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Veil of Serenity

—

by

Dale
in

From: Shivarath

Lore: The Veil of Serenity is a sacred and revered artifact within the Shivarath faith. It is believed to have been crafted from threads blessed by Samvarta, the deity of Shivarath. Legends speak of skilled weavers who were granted divine inspiration to create this delicate, translucent cloth. The veil’s purpose is to bestow a sense of tranquility and inner calm upon the wearer, shielding them from external distractions and enhancing their ability to focus during meditation and ritual practices. It is considered a conduit for channeling the serene essence of Samvarta and fostering a deeper spiritual connection.

Level One Stats:

  • Serene Focus: When worn over the face or held close, the Veil of Serenity grants the user a +2 bonus to concentration checks made during spellcasting or other activities requiring intense focus. This bonus represents the veil’s ability to shield the wearer from external distractions and enhance their concentration.
  • Calming Presence: The veil exudes a soothing aura that instills a sense of tranquility in the wearer and those in proximity. It grants advantage on Charisma-based skill checks made to calm or pacify others, fostering an environment of peace and serenity.
  • Enhanced Meditation: When used during meditation or other contemplative practices, the veil deepens the user’s state of tranquility. It grants advantage on Wisdom-based skill checks made to gain insight, access inner wisdom, or achieve mental clarity during meditative practices.
  • Distraction Resistance: The Veil of Serenity offers protection against external distractions that could disrupt one’s focus. The wearer gains advantage on saving throws against effects that would impose disadvantage or hinder concentration, allowing them to maintain focus even in challenging or chaotic situations.

Cost: The Veil of Serenity, being a sacred and revered artifact within the Shivarath faith, holds great spiritual value. Its cost is estimated to be around 150 gold coins, reflecting its significance and the demand among those seeking inner tranquility and enhanced focus.

Requirements: The Veil of Serenity does not have any specific requirements for attunement or usage. It is accessible to any follower of Shivarath who wishes to acquire and utilize it during their spiritual practices. The veil is often worn by individuals dedicated to meditation, ritual practices, or seeking a deeper connection with Samvarta.

Tags:

  • Divine: The Veil of Serenity is believed to have been woven from threads blessed by Samvarta, imbuing it with divine essence and significance.
  • Cloth: It is a delicate, translucent cloth that can be draped over the face or held close.
  • Tranquility: The veil bestows a sense of tranquility and calm upon the wearer, shielding them from external distractions.
  • Meditation: It is primarily used during meditation and ritual practices to deepen focus and enhance the user’s spiritual experiences.
  • Additional: Sacred, Focus, Serene, Soothing, Spiritual, Shivarath, Revered, Calming, Insight

The Veil of Serenity, being a sacred artifact deeply associated with the tranquility and inner calm of the Shivarath faith, is not typically sold in conventional marketplaces. Instead, it is obtained through religious means within the faith’s community.

The veil is often acquired within the environment of temples, monasteries, or sacred retreats dedicated to Shivarath. It may be obtained through specific rituals, ceremonies, or bestowed upon individuals who have demonstrated exceptional devotion and a commitment to their spiritual practice. It is not commonly sold as a commodity due to its sacred nature and the belief that it should be acquired through religious channels.

Regarding usage, the Veil of Serenity finds its purpose primarily within the spiritual and meditative practices of the Shivarath community. It is used in the following environments:

  • Temples and Sanctuaries: The veil is most used within the tranquil settings of temples and sanctuaries dedicated to Shivarath. Here, followers don the veil during meditative sessions, prayer rituals, or other forms of spiritual practice. The veil helps create an atmosphere of serenity, allowing individuals to deepen their connection with Samvarta and find inner peace.
  • Retreats and Sacred Spaces: The veil is also utilized in retreats or sacred spaces where followers seek solitude and introspection. These environments provide a conducive atmosphere for individuals to engage in extended periods of meditation and reflection. Wearing the Veil of Serenity aids in shutting out external distractions, enabling practitioners to focus inward and attain a heightened state of tranquility.

In combat scenarios, while the Veil of Serenity is not a direct tool for combat, it can still have potential applications:

  • Concentration Aid: The veil’s primary utility in combat lies in aiding concentration. By wearing the veil or draping it over the face, the user gains a bonus to concentration checks, allowing them to maintain focus on spells or other abilities that require sustained attention. This can be crucial when under duress and facing distractions that would typically disrupt concentration.
  • Psychological Advantage: The Veil of Serenity’s calming presence can have a psychological impact on both the wearer and those in proximity. In combat, it may help maintain composure and clarity of thought, fostering an aura of tranquility that can subtly influence the emotions and actions of others. This advantage can potentially aid in negotiations, defusing tense situations, or inspiring a more peaceful resolution.

It’s important to note that the Veil of Serenity’s combat utility is indirect and relies more on its ability to enhance mental and emotional states. Its primary purpose lies in its significance to the wearer’s faith, acting as a symbol of serenity, tranquility, and enhanced focus during spiritual and meditative practices.

Perception of Activation:

  • User’s Perspective:
    • Sight: Upon draping the Veil of Serenity over the face or holding it close, the user’s vision doesn’t become obscured, but rather softened. The world appears slightly diffused, as if viewed through a gentle mist. Colors might seem subtly muted, but with a heightened sense of luminosity, particularly around sources of light. The intricate patterns on the veil itself may seem to gently shimmer or pulse, especially the silver threads and quartz beads. If meditating, closed-eye visuals (hypnagogic imagery) might become more vivid and stable.
    • Hearing: Ambient sounds become less jarring and intrusive. The rustling of the veil itself is almost silent, a delicate whisper. The user might perceive a faint, high-pitched humming or ringing sound, often interpreted as the subtle resonance of the veil’s spiritual energy. This sound is calming and conducive to focus, not distracting.
    • Touch: The silk of the veil feels exceptionally smooth and cool against the skin. There’s a sensation of lightness, as if a gentle breeze is constantly caressing the area covered by the veil. The quartz beads, if present, might feel subtly cool or warm, depending on the user’s emotional state. There’s a palpable sense of release – a lessening of physical tension and anxiety.
    • Smell: A faint, clean scent accompanies the veil, often described as similar to fresh air after a rain, or the subtle fragrance of moonpetal flowers. This scent is calming and subtly uplifting, promoting a sense of peace and well-being. It’s not a strong or overpowering smell, but rather a delicate, almost imperceptible aroma.
    • Taste: There is typically no direct taste associated with the veil’s activation. However, some users report a subtle sweetness or coolness in their mouth, similar to the sensation of drinking pure, cool water. This is likely a psychosomatic effect related to the veil’s calming influence.
    • Extra-Sensory (Mind’s Eye): The user experiences a significant increase in mental clarity and focus. Distracting thoughts fade into the background, and it becomes easier to concentrate on a single point, whether it’s a mantra, a visualization, or a complex problem. The user might receive intuitive flashes of insight, solutions to problems, or a deeper understanding of spiritual concepts. There’s a sense of being shielded from external psychic “noise.”
    • Extra-Sensory (Emotional): A profound sense of calm and serenity washes over the user. Feelings of anxiety, stress, and anger diminish significantly. There’s a feeling of inner peace, emotional balance, and a heightened sense of connection to the divine (specifically, Samvarta). This is not a suppression of emotions, but rather a gentle, accepting awareness of them. The user feels centered and grounded.
  • Observer’s Perspective:
    • Sight: The veil appears as a shimmering, translucent fabric, almost ethereal in its delicacy. The subtle patterns might be visible, especially when light catches the silver threads or quartz beads. The user’s face, if visible through the veil, appears softened and relaxed. There’s no dramatic visual display, but rather a subtle aura of peace and tranquility surrounding the user.
    • Hearing: The faint humming or ringing sound might be perceptible to those with keen hearing, especially in a quiet environment. It’s not a disruptive sound, but rather a subtle indication of the veil’s active state.
    • Smell: The delicate scent of fresh air or moonpetal flowers might be noticeable to those standing close to the user.
    • Extra-Sensory (General): People with sensitivity to magic or spiritual energy might feel a sense of calmness and peace emanating from the user and the veil. There’s a subtle “softening” of the atmosphere around the user, a lessening of tension and conflict.
    • Extra-Sensory (Mind’s Eye): Other’s with the Mind’s Eye ability would see the user’s magical defenses increase slightly.
  • Positives:
    • Enhanced Focus: The veil significantly improves concentration, making it easier to perform complex tasks, meditate, or cast spells.
    • Emotional Regulation: The calming influence helps manage stress, anxiety, and anger, promoting emotional stability.
    • Spiritual Connection: The veil deepens the user’s connection to the divine, facilitating spiritual experiences and insights.
    • Social Harmony: The calming aura can promote peaceful interactions and de-escalate tense situations.
  • Negatives:
    • Reduced Awareness: The softening of sensory input can make the user slightly less aware of their immediate surroundings, potentially making them vulnerable to subtle threats.
    • Emotional Detachment: While generally positive, the emotional calming could, in extreme cases, lead to a degree of detachment from important emotional cues or a lack of urgency in critical situations.
    • Dependence: Over-reliance on the veil for focus and emotional regulation could hinder the development of these skills naturally.
    • Subtle, Not Overpowering: The veil’s effects are subtle and easily overcome by strong external stimuli or determined opposition. It’s a tool for enhancing inner peace, not a magical shield against all harm.

Recipe: Replication of the Veil of Serenity — This recipe outlines the intricate process of creating a veil that emulates the qualities of the legendary Veil of Serenity. True replication is impossible, as the original is a divinely inspired artifact, but this process aims to create a veil with similar calming and focus-enhancing properties.

  • Materials Needed:
    • Moonpetal Silk Cocoons:
      • Source: Cocoons from silkworms exclusively fed on Moonpetal flowers, grown in a consecrated garden under the light of the full moon. The garden must be blessed by a priest of Shivarath. The silkworms must be of a specific, rare breed known for producing exceptionally fine silk.
      • Quantity: 100 cocoons (yield varies, but this should produce enough silk for a single veil).
    • Moonstone Dust (Fine):
      • Source: High-quality moonstone, ground to an extremely fine powder. The moonstone must be sourced from a location known for its strong lunar energy, such as a mountaintop or a cave exposed to moonlight.
      • Quantity: 1 ounce
    • Silver Thread (Purified):
      • Source: Silver purified through a ritualistic process involving exposure to moonlight and prayers to Samvarta. This purification removes impurities and enhances the metal’s receptivity to spiritual energy.
      • Quantity: 50 yards
    • Quartz Crystal Beads (Clear):
      • Source: Perfectly clear, flawless quartz crystal beads, no larger than 3mm in diameter. These must be naturally formed, not cut or polished.
      • Quantity: 72 beads (representing the sacred number of constellations in Shivarath cosmology)
    • Sacred Water:
      • Source: Water collected from a sacred spring or well dedicated to Shivarath, blessed by a high priest.
      • Quantity: 1 gallon
    • Lotus Flowers:
      • One dozen in full bloom.
    • Needles:
      • Made from polished bone.
      • 3 Needles.
  • Tools Required:
    • Silk Reeling Equipment: A basin for hot water, a reeling frame, and other tools necessary for extracting silk filaments from the cocoons.
    • Loom (Hand-Operated): A simple, hand-operated loom for weaving the silk into fabric. The loom must be made of wood from a tree grown in consecrated ground.
    • Mortar and Pestle (Moonstone): A mortar and pestle made of polished moonstone for grinding the silver (if necessary) and mixing ingredients.
    • Embroidery Needles (Bone): Fine, sharp needles made of polished bone for stitching the silver thread and attaching the quartz beads.
    • Incense Burner: A censer for burning sacred incense during the crafting process.
    • Containers:
      • Made from glass to hold materials.
      • 3 containers needed
  • Skill Requirements:
    • Expert Silk Worker (15+ ranks): Reeling and processing the delicate Moonpetal silk requires great skill and experience.
    • Master Weaver (20+ ranks): Weaving the sheer, intricate fabric of the veil demands exceptional precision and artistry.
    • Expert Embroiderer (15+ ranks): Stitching the silver thread and attaching the quartz beads requires a delicate touch and a keen eye for detail.
    • Expert Alchemist (or Herbalist) (10+ ranks): Preparing the moonstone dust and purifying the silver requires knowledge of alchemical or herbal principles.
    • Expert in Religion (10+ ranks): The crafter must possess a thorough understanding of the principles of Shivarath and the significance of the veil’s symbolism.
  • Crafting Steps:
    • Preparation (1 week): The crafting process must begin during a full moon. The crafter must fast and meditate for three days prior to beginning, purifying their body and mind. The workshop must be ritually cleansed and consecrated to Shivarath. Sacred incense, specifically a blend associated with peace and tranquility, must be burned throughout the entire crafting process.
    • Silk Reeling (2 weeks): Carefully reel the silk from the Moonpetal cocoons. This is a delicate process that requires patience and a gentle touch. The cocoons must be soaked in the sacred water, heated to the precise temperature, to loosen the sericin (the gum that holds the cocoon together) without damaging the silk filaments.
    • Silver Preparation (3 days): If the silver is not already in thread form, it must be carefully drawn into fine wire. This wire is then ritually purified by passing it through the smoke of sacred incense and chanting prayers to Samvarta.
    • Moonstone Infusion (1 day): Under the light of the full moon, mix the fine moonstone dust with a small amount of sacred water to create a thin paste. Gently coat the silver threads with this paste, allowing it to dry completely. This infuses the silver with lunar energy.
    • Weaving (4 weeks): Weave the Moonpetal silk into a rectangular or square piece of fabric, large enough for the intended veil size. The weave must be exceptionally fine and even, creating a sheer, almost translucent cloth. The lotus flower and eight-pointed star patterns must be woven directly into the fabric using a combination of plain weave and more complex techniques. This requires immense skill and concentration.
    • Embroidery (2 weeks): Using the moonstone-infused silver thread, carefully embroider the outlines of the lotus flowers and the eight-pointed stars. The stitches must be tiny and precise, creating a subtle shimmer without disrupting the flow of the fabric.
    • Bead Attachment (1 week): Attach the clear quartz crystal beads to the edges of the veil, using the purified silver thread. The beads must be evenly spaced and securely fastened.
    • Lotus Bath Place the Lotus flowers into the sacred water. Gently wash the veil with the water.
    • Consecration Ritual (1 day): The final step is a consecration ritual, performed by a high priest or priestess of Shivarath. This ritual involves chanting prayers, burning sacred incense, and invoking the blessings of Samvarta upon the veil. This imbues the veil with its final spiritual power.

This recipe is exceptionally demanding, requiring rare materials, specialized skills, and a deep understanding of the Shivarath faith. The resulting veil, while not possessing the full divine power of the original Veil of Serenity, will be a potent artifact capable of enhancing focus, promoting tranquility, and deepening spiritual connection. The process of its creation is as much a spiritual practice as it is a craft.

Whisper-Cloth and the Weaver of Woes

Hearken now, you dust-covered scholars and moth-eaten mages, to a tale twisted by time and garbled by gossip! This… this is the legend, as best as we can piece it together, of the… Whisper-Cloth. Or maybe it was the Still-Sheet? The Hush-Blanket? The… Veil of Serenity, some insist. The ancient texts… they argue. A lot.

Long ago, before writing was… reliable, before kings were more than just loud farmers with pointy sticks, there was… a village. A noisy village. Very noisy. Full of… people. Arguing. Complaining. Gossiping. Chickens… squawking. Goats… bleating (goats are always a problem in these old stories). And… babies. Lots of babies. Crying. All the time.

This village, it was… miserable. Understandably. Nobody could… think. Nobody could… sleep. Nobody could… hear themselves complain about how much they couldn’t hear themselves complain. It was… a vicious cycle.

In this village, there lived… a weaver. Or maybe a spinner. Or possibly a… cloth-… person. The scrolls are… vague. They were called… Quiet Hands. Or maybe Still Fingers. Or… Possibly… Bob. The translations are… uncertain. This Quiet Hands, they were… different. They liked… silence. Which, in this village, was… rare. Rarer than a… a two-headed goat. (Those were surprisingly common, actually. Never mind.)

Quiet Hands, they had a… dream. A literal dream, mind you. Not a metaphorical one. They dreamt of… silence. Blessed, beautiful, complete silence. In this dream, there was… a cloth. A shimmering, whispering cloth. It… muffled things. Sounds. Thoughts. Worries. Even… the crying of babies. (Especially the crying of babies.)

When Quiet Hands woke up, they… had an idea. A good idea, for once. They would… make the cloth. The… Hush-… Thing. They gathered… materials. Silk, from… special silkworms. Fed on… moon-… flowers. Or maybe it was moon-… rocks. The texts… are confusing. And… silver. From… the moon? Or maybe a very shiny mountain. And… tears. Of… joy? Or maybe sorrow. Or… possibly… onions. The translations are… frustrating.

Quiet Hands, they… worked. They spun. They wove. They… embroidered. Very… slowly. Very… quietly. The villagers, they… mocked. They said… things. “Look at Quiet Hands, playing with their… string!” “What a waste of… time!” “Are those… onion tears?!”

But Quiet Hands, they… persisted. Guided by… the dream. Or maybe by… a very helpful spider. The scrolls… differ. Finally, after much spinning, and weaving, and… possibly… onion-crying, the cloth was… finished. The… Veil. The… Shush-… Fabric.

It was… beautiful. Or maybe it was just… very, very pale. It… shimmered. Or maybe it just… reflected the light oddly. It… whispered. Or maybe that was just the wind. It was… hard to tell.

Quiet Hands, they… draped it. Over their… head. And… silence. Blessed, beautiful, almost complete silence. The arguing, the complaining, the chickens, the goats, the babies… all… muted. Muffled. Manageable.

Quiet Hands, they… smiled. A rare event. They could… think. They could… sleep. They could… hear themselves complain about how noisy it used to be. It was… progress.

The villagers, they… noticed. They saw… Quiet Hands. Sitting. Calmly. Smiling. Not complaining. This was… unusual. Unprecedented. Un-… something.

They… approached. Cautiously. They… asked. “What… is that… thing?” “Why are you… not yelling?” “Did the shadows… eat your tongue?”

Quiet Hands, they… showed them. The… Cloth. The… Silence-… Generator. They draped it over… a crying baby. And… silence. The baby… stopped crying. It… gurgled. Contentedly. This was… a miracle. Or maybe just… very good earplugs.

The villagers, they were… amazed. They… wanted. They needed. The… Quiet-… Thingy. They offered… things. Goats. (Lots of goats). Chickens. (Fewer chickens, those were valuable). Laundry services. (Surprisingly tempting).

But Quiet Hands, they… refused. The Veil, it was… not for sale. It was… for sharing. They draped it over… the arguing couple. Silence. They draped it over… the complaining gossips. Silence. They even, briefly, draped it over… the goats. (Relative silence. Goats are… persistent.)

The village, it… changed. It became… quieter. Calmer. More… serene. People… listened. To each other. To… themselves. To… the wind. (Which, it turned out, was quite pleasant, when not drowned out by screaming babies.)

But… the silence. It was… not perfect. It was… a tool. Not a… solution. People still… felt. They still… worried. They still… had problems. The Veil, it… helped. But it did not… fix everything.

Quiet Hands, they… understood. They taught the villagers. How to… weave. How to… spin. How to… find the… special silkworms. (And how to avoid the… possibly… poisonous berries). They taught them how to… create their own… quiet. Their own… peace. Their own… Slightly-Less-Noisy-… Things.

And the Veil? The original Veil? The… Veil of… Serenity? It… remained. A reminder. Of the… dream. Of the… silence. Of the… possibility of… peace. Even in a village full of… arguing, complaining, chickens, goats, and… especially… babies.

Moral of the Story: Silence is golden, but sometimes you have to weave it yourself. And even the most magical of solutions won’t solve all your problems, but they can help you hear yourself think long enough to find your own answers. Also, maybe don’t trust dream-spiders. Or do. It’s… unclear. And avoid villages with too many goats.

Suggested conversions to other systems:

Call of Cthulhu (7th Edition)

    Veil of Unsettling Calm

  • (Artifact)
  • This sheer, white veil seems to absorb sound and movement, creating an unnerving stillness around the wearer. While it promotes a superficial calm, it also distances the user from reality, blurring the line between the mundane and the cosmic.
  • Sanity Cost: 0/1d4 Sanity loss to don the veil. Each hour spent wearing the veil costs an additional 1 Sanity point.
  • Effects:
    • Suppressed Senses: While wearing the veil, the user suffers a -20% penalty to all Listen, Spot Hidden, and Sense rolls. This represents the veil’s muffling effect on the external world.
    • Forced Calm: The wearer gains a +20% bonus to resist any fear-inducing effects or attempts to incite strong emotions (e.g., Intimidate, Taunt). However, this also suppresses positive emotions, making the wearer appear detached and uncaring.
    • Whispers of the Void: While wearing the veil, the user is more susceptible to subtle psychic intrusions. They gain a +10% bonus to any Mythos skill checks, but also suffer a -10% penalty to resist any form of psychic attack or influence from Mythos entities.
    • Meditation: When used during meditation (at least 1 hour of uninterrupted quiet), the veil grants a bonus d4 to any Sanity points regained. However, the user also rolls 1d6. On a 6, they experience a disturbing vision or revelation, costing 1d6 Sanity.
  • Lore: Allows the user to gain 1d8 Cthulhu Mythos if worn, but the user will lose 1d8 Sanity.
  • Investigator Adaptation: The Veil is a double-edged sword for Investigators. It can provide temporary respite from the horrors of the Mythos, but at the cost of sensory awareness and increased vulnerability to subtle, insidious influences. It’s an item that should be used with extreme caution, and only when the benefits outweigh the significant risks. It’s more likely to be found in the possession of a misguided cultist seeking enlightenment through oblivion than in the hands of a sane Investigator.

Blades in the Dark

    Serenity’s Shroud

  • (Fine Ritual Implement, Subtle, Eerie)
  • This delicate veil, woven from whisper-thin silk, seems to swallow sound and dampen emotions. It’s a tool for achieving inner peace, but also for isolating oneself from the harsh realities of Doskvol.
  • Quality: 3 (Represents the veil’s craftsmanship and effectiveness).
  • Usage:
    • Rituals: Grants +1d to Ritual rolls related to calming spirits, seeking inner knowledge, or warding against mental influence.
    • Social: Grants +1d to Sway rolls when attempting to calm, pacify, or de-escalate a situation. However, it also imposes a -1d penalty to Command or Consort rolls, as the wearer appears detached and unemotional.
    • Stealth: Grants +1d to Prowl rolls in quiet environments, as the veil muffles sound. However, it also reduces the wearer’s awareness, imposing a -1d penalty to Hunt or Survey rolls.
  • Properties:
    • Subtle: The veil’s effects are not immediately obvious, making it useful for discreet operations.
    • Eerie: The veil’s unnatural stillness and the wearer’s detached demeanor can be unsettling to others.
    • Attunement: To attune to the veil, a character must spend an hour in quiet meditation, inflicting 1 stress on themselves for each point below level 3 of the Attune skill. Failure to attune inflicts 3 stress.
  • Crew Adaptation: The Veil is well-suited for a crew of Assassins, Cultists, or Shadows, who value subtlety, control, and inner strength. It’s a useful tool for infiltrating quiet places, manipulating social situations, and performing delicate rituals. However, its drawbacks should encourage players to use it strategically and to be aware of its potential consequences.

Dungeons & Dragons (5e)

    Veil of Serenity

  • (Wondrous Item, Requires Attunement)
  • This sheer, white veil is crafted from magically-infused silk, radiating a subtle aura of peace.
  • Properties:
    • Calming Presence: While wearing the veil over your face, you have advantage on saving throws against being charmed or frightened. You also have advantage on Charisma (Persuasion) checks made to calm or pacify others.
    • Focused Mind: While wearing the veil, you have advantage on Constitution saving throws made to maintain concentration on a spell.
    • Sensory Muffling: While wearing the veil, you have disadvantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing or sight.
    • Meditation Aid: If you spend at least one hour meditating while wearing the veil, you gain temporary hit points equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum 1). These temporary hit points last until you finish a long rest.
  • Lore: The user is granted abilities of calming and focus.
  • Campaign Adaptation: The Veil is a useful item for any character who values mental fortitude and social grace. It’s particularly well-suited for monks, clerics, paladins, and spellcasters who rely on concentration. The sensory disadvantage provides a meaningful trade-off, encouraging players to use the veil strategically. It could be a reward for completing a quest for a peaceful monastic order, a treasure found in a forgotten temple, or a tool used by a diplomat or negotiator.

Knave

    Hush-Cloth

  • A veil of sheer, white silk that dampens sound and emotion.
  • It always occupies an item slot when carried.
  • Bonus: +2 to rolls made to resist fear or charm effects.
  • Abilities:
    • Silence: Creates a 10-foot radius of silence centered on the wearer. This affects both the wearer and those around them.
    • Calm: Grants advantage on any roll made to calm or pacify a creature.
    • Focus: Grants advantage on any roll made to maintain concentration on a spell or ability.
    • Muffle: The wearer has disadvantage on any roll that relies on hearing.
    • Blind: The wearer has disadvantage on any roll that relies on sight.
    • Revelation: The wearer gains a brief, cryptic insight into a current problem or question (GM’s discretion).
  • Drawback: The veil reduces the wearer’s awareness of their surroundings. They suffer a -2 penalty to any roll made to notice hidden dangers or react to sudden events.
  • Lore: The veil provides a +2 bonus to resistance.
  • Character Adaptation: The Hush-Cloth is a versatile item that can be useful in a variety of situations, from stealth and social encounters to combat and spellcasting. Its random abilities and significant drawback encourage creative problem-solving and risk assessment. The GM should use the drawback to create complications and challenges, forcing the player to weigh the benefits of the veil against its potential dangers. It’s an item that rewards careful planning and tactical thinking. The player using this item will roll 1d6 when activated to see which ability is used.

Fate (Core/Condensed)

    Veil of Serenity

  • (Artifact)
  • This delicate veil, woven from moon-kissed silk and infused with the essence of tranquility, is a sacred artifact of the Shivarath faith.
  • Aspects:
    • High Concept: Sacred Veil of Tranquility
    • Trouble: Blurs the Line Between Worlds (can make the user less aware of their surroundings, or more susceptible to otherworldly influences)
    • Other Aspects: Whisper-Thin Silk of Shivarath, Aura of Calm, Focus of Inner Peace
  • Skills:
    • Provides a +2 bonus to overcome obstacles or create advantages related to meditation, resisting mental influence, calming others, or understanding spiritual matters.
    • Can be used to defend against mental attacks using Lore (instead of Will), representing the veil’s protective aura.
  • Stunts:
    • Serene Mind: Spend a Fate point to immediately clear all stress from your mental stress track. This represents the veil’s ability to restore inner peace.
    • Aura of Pacification: Spend a Fate point to create a “Zone of Calm” situation aspect with two free invokes. Anyone within the zone finds it difficult to act with aggression or violence.
    • Whispers of Insight: Spend a Fate point to gain a cryptic clue or piece of information related to a current problem or mystery. This represents the veil’s connection to spiritual wisdom.
    • Consequences: The veil can be used to absorb mental or social consequences, but doing so can strain its delicate fabric. Each time a consequence is absorbed, add a “Torn Threads” aspect to the veil. These aspects can be invoked by enemies or compelled by the GM to create complications.
  • Lore The veil will allow the wearer to be protected with a calm aura.
  • Character/Campaign Integration: The Veil is best suited for a game with a strong emphasis on social interaction, mental challenges, and spiritual themes. The player and GM should work together to define the specific nature of the Shivarath faith and the veil’s connection to it. The veil’s aspects and consequences encourage a narrative-focused approach, emphasizing the benefits and risks of wielding such a powerful artifact.

Numenera/Cypher System

    Veil of Serene Resonance

  • (Artifact, Level 4)
  • This veil, crafted from an unknown material that seems to defy gravity, shimmers with a faint, internal light. It hums with a barely perceptible energy, inducing a sense of calm in those who wear it.
  • Level: 4 (This determines the difficulty of using the veil and the potential power of its effects).
  • Form: Veil (worn over the head and face).
  • Effect:
    • Calming Aura: The veil reduces the difficulty of all Intellect-based defense rolls by one step.
    • Focused Mind: The veil reduces the difficulty of all tasks related to concentration, meditation, or resisting mental influence by one step.
    • Sensory Damping: The veil increases the difficulty of all Speed-based defense rolls and all tasks related to perception (sight and hearing) by one step.
    • Serene Visage (Action): The wielder can spend 3 Intellect points to project an aura of calm. All creatures within short range must make an Intellect defense roll (difficulty 4) or be unable to take violent actions for one round. This is a mental effect.
  • Depletion: 1 in 1d10 (each time Serene Visage is used). If depleted, the veil becomes inert and must be recharged by exposing it to a specific type of energy resonance (e.g., a psychic artifact, a resonance field, a chorus of harmonious sounds).
  • Lore: Allows the wearer to be protected by psychic energies.
  • Character/Campaign Integration: The Veil fits seamlessly into the strange and wondrous world of Numenera. Its origins should be mysterious, perhaps linked to a prior world or a forgotten technology. The depletion mechanic encourages resource management and provides opportunities for exploration as the players seek out ways to recharge the veil. The GM can use the veil to introduce social challenges, mental puzzles, or encounters with creatures that are susceptible to its calming influence.

Pathfinder (Second Edition)

    Veil of Serenity

  • (Artifact)
  • This sheer veil, woven from moon-touched silk, is a sacred relic of the Shivarath faith, radiating an aura of tranquility.
  • Usage: worn (headwear); Bulk: –
  • Traits: Artifact, Divine, Enchantment, Mental
  • Properties:
    • Calming Aura: While wearing the veil, you gain a +2 item bonus to saving throws against fear and emotion effects. You also gain a +2 item bonus to Diplomacy checks made to calm or pacify others.
    • Focused Mind: While wearing the veil, you gain a +1 item bonus to Will saving throws and a +2 item bonus to saving throws to maintain concentration.
    • Sensory Muffling: While wearing the veil, you take a -2 penalty to Perception checks based on sight and hearing.
    • Serene Demeanor: Once per day, you can cast calm emotions as an innate spell (DC based on the item’s level, typically high).
    • The user gains a +2 to will saves.
  • Campaign Integration: The Veil is a powerful item that would be appropriate for a mid- to high-level campaign. It’s particularly well-suited for characters who value diplomacy, mental fortitude, and spiritual insight. It could be a reward for completing a quest for a religious order, a treasure found in a forgotten shrine, or a tool used by a powerful peacemaker or negotiator. The GM should consider the impact of the veil’s benefits and drawbacks on the campaign’s balance.

Savage Worlds (Adventure Edition)

    Veil of Serenity

  • (Artifact)
  • This delicate veil, crafted from shimmering silk, seems to absorb sound and tension, creating an aura of peace around the wearer.
  • Device Type: Veil (worn over the head and face).
  • Powers: The veil grants access to the following powers, with a Power Point cost as indicated. The user must have the appropriate skill (usually Spirit or Faith) to use these powers. The user may use their own points, or those of the veil.
    • Relief (1 PP, removes fear and panic effects)
    • Calm Emotions (2 PP, as per the power, affecting a Medium Burst Template centered on the wearer)
    • Deflection (2 PP, grants +2 Parry and Toughness against mental and social attacks for one round)
  • Power Points: The veil has 10 Power Points. It regenerates 1 Power Point for every hour spent in quiet meditation.
  • Notes: The veil grants a +2 bonus to Persuasion rolls made to calm or pacify others. However, it also imposes a -2 penalty to Notice rolls based on sight or hearing.
  • Campaign Integration: The Veil works well in a setting where social conflict, mental manipulation, and spiritual power are prominent themes. It could be a relic of a peaceful monastic order, a tool used by a charismatic cult leader, or a treasure sought by those who desire inner peace. The veil’s powers should be balanced by its limitations (Power Points, the Notice penalty) and the potential for social consequences (being perceived as detached or aloof). It makes a good “signature item” for a Wild Card NPC or a long-term goal for a PC who seeks enlightenment.

Shadowrun (6th World Edition)

    Veil of Serene Mien

  • (Focus, Force 4)
  • This sheer veil, woven from orichalcum-laced silk, seems to absorb ambient noise and emotional energy, creating an aura of unnatural calm around the wearer.
  • Type: Sustaining Focus (Mental) – This type of focus specifically aids spells and powers that affect the mind or emotions.
  • Force: 4 (Determines the maximum number of dice added to relevant tests).
  • Availability: 16F (Highly restricted and illegal).
  • Cost: 96,000¥
  • Effects:
    • +4 Dice: Adds +4 dice to any tests involving sustaining spells with a mental or emotional component (e.g., Calm Emotions, Mind Probe, Influence). This does not apply to the initial casting of the spell, only to maintaining it.
    • Emotional Mask: The wearer gains a +2 dice pool modifier to resist any attempts to read their emotions or detect their true intentions (e.g., using the Assensing skill or spells like Mind Probe). They also impose a -2 dice pool modifier on any attempts to use Empathy or Intimidation against them.
    • Sensory Filter: The wearer suffers a -2 dice pool modifier to all Perception tests based on sight and hearing.
    • Social Disconnect: The wearer’s aura of unnatural calm can be unsettling. They suffer a -1 dice pool modifier to all social skill tests except Intimidation (which is unaffected).
  • Bonding: To bond with the veil, a magician must spend 4 Karma.
  • Runner/Campaign Adaptation: The Veil is a powerful tool for a mage specializing in mental manipulation or illusion. It’s particularly useful for social infiltration, interrogation, and maintaining control in tense situations. However, its drawbacks (sensory penalties, social disconnect) make it a specialized item, not suitable for all situations. Its illegal nature and high cost make it a significant investment, likely requiring a dedicated run or a long-term goal to acquire.

Starfinder

    Veil of Serenity

  • (Technological Item, Level 8)
  • This veil, crafted from a shimmering, synthetic fabric, incorporates advanced micro-circuitry that dampens emotional responses and filters sensory input.
  • Level: 8
  • Price: 10,000 credits
  • Bulk: –
  • Properties:
    • Emotion Dampening: While wearing the veil, you gain a +2 circumstance bonus to saving throws against fear and emotion-based effects. You also gain a +2 circumstance bonus to Bluff and Diplomacy checks made to calm or pacify others.
    • Concentration Aid: While wearing the veil, you gain a +2 circumstance bonus to skill checks made to maintain concentration on a spell or ability.
    • Sensory Filter: While wearing the veil, you take a -2 penalty to Perception checks.
    • Limited Charge: The veil has 10 charges. It regains 1d4 charges each day at dawn. Activating any of the veil’s abilities (except the Sensory Filter, which is always active when worn) costs 1 charge.
  • Character/Campaign Integration: The Veil is a useful item for characters who rely on mental fortitude, social skills, or spellcasting. It’s particularly well-suited for envoys, mystics, and technomancers. The limited charge mechanic prevents it from being overpowered, and the sensory penalty provides a meaningful trade-off. The veil could be a piece of advanced technology from a lost civilization, a corporate espionage tool, or a custom-made item for a specific mission.

Traveller (Mongoose 2nd Edition)

    Psych-Reactive Veil

  • (Artifact)
  • This veil, seemingly woven from ordinary silk, reacts to the wearer’s mental state, subtly altering their perception and projecting an aura of calm.
  • Tech Level: TL-? (Likely far beyond current understanding, possibly psionic in origin)
  • Weight: Negligible
  • Cost: Priceless (effectively unobtainable through normal means)
  • Effects:
    • Psionic Shield: If the wearer has any psionic talent, the veil adds +2 DM to all resistance rolls against telepathic or empathic intrusion.
    • Calming Aura: The wearer gains a +1 DM to all social skill checks involving persuasion, diplomacy, or leadership, as long as they maintain a calm and controlled demeanor.
    • Focused Mind: The wearer gains a +1 DM to all skill checks requiring concentration or mental focus (e.g., Astrogation, Science, Medic).
    • Sensory Distortion: The wearer suffers a -1 DM to all skill checks involving observation or immediate reaction (e.g., Recon, Gun Combat, Pilot).
  • Lore: Provides a calming and protective aura for the user.
  • Character/Campaign Integration: The Psych-Reactive Veil is a powerful and versatile item, suitable for a variety of characters, especially those with psionic abilities or those who rely on social skills and mental acuity. Its unknown origins and advanced technology make it a perfect plot device, driving the characters to investigate its history, purpose, or the civilization that created it.

Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (4th Edition)

    Veil of Stillness

  • (Magical Item, Blessed)
  • This veil, woven from the silk of Whisper Spiders and blessed by priests of Shallya, radiates an aura of peace and tranquility.
  • Encumbrance: 0
  • Availability: Rare
  • Properties:
    • Blessed: The veil is considered a holy item and is particularly effective against Daemons and the Undead.
    • Aura of Calm: While wearing the veil, you gain a +10 bonus to Cool tests to resist fear or intimidation. You also gain a +10 bonus to any social skill tests made to calm, pacify, or negotiate with others.
    • Focused Mind: While wearing the veil, you gain a +1 SL (Success Level) to any tests made to maintain concentration on a spell or prayer.
    • Muffled Senses: While wearing the veil, you suffer a -10 penalty to Perception tests based on sight and hearing.
    • Ward Against Corruption: The veil provides a +10 bonus on Toughness Tests to resist Corruption.
  • Lore: The user is considered to be blessed.
  • Character/Campaign Integration: The Veil of Stillness is a valuable item for characters who prioritize diplomacy, mental fortitude, and spiritual purity. It’s particularly well-suited for priests of Shallya, Witch Hunters, and any character who frequently faces fear-inducing enemies or engages in delicate negotiations. The veil’s benefits are balanced by the sensory penalty, forcing players to make strategic choices about when and where to use it. It could be a reward for serving Shallya, a relic found in a ruined temple, or a tool used by a devout peacemaker.