The teeth of a hungry wolf. The blood of a murderer. The cloth of a false saint's burial shroud. All of these things and more are used in the creation of a Caedea.
A Caedea is a thin black cloth glove. They never come in pairs, and the glove is invariably a left handed, or sinister glove. There are few of these dark trinkets still wandering around, and the secret of their creation is a hotly hunted commodity. Many a thief or dark mage would give much for the powers of a Caedea.
The Caedea is evil both in intent and in it's ease of creation. The teeth of a wolf are required, with those of either a rabid, or wolf that died of starvation being preferred. The blood of a murderer is also required, though a few drops from a sadistic serial butcher are as effective as a gallon of blood from a man who accidently killed another man in a brawl. Finally, the black shroud of a false saint, or charlatan is used to make the physical glove. The teeth are placed in the fingers, and the blood is poured into the glove while recitations of black liturgies are repeated under the shadow of the New Moon.
The glove at first appears to simply be a thin black cloth glove. Once donned, the wearer becomes aware of his surroundings with the instincts of a predator, a human hunter. While there is no increase in the abilty to sense smells, or supernaturally divine the emotions of others, the wearer becomes attuned to what their senses can detail. Characters that are not of evil, or chaotis bent will find wearing the glove disconcerting and unpleasant. The longer the glove is worn, the stronger the urge to kill becomes.
The real power of the Caedea becomes most obvious when an opponent is strunk with a barehanded strike in combat. The glove easily seeks out weak points in armor, and in defences. The fingertips bite into flesh with the ease of a wolf taking a deer by the throat, tearing deep into delicate flesh. The glove consumes the blood gluttonously, passing some of the victims' vitality to the wearer and retaining what it needs to maintain itself.
The wounds inflicted by the Caedea are vicious and take twice as long to heal and almost always leave disturbing scars. Those wearers who regularly wear the Caedea become addicted to the altered perception granted by the glove and the steady boosts of vitality gained through murder.
Plot Hooks
A Taste of Evil - A PC gains a Caedea and is able to use the altered animalistic perception to their advantage for a few days before succumbing to the base desire to kill. If the PC engages in combat, the rush of vitality given by a solid strike might draw them into more and more combat. Standard remove cursed item plot follows with the problem that the item isn't cursed, the wearer just doesnt want to be rid of it. Dispel curse - It didn't work...Damn, this must be a potent cursed item.
Hidden Killer - An assassin or thief has found a Caedea and is using it to kill his victims in a brutal Jack the Ripper fashion. The PCs have been brought in to end the string of murders that leave the bodies of the dead in the worst contortions. Who would suspect the elderly gentleman with the immaculate black gloves. (C'mon, no one says you cant find another glove to match a Caedea in appearance.)
Yardsale from Hell - An unwitting person has acquired the Caedea and has accidently killed someone with it. It becomes even more interesting when the person is either a powerful and important person, or an ally of the PCs. They have to find a way to destroy the glove, exonerate their ally, and keep themselves from being caught up in the carnage.
Scrolls
Twists, chapters, and details meant to stream with the submission — not general discussion.
No scrolls yet — leave one if you have a twist worth keeping.
Sign in to plant an idea scroll.
Enjoyed this? Sign in and cross blades for Scrasamax — five clashes, up to 25 XP.
Sign in to cross the blades.
Discussion
Reader talk, questions, and feedback — not scrolls.
No comments yet — be the first voice in the hall.
Sign in to join the discussion.
Also in
Codex hubs that gather this piece with similar work.
- Garage Sale from Hell MoonHunter
Retellings
No Retellings yet — the best compliment on the Citadel is a Retelling.
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 MoonHunter
Favored by Kindred Readers 1
Use alongside
Submissions that pair well with this one at the table.
-
30 Merchants
30 Mostly Maddening Merchants
-
One man's plush toy...
Buttons, how could you?
-
Tower of Inversion
The dread Tower of Inversion, lair of the vile lich Zarakoth Xorast, contains five layers, each containing different tools of dark magic.
-
School Of Banewrights
'Who would make such a thing?'
-
Dalme The Tinker
Dalme is one of the various travelling Tinkers plying their trade in the villages along the back roads. One can hear his cart from a arrow shot away, clanking a…
-
Chrisia's ShadowShop
It is a colorful shop, full of dolls, puppets, mannequins, small statues, and other things that are just "shadows" of a human. That is what this shop …
What a pretty dark item.
The most fitting wielders would be best descibed as 'predatory' - not necessarily evil, or chaotic (though certainly can be both). The affliction seems similar to lycantrophy... without any physical marks, or sudden changes; more a gradual process of becoming a true predator, but not an animal. I can imagine some people willing to change in this way (accidentaly, note the NPC Forge that just popped up again).
It makes me feel unwholesome... good work.
What he said. The nourishment provided through the blood of the victim is also a nice touch. I take it that this is assasin's tool?
All of the above - a truly nasty little item
Gaining nourishment from the victim's blood gives it an almost necromantic feel
( Love the "Jack the Ripper" plot BTW )
4/5
Excellent, excellent.
4/5
It reminds me for some reason of 'Mack the Knife'.Not a glove to be warn whilst stroking one's beloved pet dog.
This is a great subtle evil item. Two thumbs and a tail up.
Garage Sale item for sure, as it is simple and seems so innocent. Imagine if a child is playing in a chest of 'dress up clothes' at his uncles house and puts one of these on. :)
http://www.strolen.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=786
Yummy like pie. I love this, it'll fit well into my world where many people seem to find happiness in slaughter. Maybe give it to my lawful pain in the butt palidin, see how long he can stand up to the temptation.
What would happen if Jack himself put it on though? Would he decide to just go downtown and kill as many people at once as he could before he got taken down or what?
Splendid.
Nice and dark. Perfect for your urban predator.