Mantle of the Unified Scholar 917

Lore

This legendary garment is the masterwork of a sage from the Order of the Arcane Scholars who became fascinated by the Lumihive’s collective consciousness. Seeking to replicate that perfect synergy for a small group of spellcasters, the scholar spent decades studying the principles of the Crown of Unity. Instead of forging a separate circlet, they developed a revolutionary weaving technique, interlacing pure mana strands directly into the shimmering fabric of their own Arcane Scholar’s Robes. The result was a singular artifact that fosters a shared intellect among a trusted cabal, linking their minds and amplifying their combined arcane might, turning a group of mages into a single, formidable consciousness.

Description

A set of shimmering, exquisitely tailored robes that shift in color from deep indigo to shimmering silver. Woven directly into the fabric of the high collar and mantle are strands of pure, solidified mana, which form a floating, crown-like halo of soft, azure light around the wearer’s head. The arcane sigils embroidered on the robes pulse in a slow, steady rhythm, perfectly in sync with the azure glow of the integrated crown, and the entire garment hums with a quiet, harmonious energy.

Stats

Rarity: Rare
Required Tier: 2
Attribute Modifier: +2 Intelligence, +1 Wisdom
Skills Bonus: +1 to Arcana and Perception checks
Spell Attack Bonus: +1 to all spell attack rolls
Cost: 2,000 gold pieces

Tags

Magical, Arcane, Unity, Leadership, Scholar, Spellcasting, Consciousness-Expanding, Prestige, Empowerment, Protective Aura, Adaptive, Legendary, Collective Consciousness, Mind-Link Garb, Synergistic Weave, Arcane Nexus, Cabalist’s Mantle, Erudite Regalia, Spell-Focus Attire

Passive Magics

Aura of Lucidity: The mantle projects a constant, 15-foot aura of mental clarity. The wearer and any allies within the aura gain resistance to psychic damage and have advantage on saving throws against effects that would charm, frighten, or cause confusion.
Mana Siphon: The interwoven mana strands passively draw ambient magical energy towards the wearer. While wearing the mantle, the wearer regains one expended 1st-level spell slot after finishing a short rest.

Active Magics

Arcane Concordance: Once per day, as an action, the wearer can establish a temporary hive-mind with up to five willing allies within 60 feet. For 1 minute, all linked allies can communicate telepathically. Additionally, whenever a linked ally casts a spell that requires an attack roll, they can use the wearer’s spell attack bonus (+1) if it is higher than their own.
Adaptive Ward: After finishing a long rest, the wearer can attune the robes to a specific damage type: fire, cold, or lightning. Once per day, as a reaction when they would take damage of the chosen type, the wearer can gain resistance to that damage type for 1 minute.

Specific Slot

Robes (Worn item, occupies both the head and body slot)

Item Durability and Disabling

As a Rare, Tier 2 artifact woven from magical fabric and pure mana, the Mantle is resilient against magical effects but susceptible to physical damage. If targeted directly, it has an Armor Class of 15 and 60 hit points. The intricate weave of its mental and protective enchantments can unravel if it sustains significant damage.

Damaged (1-29 HP remaining): When the Mantle is below half of its total hit points, its azure glow becomes erratic, and the mana strands that form the halo flicker violently. The Aura of Lucidity becomes unstable, occasionally sending out ripples of psychic static that cause a linked ally to have disadvantage on a mental saving throw. The telepathic link from Arcane Concordance becomes filled with distracting echoes and stray thoughts.
Disabled (0 HP): When the Mantle’s hit points are reduced to zero, the primary mana strands that form the crown-like halo shatter with a soft, chiming sound, and the azure glow is extinguished. The robes feel cold and inert. All of the item’s magical properties cease to function, leaving it as a mundane, though exquisitely crafted, silk garment until it is repaired.

Repairing the Mantle

Repairing the Mantle is a delicate task that requires the skills of a master enchanter who is also an expert weaver, as the magic is woven directly into the fabric itself.

Repairing a Damaged Item (above 0 HP): To restore a damaged Mantle, a master weaver-enchanter is required. The process involves carefully re-stitching the frayed mana strands using Moonstone Thread and infusing them with a small amount of Liquid Mana to stabilize the energy flow. The ritual takes a full day of meticulous work and costs approximately 200 gold for the rare materials.
Repairing a Disabled Item (at 0 HP): Restoring the Mantle from a disabled state requires re-weaving its very heart. This is a quest-level undertaking.
1. Physical Restoration: A master weaver must first painstakingly repair any tears in the underlying Arcane Silk fabric, a process costing 300 gold in materials.
2. Magical Re-weaving: A master enchanter who specializes in mental or telepathic magic must perform the “Rite of Renewed Concordance.” This requires two exceptionally rare components: a Spool of Pure Mana Thread (spun from raw, solidified magic) and a Crystalized Thought of Unity (a psionic gem that has formed in a location of perfect harmony). The enchanter must use an Arcane Loom to unravel the broken halo and weave the new Pure Mana Thread back into the mantle, using the Crystalized Thought as a focus to reignite the collective consciousness enchantment. The components are priceless and must be acquired through quests, and the enchanter’s service would cost no less than 1,500 gold.

As a rare Tier 2 artifact with a unique and highly specialized function, the Mantle of the Unified Scholar 917 would not be found in common markets. Its value lies in its ability to multiply the effectiveness of a group of spellcasters, making it a strategic asset sought by powerful magical organizations, not lone adventurers.

Here are the types of exclusive establishments where this prestigious garment might be bought or sold in the world of Saṃsāra:

The Arcane Lyceum’s Vault

Location & Atmosphere: Within the central spire of a premier magical academy, like those found on the floating islands of the Zephyrstone Islands. This is not a shop, but the secure vault where the Lyceum’s archmagi store their most potent artifacts. The atmosphere is one of profound silence, academic reverence, and overwhelming magical power, smelling of ancient scrolls and pure mana.
Buying the Mantle: A prospective buyer would need to be an Archmage of an allied guild or a figure of immense importance. The “sale” would be a formal negotiation between councils, treated with the gravity of a political treaty. The Lyceum would need to be convinced that the buyer’s cause is just and that their group possesses the discipline to wield such a unifying force without succumbing to a tyrannical groupthink. A practical demonstration of the buyers’ collective magical talent would be required.
Selling the Mantle: The Lyceum would be one of the most motivated buyers in the world. The Mantle is a perfect tool for their elite research teams or their high-council of spellcasters. They would pay a premium to acquire it, viewing it as an investment in the future of their institution. The transaction would involve magical authentication and a lengthy contract.
Cost:
- Buy Price: 3,000 – 3,500 gold pieces. The price is high, reflecting its immense strategic value to a magical organization.
- Sell Price: 2,000 – 2,200 gold pieces. The Lyceum would pay top value to secure it.

The Sovereign’s Magocracy Exchange

Location & Atmosphere: In the capital of a nation ruled by a council of mages or a powerful Archon, this exchange is where artifacts of state-level importance are commissioned and acquired. The setting is opulent and intimidating, a fusion of a royal court and a magical laboratory. The Mantle would be considered a strategic military asset, a tool for coordinating the realm’s battle-mages.
Buying the Mantle: The Mantle would likely not be for sale to outsiders for any amount of gold. It could, however, be granted to a loyal servant of the state who has been tasked with leading a new magical division or a critical quest. Acquiring it would be a reward for unparalleled service or a key component of a diplomatic gift to a magically-inclined allied nation.
Selling the Mantle: The ruling council or Court Wizard would see the immediate strategic value in acquiring the Mantle. They could use it to coordinate the defense of the realm or to conduct large-scale magical rituals. They would pay a fortune to keep such a powerful force-multiplier within their borders and would likely use both magical and mundane means to ensure the transaction is secret and final.
Cost:
- Buy Price: Not for sale with coin. The price is a lifetime of service or a political compact of immense value.
- Sell Price: 2,500 gold pieces in royal treasury bars, likely coupled with a title of nobility or a land grant.

Eldrin’s Legacy (A Lumihive Collective)

Location & Atmosphere: A unique and mobile “shop” located within a massive, sentient Lumihive avatar that travels the world as a nomadic embassy of unity. The atmosphere is serene and surreal, with the air humming with a gentle, telepathic chorus. Transactions are conducted not with a single merchant, but by communing with the hive’s central consciousness. The Mantle is revered here as a sacred relic, an echo of their own founder’s philosophy.
Buying the Mantle: The Lumihive would be deeply hesitant to part with an item that so closely mirrors their own nature. They would only sell it to a buyer who could prove, through a deep telepathic probe, that their desire for unity is pure and their group is harmonious. They would be more interested in the buyer’s philosophy than their wealth. The price might be a service that promotes unity elsewhere in the world.
Selling the Mantle: The Lumihive would see the return of the Mantle as a joyous occasion, a lost piece of their heritage coming home. They would be exceptionally generous buyers, offering not just wealth, but also their unique resources: rare psychic crystals, access to their shared knowledge, or a promise of future aid from the hive.
Cost:
- Buy Price: A significant quest to promote peace or unity, plus a “donation” of around 2,500 gold pieces.
- Sell Price: 1,800 gold pieces, plus a significant, non-monetary boon from the Lumihive itself.

The Antiquarian of the Lost Order

Location & Atmosphere: A dusty, cluttered, and magically warded shop in a forgotten corner of an ancient city. The owner is a reclusive historian who specializes in artifacts from defunct magical orders. The air smells of old paper and magical preservatives. The Mantle would be kept in a back room, carefully preserved, its history meticulously researched.
Buying the Mantle: The antiquarian would be more interested in the buyer’s academic credentials than their combat prowess. The sale would involve a long lecture on the Order of the Arcane Scholars and the theoretical principles behind the Mantle’s creation. They would sell it only to a “true scholar” who would appreciate its history, likely for a very high price reflecting its academic rarity.
Selling the Mantle: The antiquarian would be an avid, if shrewd, buyer. They would be one of the few individuals who could recognize the item on sight and understand its historical and academic value. They would haggle intensely but would ultimately be willing to pay a substantial sum to add such a unique and well-documented piece to their collection.
Cost:
- Buy Price: 2,800 gold pieces, with the price being non-negotiable.
- Sell Price: 1,500 – 1,700 gold pieces. The antiquarian knows its value and will try to get it for a collector’s price.

The Mantle of the Unified Scholar 917 is not an item for a lone wolf, but for the leader of a magical cabal. Its roleplaying use revolves around transforming a group of individual spellcasters into a single, cohesive, and far more dangerous entity. Its offense is one of perfect coordination, and its defense is a sanctuary of shared mental fortitude.

Here is how a character might roleplay its use in different environments:

1. In a Cursed, Labyrinthine Library

This environment tests the Mantle’s ability to coordinate complex, knowledge-based tasks under magical pressure.

Proactive “Offense”: The party needs to solve a complex arcane puzzle by activating several runes in a specific sequence, scattered across a vast chamber, all while being harassed by spectral librarians. The wielder would activate Arcane Concordance. The roleplay would shift from shouting commands to a silent, perfect symphony of action. The wielder becomes the telepathic conductor: “Joric, I see the rune you need; it’s behind the east bookshelf. Elara, prepare to counter the spirit’s wail on my mark. I will take the central rune. Move… now!” The +1 spell attack bonus is roleplayed as this shared focus allowing the casters to land their disabling spells on the spectral guardians with unerring, pinpoint accuracy, neutralizing them without wasted effort.
Reactive “Defense”: The party accidentally opens a forbidden grimoire, which unleashes a psychic wave of pure chaos, attempting to inflict confusion on everyone. The wielder’s Aura of Lucidity is the first line of defense. It would be described as the azure halo around their head flaring brightly, creating a shimmering bubble of calm thought around the party. While others in the library scream in madness, the party feels the mental assault break against their shared shield of clarity, allowing them to keep their wits. When a magical trap unleashes a torrent of arcane lightning, the wielder uses their reaction to activate Adaptive Ward, the robes’ sigils glowing to absorb the electrical energy, protecting the ally standing in front of them.

2. During an Ambush in an Anti-Magic Fog

This environment isolates the party, making the Mantle’s unique communication ability the key to survival and victory.

Proactive “Offense”: The party is lost and surrounded by unseen enemies in a dense, magic-dampening fog. Shouts are muffled, and line of sight is non-existent. The wielder activates Arcane Concordance. Suddenly, the chaos of the fog is replaced by a crystal-clear tactical map in their minds. The wielder becomes the group’s “squad leader,” directing their allies with silent, precise commands: “Two bog-creepers approaching from your right, silent as mist. Prepare fire bolts on my telepathic signal.” The offense is not a wild volley into the fog, but a series of perfectly coordinated ambushes, with spells erupting from the mist to strike targets the casters cannot even see, all thanks to the shared consciousness.
Reactive “Defense”: The enemies in the fog are not just physical threats; they are illusions and phantoms that prey on fear. As a terrifying, shadowy beast lunges from the mist, the wielder’s Aura of Lucidity helps the party resist the magical fear it projects. They would roleplay this by telepathically assuring their team: “It is not real. Trust what we all see, not what it wants you to see.” This creates a small sanctuary of sanity in the disorienting environment. If an enemy mage manages to get a lock on the wielder and unleashes a surprise Cone of Cold, the wielder would use Adaptive Ward, the robes instantly frosting over but leaving them unharmed, much to the unseen enemy’s shock.

3. Defending a Ritual Site Against an Assault

This is a classic defensive scenario where holding the line and protecting the objective is everything.

Proactive “Offense”: The “offense” is a perfectly efficient defense. As waves of enemies charge the ritual circle, the wielder activates Arcane Concordance. They become the fire-control coordinator for the party. They would roleplay this by focusing the group’s power, preventing overkill on weak targets and ensuring powerful spells are used on the greatest threats. “Fenris, your fireball on the northern cluster. Lyra, save your spell slot; my empowered magic missile will take care of the scouts.” By sharing the Mantle’s +1 spell attack bonus, they ensure that even less-experienced casters in the group are hitting with the accuracy of a veteran, making every spell count.
Reactive “Defense”: The enemy leader, a powerful demon, lets out a terrifying roar that should send the defenders fleeing in panic. The wielder stands firm at the center of their group, the Aura of Lucidity flaring. This would be described as a wave of azure calm washing over their allies, steeling their nerves and allowing them to hold the line. When the enemy unleashes a massive volley of fire arrows, the wielder, who had set their Adaptive Ward to fire, would stand in front of the primary ritualist, taking the brunt of the attack and emerging unharmed from the flames, a symbol of unshakeable protection.

4. In a High-Stakes Infiltration of a Rival Mage’s Council

This social environment is about espionage and mental fortitude, where a single wrong word or thought can mean disaster.

Proactive “Offense”: The wielder and their party are disguised, attending a council meeting of a rival guild they need to gather intelligence from. They activate Arcane Concordance. The offense is silent, coordinated espionage. The wielder would roleplay this as a silent, internal dialogue: “The archmage is lying; I can see the flaws in his magical aura. Elara, use a subtle charm to get his vizier talking. I’ll create a distraction.” They can coordinate complex social strategies in real-time without speaking a word, sharing observations and deciding on their next move with perfect synergy.
Reactive “Defense”: The archmage hosting the council is a powerful telepath and attempts to subtly scan the minds of the attendees. As the mental probe reaches the party, it runs into the psychic shield of the Aura of Lucidity. The wielder would roleplay this as feeling a slight mental pressure, then calmly looking the archmage in the eye and giving a subtle, knowing smile, a silent declaration that their intrusion was detected and blocked. The Mantle doesn’t just protect them; it announces their own formidable mental power, turning a rival’s hostile act into a defensive power play.

Because this items’ headware (halo) only shows up when activated it may be worn with other headware items.

Perception of Activation:

When the wearer of the Mantle of the Unified Scholar 917 activates its Arcane Concordance ability, the perception is not one of explosive power, but of a subtle, profound, and swift expansion of consciousness that affects the wielder and their chosen allies.

Sight

User’s Perspective: The floating, azure halo of mana around your head appears then brightens from a soft glow to a brilliant, star-like radiance for a brief moment. You perceive faint, shimmering threads of azure light extending from the halo and connecting to the foreheads of your chosen allies. The arcane sigils on your own robes begin to pulse in a complex, synchronized rhythm that you can see in your peripheral vision.
Observer’s Perspective: The floating crown of light above the user’s head appears then flares with a brilliant but soft azure glow. An astute observer might see faint, almost imperceptible motes of blue light travel from the user to their nearby allies, causing the allies to shimmer with a faint blue outline for a split second before it fades. The intricate sigils on the user’s robes begin to pulse in a slow, mesmerizing pattern.
Positives: The visual is elegant and clearly signals a magical effect is taking place without being overly aggressive. It visually reinforces the idea of a mystical connection being formed between allies.
Negatives: The bright flare of the halo is an unmistakable sign of magical activation, making a subtle or hidden use of the ability impossible. It clearly marks the wearer as the source of a powerful group–based enchantment.

Sound

User’s Perspective: You hear a soft, harmonious, multi-layered chime, like several crystal glasses being tapped in perfect, melodic sequence inside your mind. This is immediately followed by the mental “sound” of your allies’ surface thoughts—not as spoken words, but as a chorus of distinct mental voices joining your own in a shared space.
Observer’s Perspective: A very faint, melodic chime, like a high-pitched wind chime, emanates from the user. It is exceptionally quiet and would almost certainly be missed in the chaos of battle or a noisy environment.
Positives: The sound is pleasant and calming, reinforcing the harmonious nature of the magic. Its extreme subtlety means it is highly unlikely to alert distant or unaware enemies.
Negatives: The sound is too quiet to be used as a reliable signal in a loud environment. For the user, the sudden influx of other minds into their own thoughts can be initially disorienting and overwhelming.

Smell

User’s Perspective: A clean, sharp scent of ozone and something akin to cool, crisp mountain air fills your senses. It is the scent of pure, structured thought and raw magical potential.
Observer’s Perspective: Those in very close proximity to the user might notice the air suddenly feels cooler and smells vaguely of static electricity, like the air just after a lightning strike has passed.
Positives: The clean, crisp scent is invigorating and can help focus the mind of the user and those who notice it.
Negatives: A very minor point, but the unnatural scent could be noticed by creatures with an exceptional sense of smell, alerting them to the presence of magic.

Touch

User’s Perspective: The robes suddenly feel utterly weightless, and a cool, tingling sensation spreads across your scalp and brow, originating from the halo. You then feel a distinct, non-physical “touch” in your mind—a feeling of presence—as each of your allies’ consciousnesses connects to yours.
Observer’s Perspective: Not applicable.
Positives: The tingling sensation provides clear and immediate tactile feedback to the user, confirming that the mental connection is active and stable.
Negatives: The feeling of other minds “touching” yours can feel invasive or uncomfortable, especially if the allies in the network are in a state of panic or pain.

Taste

User’s Perspective: A fleeting, psychosomatic taste of cool mint and charged static on the tongue.
Observer’s Perspective: Not applicable.
Positives / Negatives: This is a minor flavor element with no tactical impact.

Extra-Sensory Perception 1: The Shared Mindscape

User’s Perspective: Your individual consciousness expands into a shared mental space. You don’t just “hear” your allies’ thoughts; you share their immediate perceptions. You momentarily see from their angle, feel their tactical positioning, and understand their intentions with perfect, instantaneous clarity. It feels as if your mind suddenly has multiple sets of eyes and multiple brains, all working in perfect, silent synergy.
Observer’s Perspective: A powerful psychic or a user of the Mind’s Eye would perceive a sudden, dramatic shift in the magical auras of the group. They would see the individual auras of the user and their allies connect via brilliant azure threads of energy, forming a complex, beautiful web. The group ceases to appear as individuals and instead registers as a single, multi-bodied consciousness.
Positives: This provides an unparalleled level of tactical coordination and synergy, allowing the group to act as a single entity with flawless, instantaneous communication.
Negatives: The user bears the mental load of being the network’s “nexus.” If an ally in the network is hit with a powerful psychic attack, the user feels a painful feedback loop from it. The shared consciousness also means a complete lack of mental privacy among the group for the duration.

Extra-Sensory Perception 2: The Confluence of Knowledge

User’s Perspective: You feel a subtle but profound flow of information. An ally’s expertise on a specific creature becomes a flicker of understanding in your own mind. Your knowledge of a particular rune’s meaning is instantly available to them as they look upon it. It is not a full sharing of all knowledge, but a constant, subconscious exchange of immediately relevant tactical and arcane information.
Observer’s Perspective: An observer might be baffled by the group’s sudden, supernatural efficiency. They might see a warrior instantly pivot to protect a mage from an unseen threat behind them, or watch two scholars simultaneously decipher two halves of a complex inscription without speaking a word. The group’s actions become perfectly and unnaturally coordinated.
Positives: Massively increases the group’s efficiency and problem-solving capabilities. They can react to threats and solve complex puzzles with supernatural speed and insight.
Negatives: This constant flow of information can be distracting. The user might have an ally’s stray thought, fear, or worry pop into their head at a critical moment, threatening their own concentration. If an enemy can read the user’s mind, they risk exposing the entire group’s immediate plans.

The Weaving of the Concordant Mind

This masterwork crafting recipe outlines the intricate process of merging the Robes of the Arcane Scholar with the Crown of Unity. The procedure is a delicate fusion of high-level enchantment and master tailoring, requiring the crafter to physically weave the essence of a collective consciousness into a garment of individual arcane power.

Items Merged

Robes of the Arcane Scholar (Tier 1): Must be in pristine condition. It serves as the physical vessel and provides the core spellcasting enhancements.
Crown of Unity (Tier 1): Must be fully charged. Its pure mana strands will be unraveled and re-woven to form the consciousness-linking halo.

Additional Materials Needed

A Spool of Pure Mana Thread: A rare thread spun from solidified, raw magic. It is the only material capable of physically stitching the Crown’s essence into the Robes’ fabric.
Crystalized Thought of Unity (1): A psionic gem that has formed in a location of perfect harmony (like a Lumihive nexus or an ancient silent monastery). It will act as the focal point for the hive-mind enchantment.
Vial of Luminescent Azure Dye: A magical dye made from the crushed petals of the sky-lotus, used to imbue the new mana-weave with its signature color and glow.
Scroll of Mental Clarity: A high-level enchantment scroll that will be consumed to create the permanent psychic-warding aura.

Tools Required

Arcane Loom: A magical loom necessary for weaving enchantments and physical fabric simultaneously.
Aethyric Suture Kit: A set of specialized enchanter’s needles and tools designed for stitching magical essences and auras.
Enchanter’s Mannequin: A humanoid-shaped stand that can hold and stabilize powerful magical garments during the enchanting process.
Ritual Focus Circle: A prepared space required for the final, powerful binding enchantment.

Skill Requirements

Master Weaver/Tailor: To carefully unstitch and re-weave the delicate Arcane Silk of the robes without damaging the existing enchantments.
Master Enchanter: To safely unravel a pure mana artifact and fuse its consciousness-based magic with the robes’ spell-focus enchantments.
Expertise in Psionics or Telepathic Magic: The crafter must have a deep understanding of mental magic to properly structure the hive-mind enchantment and the protective psychic ward.

Crafting Steps

This is a complex, three-day ritual that requires absolute concentration and a quiet, magically-attuned environment.

Day 1: The Unraveling
1. The Robes of the Arcane Scholar are placed upon the Enchanter’s Mannequin. The crafter must use the Aethyric Suture Kit to carefully unstitch the seams of the high collar and mantle, exposing the magical matrix within the fabric.
2. The Crown of Unity is placed in the center of the Ritual Focus Circle. The crafter must perform a delicate ritual of deconstruction, using their will to gently unravel the floating circlet back into its constituent, shimmering strands of raw mana, which are carefully collected.
Day 2: The Great Weaving

The prepared robes are moved to the Arcane Loom. The crafter begins the most difficult step: using the Pure Mana Thread, they must weave the unraveled strands from the Crown directly into the fabric of the robes’ collar and mantle.
As they weave, they must infuse the strands with the Luminescent Azure Dye, giving the new weave its signature color. This process requires the crafter to use their psionic expertise to shape the enchantment, designing the telepathic network as they physically create its vessel.
The Crystalized Thought of Unity is carefully sewn into the collar at the nape of the neck, where it will serve as the hidden, central nexus for the hive-mind ability.
Day 3: The Final Binding

The re-woven mantle is returned to the Enchanter’s Mannequin inside the Ritual Focus Circle. The Scroll of Mental Clarity is unrolled and placed before it.
The crafter begins a final, lengthy incantation to activate and fuse all the enchantments. They must channel their power through the scroll, consuming it and binding its protective magic into the mantle, creating the permanent Aura of Lucidity.
If the ritual is successful, the newly woven mana strands will lift from the fabric, coalescing into the floating, crown-like azure halo. The sigils on the robes will begin to pulse in a slow, steady rhythm, perfectly synchronized with the halo’s glow. The Mantle is now complete, its two distinct souls woven into a single, harmonious whole.

Weaving of One Mind

Translator’s Note: The following is taken from a single, seamless scroll of shimmering silk found in the sealed archives of the Order of the Arcane Scholars. The language is a high, formal variant, and many words have layered meanings. The word for “unity,” for example, is also the word for “a beautiful, intricate prison.” We have translated with what little clarity we can offer.

And so it was, in the Age of Pride, that the Order of the Arcane Scholars was the greatest in all the lands of Saṃsāra. Their knowledge was a great mountain, and their power was a sharp and blinding light. But each Scholar was a star that wished to shine the brightest. They were great in their knowing, but small in their togetherness. Their minds were fortresses, their secrets were swords, and their rivalry was a quiet, gnawing poison. And though they held the greatest knowledge in the world, their house was divided, and so it was weak.

Among them was a scholar named Lyros, who was called The Listener, for his ears heard not just the words that were spoken, but the shape of the silence between them. And in that silence, he heard the discord of his Order. He saw that their pride was a wall between them, and that one day a foe would come that a single mind, no matter how brilliant, could not defeat.

Lyros journeyed far. He went to the shimmering lands of the Lumihive, where the people were not of one body, but of one mind. He did not speak to them, but he listened. He sat for a year and a day, and he listened to their collective consciousness, their song of many-voices-as-one. He saw that their strength was not in the power of one, but in the harmony of all. Their unity was a great and beautiful magic, and a yearning for it took root in his heart.

He returned to his lonely tower and went to his Arcane Loom. And his threads were not of wool or of common silk. He sought to weave not a cloth, but a connection. He took a thread of his own thought, a pure, blue strand of curiosity. He tried to weave it into a robe. But the thought unraveled and became a scream. He took a memory of a fellow scholar’s name, a thread of silver respect. He tried to weave it. But it turned to dust, for the name was too proud to be bound with another’s.

For many cycles, Lyros failed. His creations were robes of madness, of screaming voices and warring ideas. He learned that a mind cannot be woven like a thread. He learned that unity cannot be forced with a needle. [The text here is obscure, speaking of a long despair].

Then, in his quietest moment, he understood the Lumihive’s song. It was not a command. It was an invitation.

He returned to the loom. This time, he did not try to weave the thoughts themselves. He took threads of pure, silent mana. He took threads of Arcane Silk that knew only how to listen. And with them, he wove a space. A silent room. A gentle question. He wove it into the collar and mantle of a Scholar’s Robe, a garment of power that now held a place of quiet waiting. And when he was done, a soft, azure halo, like the sky over the Lumihive lands, floated above the robe’s shoulders, humming a silent tune.

It was then that the foretold enemy came. It was not an army with swords, nor a beast with claws. It was a Mind-Plague, a creature of pure chaos that fed on discord and doubt. It fell upon the fortress of the Order, and it tasted their rivalry, and it grew strong.

The Scholars fought. They were the greatest mages of the age. One unleashed a storm of fire. Another bent reality to his will. A third summoned a legion of arcane constructs. Their spells were mighty, but they were alone. The firestorm was dodged. The bent reality was twisted back. The constructs were shattered by the creature’s chaotic whispers. The Scholars, in their fortresses of pride, were being consumed one by one.

Then Lyros, The Listener, he came to the central chamber. He held not a staff of power, but the Mantle of the Unified Scholar. He went to the Archmage, the proudest of them all, whose own spells were now failing. “Your mind is a fortress,” Lyros spake. “But a fortress alone is a tomb. I offer you a kingdom.”

The Archmage, in his desperation, saw the truth of his Order’s failure. He cast off his own proud mantle and donned the new one. And a great light, the color of a clear sky, bloomed above his head. And in the minds of all the Scholars, across the great fortress, there was a feeling. It was not a command. It was not an invasion. It was a soft, polite knock at the door of their consciousness. It was a single, silent question: “Will you stand with me?”

For a moment, there was only the prideful silence of many lonely minds. Then, one Scholar, her own ward failing, thought back, “Yes.” And her mind opened to the silent room. Another joined, and then another. They felt, for the first time, not the rivalry of their peers, but their shared knowledge, their shared hope, their shared terror. They saw the battle not from one perspective, but from a hundred.

And their magic was no longer many small, proud rivers. It became one great, thunderous sea. The Archmage did not command them. He merely guided the confluence. Together, as one mind in many bodies, they wove a single, great spell. It was a spell of perfect order, of absolute harmony, a lattice of pure logic that the creature of chaos could not comprehend. And the sea of their magic, it did wash away the Mind-Plague as the tide washes away a scrawl in the sand.

The fortress was silent, but it was a new silence. It was not the silence of lonely towers. It was the silence of a library where all the books are open to one another. The Mantle became the Order’s most sacred treasure, a reminder that the greatest power is not held in one mind, but shared between many.

Moral of the Story: The telling is thus: A single mind, no matter how brilliant, is a fortress with but one defender. But a union of minds, willingly joined, is a city with an army. True strength is not in the height of your own wall, but in the gate you open for your brother.

Suggested conversions to other systems:

Call of Cthulhu (7th Edition)

The Mantle of Shared Madness

A beautiful but unnerving garment, these shimmering robes of an unknown silk are woven with strands of what appears to be solidified light, forming a halo-like collar. The arcane sigils embroidered on it seem to shift and whisper. The Mantle allows for a profound telepathic connection, but sharing one’s mind in a world of cosmic horrors is a dangerous proposition.

To attune to the Mantle, the investigator must wear it for 24 hours, during which they are plagued by the faint psychic echoes of all its previous wearers. At the end of this period, they must make a Sanity roll (1/1D6). If they succeed, they gain +5% Cthulhu Mythos but are now permanently bonded to the item.

Aura of Lucidity: The wearer and all allies within 20 feet gain one bonus die on POW rolls to resist the mind-altering effects of spells or psychic influence. However, if any character in the aura fails such a roll, the psychic feedback causes all other characters in the aura to lose 1 Sanity point.
Arcane Concordance (Action): Once per day, the wearer can spend 8 Magic Points and 1D4 Sanity to open a telepathic network with up to five willing individuals for 10 minutes. All members can communicate silently and share what they see. During this time, any member of the network may contribute their own Magic Points to help another member cast a spell. Participating in this shared consciousness is harrowing, and all members must make a Sanity roll (0/1D3) when the network closes.
Adaptive Ward: By spending 4 Magic Points as a reaction when taking damage, the wearer can give themselves temporary immunity to one specific source of mundane damage (a specific fire, a single electrical shock, etc.) that just occurred.

Blades in the Dark

The Conclave Robes (Fine Item, Worn, Mystical, Artifact)

A set of exquisite shimmering robes with a strange, glowing halo of azure light woven into the collar and mantle. It is a relic from a forgotten order of sorcerers who believed in acting as a single, unified mind. For a crew of scoundrels, it is the ultimate tool for silent coordination.

This is a Fine item that takes up 2 Load.
Aura of Clarity: You and your crewmates in the same scene gain +1d to your Resolve resistance rolls against supernatural terror or psychic intrusion from ghosts or demons.
Arcane Concordance: Once per score, you can activate the robes’ telepathic network for one scene. You and your crew can coordinate silently. When you lead a Group Action with the network active, it is always considered silent and does not cost extra Stress. Furthermore, any participant can choose to suffer 1 Stress to give you +1d to your roll (this stacks).
Adaptive Ward: This item has a 4-tick “Ward” clock. When you would suffer a consequence from a non-sentient, environmental hazard (raging fire, arcing electricity, collapsing structure), you can choose to mark 1 tick on the “Ward” clock to resist it instead of marking stress. When the clock is full, the ward shatters and cannot be used again until it is repaired (a 4-clock long-term project).

Dungeons & Dragons (5th Edition)

Mantle of the Unified Scholar Wondrous item, rare (requires attunement by a spellcaster)

These shimmering robes of deep indigo and silver are exquisitely tailored. Woven into the high collar and mantle are strands of pure mana, which form a floating, crown-like halo of soft, azure light around your head. The arcane sigils on the robes pulse in a slow, steady rhythm.

While wearing these robes, your spell save DC and spell attack bonus each increase by 1.

Aura of Lucidity. While you are not incapacitated, you and friendly creatures within 15 feet of you have advantage on saving throws against being charmed or frightened.
Mana Siphon. Once per day when you finish a short rest, you can choose one expended spell slot of 2nd level or lower to regain.
Arcane Concordance. As an action, you can establish a telepathic bond among willing creatures of your choice within 30 feet of you (you can choose a number of creatures up to your proficiency bonus, including yourself). For the next hour, all chosen creatures can communicate telepathically with each other. During this time, when an affected creature makes a spell attack roll, they can choose to use your spell attack bonus instead of their own if yours is higher. Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest.
Adaptive Ward. As a reaction when you take fire, cold, or lightning damage, you can give yourself resistance to that damage type for 1 minute. You can’t use this feature again until you finish a short or long rest.

Knave (2nd Edition)

The Unity Robes (1 Inventory Slot, Worn on body, Magical, Scholarly)

A set of shimmering robes that shift from indigo to silver. A halo of blue light floats around the collar. The robes hum with a quiet, harmonious energy and grant the wearer and their allies a shared sense of purpose.

Defense: Your base Armor is 13. You have advantage on all saves against spells that would charm, frighten, or cause confusion.
Arcane Concordance (1/day): For 10 minutes, you and up to 5 willing allies within 60 feet of you can communicate telepathically. During this time, whenever an ally casts a spell that has a chance of failure (e.g., a miscast roll), they may use your Intelligence score to calculate their success chance instead of their own.
Elemental Ward (1/day): As a reaction when you would take damage from a single source of fire, cold, or lightning, you can declare yourself immune to that damage.
Mana Siphon: When you rest for at least 1 hour, you regain one expended 1st-level spell.

Fate Core / Fate Condensed

The Mantle of the Concordant Mind

This artifact is not just a set of robes, but a wearable nexus for shared thought. The shimmering, silver-indigo fabric is interwoven with a glowing azure halo of pure mana around the collar. It was designed to allow a group of individuals to act with the perfect synergy of a single, brilliant mind.

Item Aspect: As a character gains this item, they add the following powerful aspect to their sheet: Mantle of the Concordant Mind.

This aspect can be invoked by spending a Fate Point for a +2 bonus or a re-roll on any action that involves coordinated teamwork, arcane scholarship, or resisting mental intrusion as a group.
The GM can compel this aspect when the telepathic link causes a shared, distracting thought at a bad time, or when the Mantle’s obvious power marks the wearer as the leader and primary target.

Stunts:

Aura of Lucidity: Because I wear the Mantle of the Concordant Mind, when any ally in my zone (including myself) Defends against a mental attack (e.g., against the Provoke or Rapport skills used maliciously), they gain a +2 to their roll.
Arcane Concordance: Once per session, I can activate a telepathic network for one scene. For the duration, my team and I can communicate silently. Additionally, when we perform an action as a group using the Teamwork rules, we gain an additional +1 to the final result (e.g., a 4-person team gets a +4 bonus instead of +3).
Adaptive Ward: Once per scene, when I or an ally in my zone would take a consequence from an elemental attack (fire, cold, lightning), I can spend a Fate Point to declare that the Mantle absorbs the energy. The consequence is reduced by one level of severity (a severe consequence becomes moderate, moderate becomes mild, etc.).

Numenera & Cypher System

The Psionic Synod-Weave (Artifact)

A set of shimmering, silvery robes interwoven with azure, psychoreactive filaments that form a glowing halo of light around the head. The Synod-Weave is a datasphere-interfacing artifact that doesn’t connect to machines, but directly to the minds of other living creatures, creating a temporary, localized psychic network.

Level: 6
Form: Shimmering robes with an integrated, glowing psychic halo.
Effect (Constant): The wearer is trained in all tasks to resist mental influence. The wearer and all allies within immediate range ease all tasks to resist fear by one step.
Effect (Action): The wearer activates a telepathic network. For the next 10 minutes, the wearer and up to five chosen allies within long range can communicate telepathically. During this time, all members of the network gain an asset on any task that is part of a coordinated group effort (e.g., a group skill check to solve a puzzle, or focusing fire on a single enemy).
Effect (Enabler): After a ten-hour rest, the wearer attunes the weave to one type of energy damage (thermal, electrical, sonic, etc.). They gain +2 to their Armor against that damage type until they choose to attune it to a different type.
Depletion: 1 in 1d20 (check each time the telepathic network is activated).

Pathfinder (2nd Edition)

Mantle of the Scholar’s Concordance Item 9 Uncommon, Magical, Invested, Enchantment, Mental, Abjuration Price 700 gp Usage worn robes; Bulk L

These shimmering, silver-and-indigo robes seem to have a halo of azure light woven into the collar and mantle. They are a legendary artifact from an ancient order of mages who practiced collective spellcasting.

When you Invest the Mantle, you gain a +2 item bonus to Arcana checks and resistance 5 to psychic damage.

Aura of Lucidity (aura, emotion, mental) 15 feet; You and your allies in the emanation gain a +1 status bonus to Will saves against mental effects.

Activate [two-actions] (envision, mental); Frequency once per day; Effect You create a telepathic bond with up to five willing allies within 60 feet. The bond lasts for 1 hour. All linked creatures can communicate telepathically with each other. Additionally, when a linked creature Casts a Spell that requires a spell attack roll, you can use your reaction to grant them a +1 status bonus to that roll.

Activate [reaction] (envision, abjuration); Frequency once per day; Trigger You would take fire, cold, or electricity damage; Effect You gain resistance 10 to the triggering damage type for 1 minute.

Savage Worlds (Adventure Edition – SWADE)

The Scholar’s Weave

These elegant, shimmering robes are interwoven with what appears to be pure, solidified light, which forms a glowing halo around the wearer’s head. The robes are a powerful tool for any arcane leader, allowing them to coordinate their allies and protect them from harm with uncanny efficiency.

Requirements: Seasoned, Arcane Background, Smarts d8+
Armor/Toughness: +2 Armor, +1 Toughness (the magical fabric hardens against impacts).
Mental Fortress: The wearer gains the Mental Resistance Edge. Additionally, all allies within a Large Burst Template centered on the wearer gain a +1 bonus to Spirit rolls to resist fear.
Mana Siphon: Once per day, after taking at least 10 minutes to rest and refocus, the wearer regains 5 Power Points.
Arcane Concordance (Action): The wearer can spend 5 Power Points to activate the Weave. For the next 5 rounds, the wearer and up to five designated allies within 12″ can communicate telepathically. During this time, all linked characters gain the benefits of the Teamwork Edge with each other for all arcane skill rolls.
Adaptive Ward: The wearer has the Protection power with the Fire, Cold, and Electricity trappings. They may activate it as a free action, even on another’s turn, but only in response to being targeted by an attack with one of those trappings.

Shadowrun (6th World)

The Synod Weave Robes

These are not mere robes, but a sophisticated piece of magical hardware woven from enchanted silk and psychoreactive fibers. The high collar and mantle are laced with fine, azure light-emitting threads that form a shimmering, crown-like halo. The Synod Weave is a legendary tool for magical teams, allowing a leader to create a temporary telepathic network to coordinate spellcasting and defense.

Type: Enchanted Clothing Availability: 16R Cost: 75,000 Nuyen

Effects:

Armor: The robes provide +2 Armor.
Aura of Lucidity: The wearer and all allies within 10 meters gain a +2 dice pool bonus to all defense tests against magical effects that cause fear or manipulate emotions (such as the Confusion or Influence spells).
Mana Siphon: Once per day, after taking at least one hour of rest, the wearer can heal 2 boxes of Stun damage that they have previously taken from Drain.
Arcane Concordance (Major Action): Once per run, the wearer can establish a telepathic network. For the next 3 combat turns, the wearer and up to five designated allies within 50 meters can communicate silently. Additionally, when any member of the network casts a spell, the wearer of the robes can use their reaction to grant the caster 2 Edge that can only be used on that spellcasting test.
Adaptive Ward (Free Action): Once per day, as a free action, the wearer can declare a single elemental damage type (Fire, Cold, Electricity, etc.). For the next minute, they gain Hardened Armor 8 against that damage type.

Starfinder

Scholar’s Concordance Robes Level 9; Price 14,500 credits Slots Worn Magic Item; Bulk L

These shimmering, exquisitely tailored robes shift in color from deep indigo to silver. Woven into the high collar are strands of pure, solidified mana, which form a floating, crown-like halo of soft, azure light around the head. They are a coveted item for leaders of spellcasting cabals and starship mystic officers.

Armor: This item functions as second skin armor. EAC Bonus +11; KAC Bonus +12 Max Dexterity Bonus +5; Armor Check Penalty 0

Effects:

Aura of Lucidity: You and all allies within 15 feet of you gain a +2 morale bonus to Will saves against mind-affecting effects.
Mana Siphon: Once per day, after you take a 10-minute rest to regain Stamina Points, you can also regain one expended spell slot of 2nd level or lower.
Arcane Concordance (Standard Action, 1/day): You create a telepathic bond with up to five willing allies within 60 feet. The bond lasts for 10 minutes. All linked creatures can communicate telepathically with one another. During this time, as a reaction when a linked ally casts a spell that requires a spell attack roll, you can grant them a +2 insight bonus to that roll.
Adaptive Ward (Reaction, 1/day): When you would take acid, cold, electricity, fire, or sonic damage, you can gain resistance 15 to that damage type for 1 minute.

Traveller (Mongoose 2nd Edition)

The ‘Synod’ Psionic Interface

An exceptionally rare piece of technology, likely of Zhodani or Ancient origin, this item appears as a set of elegant, shimmering robes. The fabric is a sophisticated nanite weave that interfaces with the wearer’s psionic potential, while the glowing halo around the collar is a visible projection of a powerful telepathic networking device.

Tech Level (TL): 15 Mass: 1 kg Power: 10/day (recharges 1 per hour from ambient energy) Cost: Cr 5M

Effects:

Armour: The robes’ integrated defensive field provides Protection 6. This is increased to Protection 10 against psionic attacks.
Aura of Clarity: The wearer and any individuals they designate within 5 meters gain DM+1 on all checks to resist fear or social manipulation (e.g., against Deception or Persuade).
Psionic Link (Major Action): By spending 2 Power, the wearer can establish a telepathic network with up to five other willing individuals within 1km. This network lasts for one hour. All members can communicate silently.
Coordinated Fire Solution: While the Psionic Link is active, any linked character may give another linked character DM+2 on a single attack roll by forfeiting their own Significant Action for the round and making a successful Electronics (comms) 8+ check.
Adaptive Shielding (Reaction): By spending 3 Power, the wearer can activate the robes’ adaptive energy shield in response to an attack. The robes become immune to one chosen energy type (laser, plasma, etc.) for one minute.

Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (4th Edition)

The Mantle of the Golden Order

A legendary relic from the Golden Order of the College of Magic, these magnificent robes shimmer with an iridescent light, and a halo of pure, golden Hysh floats around the wearer’s head. The robes were designed for a Magister to lead a group of wizards in perfect concert, weaving their spells into a single, impenetrable defense or a devastating, unified assault.

Type: Magical Robes Encumbrance: 1 Qualities: Magical, Fine, Protective

Effects:

Aura of Lucidity: The wearer and all allies within 4 yards gain a +15 bonus to all Cool and Willpower Tests made to resist fear, terror, or any spells with the Psychology trait.
Aethyric Siphon: Once per day, after successfully casting and resolving a spell, the wearer may make a Challenging (+0) Willpower Test. If successful, they do not expend the spell from memory and may cast it again later in the day.
Concordance of Minds (Action): Once per day, the wearer can establish a mental link with up to five willing allies they can see. For the next minute, all linked characters can communicate silently. Additionally, any linked character (including the wearer) may choose to suffer 1 Fatigued Condition to grant another linked character a +20 bonus to a single Channelling or Language (Magick) Test.
Adaptive Ward (Reaction): Once per day, when the wearer would suffer Wounds from an attack with the Fiery, Frost, or Shocking Quality, they may make a Challenging (+0) Dodge Test using their Willpower instead of Agility. If successful, they ignore all Wounds from the attack as a shimmering ward appears and deflects the energy.