Shadowsong Tonic

From: Accursed Rune of Desolation

Lore: Shadowsong Tonic is a recipe rooted in the secrets of shadows and the dance of darkness. It is said to have originated in the hidden enclaves of shadow-worshipping assassins and rogue guilds. The recipe was meticulously crafted by a shadowmancer, who sought to harness the power of darkness and use it to enhance their stealth and agility.

The Accursed Rune of Desolation serves as the catalyst for this concoction, infusing it with a haunting essence of melancholy. Obsidian Tears, rare gem-like droplets collected from the depths of shadowy caves, lend a touch of darkness and enhance the tonic’s potency. Nightshade Essence, extracted from the poisonous plant known for its affinity with shadows, further deepens the connection to the darkness. The Moonshadow Herb Blend, a mixture of herbs found in moonlit groves, adds a subtle mystique to the tonic. Lastly, Echovine Extract, derived from a rare vine that thrives in shadowy environments, heightens the imbiber’s connection to the shadows.

Use: Shadowsong Tonic is designed to empower stealthy individuals and enhance their capabilities in dimly lit areas. When consumed, it temporarily grants the imbiber bonuses to stealth checks and movement speed, allowing them to move with enhanced swiftness and silence. This makes Shadowsong Tonic particularly appealing to rogues, assassins, and any character who relies on stealth and agility in their endeavors.

Tier One Stats:

• Shadowsong Stealth: Upon consuming the tonic, the imbiber gains a +2 bonus to Stealth checks for 1 hour.
• Agile Shadows: The tonic enhances the imbiber’s agility, granting a +10 feet bonus to their movement speed for 1 hour.
• Shadow Vulnerability: While under the influence of Shadowsong Tonic, the imbiber becomes more susceptible to shadow-based magic and effects, suffering a -1 penalty to saving throws against such effects for 1 hour.

Skills:

• Alchemical Brewing: The preparation of Shadowsong Tonic requires proficiency in alchemical brewing techniques, as it involves precise measurements, careful infusion of ingredients, and an understanding of the mystical properties of shadows.

Preparation: Crafting Shadowsong Tonic involves the following steps:

• Grind the Accursed Rune of Desolation into a fine powder and combine it with Obsidian Tears, infusing the tears with the rune’s melancholic energy.
• Extract Nightshade Essence by distilling the potent oils from the nightshade plant under controlled conditions.
• Prepare the Moonshadow Herb Blend by carefully mixing various moonlit herbs, balancing their flavors and mystical qualities.
• Combine the Nightshade Essence, Moonshadow Herb Blend, and Echovine Extract, allowing them to meld and infuse together.
• Slowly add the infused mixture to the powdered Accursed Rune and Obsidian Tears, stirring gently to ensure proper integration.
• Bottle the tonic in opaque vials or flasks, each sealed with a wax seal bearing the symbol of shadows.

Cost: Shadowsong Tonic is a sought-after elixir among stealthy individuals and those who embrace the shadows. The rarity of the ingredients and the alchemical expertise required for its creation contribute to its higher cost. A vial or flask of Shadowsong Tonic typically ranges from 30 to 40 gold pieces, making it a valuable asset for those who wish to blend into the darkness with finesse.

Process Tags:

• Shadow Empowerment: Shadowsong Tonic is renowned for its ability to empower individuals in the realm of shadows, offering unique advantages in stealth and agility.
• Melancholic Infusion: The Accursed Rune of Desolation lends a touch of melancholy to the tonic, adding depth and enhancing its mystical properties.
• Additional:     Stealth Enhancement,     Agility Boost,     Shadow Affinity,     Night Vision ,     Evasion Aid,     Melancholy Aura,     Shadow Resistance Reduction,     Clandestine Trade

Shadowsong Tonic is typically found in secretive alchemical shops, shadowy underground markets, or clandestine rendezvous with shadowmancers and assassins. It is in these enigmatic and often dangerous environments that the recipe is shared among those who dwell in the realm of darkness. The end results of consuming Shadowsong Tonic grant its imbibers a temporary but potent connection to the shadows, allowing them to move with grace and finesse while embracing the risks associated with shadow-based vulnerabilities.

Shadowsong Tonic is sold in specialized establishments known as “Shade Alchemists’ Emporiums.” These establishments are typically hidden in shadowy corners of bustling cities or located in secluded areas that cater to those who embrace the clandestine arts. The emporiums are often disguised as innocent herbal shops or unremarkable storefronts, but only those with a keen eye for the mystical and an understanding of the secret signs can find their way to these hidden treasures.

The atmosphere within Shade Alchemists’ Emporiums is dimly lit, with soft candlelight casting flickering shadows on the walls. Shelves are lined with vials, flasks, and jars containing various potions, elixirs, and ingredients associated with the realm of shadows. Mysterious whispers and hushed conversations fill the air as customers peruse the wares or seek consultations from the knowledgeable alchemists and shadowmancers who run these establishments.

The end results of consuming Shadowsong Tonic vary depending on the individual and their intentions. Stealthy individuals, such as rogues, assassins, or scouts, seek out the tonic to enhance their abilities in shadowy environments. When imbibed, the tonic grants temporary bonuses to stealth checks, allowing the drinker to move silently and remain unseen in the darkness. The heightened movement speed provided by the tonic enables them to traverse areas quickly and with agility, evading detection or closing in on their targets with unparalleled swiftness.

The use of Shadowsong Tonic extends beyond the realm of combat or subterfuge. Some individuals with an affinity for shadows, such as spies, investigators, or practitioners of esoteric arts, use the tonic to deepen their connection to the shadows. They consume it in dimly lit chambers, invoking an atmosphere of mystery and introspection. In this state, they explore hidden truths, unravel secrets, or tap into their inner darkness to gain insights and revelations.

Adventurers who frequent Shade Alchemists’ Emporiums often carry vials of Shadowsong Tonic with them on their quests. They strategically use the tonic to gain an edge in stealth-based encounters, scouting missions, or infiltrations where remaining undetected is crucial. The tonic allows them to navigate treacherous territories, avoid traps, and strike from the shadows with precision and finesse.

However, the end results of using Shadowsong Tonic come with a trade-off. The imbiber becomes more susceptible to shadow-based magic and effects, making them vulnerable to attacks or manipulations from shadow-wielding foes. The intensified connection to the shadows amplifies the risks associated with shadow-based vulnerabilities, requiring the user to exercise caution and balance their newfound powers with strategic decision-making.

Due to the intricate process involved in crafting Shadowsong Tonic and the rarity of its ingredients, it is considered a valuable commodity. The cost of a vial or flask of Shadowsong Tonic typically ranges from 30 to 40 gold pieces, reflecting its exclusivity and the skill required to produce it. The secrecy surrounding the recipe and the specialized nature of its sale make Shade Alchemists’ Emporiums the primary source for acquiring Shadowsong Tonic, ensuring that its distribution remains limited to those who appreciate the subtleties and power of the shadows.

Tome of the Endless Night

In times long gone, when the stars whispered secrets to the moon, there was tale, very ancient, of item, called the ‘Tome of the Endless Night’. This Tome, it is said, was not book in conventional sense but rather a collection of shadows bound by threads of the night itself.

Legend tells, in epoch so distant that even the oldest trees have forgotten, there lived a scribe, whose name has been lost to the winds of time. This scribe, he was not of this world but from realm where darkness was not absence of light but a presence of its own, a living thing with breath and will.

He, this scribe, he sought to capture essence of this dark realm, to bring it to our world where light often triumph. With ink made from tears of the moon and quill fashioned from the feather of a night raven, he began to script upon pages that were not paper but the very skin of night’s dreams.

The Tome, once complete, was said to hold within its shadow-bound leaves the secrets of moving unseen, of speaking with the darkness, of bending the shadows to one’s will. But, as with all great power, it came with curse. For each truth it revealed, it whispered a lie; for each strength it granted, it sowed a weakness.

This Tome, it did not reside in any library or castle but was hidden in place where day never touches – the Deep Cavern of No Echoes. Here, it was guarded by creatures born from the pages themselves, shadow beings that knew neither hunger nor thirst, only the duty to protect.

Many have sought this Tome, from kings to thieves, from mages to madmen. Yet, few returned, and those who did spoke with eyes haunted by sights that human eyes should not see, their voices hollow, as if speaking from the bottom of a well.

One tale, more vivid than others, tells of a young thief, quick of hand and keen of eye, who ventured into the Deep Cavern. With agility blessed by the shadows, he made his way past the guardians, his steps silent as the last breath of the dying. He reached the Tome, but upon touching its cover, he was ensnared by the very darkness he sought to command.

He emerged, years later, or so it seemed, though no time had passed in the world outside. His hair was white, his eyes empty pools, and he spoke no more of the Tome but only of the endless night he had lived through in a moment, where every step was a lifetime and every silence was a scream.

The Tome of the Endless Night, it is said, remains in that cavern, waiting for the one who can master its secrets without falling to its darkness. But the path to it is as treacherous as the knowledge it contains.

Moral of the Story: Seek not power that you cannot grasp without losing yourself to its shadow.

Suggested conversions to other systems:

Call of Cthulhu (7th Edition)

Shadowsong Tonic

• Artifact
• Description: A dark, viscous liquid, stored in an opaque vial. It smells faintly of night-blooming flowers and carries a whisper of ancient, forbidden knowledge.
• Stats:
  • Potency: +20% to Stealth checks for 1 hour.
  • Movement: +10% to Agility-based movement speed for 1 hour.
  • Sanity Cost: -1d4 Sanity points upon consumption due to the unsettling connection to the shadows.
• Use:
  • Activation: Drinking the Tonic requires a successful Luck roll (under 50). On failure, the consumer suffers a -10% penalty to all skill checks for 1 hour due to disorientation.
  • Effect: Grants the ability to move silently and quickly through shadows, but increases vulnerability to sanity-draining creatures and effects of the Mythos that dwell in darkness.
• Disadvantages:
  • Shadow Vulnerability: -10% penalty to all resistance rolls against shadow or darkness-based Mythos magic or entities for the duration of the tonic’s effect.
  • Crafting: Requires an Occult skill check (Hard Difficulty) and access to rare, possibly Mythos-related ingredients.

Blades in the Dark

Shadowsong Tonic

• Consumable (Limited)
• Description: A concoction that seems to absorb light around it, kept in a dark, ornate flask.
• Attributes:
  • Effect:
    • Prowess: +1d to all Prowess rolls involving Stealth or Movement for the scene.
    • Stress: +1 Stress for invoking the unnatural energies of the tonic.
  • Use:
    • Activation: Consume the tonic as a free action at the start of a scene.
    • Mechanic: Grants the user “Shadow’s Grace” for the scene, allowing them to perform one additional movement action without incurring a position shift or extra stress.
  • Drawbacks:
    • Shadow’s Curse: While under its effects, the user is at a -1d on all rolls against supernatural entities or effects related to darkness or shadows.
• Crafting: Requires a successful Tinker roll (Level 3) with access to rare materials, possibly involving dealings with the Whisper or Cult.

Dungeons & Dragons (5th Edition)

Shadowsong Tonic

• Wondrous Item, Rare
• Description: A dark, shimmering liquid in a black glass vial, with the essence of night itself caught within.
• Properties:
  • Stealth Boost: Grants advantage on Stealth checks for 1 hour.
  • Speed Increase: Increases the user’s walking speed by 10 feet for 1 hour.
  • Shadow Sensitivity: The user has disadvantage on saving throws against spells and effects with the shadow or darkness descriptor.
• Use:
  • Activation: As an action, a creature can drink the tonic to activate its effects.
  • Duration: The effects last for 1 hour, after which the vial is empty and must be refilled with the appropriate ingredients and alchemical skill.
• Crafting: Requires a DC 15 Arcana check to prepare, along with ingredients like Nightshade Essence and Moonshadow Herb.

Knave

Shadowsong Tonic

• Potion
• Description: A vial of dark, swirling liquid that seems to suck in the light around it.
• Effects:
  • Stealth: +2 to Stealth rolls for the next hour after consumption.
  • Movement: +10 feet to movement speed for the next hour.
• Usage:
  • Action: Drinking the tonic takes one action, after which the effects are immediate.
  • Drawback: While under the tonic’s influence, you take -1 to all saves against magic or effects from creatures of darkness or shadow.
• Crafting: Needs a successful Intelligence check (DC 15) and access to specific, rare ingredients. Each successful crafting yields one vial.

Fate

Shadowsong Tonic

• Aspect: Elixir of Shadows
• Description: A dark, almost black liquid in a vial that seems to absorb light around it.
• Stunts:
  • Shadow’s Whisper: When consumed, gain a +2 bonus to Stealth-related Overcome and Create an Advantage actions for one scene.
  • Swift as Night: Gain a +2 to Athletics for movement-based actions for one scene.
  • Darkness’ Price: While under the influence, take -1 to all Defend actions against attacks or effects with the Darkness or Shadow aspect.
• Use:
  • Invoke: Can be invoked for a +2 on Stealth or Athletics checks or to establish an advantage related to shadows.
  • Compel: The GM can compel this aspect to introduce complications or penalties related to shadow-based effects or entities.
• Crafting: Requires Lore skill to create, with aspects like “Expert Alchemist” or “Master of Shadows” aiding the process.

Numenera & Cypher System

Shadowsong Tonic

• Artifact – Level 4
• Form: A dark, shimmering liquid in a small, opaque vial.
• Effect:
  • Stealth: For one hour, the user gains an asset to all tasks involving stealth or hiding.
  • Speed: Increases Speed Edge by 1 for one hour.
  • Depletion: 1 in 1d6 (after use, roll d6; on a 1, the tonic is depleted until re-crafted)
  • Cyphers: Can be considered a level 4 cypher if used only once.
• Hindrances:
  • Shadow’s Curse: While under the effect, the user has a detriment to tasks involving resisting or avoiding effects from creatures of shadow or darkness.
• Crafting: Requires an Intellect task (difficulty 4) and access to rare components like Nightshade Essence and Moonshadow Herb.

Pathfinder (2nd Edition)

Shadowsong Tonic

• Alchemical Item, Consumable, Elixir, Uncommon
• Level 3; Price 50 gp
• Usage: Held in 1 hand; Bulk L
• Activate Interact
• Description: A murky, black liquid that seems to move with a life of its own.
• Effect:
  • Stealth: You gain a +2 item bonus to Stealth checks for 1 hour.
  • Agility: Increase your land Speed by 10 feet for 1 hour.
• Drawback:
  • Shadow Vulnerability: You take a -1 status penalty to saving throws against effects with the shadow, darkness, or evil traits for the duration.
• Crafting: Requires the Alchemical Crafting feat and a successful Crafting check (DC 18), using ingredients like the Accursed Rune of Desolation.

Savage Worlds

Shadowsong Tonic

• Consumable
• Description: A vial of dark liquid that seems to pulse with an inner shadow.
• Effect:
  • Stealth: Grants +2 to Stealth rolls for one hour.
  • Movement: Increases Pace by +2 for one hour.
• Drawback:
  • Shadow’s Touch: -1 to all Trait rolls against effects or creatures associated with darkness or shadows while under the effect.
• Use:
  • Activation: Drinking the tonic is a free action.
  • Duration: Lasts for one hour or until the end of the current encounter, whichever comes first.
• Crafting: Requires an Alchemy skill roll at -2 due to the complexity of the ingredients and process, with a success yielding one dose.

Shadowrun (6th Edition)

Shadowsong Tonic

• Gear – Availability: 12R, Cost: 1,000¥
• Description: A small, dark vial containing a liquid that seems to absorb light, used by shadowrunners for stealth operations.
• Attributes:
  • Stealth: +2 dice pool to Sneaking checks for the next hour.
  • Movement: +1 to Agility-based tests for movement (like Running) for the duration.
• Drawback:
  • Shadow Vulnerability: -2 dice pool on all tests to resist magical effects or attacks from entities with the Shadow or Darkness descriptor for the duration.
• Use:
  • Activation: Drinking this tonic is a Simple Action.
  • Duration: Effects last for 1 hour.
• Crafting: Requires Alchemy skill (Rating 4), a dedicated alchemical lab, and rare ingredients like Nightshade Essence.

Starfinder

Shadowsong Tonic

• Magic Item – Level 5; Price 300 credits
• Description: A vial of dark, almost sentient liquid that enhances the user’s stealth capabilities in the shadow-filled corners of the galaxy.
• Item Level: 5
• Bulk: L
• Activation: Consume; 1 minute
• Effect:
  • Stealth: Gain a +2 enhancement bonus to Stealth checks for 1 hour.
  • Speed: Increase your land speed by 10 feet for 1 hour.
• Drawback:
  • Shadow’s Call: You have a -1 penalty to saving throws against shadow or darkness-based effects for the duration.
• Crafting: Requires Mysticism skill (DC 20) and access to shadow-aligned materials.

Traveller (Mongoose 2nd Edition)

Shadowsong Tonic

• Medical Drug
• Tech Level: 14
• Cost: Cr 2,000
• Description: A vial of dark liquid, rumored to be used by spies and thieves, enhancing their stealth in low-light environments.
• Use:
  • Effect:
    • Stealth: +2 DM to Stealth skill checks for the next 4 hours.
    • Agility: +1 DM to all Agility-based skill checks for the next 4 hours.
  • Side Effect:
    • Vulnerability: -1 DM to all Endurance rolls against effects related to darkness or shadow for the duration.
    • Administer: Injection or ingestion takes 1 action.
• Crafting: Requires Medicine skill (Difficult check) and access to rare, possibly illegal, substances.

Warhammer (40k Roleplay – Wrath & Glory)

Shadowsong Tonic

• Consumable
• Rarity: Rare
• Cost: 150 Thrones
• Description: A vial of pitch-black liquid, rumored to be concocted by the secretive sects of the Imperium, enhancing one’s ability to move unseen in the shadows.
• Attributes:
  • Stealth: Gain +2 to all Stealth Tests for the next [Rank] hours.
  • Speed: +1 to Agility for the same duration.
• Drawback:
  • Corruption: Gain 1 Corruption Point due to the dark nature of the tonic’s origins, increasing susceptibility to the Warp or shadow-based attacks.
• Use:
  • Activation: Drinking takes a Half Action.
  • Duration: Effects last for [Rank] hours, where Rank is the character’s Wrath & Glory rank.
• Crafting: Requires Forbidden Lore (Alchemy) at a challenging difficulty, with ingredients that might attract the wrong kind of attention in the Imperium.