A Treasure is an object infused with Glamour and a magical function
Overview[]
While Chimerical items exist and may be capable of magical effects, a Treasure is a mortal object imbued with Glamour, thereby giving it the ability to perform specific Glamour-based effects. A Faerie Treasure has one effect, unlike the Talismans of Awakened Mages which can often have multiple abilities. Many high-level treasures are unique, such as High King David's sword Caliburn, while others are more common. A Treasure has both a mortal and faerie seeming which do not necessarily have to be the same. It's entirely possible for a mundane feather duster to be a Faerie-steel sword in the Dreaming. Because they are invested with Glamour, a Treasure will also enchant an mortal touching them.
Treasure is also background available to Changeling characters with a rating from 1 to 5.
First Edition[]
In Changeling: The Dreaming First Edition, there was no official method of determining the level or powers of a treasure. Treasures fell into one of five types: chimera, pyx, noble treasure, talisman, and legendary. Legendary treasures are noted as being rare and powerful, such as Caliburn.[1]
Sample treasures listed in the first edition corebook:
- Warder's Whistle
- Cyclones Pyx
- Dream Dust
- Glowstone
- Blind Thomas' Gold
- Sluagh Sneakers
- Baldaz's Everfolding Box
- Gumby Gumgun
- Paron's Perilous Periscope
- Mighty Blimping Batcape
- Ardwyn's Adze
- Twinz's Boobaw
- The Klax of Ordry
- Orb of Ebullion
- Coiming Crest
- Golden Gixim
- Thor's Tarnhelm
- Madstones of Tylone
Second Edition[]
A Treasure can only have one specific effect based on a particular cantrip and Art. For example, a sword that when used can summon a tornado using Primal 2, Eldritch Prime, could not also summon fire. The rating of the Treasure is based on the level of effect it produces as well as how rare it is. Below are some examples.[2]
Level 1[]
A Common Treasure with a first level art.
- A lucky coin (Soothsay 1/Fair Fortune)
- Rose-colored glasses (Chicanery 1/Fuddle)
- A large horse-shoe magnet (Legerdemain 1/Gimmix)
Level 2[]
An uncommon Treasure with a level 2 cantrip.
- A dunce cap that induces temporary amnesia (Chicanery 2/Fugue)
- A thermometer that heals (Primal 2/Heather Balm)
- A kingly scepter that lets the wielder command others (Sovereign 2/Dictum)
Level 3[]
A rare Treasure with up to a level 3 Cantrip.
- A piece of chalk that can draw a working door or portal onto a surface (Wayfare 3/Portal Passage)
- A lump of clay that forms itself into whatever the holder is looking at (Legerdemain 3/Effigy)
- A flashlight that, when activated, becomes a light saber and strikes fear into the enemy's heart (Chicanery 3/Haunted Heart)
Level 4[]
A Unique Treasure with up to a level 4 Art effect.
- A shimmery veil that makes the wearer invisible (Chicanery 4/Veiled Eyes)
- A hammer that can shatter any solid object (Primal 4/Holly Strike)
- A crystal ball that shows glimpses of the future (Soothsay 4/Augury)
Level 5[]
Unique treasures with up to a level 5 art.
- A cigarette lighter that, when lit, blinks the holder directly to a desired location (Wayfare 5/Flicker Flash)
- A golden picture frame that allows the owner to look like any person in the photo it holds (Primal 5/Elder-Form)
Twentieth Anniversary Edition[]
C20 distinguishes among crafted treasures, which gain dots of Art equal to the number of mystical materials incorporated into their construction (similar to crafted chimerical items in previous editions), and imbued treasures, which are mundane items that acquire their power through meditation and the investment of large amounts of Glamour. A changeling can imbue a treasure with any cantrip she herself knows.
Legendary treasures may gain additional powers based on the legends associated with them. For example, Behn'ir's Sword of Fire began with the power to emit jets of flame using the Holly Strike cantrip (Primal 4). Tales tell how the sword was used to strike down an army of vampires, so it also does aggravated damage against the undead even when not on fire.[3]
Example Treasures from C20:
- Excalibur's Scabbard (Spring 3) - the owner ignores all lethal and aggravated damage that would spill their blood
- Vulcan's Hammer (Contracts 5) - a legendary treasure that forges an oath into any weapon or armor it makes
- Lightning Gun (Skycraft 5) - a weapon that resembles a science-fiction ray gun, which shoots lightning from the barrel.
Legendary Treasures[]
Some treasures are so special they go beyond defined stats or levels. Some are well known, some lost, others destroyed, some waiting to be found and having great destinies. Examples:
- Caliburn
- Winterblade
- Ship of the Four Quarters
- Achen
- Anweyth
- Balor's Crystal Eye
- Calipers of Aife
- Cauldron of Fear
- Cauldron of Sceanbh
- Closet of Mirrored Dream
- Cold Light
- Crown of Dreams
- Cudgel of Conchobhair
- Cup of Dreams
- Dreamstone of Madoc
- Edann's Harp
- Eilaf
- The Immortal Eyes
- Eyes of the Snow Maiden
- Mirror of Dreams
- Morhaut's Anvil
- Osiris' Flail
- Rose of Leanhaun
- Ruby Ring of Tara
- Scherezade's Circle
- Spear of the North
- Steaming Spear of Vengeance
- Sword of Tethra
- Syrinx
- Tapestry of Fate
- Triumph Casque of Sorrows
References[]
- ↑ CTD: Changeling: The Lost Rulebook, p. 216-219
- ↑ CTD: Changeling: The Dreaming Second Edition, p. 149-150
- ↑ CTD: Changeling: The Dreaming 20th Anniversary Edition, p. 323-325