it fully envelopes the opponent, reducing the penalty or negating the effect entirely.
The Distillation of the Coward’s Violet: Formula 663 Synthesis
Materials Needed
- 2 Units of Raw Fragrantite Dust: This must be ground into a fine, flour-like consistency using a non-metallic mortar to avoid premature sparking.
- 1 Vial of Distilled Night-Blooming Jasmine: The flowers must be harvested at the stroke of midnight and cold-pressed within a lead-lined container to preserve the “Lunar Affinity.”
- 3 Drops of Silver Fire (Mana): Concentrated liquid mana harvested from a rift-tear or a high-tier mana-well; it should be unstable and flickering with a pale white light.
- A Small Amount of Beeswax: Acts as a binding agent to ensure the sludge adheres to the weapon guard during high-speed combat.
- Purified Spring Water: For cleaning the tools; any impurities will cause the “Silver Fire” to boil and ruin the batch.
Tools Required
- Ceramic Steeping Bowl: Must be glazed and non-porous to prevent the Fragrantite from leaching into the container.
- Silver Stirring Rod: Used to channel the “Silver Fire” without grounding the electrical resonance.
- Lead-Lined Storage Jar: Essential for protecting the completed formula from sunlight, which degrades the jasmine’s reactive properties.
- Fine Silk Strainer: To remove any un-dissolved Fragrantite clumps that might scratch the weapon’s finish.
- A Cloudless Moon: Not a physical tool, but a required environmental catalyst for the chemical bonding.
Skill Requirements
- Tier 1 Combat-Alchemy: Knowledge of how kinetic energy interacts with volatile mineral dust.
- Aromatic Stabilization: The ability to balance the heavy scent of jasmine with the sharp metallic ozone of the Fragrantite.
- Mana-Handling: Specifically the “Low-Voltage” technique required to drop Silver Fire into a liquid without causing an explosion.
- Precise Measurement: The ratio of dust to essence is critical; too much dust creates a dry powder that blows away, too little creates a watery oil that won’t stay on the blade.
Crafting Steps
- Step 1: The Floral Base Pour the Night-Blooming Jasmine essence into the Ceramic Steeping Bowl. Slowly whisk the liquid with the Silver Stirring Rod until a small vortex forms in the center.
- Step 2: The Dust Infusion While the liquid is swirling, gradually sift the 2 units of Raw Fragrantite dust into the bowl. Do not dump it all at once. The mixture will turn a muddy, dull grey. Continue stirring until the texture is smooth and resembles thick cream.
- Step 3: The Lunar Exposure Place the bowl outdoors or on a windowsill directly under the light of a cloudless moon. The moon must be at its zenith. Let the mixture sit undisturbed for four hours. During this time, the Fragrantite will begin to “wake up,” and the grey color will shift toward a deep, bruised violet.
- Step 4: The Silver Fire Binding This is the most dangerous step. Using a pipette or a steady hand, add the 3 drops of Silver Fire directly into the center of the violet sludge. The mixture will hiss and emit a small cloud of ozone. Stir rapidly with the Silver Rod to fold the mana into the sludge before it evaporates.
- Step 5: Thickening Melt a pea-sized amount of beeswax and stir it into the warm mixture. This provides the “Sticky” quality needed for combat application. The final product should be an oily, shimmering violet paste that hums faintly when touched.
- Step 6: Potency Sealing Strain the mixture through the Fine Silk Strainer into the Lead-Lined Storage Jar. Seal the lid tightly and wrap the jar in a dark cloth. The formula is now ready to be applied to a weapon guard using a small brush or a gloved finger.
Dancing Shadow and Invisible Stink-Mist
In the cycle when the mountain-roots were yet soft like the belly of a fish, and the “Silver Fire” was a thing of the common hearth, there lived a Great Fighter of the “Low-Spire.” This man was a “Lord of the Two-Sticks,” but his eyes were filmed by the “Grey-Cataract-of-Time.” He could not see the blade of the enemy, only the “Scent-Shape” of their moving. He went to the “Mist-Waver of the Jasmine-Tree” and say, “Make for me a wall that is not a wall, a cloud that is not a rain, so that my foe may stumble in the violet-dark.”
The Mist-Waver, he did not apologize for the “Moon-Cost.” He took the Raw-Dust-of-Fragrantite, the stone that “Screams with Static,” and he ground it into a flour of ghosts. He took the “Night-Blooming Jasmine,” which only opens when the stars are “Loud,” and he boiled them together in a pot of “Silver Fire.” He stirred it with a bone of a “Mind-Eater” until it became a “Bruised Sludge” of great pungency.
He say to the Fighter, “Smear this upon the ‘Shoulder-of-your-Blade.’ When the metal of the foe kisses your own metal, the heat of the ‘Combat-Friction’ will wake the Ghost-Mist. It will bloom like a flower of ‘Instant-Rot’ and ‘Pretty-Smell’ into the face of the one who strikes you.”
The Great Fighter, he go to the “Sellers’ Market” to fight the “Champion of the Seven-Cuts.” The Champion, he was fast like the “Lightning-of-the-Amber-Mist.” He strike with a “Precision-Hate.” But when his steel bit into the guard of the Fighter, the Formula 663, it “Flashed.” A great cloud of “Thick Violet” erupted, smelling of a thousand jasmines and the “Ozone of the End.”
The Champion, he cry out! His eyes became “Blurred-like-the-River-Bottom.” He see only “Ghost-Shapes.” He swing his sword at the air, for the “Fragrantite-Resonance” had stolen his “Visual-Certainty.” The Great Fighter, he move like a “Scent-Wraith” through his own mist. He did not need eyes, for he had the “Aromatic-Anchor.” He struck the Champion with the “Flat-of-the-Wood,” for he was a man of “High-Composure.”
The story say that the Champion was so ashamed of being beaten by a “Smell” that he went to the “High-Spires” and became a monk of the “No-Scent.” But the Great Fighter, he became a “Master-of-the-Violet-Haze.” He taught that the best defense is not a shield of iron, but a “Cloud of Confusion” that makes the enemy doubt their own hands.
However, the “Ancient Fragment” warns: if the sun touches the sludge before the parry, the “Silver Fire” becomes “Angry.” It will not bloom for the fighter, but will instead “Seize the Metal,” making the sword heavy like a “Tomb-Stone.” Many seekers have died because they did not keep their “Ghost-Mist” in the “Lead-Lined-Dark.”
Moral of the Story: The one who relies only on what the eye can see is easily blinded by a handful of dust and a sweet-smelling lie.
Suggested conversions to other systems:
Call of Cthulhu (7th Edition)
In this system, the formula is a “Hyperborean Alchemical Paste” found in the journals of an 18th-century fencing master who dabbled in the occult.
Item: The Duelist’s Ghost-Mist (Formula 663)
- Classification: Alchemical Concoction
- Uses: 5 per application.
Game Mechanics:
- Reactive Bloom: When the user successfully performs a Fighting (Brawl) or Fighting (Sword) check to Parry an incoming melee attack, the mist activates.
- The Violet Blur: The attacker must immediately pass a Hard Constitution (CON) check or suffer a Penalty Die on their next physical action due to blurred vision and intense floral vertigo.
- Psychological Distraction: Any creature within 3 feet of the bloom (including the user) must pass a Sanity (SAN) check (0/1) or be momentarily disoriented by the “impossible” jasmine aroma.
- Duration: The penalty lasts until the end of the target’s next turn.
Blades in the Dark
In the shadows of Doskvol, this is a Spark-craft Alchemical used by high-tier duelists and Iruvian sword-masters to control the tempo of a duel.
Item: The Duelist’s Ghost-Mist (Formula 663)
- Load: 0 (Applied to a weapon)
- Tier: II (Quality)
Game Mechanics:
- The Flash-Parry: When you resist a physical consequence using Prowess, or if you use a Skirmish action to defend, you may trigger the mist.
- Effect: The cloud provides +1 Effect on your next action against that specific target, as they are distracted by the shimmering violet vapor.
- Complication: If you roll a 1–3 on your defense, the “Silver Fire” creates a localized magnetic surge. Your weapon becomes Sticky; you have Reduced Effect on your next move as you struggle to disentangle your blade from the opponent’s.
- Uses: 5 charges. Once depleted, the weapon must be “Re-Smeared” during a downtime activity.
Dungeons & Dragons (5th Edition)
In a high-fantasy setting, this is an Uncommon Alchemical Consumable used to augment martial classes without requiring spell slots.
Duelist’s Ghost-Mist (Formula 663) Wondrous Item (Alchemical), Uncommon
Item Properties:
- Reactive Vapor: This paste has 5 charges. While it is applied to your weapon or shield, when a creature misses you with a melee attack, you can use your Reaction to trigger a burst of Ghost-Mist.
- Sensory Distraction: The attacking creature must make a DC 13 Constitution saving throw. On a failure, the creature has Disadvantage on the next attack roll it makes before the end of its next turn, and its movement speed is reduced by 10 feet as it stumbles through the fog.
- Aromatic Sanctuary: You are immune to the effects of your own Ghost-Mist.
- Fading Potency: After 1 hour, the “Silver Fire” within the paste burns out, and any remaining charges are lost.
Knave (2nd Edition)
In this OSR system, the mist is a tactical resource that allows a clever player to mitigate damage and manipulate the battlefield.
Ghost-Mist Sludge (Formula 663)
- Slots: 1 (Jar contains 5 applications)
- Quality: N/A (Consumable)
Game Mechanics:
- Trigger: When you win an Opposed Combat Check while defending, or if an enemy rolls a natural 1-5 on an attack against you, the mist erupts.
- Effect: The enemy’s next attack roll is made at a -4 penalty. Additionally, any DEX Saves the enemy makes in the following round are at a -2 penalty due to blurred vision.
- Environment: If used in a narrow hallway or small room, the mist lingers. All creatures except the user treat the area as Obscured for 1 round.
- Sellers’ Market: If the jar is dropped or shattered, it releases all 5 charges at once. Everyone within 10 feet must make a CON Save or be Stunned for 1 round by the overwhelming jasmine-ozone shock.
Fate (Fate Core / Condensed)
In Fate, the Ghost-Mist is an Alchemical Extra that allows a duelist to control the narrative flow of a conflict by creating immediate environmental advantages.
Item: The Duelist’s Ghost-Mist (Formula 663)
- Aspect: Shimmering Violet Jasmine Fog
Game Mechanics:
- Reactive Bloom: When you succeed on a Defend action using Fight or Athletics, you may spend a charge to immediately create the Shimmering Violet Jasmine Fog Aspect on your opponent with one free invoke.
- Sensory Sabotage: While an opponent is hindered by this Aspect, any attempts they make to Attack or Notice suffer a -2 penalty.
- Aromatic Anchor: You may use the jasmine scent as a justification to use Provoke to unnerve an opponent, as the scent is linked to “Lunar Dread.”
- Uses: 5 per application.
Numenera & Cypher System
In the Ninth World, this is a Manifest Cypher or a specialized Chemical Coating derived from ancient nanotech that reacts to kinetic impact.
Item: Ghost-Mist Coating (Formula 663)
- Level: 1d6
- Form: A thick, oily violet paste in a lead-lined jar.
Game Mechanics:
- Effect: When applied to a weapon or shield, the coating lasts for one encounter. Every time an enemy fails an attack roll against the user, a level-dependent cloud of violet vapor erupts.
- Blurred Vision: The attacker’s next task (of any kind) is hindered by two steps. If the Cypher is Level 5 or higher, the attacker is also dazed for one round.
- Environmental Interaction: The mist lingers in a 5-foot radius. Any other creature entering this space must make a Might defense roll or be hindered for one round.
- Depletion: Automatic after 5 successful “Flash-Vapor” triggers.
Pathfinder (2nd Edition)
In Pathfinder, this is a Level 1 Alchemical Consumable favored by swashbucklers and rogue-alchemists who prefer “Clean” combat subversion.
Duelist’s Ghost-Mist (Formula 663) — Item 1 Uncommon, Alchemical, Consumable, Visual
- Price: 3 Gold Pieces
- Usage: Applied to a weapon guard or shield; Bulk: L
Game Mechanics:
- Activate [Reaction] (Visual): Trigger: You successfully Parry an attack or an enemy misses you with a melee Strike. Effect: A 5-foot burst of violet mist erupts centered on the attacker.
- Sensory Distraction: The attacker must attempt a DC 15 Fortitude save.
- Success: The creature is unaffected.
- Failure: The creature is Dazzled until the end of its next turn.
- Critical Failure: The creature is Dazzled for 1 minute and Sickened 1 from the overwhelming jasmine scent.
- Charges: Each application provides 5 uses. The paste dries and becomes inert after 1 hour of exposure to air.
Savage Worlds (Adventure Edition – SWADE)
In Savage Worlds, the Ghost-Mist functions as a Combat Enhancement that utilizes the “Distracted” and “Vulnerable” conditions.
Item: The Duelist’s Ghost-Mist (Formula 663)
- Rank: Novice
- Attributes: Agility, Fighting
Game Mechanics:
- The Flash-Vapor: When an opponent fails a Fighting roll against the user, the user may spend a charge to release the mist as a free action.
- Effect: The opponent must make a Vigor roll (-2). On a failure, they become Distracted and Vulnerable until the end of their next turn.
- Silver Fire Resonance: If the user scores a Raise on a parry while the mist is active, the opponent is also Shaken by the sudden static shock and jasmine-induced vertigo.
- Uses: 5 charges per application. If the weapon is used to “Break Things” or hits a hard surface (like a wall), a charge is lost automatically.
Shadowrun (6th World Edition)
In the sprawl, this is a “Reactive Alchemical Coating” favored by Physical Adepts and street samurai who specialize in close-quarters blade work.
Item: The Duelist’s Ghost-Mist (Formula 663)
- Type: Gear (Alchemical Coating)
- Availability: 3 (R)
- Cost: 450¥ (5-dose vial)
Game Mechanics:
- Reactive Flash: When the user successfully performs a Close Combat (Parry) minor action, or if an attacker misses a melee attack against the user, the mist activates.
- The Violet Haze: The attacker must immediately resist a Sensation-based Toxin (Power 4). If they fail, they suffer the Dazzled status for 1 round, and all visual-based actions receive a -2 Dice Pool Penalty.
- Electrical Interference: The “Silver Fire” discharge adds +1 Noise to any wireless devices within a 2-meter radius for 1 round.
- Doses: One vial treats one weapon guard for 5 parries.
Starfinder (2nd Edition / Playtest)
In the Pact Worlds, this is a piece of “Tactical Alchemical” gear often used by operatives and solarians to create defensive openings in melee combat.
Duelist’s Ghost-Mist (Formula 663) — Level 1 Alchemical, Consumable, Visual
- Price: 75 Credits
- Bulk: L; Capacity: 5 (Charges per application)
Game Mechanics:
- Trigger [Reaction]: An enemy misses you with a melee attack while your coated weapon is drawn.
- Effect: A burst of jasmine-scented violet vapor erupts. The triggering enemy must succeed at a DC 15 Fortitude save or become Dazzled until the end of its next turn.
- Concealment: The mist provides the user with Lesser Concealment against the triggering enemy’s next attack roll before the end of that enemy’s next turn.
- Fading: The paste remains active on the weapon for 1 hour once applied.
Traveller (Mongoose 2nd Edition)
In the Third Imperium, this is a “TL-13 Specialized Coating” used by boarding parties and noble duelists to gain a sensory advantage in pressurized environments.
Item: The Duelist’s Ghost-Mist (Formula 663)
- TL: 13
- Cost: Cr 250 (5-application vial)
Game Mechanics:
- Activation: Requires a successful Melee (Parry) or a successful DEX check when an opponent misses.
- The Sensory Shock: The opponent must pass a Difficult (10+) END check. On a failure, they suffer a -2 DM to all attacks and tasks for 1 round due to blurred vision and olfactory overload.
- Atmospheric Persistence: In high-pressure or stagnant atmospheres (like a spacecraft), the mist lingers. The target suffers the penalty for 1D3 rounds instead of 1.
- Side Effect: Animals or creatures with the Scent trait are automatically Stunned for 1 round upon contact with the jasmine bloom.
Warhammer (Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition)
In the Old World, this is an “Alchemical Draught” applied to the crossguards of Estalian Diestros or the blades of high-ranking duelists in Altdorf.
Item: The Duelist’s Ghost-Mist (Formula 663)
- Price: 12 Shillings
- Encumbrance: 0
Game Mechanics:
- The Flash-Bloom: When the user successfully uses the Parry Special Rule or wins an Opposed Melee Test as a defender, the mist is released.
- The Violet Veil: The opponent must pass a Challenging (+0) Perception Test. On a failure, they gain 1 Blinded Condition and 1 Distracted Condition as the jasmine-ozone cloud envelopes their head.
- Charges: A single application provides 5 uses. If the weapon is used for a Charge attack, the wind clears one use automatically without effect.
- Scent-Memory: If the opponent has the Sixth Sense Talent, they may ignore the Blinded condition but still suffer the Distracted condition from the psychic resonance of the “Silver Fire.”
