Lore: In the bustling mercantile cities of Saṃsāra, accurate record-keeping is a prized skill. This sturdy leather belt, adorned with intricate etchings and a series of small compartments, is a coveted accessory among the realm’s accountants and bookkeepers. Crafted by the meticulous artisans of the Scribes’ Guild, the Ledger’s Girdle is imbued with enchantments that aid in tracking finances, managing inventories, and maintaining impeccable ledgers.
Roleplay: Wearing the Ledger’s Girdle is a symbol of pride for those who dedicate their lives to the intricate world of numbers and calculations. Its owner carries themselves with a sense of professionalism and attention to detail, meticulously recording every transaction and ensuring the accurate flow of wealth throughout the realms.
Passive Magics:
- Numerical Clarity: The wearer gains a heightened understanding of numerical patterns and calculations, reducing the likelihood of errors in accounting ledgers.
- Organizational Insight: The compartments in the girdle subtly rearrange themselves, aiding in the organization and retrieval of important documents and writing materials.
Active Magics: Ledger Duplication (1/day): By speaking a command phrase and tracing a specific sigil on the girdle’s surface, the wearer can create an exact duplicate of a ledger or financial record they are holding. This duplicate is imbued with magic, ensuring its accuracy and preventing unauthorized alterations.
Added Slots: The Ledger’s Girdle provides 3 additional item slots specifically designed to hold writing utensils, portable ledgers, and abacuses.
Color: The leather of the girdle is a deep, rich brown, with intricate golden etchings depicting intricate numerical patterns and symbols.
Statistics:
- +1 to Intelligence-based skill checks related to accounting, bookkeeping, and financial management.
Skills:
- Accounting: The wearer gains proficiency in the Accounting skill if they did not already possess it.
Tags: Utility, Mercantile, Accounting, Organization, Scribes’ Guild
The Ledger’s Girdle is a sturdy leather belt, crafted with utmost attention to detail. Its deep, rich brown hue is complemented by intricate golden etchings that depict intricate numerical patterns and symbols associated with accounting and bookkeeping.
The surface of the girdle is adorned with a series of small compartments, meticulously arranged along its length. These compartments are designed to hold writing utensils, portable ledgers, and abacuses, ensuring that the wearer has quick access to the essential tools of their trade.
The leather itself is of exceptional quality, tanned and treated to withstand the rigors of daily use. Its surface is smooth to the touch, yet durable enough to resist wear and tear from constant handling and movement.
The golden etchings are not merely decorative; they are imbued with subtle enchantments that aid in the organization and retrieval of important documents and writing materials. The compartments seem to rearrange themselves subtly, ensuring that the wearer can easily locate the necessary items without fumbling or disrupting their workflow.
Activation Perception of the Five Senses and Extra-Sensory Perceptions for the Ledger’s Girdle:
- Sight:
- Perceived: Intricate golden etchings, numerical patterns, and organizational compartments.
- Description: The visual appeal of the girdle lies in its intricate golden etchings, depicting complex numerical patterns and symbols associated with accounting. The compartments along its length are meticulously arranged, showcasing the attention to detail and craftsmanship.
- Positives: The visual cues inspire a sense of organization and professionalism, aiding in maintaining focus and attention to detail.
- Negatives: The intricate etchings may appear overwhelming or distracting to those unaccustomed to numerical patterns.
- Sound:
- Perceived: Soft jingling of writing utensils and the gentle rustle of parchment.
- Description: As the wearer moves, the compartments housing writing utensils and portable ledgers produce a soft, rhythmic jingling sound, accompanied by the gentle rustle of parchment pages fluttering.
- Positives: The subtle sounds serve as a gentle reminder of the wearer’s dedication to record-keeping and attention to detail.
- Negatives: The constant jingling and rustling may become distracting or irritating in quieter environments.
- Touch:
- Perceived: Smooth, supple leather and the texture of the etchings.
- Description: The girdle’s leather is smooth and supple to the touch, with a slight resistance that speaks to its durability. The intricate etchings provide a tactile contrast, their raised patterns inviting the wearer’s fingers to trace the numerical symbols.
- Positives: The tactile experience reinforces the sense of quality craftsmanship and attention to detail.
- Negatives: The raised etchings may cause discomfort or irritation if rubbed against bare skin for extended periods.
- Smell:
- Perceived: Faint aroma of well-tanned leather and parchment.
- Description: The Ledger’s Girdle carries a subtle, earthy aroma that combines the scent of well-tanned leather with the slightly musty fragrance of aged parchment, hinting at its purpose in preserving financial records.
- Positives: The familiar scent evokes a sense of nostalgia and familiarity for those accustomed to working with ledgers and accounting materials.
- Negatives: The scent may be unpleasant or overwhelming for those sensitive to strong aromas.
- Taste:
- Description: As an inanimate object, the Ledger’s Girdle does not possess a distinct taste.
- Extra-Sensory Perceptions:
- Numerical Intuition:
- Perceived: Heightened understanding of numerical patterns and calculations.
- Description: The enchantments woven into the girdle’s etchings grant the wearer an innate understanding of numerical patterns and calculations, reducing the likelihood of errors in accounting and bookkeeping.
- Positives: Enhanced numerical intuition aids in maintaining accurate financial records and facilitates complex calculations.
- Negatives: Overreliance on the enchantment may lead to complacency or a diminished drive for continuous learning and improvement.
- Organizational Awareness:
- Perceived: Subtle rearrangement of compartments and heightened spatial awareness.
- Description: The magical properties of the girdle allow the compartments to rearrange themselves subtly, aiding in the organization and retrieval of important documents and writing materials. Additionally, the wearer experiences a heightened sense of spatial awareness, facilitating efficient organization.
- Positives: Improved organization and ease of access to essential tools enhance productivity and efficiency in record-keeping tasks.
- Negatives: Overreliance on the magical organization may lead to a lack of personal organizational skills or a diminished ability to adapt to different environments.
- Numerical Intuition:
The Ledger’s Girdle, while primarily designed as a tool for accounting and record-keeping, can be utilized for defensive and offensive purposes in various environments, thanks to its sturdy construction and magical properties. Here are some tactics for using it in different situations:
- Urban Environments: Defense:
- The girdle’s durable leather construction can protect the wearer’s midsection from blunt impacts or slashing attacks in crowded city streets or marketplaces.
- The compartments can be used to store small objects or improvised weapons, such as caltrops or smoke pellets, for creating distractions or hindering pursuers. Offense:
- The writing utensils stored in the compartments can be utilized as improvised stabbing or throwing weapons in close-quarter combat situations.
- The weight and rigidity of the girdle itself can be used to deliver powerful strikes or parries against opponents.
- Wilderness Environments: Defense:
- The sturdy leather can offer protection against scratches or bites from small animals or insects while traversing forests or wilderness areas.
- The compartments can store essential survival items, such as flint and steel for starting fires, or herbs for basic first aid. Offense:
- The girdle’s weight and rigidity make it an effective bludgeoning weapon against small prey or predators.
- The numerical enchantments can aid in tracking distances, estimating trajectories, or calculating the force required for accurate thrown attacks with improvised weapons.
- Aquatic Environments: Defense:
- The watertight compartments can store essential items, such as tinderboxes or signaling devices, keeping them dry and accessible in case of emergencies.
- The girdle’s numerical enchantments can aid in calculating buoyancy, currents, or tidal patterns, potentially helping the wearer avoid dangerous situations. Offense:
- The weight and rigidity of the girdle can be used as an improvised bludgeoning weapon against aquatic threats or for breaking through thin ice.
- The writing utensils can serve as makeshift harpoons or spears for hunting fish or other aquatic prey.
- Subterranean Environments: Defense:
- The compartments can store essential items like chalk for marking paths or signaling devices for emergency situations in cave systems or underground complexes.
- The numerical enchantments can aid in mapping and navigation, reducing the risk of becoming lost or disoriented. Offense:
- The girdle’s weight and rigidity make it an effective bludgeoning weapon against subterranean threats, such as aggressive creatures or hostile entities.
- The writing utensils can be used as improvised stabbing or throwing weapons in close-quarter combat situations.
It’s important to note that while the Ledger’s Girdle can be used for defensive and offensive purposes, its primary function remains that of an accounting and record-keeping tool. Its utilization in combat or dangerous situations should be considered a last resort or an improvised measure when faced with imminent threats.
The Ledger’s Girdle is a highly sought-after accessory among accountants, bookkeepers, and financial professionals in the mercantile cities and trade hubs of Saṃsāra. These enchanted belts are crafted by the skilled artisans of the Scribes’ Guild, a prestigious organization dedicated to preserving the art of record-keeping and numerical mastery.
In the bustling markets and bazaars of major cities like Aurumopolis, the Golden City of Commerce, or Numeralis, the City of Counted Wealth, specialized vendors and guild outposts offer these coveted girdles for sale. These establishments cater specifically to the needs of accountants, scribes, and those involved in financial transactions, ensuring a steady supply of high-quality accounting tools and accessories.
The process of acquiring a Ledger’s Girdle often involves a combination of monetary exchange and Guild credentials. While the girdles are available for purchase, their enchantments and craftsmanship command a premium price, typically ranging from 500 to 800 gold pieces, depending on the specific embellishments and enchantments.
However, for those who cannot afford the full price upfront, the Scribes’ Guild offers alternative arrangements. Aspiring accountants or financially-conscientious individuals may undertake guild-sanctioned tasks, such as maintaining complex ledgers, auditing financial records, or assisting in the training of novice scribes. By demonstrating their dedication and skill, they can earn Guild Merits, which can be exchanged for discounts or even fully subsidized acquisitions of the Ledger’s Girdle.
In addition to official Guild outlets, these girdles may also be found in high-end markets or specialty shops catering to the affluent mercantile classes. Reputable merchants and traders often seek out these accessories as status symbols or practical tools for their own financial endeavors.
It is not uncommon for well-worn or heirloom Ledger’s Girdles to be passed down within families or sold at estate auctions, allowing these prized possessions to continue serving new generations of accountants and bookkeepers. However, due to the intricate enchantments involved, these second-hand girdles often require re-enchantment or restoration by skilled Guild enchanters, incurring additional costs.
Regardless of the acquisition method, owning a Ledger’s Girdle is a mark of prestige and dedication to the intricate world of numbers and financial management in the realm of Saṃsāra.
Accounting of Althalus, Scribe of the Endless Ledgers
In the ancient time before the time known, when the world was not as it was and men still counted the stones to know their worth, there was a man called Althalus. He was not warrior, nor ruler, nor sorcerer of grand spell. He was of ink and of number, a keeper of truth written not in song nor in blade, but in ledger.
It was said his mind was vast as the heavens, for he saw the movement of coins as the stars above. Kings and merchants alike sought his wisdom, for where gold flowed, so too did fortune and ruin. Yet, Althalus asked not for treasure, nor land, nor favor of queens—only his belt, his quill, and his ledgers did he cherish.
Then came the great woe, when the Kingdom of Countless Coins found itself in darkness. The gold vanished, the ledgers torn, and no man knew where the wealth had gone. The sovereign, in despair, called forth his knights, his scholars, his wisest sages, yet none could untangle the chaos that had fallen upon the realm.
So was Althalus summoned, though many scoffed, for what could a man of numbers do where the sword had failed? Yet Althalus came, his belt fastened firm, his ink fresh, his mind sharp as the winter wind. He walked the great halls of trade and commerce, he listened to the voices of debtors and collectors, he traced the ledgers both real and false, and where the numbers were broken, he mended them with truth.
With each coin found and each fraud undone, his belt, the Girdle of the Ledger, grew heavier, bearing the weight of a thousand calculations. He labored without rest, until at last, the missing wealth was found—not stolen, not lost, but hidden in the folly of careless men, trapped in the errors of forgotten sums and misspoken debts.
The sovereign wept, for his kingdom was saved, and he bade Althalus to name his reward. But the scribe only smiled and fastened his belt tighter, saying, “Gold is for those who do not see, but I see all, and that is wealth enough.”
And so Althalus returned to his quiet study, his name etched into history, his belt passed from master to student, its numbers still whispering the secrets of honest trade and diligent record.
Moral of the Story: The wealth of wisdom is greater than the wealth of gold, for one is eternal, and the other is lost when foolish hands take hold.
Crafting Recipe: Ledger’s Girdle
- Materials Needed:
- 3 square feet of high-quality leather (preferably from a Numerian Gazelle or similar durable creature)
- 2 ounces of gold dust
- 1 vial of enchanter’s ink (made from the ink sac of a Numerological Squid)
- 1 bundle of parchment (for practice etchings)
- 1 abacus (for numerical calibration)
- Tools Required:
- Leatherworking tools (awl, needles, cutting knives, etc.)
- Engraving tools (chisels, scribing tools)
- Calligraphy pens
- Jeweler’s loupe
- Alchemical heating apparatus
- Skill Requirements:
- Proficiency in Leatherworking
- Proficiency in Calligraphy
- Proficiency in Enchanting
- Knowledge of Numerological Symbolism and Patterns
- Crafting Steps:
- Leather Preparation: Using the leatherworking tools, carefully cut and shape the high-quality leather into a belt of the desired size and thickness. Ensure the leather is properly treated, dyed, and smoothed for optimal craftsmanship.
- Numerical Etching: With the calligraphy pens and enchanter’s ink, practice etching intricate numerical patterns and symbols on the parchment bundle. This step is crucial for mastering the complex designs that will be engraved onto the leather.
- Engraving: Once the designs have been perfected, use the engraving tools to carefully etch the numerical patterns and symbols onto the surface of the leather belt. Ensure precision and accuracy in the placement and depth of the etchings.
- Gold Infusion: In the alchemical heating apparatus, carefully heat the gold dust until it becomes a molten liquid. Using the jeweler’s loupe for precision, carefully fill the etched patterns on the leather with the molten gold, allowing it to cool and solidify.
- Enchantment Preparation: Using the abacus, perform complex numerical calculations and incantations to attune the engraved patterns to the desired enchantments (Numerical Clarity, Organizational Insight, Ledger Duplication).
- Enchantment Ritual: With the leather belt placed on a consecrated surface, recite the enchantment incantations while tracing the numerical patterns with the enchanter’s ink. This process imbues the Ledger’s Girdle with its magical properties.
- Final Assembly: Once the enchantments have taken hold, carefully add any additional components (compartments, buckles, etc.) to complete the Ledger’s Girdle.
- Calibration: As a final step, perform a series of accounting and numerical tests while wearing the girdle, allowing the enchantments to attune themselves to the crafter’s unique numerical essence.
Note: The crafting of a Ledger’s Girdle is a complex and time-consuming process, often taking several weeks or months to complete. It is recommended that only experienced leatherworkers, calligraphers, and enchanters attempt this endeavor, as any mistakes or imprecisions can lead to a flawed or unstable final product.
The Accounting of Althalus, Scribe of the Endless Ledgers
In the age before the rise of the mercantile cities, when the realms were still young and untamed, there lived a scribe by the name of Althalus. His dedication to the intricate art of accounting was unparalleled, and his skills with numbers were spoken of in reverent tones throughout the land.
It is said that Althalus could discern the secrets of the universe through the language of numbers, each calculation a step closer to unveiling the grand design that governed all existence. He spent countless hours poring over tomes filled with intricate equations and complex numerical patterns, seeking to unravel the mysteries they held.
One fateful day, as Althalus was deep in his studies, a messenger arrived bearing a request from the realm’s ruler. The sovereign, burdened by the weight of countless financial disputes and economic turmoil, sought Althalus’s aid in restoring order to the kingdom’s accounts.
Without hesitation, Althalus gathered his tools – a sturdy leather belt, a quill, and a boundless supply of parchment – and set forth on his quest. As he journeyed through the realm, he encountered merchants, artisans, and commoners alike, each with their own tales of financial woes and numerical conundrums.
With an unwavering commitment to accuracy and fairness, Althalus listened to their stories, meticulously recording every transaction and accounting for every coin. His belt, adorned with intricate etchings and compartments, became a testament to his dedication, holding the tools of his trade close at hand.
As the days turned to weeks and the weeks to months, Althalus’s belt grew heavy with the weight of the knowledge he had accumulated. Yet, his resolve never wavered, and his mind remained sharp, parsing through the most complex calculations with ease.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Althalus returned to the sovereign’s court, his belt overflowing with ledgers and his mind brimming with solutions. With a steady hand and a clear voice, he presented his findings, revealing the intricate web of transactions that had plagued the realm.
Through his efforts, disputes were resolved, fortunes were restored, and a newfound appreciation for the art of accounting took root throughout the land. Althalus’s belt, now revered as a symbol of his unwavering dedication, was passed down through generations of scribes and accountants, each leaving their mark upon its well-worn surface.
And so it was that the Ledger’s Girdle was born, a testament to the power of numbers and the importance of meticulous record-keeping in maintaining the balance and prosperity of the realms.
Moral of the Story: True mastery lies not in the possession of knowledge but in the unwavering dedication to its pursuit, for it is through diligence and perseverance that the secrets of the universe are unveiled.
Suggested conversions to other systems:
Call of Cthulhu (7th Edition):
Item: Ledger’s Girdle
- Type: Tome (Enchanted Artifact)
- Usage Die: 1D8
- Sanity Loss: 1D4 (Seeing the numerical patterns etched onto the girdle may strain one’s grasp on reality)
- Powers:
- +10% bonus to Accounting, Bookkeeping, and other numerical skill rolls
- Once per game session, the owner may duplicate a written record or ledger, creating an exact magical copy
Blades in the Dark:
Item: Ledger’s Girdle
- Type: Artifact (Accountant’s Tool)
- Load: 0
- Qualities: Organized, Precise, Calculating
- Crafting Requirements: Leatherworking 4, Engraving 3, Abacus Mastery 4
- Abilities:
- Gain a +1 bonus to any rolls involving accounting, bookkeeping, or financial management
- Can be used to create a duplicate of a written ledger or financial record once per score
Dungeons & Dragons (5th Edition):
Ledger’s Girdle
- Wondrous Item (Uncommon, Requires Attunement)
- This sturdy leather belt is adorned with intricate numerical etchings and small compartments. While attuned to the girdle, you gain the following benefits:
- +1 bonus to Intelligence ability checks related to accounting, bookkeeping, and financial management
- Proficiency in the Accounting skill if you don’t already have it
- Once per day, you can use an action to create a duplicate of a written ledger or financial record you are holding. The duplicate is magical and cannot be altered by non-magical means.
Knave:
Item: Ledger’s Girdle
- (Uncommon)
- Worn: Belt
- Properties: Accounting Mastery, Ledger Duplication
- Accounting Mastery: You gain a +2 bonus to any ability check involving accounting, bookkeeping, or financial management.
- Ledger Duplication: Once per day, you can create an exact magical duplicate of a written ledger or financial record you are holding. This duplicate cannot be altered by non-magical means.
Fate:
Item: Ledger’s Girdle
- Type: Artifact (Accounting Tool)
- Stunt: Numerical Insight – Gain a +2 bonus to any roll involving accounting, bookkeeping, financial management, or numerical calculations.
- Once per session, you may invoke the Ledger Duplication aspect to create an exact magical duplicate of a written ledger or financial record you are holding.
Numenera & Cypher System:
Item: Ledger’s Girdle
- (Level 3)
- Form: Worn Belt
- Abilities:
- Grants an asset to any task involving accounting, bookkeeping, financial management, or numerical calculations.
- Once per day, you can create an exact duplicate of a written ledger or financial record you are holding. This duplicate cannot be altered except by powerful reality revision abilities.
Pathfinder (2nd Edition):
Item: Ledger’s Girdle
- Type: Invested
- Bulk: L
- Traits: Invested, Magical
- Usage: Worn (Belt)
- Activate: [three-actions] envision; Requirements: You are holding a written ledger or financial record.
- This sturdy leather belt is adorned with intricate numerical etchings and small compartments. While invested, you gain a +1 item bonus to any ability checks involving accounting, bookkeeping, or financial management.
- Activate: You create an exact magical duplicate of the written ledger or financial record you are holding. This duplicate cannot be altered by non-magical means.
Savage Worlds (Adventure Edition):
Gear: Ledger’s Girdle
- Type: Magical Accessory
- Cost: 500 gp
- Weight: 2 lbs
- Notes: This sturdy leather belt is adorned with intricate numerical etchings and small compartments. It provides the following benefits:
- +1 to any Skill rolls involving accounting, bookkeeping, or financial management
- Once per game session, you can create an exact magical duplicate of a written ledger or financial record you are holding. This duplicate cannot be altered by non-magical means.
Shadowrun (6th Edition):
Gear: Ledger’s Girdle
- Type: Magical Accessory
- Avail: 12R
- Cost: 20,000¥
- This sturdy leather belt is adorned with intricate numerical etchings and small compartments. It provides the following benefits:
- +2 dice pool modifier to any skill tests involving Accounting, Data Analysis, or Financial tasks.
- Once per run, you can create an exact magical duplicate of a data file or financial record you are holding. This duplicate cannot be altered by non-magical means.
Starfinder:
Technological Item: Ledger’s Girdle
- Level: 5
- Bulk: L
- Hands: –
- Stats: Distance specialty longarm
- This sturdy leather belt is adorned with intricate numerical etchings and small compartments powered by a minuscule computational core. It provides the following benefits:
- +1 insight bonus to Computers and Profession (accounting) checks
- Once per day, you can use the belt’s integrated data-duplication module to create an exact copy of a digital financial record or ledger you are interfaced with. This copy cannot be altered except by high-level reality revision abilities.
Traveller:
Item: Ledger’s Girdle
- TL: 9
- Cost: Cr50,000
- This sturdy leather belt is adorned with intricate numerical etchings and small compartments, imbued with advanced nano-computing matrices. It provides the following benefits:
- +2 DM to any task involving accounting, bookkeeping, financial management, or numerical calculations.
- Once per week, you can create an exact duplicate of a written ledger or financial record you are holding. This duplicate cannot be altered by non-computational means.
Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (4th Edition):
Arcane Item: Ledger’s Girdle
- Enchantment: Numerical Mastery
- Type: Belt
- Availability: Rare
- Description: This sturdy leather belt is adorned with intricate numerical etchings and small compartments. It provides the following benefits:
- +10% bonus to any skill tests involving Numismatics, Trade (Merchant), or other financially-related skills.
- Once per year, you can create an exact magical duplicate of a written ledger or financial record you are holding. This duplicate cannot be altered by non-magical means.