Ethereal Collar

From: Spectral Lupines

Tier One Stats:

Charisma-based Skill Check Bonus: +2

Skills: No specific skills affected, but the +2 bonus to Charisma-based skill checks can apply to various skills such as Persuasion, Intimidation, Deception, and Performance.

Cost: The Ethereal Collar is considered a valuable and rare magical item. Its cost could be approximately 500 gold pieces or equivalent value in your game system.

Tags: Enchantment, Spectral Bond, Necromantic, Haunting Presence, Influence, Control, Spiritbound, Charisma Boost, Intimidation, Persuasion, Supernatural, Occult, Artifact, Ghostwalk, Ethereal Plane

Item Type: Accessory/Collar

Rarity: Rare

Magical: Yes

Ghostly: Yes

Lore: The Ethereal Collar was originally crafted by a powerful necromancer seeking to control and command spectral creatures. However, it was stolen by a mischievous spirit and passed down through generations. Legends tell of the collar’s ability to enhance the presence and influence of spectral beings, particularly the Spectral Lupines.

Use: The Ethereal Collar serves as a powerful accessory for the Spectral Lupines, enhancing their haunting presence and granting them a tangible advantage. It can be utilized in various ways:

Enhanced Charisma: When the Spectral Lupine wears the collar, its haunting presence is amplified, granting a +2 bonus to Charisma-based skill checks. This can be useful in situations requiring persuasion, intimidation, or any other Charisma-based interactions.

Intensified Ghostly Glow: The collar increases the intensity of the Spectral Lupine’s ghostly glow, making it more visually striking and enhancing the eerie atmosphere it creates. This can have both practical and thematic applications, such as intimidating foes, attracting the attention of other spectral beings, or setting the tone for ghostly encounters.

Unique Interactions: The collar’s magical properties may also unlock specific interactions or dialogue options with NPCs or creatures attuned to the supernatural or ethereal realms. It can serve as a key or catalyst for progressing through certain quests, unlocking hidden knowledge, or gaining favor with spectral entities.

Valuable Item: Due to its rarity and magical properties, the Ethereal Collar holds significant value. It can be sought after by collectors, adventurers, or those interested in the occult. It may also attract the attention of rival factions, leading to quests or conflicts centered around obtaining or protecting the collar.

In the world of Saṃsāra, the Ethereal Collar is a rare and valuable item with connections to the supernatural and spectral realms. Its presence in the market is limited to specific types of shops, each catering to different aspects of its mystical properties. Here’s where and how it might be bought and sold, along with the varying costs:

• Occult Emporiums
  • Description: Occult emporiums are dimly lit, mysterious shops filled with artifacts, tomes, and trinkets that delve into the darker and more arcane aspects of magic. These shops often have a heavy atmosphere, with incense burning and ancient texts lining the walls. The shopkeeper is typically a practitioner of necromancy or dark magic, with deep knowledge of spectral entities and their artifacts.
  • Cost: 700 gold pieces
  • How it’s Sold: The Ethereal Collar is displayed in a glass case or hanging from a dark, aged stand, possibly accompanied by an inscription detailing its history and powers. The shopkeeper might insist on discussing the collar’s history and potential dangers before agreeing to a sale, often requiring proof of the buyer’s worthiness or intent.
• Spectral Markets
  • Description: These markets are not always visible to the ordinary eye and might only be accessible under certain conditions, such as during a full moon or when the veil between the physical and ethereal planes is thin. The stalls in these markets are run by spirits, ghostly vendors, or beings attuned to the supernatural. The atmosphere is eerie, with ghostly lights illuminating the wares.
  • Cost: 500 gold pieces (with the possibility of bartering)
  • How it’s Sold: The Ethereal Collar may be exchanged for other rare spectral items, magical artifacts, or services rather than gold alone. Buyers must navigate the complex, otherworldly market rules, and bargaining often involves promises or spiritual favors instead of just currency.
• Antiquarian Shops
  • Description: These shops are found in old cities or hidden quarters of metropolises, specializing in ancient and rare artifacts with historical significance. The shop is filled with relics, aged books, and magical items collected over centuries. The shopkeeper is a scholar or collector with a keen eye for valuable and historically significant items.
  • Cost: 650 gold pieces
  • How it’s Sold: The Ethereal Collar is presented as a rare and valuable historical artifact, often accompanied by documents or scrolls that describe its origin and previous owners. The shopkeeper may charge a premium for the collar’s provenance and might also offer it in auctions where collectors bid for such rare items.
• Guild of Shadowy Artisans
  • Description: This exclusive guild operates in the shadows, where skilled craftsmen and enchanters create and trade items of great power and mystery. The guild’s shop is a secretive place, accessible only to members or those with connections to the underworld or black market. The shop’s interior is filled with powerful enchantments, keeping unwanted eyes and ears at bay.
  • Cost: 800 gold pieces
  • How it’s Sold: The Ethereal Collar might be sold to guild members or trusted customers with a steep markup, reflecting its rarity and the guild’s need to maintain secrecy. The buyer may need to prove their loyalty to the guild or complete a task to earn the right to purchase such a coveted item.
• Mystical Curio Cabinets
  • Description: Small, cluttered shops filled with strange and unusual magical items, often found in remote villages or near mystical locations like enchanted forests or ancient ruins. The shopkeeper is usually a wandering mystic or fortune-teller with knowledge of the supernatural.
  • Cost: 600 gold pieces
  • How it’s Sold: The Ethereal Collar is treated as a curious and unique item, perhaps hidden among other magical oddities. The shopkeeper may offer it with a story or prophecy, claiming it was fated to come into the buyer’s possession. Haggling is common, and the shopkeeper may be persuaded to lower the price if the buyer shares an interesting tale or shows deep respect for the supernatural.
• Floating Bazaar
  • Description: Found on one of the drifting Zephyrstone Islands, the Floating Bazaar is a marketplace where merchants and traders from across the world of Saṃsāra gather to sell rare and exotic goods. The atmosphere is lively, with skyships docked nearby and a mix of all sorts of goods from magical trinkets to rare spices.
  • Cost: 750 gold pieces
  • How it’s Sold: The Ethereal Collar is sold as an exotic item, marketed to wealthy adventurers or collectors. Merchants might present it with a touch of showmanship, demonstrating its ghostly glow or recounting tales of its mystical origins to entice buyers. Prices here are generally negotiable, depending on the buyer’s status and bargaining skills.

In each of these shops, the Ethereal Collar is a rare find, and its cost reflects not only its magical properties but also the circumstances of its sale. The price may vary based on the shop’s location, the buyer’s relationship with the seller, and the rarity of the item within that particular market.

The Ethereal Collar, with its connection to spectral entities and its enhancement of Charisma-based skills, offers a unique blend of offense and defense in various environments. Its usage can be roleplayed differently depending on the setting and the nature of the challenges faced. Below is a detailed breakdown of how it can be used in different environments for both defense and offense:

• Urban Environments
  • Defense:
    • In a crowded city or bustling town, the wearer can use the Ethereal Collar’s enhanced Charisma to defuse tense situations, such as calming an agitated mob or persuading guards to overlook a minor offense. The collar might amplify the wearer’s presence, allowing them to project an aura of authority or fearlessness, preventing conflicts from escalating.
    • The collar’s ghostly glow could also be used as a deterrent, making the wearer appear more otherworldly and unsettling to potential attackers, causing them to think twice before engaging.
  • Offense:
    • In a situation requiring intimidation or manipulation, the wearer could use the collar to dominate a conversation, coercing a merchant to lower their prices or convincing a rival to back down without a fight. The enhanced Charisma-based skills make the wearer particularly effective in negotiations, subtle threats, or even deception.
    • The collar’s spectral associations could also be roleplayed as allowing the wearer to summon brief, ghostly apparitions to frighten or confuse an opponent, giving them a psychological edge.
• Wilderness or Forested Areas
  • Defense:
    • In a dense forest or remote wilderness, the collar’s eerie glow can be used to ward off hostile creatures. The wearer might roleplay using the collar to project a spectral aura, making themselves appear as a ghostly figure to animals or less intelligent monsters, causing them to flee in fear.
    • The wearer can also use the collar’s influence to negotiate with fey creatures, spirits, or other supernatural beings that inhabit the wilderness, gaining their protection or assistance in exchange for a favor or a promise.
  • Offense:
    • When confronted by bandits or hostile creatures, the wearer can use the collar’s Charisma boost to sow discord among their ranks. By using their enhanced persuasion, they might convince some of the bandits to turn on their leader or instill fear, causing them to retreat.
    • The collar could also be used to channel the haunting presence of the spectral realms into the environment, making the wearer appear as a ghostly figure moving through the woods, allowing for stealthy attacks or ambushes with an added element of fear.
• Haunted or Supernatural Locations
  • Defense:
    • In haunted locations or areas where the veil between the physical and spectral realms is thin, the collar can serve as a powerful tool for defense. The wearer might use it to communicate with ghosts or spirits, calming them or negotiating safe passage through their territory.
    • The wearer can also use the collar’s ghostly glow to disrupt or weaken malevolent spirits, preventing them from possessing or attacking the wearer or their companions.
  • Offense:
    • In a supernatural setting, the wearer could use the collar to command or summon lesser spectral entities to aid in battle. These spirits might harass or distract enemies, giving the wearer and their allies an advantage.
    • The collar’s ability to enhance Charisma could be used to taunt or draw out hidden spectral foes, forcing them into the open where they can be more easily dealt with. This tactic could be particularly effective against enemies that rely on stealth or invisibility.
• Political or Diplomatic Settings
  • Defense:
    • In a court or diplomatic setting, the collar can be used to bolster the wearer’s defenses against verbal attacks or manipulation. The wearer could roleplay using the collar’s enhancements to detect and counter lies or deceit, making them a formidable opponent in negotiations or debates.
    • The wearer might also use the collar’s influence to gain favor with powerful figures, defusing potential threats to their position or reputation before they can escalate.
  • Offense:
    • The wearer can use the Ethereal Collar to dominate conversations or sway key figures to their side during negotiations. The collar’s enhancement to Charisma-based skills would make the wearer exceptionally persuasive, able to subtly manipulate outcomes in their favor without overt displays of force.
    • In a more aggressive diplomatic scenario, the wearer could use the collar to subtly intimidate opponents, projecting an aura of spectral power that suggests unseen forces backing their claims or threats.
• Combat Situations
  • Defense:
    • In direct combat, the Ethereal Collar’s primary defensive role might be less about physical protection and more about psychological warfare. The wearer can roleplay using the collar to project an aura of invincibility or fear, making opponents hesitant to attack or causing them to miss due to their unease.
    • The collar could also be used to bolster the wearer’s morale, providing them with the confidence to resist fear effects or charm spells, allowing them to stand their ground even when outnumbered or outmatched.
  • Offense:
    • The wearer can use the collar to enhance their battle commands, boosting the morale and effectiveness of their allies while demoralizing the enemy. This could be roleplayed as the collar amplifying the wearer’s voice and presence on the battlefield, making them seem larger-than-life or otherworldly.
    • The collar might also allow the wearer to unleash a terrifying war cry or chant, boosted by the collar’s ghostly glow, that sends chills through the enemy ranks, causing them to falter or flee.
• Social Gatherings or Festivals
  • Defense:
    • At social gatherings, the collar can serve as a subtle defense against those who might seek to undermine or embarrass the wearer. By enhancing their Charisma, the wearer can deflect insults, win over skeptical nobles, or charm potential allies, turning potentially hostile situations into favorable ones.
    • The collar could also be used to quietly intimidate or silence a rival, making them think twice before causing trouble in a public setting.
  • Offense:
    • The wearer can use the Ethereal Collar to become the center of attention at a social event, commanding the room with their enhanced presence. They might use this to subtly manipulate social dynamics, winning the favor of key figures or turning the crowd against a common rival.
    • The collar’s supernatural associations could be roleplayed as allowing the wearer to perform feats of charisma, such as influencing an entire room’s mood, turning a festive gathering into a somber, reflective event, or vice versa, depending on their goals.

The Ethereal Collar’s ability to enhance Charisma-based skills and its ghostly nature make it a versatile tool for both offense and defense, with its use heavily influenced by the environment and the wearer’s creativity.

Perception of Activation:

• Sight
  • Perception: Upon activation, the Ethereal Collar emits a sudden burst of ghostly light that intensifies the collar’s glow. The wearer is enveloped in a shimmering, translucent aura that fluctuates between pale blue and silver, giving them an ethereal appearance. The surrounding area seems to dim as the collar’s glow becomes the focal point.
  • Description: The light appears to ripple like water, with the patterns on the collar becoming animated, swirling like mist. Spectral figures or ghostly shapes might momentarily manifest around the wearer, visible only in peripheral vision.
  • Positives: This visual effect can intimidate or awe onlookers, establishing the wearer as a powerful, otherworldly presence.
  • Negatives: The intense glow and spectral manifestations may draw unwanted attention or provoke fear, potentially making it difficult to maintain a low profile.
• Sound
  • Perception: A soft, haunting melody fills the air when the collar is activated. It sounds like distant chimes or whispers carried by the wind, barely audible but persistent, with a rhythmic pulse that resonates with the wearer’s heartbeat.
  • Description: The sound is calming and eerie, creating a sense of unease in those nearby. The wearer might also hear faint echoes of voices, possibly from the spectral realm, communicating in a language just beyond comprehension.
  • Positives: The sound enhances the collar’s mystical aura, possibly soothing allies or unnerving enemies.
  • Negatives: The whispers may distract or disturb the wearer, causing confusion or anxiety, especially in moments requiring focus.
• Touch
  • Perception: The collar feels cool to the touch, almost as if it were made of a liquid or mist rather than solid material. When activated, this coolness spreads across the wearer’s skin, creating a tingling sensation that heightens awareness.
  • Description: The tingling is pleasant and slightly numbing, as if the collar is merging with the wearer’s body, making them feel lighter and more agile. However, this sensation can also feel disorienting, like an out-of-body experience.
  • Positives: The enhanced awareness can sharpen reflexes, improve coordination, and heighten sensitivity to changes in the environment.
  • Negatives: The numbing effect may reduce the wearer’s sense of physical touch, leading to clumsiness or a lack of connection to their surroundings.
• Smell
  • Perception: A faint, almost imperceptible scent of cold air and damp earth, mixed with the subtle aroma of burning incense, fills the air when the collar is activated.
  • Description: The scent is reminiscent of ancient crypts or burial grounds, invoking a sense of age and mystery. It’s both comforting and unsettling, creating an atmosphere of reverence and foreboding.
  • Positives: The smell can enhance focus or meditation, helping the wearer connect with the spectral realm or other arcane forces.
  • Negatives: The scent may evoke memories of death or loss, which could be distressing or distracting, especially in high-stress situations.
• Taste
  • Perception: Activation of the collar leaves a faint, metallic taste in the wearer’s mouth, like the aftertaste of blood or silver.
  • Description: The taste is sharp and lingering, growing stronger if the collar remains active for an extended period. It may induce a slight thirst or dryness in the mouth, similar to the sensation after tasting something bitter.
  • Positives: The taste serves as a physical reminder of the collar’s power, reinforcing the wearer’s resolve or focus.
  • Negatives: The metallic taste may be unpleasant, causing discomfort or nausea, especially during prolonged use.
• Extrasensory Perceptions
  • Aura Vision
    • Perception: When activated, the wearer perceives auras around living beings. These auras appear as colored halos, with shades varying depending on the creature’s emotional state or alignment.
    • Description: The colors are vivid and pulsate with the emotions of the individual, allowing the wearer to gauge intent, truthfulness, or hidden motives.
    • Positives: This ability grants the wearer a powerful tool for reading people and situations, enhancing their social and strategic advantage.
    • Negatives: Constant exposure to auras can be overwhelming, leading to sensory overload or misinterpretation of the colors, especially in emotionally charged environments.
  • Spectral Sense
    • Perception: The wearer becomes aware of spectral entities or echoes of past events lingering in the vicinity. These are perceived as faint, ghostly figures or shadowy images that replay past actions or communicate silently.
    • Description: The spectral figures are mostly benign, drifting through their routines or observing the living. The wearer may see glimpses of past tragedies, ancient rituals, or even future omens.
    • Positives: This sense allows the wearer to gain knowledge of the past or potential future, uncovering secrets or gaining insight into hidden threats.
    • Negatives: The constant presence of these spectral visions may cause anxiety or confusion, making it difficult to distinguish between the living and the dead, reality and illusion.
  • Ethereal Connection
    • Perception: The wearer feels a deep connection to the ethereal plane, as if part of their consciousness exists simultaneously in both realms. This connection brings heightened intuition and a sense of the flow of magic around them.
    • Description: The connection feels like a thread pulling the wearer toward something beyond the physical world. It enhances their ability to cast spells or channel magical energy but also tugs at their soul, as if trying to draw them away from the material plane.
    • Positives: This connection can significantly boost the wearer’s magical abilities, making spells more potent or easier to cast.
    • Negatives: The pull toward the ethereal plane can create a sense of detachment from the physical world, leading to a loss of focus, physical weakness, or the risk of becoming lost between realms.

Crafting Recipe: Ethereal Collar of Spectral Command

• Materials Needed:
  • Spectral Silver (10 oz)
    • Rare metal found in the ethereal plane, known for its ghostly sheen and ability to hold enchantments.
  • Ghostlight Gem (1)
    • A pale gemstone that emits a faint, spectral glow, typically found in haunted ruins or extracted from the heart of a phantom.
  • Wraith Essence (3 vials)
    • Distilled essence from a wraith, capturing the entity’s intangible nature. This is critical for imbuing the collar with its ghostly properties.
  • Spiritweave Thread (1 spool)
    • A thread spun from the hair of banshees or other spectral beings, used to bind the materials together with ethereal magic.
  • Enchanted Silver Dust (2 oz)
    • Finely ground silver infused with a binding spell, used to enhance the collar’s ability to channel and focus ethereal energy.
  • Arcane Ink (1 vial)
    • Special ink used for inscribing runes, made from crushed moonstone and mixed with the blood of a nightshade plant.
• Tools Required:
  • Ethereal Forge
    • A magical forge capable of handling spectral materials, fueled by ghostfire.
  • Runecarver’s Chisel
    • A finely crafted tool used to etch magical runes into the metal, made from dragon bone and tempered with arcane fire.
  • Wraithbinder Needle
    • A needle forged from ethereal steel, used to weave Spiritweave Thread and stitch the collar together.
  • Alchemist’s Crucible
    • A container for mixing and refining Wraith Essence and Enchanted Silver Dust, necessary for creating the bonding agent.
  • Spectral Hammer
    • A hammer made from solidified shadow, used to shape the Spectral Silver without disrupting its magical properties.
  • Tome of Ethereal Binding
    • An ancient book containing the necessary rituals and spells to bind the ethereal energies to the collar.
• Skill Requirements:
  • Mastery in Enchantment
    • Knowledge of enchanting items with spiritual and spectral properties.
  • Advanced Metallurgy
    • Expertise in working with rare and magical metals, particularly those with ethereal properties.
  • Rune Scribing
    • Skill in inscribing and activating magical runes that channel and focus ethereal energies.
  • Alchemy
    • Proficiency in distilling and refining essences from spectral beings, as well as creating magical bonding agents.
  • Necromancy
    • Understanding the manipulation of ghostly and undead energies to bind the item with the spectral plane.
• Crafting Steps:
  • Preparation of Materials:
    • Place the Spectral Silver in the Ethereal Forge and melt it down until it reaches a liquid state, maintaining a steady flow of ghostfire to keep the material’s ethereal properties intact.
    • Refine the Wraith Essence in the Alchemist’s Crucible, mixing it with Enchanted Silver Dust to create a spectral bonding agent. This mixture should be a smooth, glowing paste.
  • Shaping the Collar:
    • Pour the liquid Spectral Silver into a pre-carved mold shaped like a collar, carefully hammering it with the Spectral Hammer to ensure it forms a smooth, even surface.
    • While the silver is still malleable, use the Runecarver’s Chisel to inscribe runes along the inside and outside of the collar. These runes will channel the wearer’s Charisma and connect them to the ethereal plane.
  • Incorporating the Gem:
    • Once the collar has cooled and solidified, place the Ghostlight Gem at the collar’s center. Use the Wraithbinder Needle to sew it into place using the Spiritweave Thread, ensuring it is securely fastened and integrated with the collar’s runes.
  • Binding the Spectral Energy:
    • With the collar fully assembled, coat it with the spectral bonding agent prepared earlier. This paste will seep into the metal, merging the runes with the collar’s core, and binding the Wraith Essence to the item.
    • Place the collar back into the Ethereal Forge and perform the ritual from the Tome of Ethereal Binding. This ritual will draw ethereal energies into the collar, imbuing it with its ghostly glow and enhancing the wearer’s presence.
  • Final Enchantment:
    • Remove the collar from the forge once the ritual is complete. Apply Arcane Ink to trace over the runes, activating them and completing the enchantment. The collar should now emit a faint, spectral light, signifying the successful binding of its ethereal properties.
  • Cleansing and Consecration:
    • To finalize the crafting process, cleanse the collar in a bath of moonlight and pure water for a full night. This consecration seals the enchantment, ensuring that the collar’s powers remain stable and potent.

Once the crafting process is complete, the Ethereal Collar of Spectral Command is ready for use. It will enhance the wearer’s Charisma and grant them a tangible connection to the spectral realm, just as the original item does.

Tale of the Ghostly Trinket and the Mischievous Spirit

In time of old, when shadow danced on walls of stone, there was made by hands most skilled a shiny loop. This loop, it was bright like moon in dark, crafted by one who knows death and life’s thin veil. The hands, they belonged to the one who speak to ghosts and walk among the silent graves. He, the maker, wished for power over things unseen, so he made a collar, silver as river under stars, with light that was not of this world but of places where the dead walk.

But, the spirits who see and know all, they were not pleased. They whispered and murmured in the dark corners, saying, “This thing, it is not for the living to hold. It will bind us, control us, like beasts in chain.” And so, they sent one of their own, a trickster of the ethereal mist, to steal it away from the one who called himself master.

The spirit, light of foot and clever of mind, slipped through the cracks of the world. It took the collar in the night, when even the owls close their eyes. With a laugh like wind through hollow bones, the spirit vanished, leaving the maker with empty hands and anger hot as the forge.

The collar, now in spirit hands, passed from shade to shade, always in the world but never in one place for long. It became a thing of legend, whispered in hushed tones by the fire, of how it gave those who wore it the voice of the dead and the light of the ghost.

Through years beyond counting, it came to the wolves of shadow, the Lupines who run where light fears to go. They, who live between breath and silence, took it as their own. The collar, it gave them voice among the living, let them walk unseen, and made their howl echo in both the world of flesh and the world of mist.

But with such power came a curse, for the collar, though it shone like stars, carried the weight of the spirits’ anger. Those who wore it, they found their hearts heavy, their thoughts turned always to the shadows. The wolves became wise in the ways of the dead, but they lost their joy, for to hear the dead is to carry their sorrow.

Moral of the Story: Power over the unseen comes with a price, and to seek control of what lies beyond the veil is to invite both wisdom and woe.

Suggested conversions to other systems:

Call of Cthulhu (7th Edition)

Ethereal Collar

• Description: A spectral collar of ancient origin, crafted to communicate with the dead and manipulate spectral entities. The wearer gains a connection to the ethereal plane but at the cost of their sanity.
• Magic Points Cost: 5 MP to activate.
• Sanity Cost: 1d4/1d6 SAN each time the collar is used, depending on the intensity of the interaction with the spectral realm.
• Effect:
  • Speak with Spirits: The wearer can communicate with ghosts and spirits. They can ask one question per activation, which the Keeper answers based on the spirit’s knowledge.
  • Influence the Dead: Once activated, the wearer can attempt to command a spectral entity to perform a task. Roll POW vs. POW (opposed roll). Success allows the wearer to give one command to the spirit.
  • Drawback: The wearer suffers a penalty die on all sanity rolls while the collar is worn. Prolonged use leads to haunting visions and whispers from the spectral realm, which may require additional SAN rolls as determined by the Keeper.

Blades in the Dark

Ethereal Collar

• Item Quality: Fine (+1 effect)
• Load: 0 (because it’s worn as part of the character’s gear)
• Special Ability:
  • Ghost Voice: The wearer can communicate with ghosts and command them to perform simple tasks. This functions similarly to the Ghost Contract ability but doesn’t require attunement. The collar grants +1d to rolls involving ghost interaction.
  • Eerie Presence: While wearing the collar, the user gains potency when intimidating or persuading people, especially those who fear the supernatural.
  • Drawback: Using the collar attracts the attention of malevolent spirits. After each use, the GM rolls a 1d6; on a 1, a hostile ghost is attracted to the collar and might haunt or attack the wearer.

Dungeons & Dragons (5th Edition)

Ethereal Collar

• Wondrous Item, Rare (Requires Attunement)
• Description: This ghostly collar grants its wearer the ability to interact with spirits and bolster their Charisma-based skill checks.
• Effect:
  • Charisma Enhancement: The wearer gains a +2 bonus to all Charisma-based skill checks (Deception, Intimidation, Performance, Persuasion).
  • Speak with Dead (1/Day): The wearer can cast Speak with Dead once per day without expending a spell slot. The spell uses the wearer’s Charisma modifier.
  • Spectral Command: As an action, the wearer can command a ghost or other incorporeal undead within 30 feet. The target must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or be compelled to follow the wearer’s commands for 1 minute.
  • Curse: The collar is cursed, and once attuned, it cannot be removed without a Remove Curse spell. The wearer’s dreams are plagued by haunting visions, imposing a disadvantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks during the day due to lack of restful sleep.

Knave

Ethereal Collar

• Item Slot: 1 slot (Light Armor)
• Effect:
  • Charisma Boost: The wearer gains a +2 bonus to all Charisma-related checks (such as attempts to persuade, deceive, or intimidate).
  • Spectral Communication: Once per day, the wearer can attempt to communicate with a ghost or spirit they encounter. Roll a d20; on a roll of 10 or higher, the communication is successful, and the spirit can answer one question truthfully.
  • Drawback: Each use of the collar attracts unwanted attention from the undead. Roll a d20; on a 1-5, a hostile spectral entity is attracted to the collar and may pursue or haunt the wearer. The GM determines the nature and strength of the entity.

Fate Core

Ethereal Collar

• Aspect: Whispers of the Dead
• The wearer gains the aspect Whispers of the Dead, which can be invoked to gain insight from the spectral realm, communicate with spirits, or intimidate others with the collar’s eerie presence.
• Stunt: Spectral Command
• Once per session, the wearer can command a ghost or spirit to perform a task. The wearer rolls to overcome an obstacle using their Charisma (or another appropriate skill) with a +2 bonus. The ghostly entity must be present, and the GM determines the exact effects based on the situation.
• Compel: The GM may compel the Whispers of the Dead aspect to create complications, such as attracting the attention of malevolent spirits or causing the wearer to hear distracting ghostly voices during a crucial moment.

Numenera & Cypher System

Ethereal Collar

• Level: 5
• Effect:
  • Charm and Influence: The wearer gains an asset on all interaction tasks involving Charisma (such as persuasion, deception, or intimidation) when dealing with living beings.
  • Speak with the Dead: The wearer can use an action to communicate with a spirit or ghost. The GM decides how much information the spirit can provide, based on its nature and circumstances. This ability can be used once per rest.
  • Command Spirits: As an action, the wearer can attempt to command a spirit or ghost to perform a task. Roll against the spirit’s level; success means the spirit obeys, though the command cannot be overly complex or long-lasting.
  • Drawback: Each time the collar is used, there is a 10% chance (rolling a d100, 91-100) that the user suffers 2 points of Intellect damage from the mental strain of interacting with the spectral realm.

Pathfinder (2nd Edition)

Ethereal Collar

• Item 8, Worn Item, Magical, Necromancy
• Aura: Faint Necromancy
• Activation: [2 Actions] Command (Interact)
• Effect:
  • Charisma Enhancement: The wearer gains a +2 item bonus to Charisma-based skill checks (Diplomacy, Intimidation, Deception, Performance).
  • Speak with Spirits (1/day): The wearer can cast Speak with Dead as a 3rd-level spell, using their Charisma modifier for the spell’s DC.
  • Spectral Command (1/day): The wearer can issue a command to a ghost or incorporeal undead within 30 feet. The target must succeed on a DC 20 Will save or be compelled to follow the wearer’s commands for 1 minute.
  • Curse: The collar is cursed, causing the wearer to be haunted by unsettling visions and whispers at night, resulting in a -1 status penalty to Perception checks and saving throws against fear effects until the curse is removed.

Savage Worlds (Adventure Edition)

Ethereal Collar

• Type: Magic Item (Collar)
• Powers:
  • Charisma Boost: The collar provides a +2 bonus to Persuasion and Intimidation rolls.
  • Spirit Communication: The wearer can speak with spirits or ghosts as if using the Speak with Dead power, once per day.
  • Command Undead: The collar grants the ability to use the Command power to control undead, specifically incorporeal types. The wearer rolls their Spirit vs. the target’s Spirit; success allows the wearer to control the undead for 1d6 rounds.
  • Power Points: 5 Power Points are stored within the collar, which refresh at dawn.
  • Curse: The collar carries a minor hindrance, Haunted, causing the wearer to be plagued by ghostly whispers and visions. The wearer suffers a -1 penalty to Focus rolls (or relevant rolls to resist distractions or mental stress) while wearing the collar.

Shadowrun (6th Edition)

Ethereal Collar

• Device Rating: 4
• Availability: 8R (Restricted)
• Cost: 10,000 Nuyen
• Attributes:
  • Charisma Enhancement: Provides a +2 bonus to Charisma-based skill checks (such as Negotiation, Intimidation, Con, and Leadership).
  • Spirit Communication: The wearer can communicate with spirits as if using the Summon Spirit action, but without actually summoning them. This allows the wearer to ask questions or seek information from nearby spirits once per day.
  • Command Spirit (Complex Action): Once per day, the wearer can attempt to command a spirit within line of sight. The wearer rolls Charisma + Magic [Social] vs. the spirit’s Force x 2. Success allows the wearer to issue a single command that the spirit must follow for one service.
  • Drawback: The collar is attuned to the spirit world, which makes the wearer more vulnerable to astral phenomena. The wearer receives a -1 penalty on all Willpower-based tests when resisting mana-based attacks or manipulations.

Starfinder

Ethereal Collar

• Item Level: 8
• Price: 7,000 credits
• Slots: Neck
• Bulk: Light
• Aura: Faint necromancy
• Effect:
  • Charisma Boost: The collar grants a +2 enhancement bonus to Charisma-based skill checks (such as Diplomacy, Intimidation, Bluff, and Culture).
  • Speak with Dead (1/day): The wearer can use Speak with Dead as a spell-like ability once per day, with a caster level equal to the wearer’s level.
  • Control Undead (1/day): The wearer can cast Control Undead as a spell-like ability once per day, targeting incorporeal undead. The spell’s saving throw DC is 16 + the wearer’s Charisma modifier.
  • Curse: While worn, the Ethereal Collar imposes a -2 penalty on Will saving throws against fear effects, as the collar constantly whispers unsettling phrases and shows brief glimpses of the ethereal plane.

Traveller (Mongoose, 2nd Edition)

Ethereal Collar

• TL (Technology Level): 12
• Cost: Cr100,000
• Effect:
  • Charisma Enhancement: Grants the wearer a +2 DM (dice modifier) on all Social skill checks, including Leadership, Persuade, Deception, and Advocate.
  • Ethereal Communication: The wearer can communicate with ethereal or ghostly entities once per day. This is treated as a Difficult (10+) task using the Social skill, with a bonus of +1 DM from the collar.
  • Command Spirits: The wearer can attempt to command incorporeal entities to perform tasks. This requires an opposed Social roll against the entity’s Willpower (or similar attribute). Success allows the wearer to issue one command.
  • Drawback: Prolonged use of the collar may lead to the wearer becoming more detached from reality, suffering a -1 penalty on all Intelligence-based skill checks after each week of continuous use.

Warhammer (Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition)

Ethereal Collar

• Encumbrance: 0
• Price: 100 Gold Crowns
• Rarity: Rare
• Item Type: Magical Item
• Effect:
  • Charisma Boost: The collar grants a +10 bonus to Fellowship tests, including skills like Charm, Intimidate, and Leadership.
  • Speak with Spirits: The wearer can use Speak with Dead once per day, allowing them to ask questions to the spirits of the deceased. This counts as a Channeling (Lore of Death) action, and the wearer must pass an Average (+20) Language (Magick) test to succeed.
  • Control Undead: The collar allows the wearer to command undead creatures within a 30-yard radius. The wearer must pass a Hard (-20) Willpower test to succeed. Success allows the wearer to control the undead for 1d10 minutes.
  • Drawback: The collar is cursed, and the wearer suffers from disturbing dreams and visions. Each night, the wearer must pass an Endurance test or gain 1 Fatigue point due to restless sleep. Additionally, the wearer is more susceptible to fear and terror, suffering a -1 SL (Success Level) penalty on all Fear and Terror tests.