Demonologia Sexualis: A leather-bound copy of the infamous tome detailing the perversions and sex magic rituals of the beings of the lower planes. Possession of a single illustration is probably enough to get one arrest in most jurisdictions. Many demons and devils are willing to barter a service for a copy. There are no doubt dubious advantages to actually reading the tome, as well.
Tape recording of an unknown language: A reel to reel tape labelled “Sample 13, 5882.” The language is unintelligible (even with magic), but the malevolent memetic entity inhabiting the strange, sing-song tongue can infect the brains of listeners. It will attempt to possess the most intelligent individual within hearing range. On a failed saving throw, it takes command of the person's body for a period 1d20 hours. Then, a series of seizures will signal the brain’s rejection of the alien presence. Any time period greater than 5 hours is likely long enough for the entity to launch itself into the astral plane. The entity can be trapped in the host by magical means and induced to reveal what secrets it possesses before the host dies (1d4 days).
13 comments:
Remind me what the current year in your world is? Basically, how long before the current year is 5882?
If it were a modern setting I'd expect to see a date between 1918 and 1941 on the tape, trending to the 20s or 30s.
The default year for most of the material I've presented is 5888, and that's the standpoint this piece was written from. I have presented at least one glimpse into the World Exposition of 5889. In our world, I'm told the first "practical" magnet tape recorder was developed in 1935.
True, I forgot about that. It could however be a wire recording.
Yes. Marconi also developed a sort of razor-tape recording prior to that, too, which was apparently difficult to use because of its sharp edges.
As far as the City's world goes, my stance on technological development is: the setting is generally late 30s, but it's somewhat different from our world (obviously).
Very cool items.
I love the tape recording of an unknown language; very creepy. As an alternative, perhaps there could be a cursed recorder... a reel-to-real player, upon which the subjects of certain tapes can manifest in the material world when played. Or, a real-to-reel player, which plays a litany of the damned souls of listeners who, over the years, have been sucked in and bound as a recording. Who will be next?
I like that! The machine might suck in there souls, inscribing them upon and imprisoning them in its magnetic tape hell, with only their tormented cries reaching the outside world.
Love the Murderer's Last Breath in Ether! Very cool. This could be applied to other types of breath as well.
Hmmm. Breath of the Dragon?
Anyhoo - very creative.
Why not? :) Thanks for stopping by, George!
Very cool man! Demonologia Sexualis sounds like the name of a really twisted heavy metal death band. Thanks for the inspiration! Very nice. So are we going to be seeing a City Companion soonish?
lovely, as always. Do you know about the recording of Chopin playing his Minute Waltz that was traced by a needle in dust on a glass disc a century before any device was invented that could read it? All kinds of Powersian possibilities.
hah! I was hoaxed - by the "playback" of the recording although not, apparently, the method of making unplayable recordings on sooty discs.
Here's another alarming musical weirdness that I would love to think was a hoax, but might actually be true.
captcha word: liessyno.
Well, Y'm not sure Y do no.
@Needles - It does, doesn't it? I think I'll have to get the hardcopies of WA out first before I start thinking about a companion. Maybe at some point, thought.
@Richard - Well, no reason to let the truth get in the way of something with interesting gaming possibilities. :)And the link is does almost seem too strange to be true.
Very cool :) I can only imagine the secrets.
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