Sorrowful Scones

From: Accursed Rune of Desolation

Lore: The recipe for Sorrowful Scones is steeped in tales of lost love, heartbreak, and the depths of human despair. It is said that these scones were first created by a reclusive baker named Isabella, who resided in a remote cottage nestled in a desolate valley. Isabella’s beloved, a skilled mage, tragically perished in a great battle. Overwhelmed by grief, Isabella sought solace in her craft and developed the recipe for Sorrowful Scones.

To infuse the scones with sorrowful essence, Isabella used the Accursed Rune of Desolation, representing the profound sorrow she carried within. Ground Tears of Grief, collected from weeping statues and mournful places, were added to evoke the essence of sorrow. Dark Cocoa Powder, known for its bitter flavor, represented the bitterness of heartbreak. Essence of Solitude, distilled from the lonely winds that whispered through the valley, added an air of isolation to the scones. Finally, Bitter Almonds, symbolizing the harshness of loss, completed the recipe. Together, these ingredients created scones that carried the weight of sorrow in their very essence.

Use: Sorrowful Scones possess a bittersweet flavor that evokes a profound sense of sorrow when consumed. The magic infused within them grants a temporary boost to Wisdom-based ability checks, heightening the imbiber’s perception, intuition, and emotional understanding. This enhancement can be particularly useful for characters relying on their wisdom-based skills such as Insight, Perception, or Survival, allowing them to navigate complex situations or uncover hidden truths.

However, consuming the scones also leaves the eater feeling emotionally drained for a short period. The sorrowful essence within the scones amplifies the imbiber’s own emotions, causing them to experience a temporary sense of melancholy, sadness, or emotional fatigue. This emotional drain may impact the character’s interactions, decision-making, or ability to focus on tasks requiring emotional stability.

Tier One Stats:

• Wisdom Boost: Grants a +2 bonus to Wisdom-based ability checks for 1 hour.

Skills gained:

• Perception: The heightened perception granted by the Sorrowful Scones enhances the imbiber’s ability to observe and notice details in their surroundings.
• Insight: The scones sharpen the imbiber’s intuition and empathic understanding, aiding in reading people and situations.

Preparation: To prepare Sorrowful Scones, follow these steps:

• Combine the Accursed Rune of Desolation, Ground Tears of Grief, Dark Cocoa Powder, Essence of Solitude, and Bitter Almonds in a mixing bowl.
• Knead the ingredients together to form a dough, ensuring they are thoroughly blended.
• Shape the dough into individual scones and bake them in an oven until they achieve a golden-brown color and a firm texture.

Cost: The cost of Sorrowful Scones can vary depending on the availability and rarity of the ingredients. Given the inclusion of the Accursed Rune of Desolation and other unique components, the scones are considered a specialty item and may range from 10 to 20 gold pieces for a batch of six scones.

Process Tags:

• Culinary Magic: The creation of Sorrowful Scones involves the infusion of magical essence into the ingredients, creating a unique culinary experience.
• Consumable: The scones are meant to be eaten to gain their temporary benefits, although they also carry emotional repercussions.
• Additional:     Emotional Enhancement,     Wisdom Augmentation,     Melancholy Inducement,     Introspective Aid,     Empathy Catalyst,     Bittersweet Alchemy,     Sorrowful Insight

Sorrowful Scones serve as a culinary indulgence that carries the weight of sorrow. They provide a temporary enhancement to wisdom-based skills, allowing characters to perceive and understand their surroundings with greater clarity and emotional insight. However, the emotional drain they induce can pose challenges in maintaining emotional stability or engaging in delicate social interactions. These scones cater to those who appreciate the bittersweet nature of sorrow and are willing to embrace its consequences in pursuit of heightened perception and understanding.

The Sorrowful Scones, with their unique blend of flavors and enchanting properties, are not typically found in regular bakeries or marketplaces. Instead, they are sold in specialized establishments that cater to those who seek unique culinary experiences or have a taste for the melancholic. These establishments can take the form of enchanted tearooms, mystical pastry shops, or exclusive confectionery boutiques.

The environment where Sorrowful Scones are sold is often infused with an air of melancholy and introspection. The ambiance of the establishment may feature dim lighting, muted colors, and cozy seating arrangements, creating a serene and contemplative atmosphere. Delicate melancholic melodies may softly play in the background, further enhancing the emotional experience for patrons.

These establishments can be found in a variety of locations, depending on the setting of the game. In bustling cities, they might be hidden in narrow alleyways, tucked away from the noise and chaos of the streets. In fantastical realms, they could exist on the edge of enchanted forests or within ethereal realms accessible through mystical portals.

The end results of consuming Sorrowful Scones are twofold. Firstly, the imbiber experiences a temporary boost to their wisdom-based abilities. This heightened perception and emotional understanding can be advantageous in various scenarios, such as navigating complex social interactions, unraveling mysteries, or detecting hidden dangers. Adventurers and scholars seeking to uncover hidden truths or perceive the subtle nuances of their surroundings find great value in these scones.

However, the emotional drain caused by the scones cannot be ignored. The imbiber may find themselves immersed in a temporary state of melancholy, sadness, or emotional fatigue. This emotional impact can influence their interactions, decision-making, or ability to focus on tasks that require emotional stability. Some characters may intentionally consume the scones to tap into their own emotions or gain insight into their inner selves, while others may seek to avoid their emotional repercussions.

Due to their specialized ingredients and unique enchantments, Sorrowful Scones are not mass-produced or readily available. They are often prepared in limited quantities by skilled bakers or artisans who have mastered the recipe. The cost of Sorrowful Scones can vary depending on the setting and availability of ingredients, ranging from 10 to 20 gold pieces for a batch of six scones. The exclusivity and emotional experience they offer make them a sought-after indulgence for those willing to explore the depths of sorrow through culinary delights.

Scones of Sorrowful Heart

In epoch when time was still young, there was tale, much blurred by sands of history, of item called ‘The Scones of Sorrowful Heart’. This tale, it speaks of baker, one called Isabella, who dwelt in valley, so desolate, where even the wind sang of loneliness.

Isabella, she was with heart full of love, yet this love was taken by wrath of battle, leaving her in shadow of grief. In her solitude, she turned to her craft, baking, to find solace. But her heart, it was heavy with sorrow, and thus she decided to bake not bread of joy, but scones of deepest sorrow.

The recipe, it was not of this world, for Isabella sought to capture essence of her grief. She took rune, Accursed be it, of Desolation, ground it fine like dust. To this, she added tears, not of water, but of grief, collected from statues that wept for the lost and forgotten. She mixed in cocoa, dark as the night of her loss, and essence, distilled from the very solitude she endured.

With hands that knew only the touch of dough, she kneaded into this mix almonds, bitter as her mourning. Each ingredient, they were not just for taste, but for magic, for each carried sorrow in its core. Thus, the Scones of Sorrowful Heart were born.

They say, when these scones were baked, the oven itself wept, and the scent that filled the air was not of warmth but of a lament. Those who ate these scones, they were touched by wisdom, seeing through veils of illusion, reading hearts like open books. Yet, this gift came with price; for with each bite, the eater was swallowed by wave of melancholy, as if sharing in Isabella’s endless grief.

Many sought these scones, not for taste, but for wisdom it bestowed, though few returned unchanged. Warriors used them to foresee traps, scholars to understand ancient scripts, lovers to read the unspoken in the eyes of their beloveds. But each left with heart heavier than when they came, for sorrow is not easily shed.

One story, it tells of a wanderer, brave but with heart too light for the weight of the scones. He ate one, and in moment, he saw all the sorrow of the world. When he returned to his village, he spoke no more, his laughter lost, replaced by silent tears. His wisdom grew, but so did his sadness, until he lived more in memory than in present.

The Scones of Sorrowful Heart, they are said still to be made, in corners of the world where grief has its throne. But the recipe, it is guarded secret, for not all can bear the sorrow it brings.

Moral of the Story: Seek not wisdom at the cost of your heart’s joy, for the weight of sorrow may drown even the brightest of lights.

Suggested conversions to other systems:

Call of Cthulhu (7th Edition)

Sorrowful Scones

• Artifact
• Description: Scones that appear normal but carry an aura of profound sadness, baked into them through arcane processes.
• Stats:
  • Wisdom Enhancement: +20% to all Insight and Psychology checks for 1 hour.
  • Emotional Drain: -1d4 Sanity points upon consumption due to the overwhelming sense of sorrow.
• Use:
  • Activation: Eating a Scone requires a successful Luck roll (under 50). On failure, the consumer only experiences the emotional drain without the Wisdom benefit.
  • Effect: Grants heightened perception and intuition, but at the cost of increased vulnerability to sanity-draining events or encounters.
• Disadvantages:
  • Sorrow’s Weight: -10% penalty to all skill checks involving social interaction or focus for 1 hour due to the emotional impact.
• Crafting: Requires an Occult skill check (Hard Difficulty) and access to rare, sorrow-infused ingredients.

Blades in the Dark

Sorrowful Scones

• Consumable (Limited)
• Description: These scones look and smell like regular baked goods but emit a faint, mournful energy.
• Attributes:
  • Effect:
    • Insight: +1d to all Insight rolls for the scene.
    • Stress: +1 Stress for the emotional toll of the scones.
  • Use:
    • Activation: Eating a Scone is a free action at the start of a scene.
    • Mechanic: Provides “Sorrow’s Wisdom” for the scene, allowing one additional Insight action without incurring a position shift or extra stress.
  • Drawbacks:
    • Melancholy: While under its effects, the user is at -1d on all rolls involving social interaction or tasks requiring emotional stability.
• Crafting: Requires a successful Tinker roll (Level 3) with access to ingredients steeped in sorrow or loss.

Dungeons & Dragons (5th Edition)

Sorrowful Scones

• Wondrous Item, Uncommon
• Description: Scones with an aura of melancholy, made from ingredients imbued with sorrow.
• Properties:
  • Wisdom Boost: Grants advantage on Wisdom (Insight) and Wisdom (Perception) checks for 1 hour.
  • Emotional Toll: The user must make a DC 12 Wisdom saving throw or gain 1 level of exhaustion due to emotional fatigue.
• Use:
  • Activation: As an action, a creature can eat a Scone to activate its effects.
  • Duration: The effects last for 1 hour, after which the Scone is consumed.
• Crafting: Requires a DC 13 Arcana check to prepare, along with ingredients like Ground Tears of Grief and Bitter Almonds.

Knave

Sorrowful Scones

• Potion
• Description: A batch of scones that seem to carry the weight of sorrow, each bite revealing hidden truths while draining the heart.
• Effects:
  • Wisdom: +2 to Wisdom-based rolls for the next hour after consumption.
  • Drawback: Lose 1d4 HP from emotional fatigue, representing the psychological toll.
• Usage:
  • Action: Eating a Scone takes one action, and the effects are immediate.
  • Drawback: While under the Scones’ influence, you take -1 to all saves against effects that manipulate emotions.
• Crafting: Needs a successful Intelligence check (DC 15) and access to specific, grief-laden ingredients. Each successful crafting yields one batch.

Fate

Sorrowful Scones

• Aspect: Scones of Melancholy Insight
• Description: Scones that taste of sorrow, granting wisdom but leaving a heavy heart.
• Stunts:
  • Sorrow’s Wisdom: When consumed, gain a +2 bonus to Insight and Perception-related Overcome and Create an Advantage actions for one scene.
  • Heart of Sorrow: Gain a +2 to Empathy checks for understanding emotions but suffer a -2 to all social interactions due to the emotional weight of the scones.
• Use:
  • Invoke: Can be invoked for a +2 on Wisdom-related checks or to establish an advantage related to understanding or perception.
  • Compel: The GM can compel this aspect to introduce complications or penalties related to emotional stability or social scenarios.
• Crafting: Requires Lore skill to create, with aspects like “Grief Alchemist” or “Master Baker of Sorrow” aiding the process.

Numenera & Cypher System

Sorrowful Scones

• Artifact – Level 3
• Form: A set of seemingly ordinary scones with a subtle, mournful energy.
• Effect:
  • Perception: For one hour, the user gains an asset to all tasks involving Insight, Perception, or Empathy.
  • Emotional Impact: Gain 1 level of Inability for social interactions due to the overwhelming sadness.
  • Depletion: 1 in 1d6 (after use, roll d6; on a 1, the batch is depleted until re-crafted)
  • Cyphers: Can be considered a level 3 cypher if used only once.
• Hindrances:
  • Sorrow’s Burden: While under the effect, the user has a detriment to tasks requiring emotional resilience or social interaction.
• Crafting: Requires an Intellect task (difficulty 3) and access to ingredients imbued with sorrow.

Pathfinder (2nd Edition)

Sorrowful Scones

• Alchemical Item, Consumable, Elixir, Uncommon
• Level 2; Price 30 gp
• Usage: Held in 1 hand; Bulk L
• Activate Interact
• Description: Scones with the essence of grief baked into them, enhancing wisdom at the cost of emotional well-being.
• Effect:
  • Wisdom: You gain a +1 item bonus to Wisdom-based skill checks for 1 hour.
  • Emotional Drain: You must succeed at a DC 15 Will save or gain the fatigued condition for the duration.
• Drawback:
  • Melancholy: You take a -1 status penalty to all Charisma-based checks for the duration due to the emotional toll.
• Crafting: Requires the Alchemical Crafting feat and a successful Crafting check (DC 16), using ingredients like Tears of Grief and Bitter Almonds.

Savage Worlds

Sorrowful Scones

• Consumable
• Description: A batch of scones that seem to carry the weight of loss, offering insight but with emotional consequences.
• Effect:
  • Wisdom: Grants +1 to all Notice, Intuition, and Persuasion rolls for one hour.
  • Drawback: The consumer must make a Spirit roll (Difficulty 4) or suffer a -1 penalty to all Trait rolls involving social interaction due to sadness.
• Use:
  • Activation: Eating a Scone 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 infusing ingredients with sorrow, with a success yielding one batch.

Shadowrun (6th Edition)

Sorrowful Scones

• Gear – Availability: 10R, Cost: 800¥
• Description: A batch of scones that seem to embody sadness, providing insight at an emotional cost.
• Attributes:
  • Wisdom: +2 dice pool to Intuition and Perception checks for the next hour.
  • Emotional Toll: -2 dice pool for all Charisma-based tests due to the pervasive sadness felt after consumption.
• Drawback:
  • Sorrow Overwhelm: The consumer must make a Willpower test (Threshold 3) or gain 1 point of Notoriety for seeming too withdrawn or melancholy.
• Use:
  • Activation: Eating a Scone is a Simple Action.
  • Duration: Effects last for 1 hour.
• Crafting: Requires Alchemy skill (Rating 3), a kitchen with alchemical equipment, and rare ingredients like Tears of Grief.

Starfinder

Sorrowful Scones

• Magic Item – Level 3; Price 150 credits
• Description: Scones infused with an aura of sorrow, enhancing perception while draining emotional energy.
• Item Level: 3
• Bulk: L
• Activation: Consume; 1 minute
• Effect:
  • Wisdom: Gain a +1 enhancement bonus to all Wisdom-based skill checks for 1 hour.
  • Emotional Burden: Reduce your Resolve Point maximum by 1 for the duration due to the melancholy effect.
• Drawback:
  • Melancholy: Take a -1 penalty to all Charisma-based checks for the duration.
• Crafting: Requires Mysticism skill (DC 15) and access to ingredients with sorrowful properties.

Traveller (Mongoose 2nd Edition)

Sorrowful Scones

• Medical Drug
• Tech Level: 12
• Cost: Cr 1,000
• Description: Scones that seem to carry the weight of grief, enhancing one’s perception at the cost of emotional stability.
• Use:
  • Effect:
    • Wisdom: +1 DM to all Wisdom-based skill checks (like Recon or Persuade) for the next 4 hours.
    • Emotional Drain: -1 DM to all Social skill checks due to the emotional impact.
  • Side Effect:
    • Fatigue: Gain 1 level of Fatigue after consumption, representing the emotional toll.
    • Administer: Eating takes 1 action.
• Crafting: Requires Medicine skill (Difficult check) and access to rare, emotionally charged substances.

Warhammer (40k Roleplay – Wrath & Glory)

Sorrowful Scones

• Consumable
• Rarity: Rare
• Cost: 100 Thrones
• Description: A batch of scones that evoke deep sorrow, granting wisdom but with a cost to one’s psyche.
• Attributes:
  • Wisdom: Gain +1 to all Awareness and Insight Tests for the next [Rank] hours.
  • Emotional Burden: Gain 1 Corruption Point due to the dark, sorrowful nature of the scones, reflecting the impact on the soul.
• Drawback:
  • Melancholy: -1 to all Fellowship-based Tests for the same duration due to the emotional weight.
• Use:
  • Activation: Eating 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 resonate with themes of loss and despair.