"And 3..2..1..Smile!" *flash* *thump* "Mwahaha."
Full Item Description
This is a tripod-mounted camera of the olden type, handheld flash bulb and all. It seems to have seen much use, and the original owner was known to be an avid photographer.
History
Every evil cultist knows that humans provide the best sacrifice to evil gods and rituals, but kidnapping isn't always the easiest thing to do. Often the victim will struggle, and might even kill themself once captured if they get wind of what use their body will be put to.
Humans also make for the best servants, but finding those who would willingly serve the forces of darkness as a mere platter-holder is another arduous task. One cultist, a famous photographer, decided to solve both problems in one fell swoop, in an ingenious and subtle way. He was eventually captured and executed, but this camera survives him.
Magic Properties
This camera and it's plates are enchanted to trap the soul of the subject within the image plate. The plate itself must be handled carefully, because touching it to bare skin will allow the soul to escape the volatile enchantment within the plate and attempt to displace the toucher's soul.
A person who's soul has been captured this way is uncreative and a bit listless. Because the body is still linked to the soul, if they are idle, they will always end up staring in the direction that their soul-plate lies. If a plate is destroyed with a soul in it, the soul is released and must find it's way back to it's body within a weeks time, or the body will wither and fade away, leaving them as a wandering ghost.
They are also extremely susceptible to suggestion, making them easily commanded servants. Being so amiable to suggestion allows the cultist to have the target meet at a prearranged time and location where they can be reunited with their soul and sacrificed with a minimum of fuss.
Some of the more twisted might consider taking them to bed, but such persons make mediocre lovers at best.
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Also in
Codex hubs that gather this piece with similar work.
- Garage Sale from Hell MoonHunter
Retellings
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Bonds
Curated bonds across the Citadel — sign in to bind a bond. Kindred Favors are another thread in the same weave.
Links to this article 1
- Garage Sale from Hell MoonHunter linked by Chaosmark
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I am always a fan of Garage Sale from Hell items. This is a classic. It has a lot of uses. Good plot potential. And it has a subtle weakness (the staring) which is a great "clue" for adventurers. It is a good solid item.
The write up is a touch sort. I don't mind short if it hits everything I want. You could of added plot possiblities to this (as they are endless, you could easily toss up a few), to prime the pump of the GMs.
In some ways, I could see this item being "a class of items". While the spell or technique might be somewhat rare, I could see others duplicating this spell for their own enchnated purposes (or once the idea gets around sacrificing someone to buy the magic enchantment from a demonsoul).
The summary text is amusing and interesting - the way it should be.
Simple and concise, and quite usable for the right setting.
Does it work with a telephoto lense? :P
No, for two reasons. The first, it's an old-type camera. You know, the huge box kind, with honest to heaven picture plates? I suppose someone could come up with a telephoto lens for one, but it'd be difficult. Second, the enchantment on the camera and plates don't extend far enough. Perhaps it might work if someone could make a telephoto lens to focus and enhance the power and effect of the camera's enchantment, but otherwise, no. Personal range only. (my conception was also single-person only, but I don't think that's essential to the sub)
Useful for any dangerous cult to have.I want one of these.
{Cheka Man} 2:04 pm: if the pic is developed, what happens then?
{Chaosmark} 2:07 pm: I left it mostly up the GM, but I envisioned either the picture looking entirely normal, or perhaps you get one of those animated ones like they had in the Harry Potter movies,
with the pictured person going absolutely nuts inside the picture.
{Cheka Man} 2:08 pm: trying to escape?
{Chaosmark} 2:08 pm: Partially, but mostly to get attention.
{Chaosmark} 2:08 pm: No sound can escape, but lips could be read.
{Cheka Man} 2:09 pm: if you bury the picture, would that drive the soul insane?
{Chaosmark} 2:10 pm: I had also thought about what it might be like for the soul so captured, their experience inside the picture, but I definitely wanted that left up to a GM. Depending on how you
wanted to handle it, they could be fully aware and trapped within the room they were in when the picture was taken, or they go blank until reunited with a body, put into stasis.
{Chaosmark} 2:11 pm: Which is what determines the answer to your question.
{Cheka Man} 2:11 pm: if they went mad you could set them free close to the body and the person would then go mad
{Chaosmark} 2:12 pm: Mhmm.
{Chaosmark} 2:12 pm: Crafty political cultists could discredit rivals in such a fashion.
{Cheka Man} 2:12 pm: and could then be put in a loony bin
I like this for a Western game!! Perfect
Would fit in well, with the built-in superstition factors. From what I've read over the years, some (many?) Native American tribes were deathly afraid (against) having their pictures taken from a "soul-stealing" perspective.
That was indeed my original inspiration.
This is fantastic! It makes me want to run WoD campaign.
OOOOOOO my cult needs this!