A talisman is an object that is believed to possess magical powers and bring good luck or protection to its owner. Talismans have been used for centuries in various cultures and religions around the world. They can be made of different materials such as stones, metals, or even wood. The purpose of a talisman varies depending on its design and the beliefs of the person using it. Some people use talismans for protection against evil spirits or negative energy, while others use them to attract good fortune, love, or success. Talismans can also be used for healing purposes or for enhancing specific qualities or abilities.
Below is a table that describes what each of the ingredients look like to the players upon initial inspection, what they're actually called and commonly used for, what skills or tools might be used to identify them, what visual effect occurs if one if thrown into the cauldron, and lastly what kind of potion or other creation results from the process. Remember, the players might not know what sort of concoction they just created! Not all results are equally useful, and some deduction and some luck might be required to get the most desirable results. You can set whatever DCs you like for the checks. Common plants such as parsley would obviously be much easier to identify than exotic pink crystals, but depending on player backgrounds might easily be able to spot mechanical lubricant on sight. Ideally the whole shelf can't be identified by just one person, multiple party members will have to work together.
Nature, alchemy supplies, herbalism kit The cauldron s contents become viscous until stirred more, and leaves a dark brown reside at the bottom, while a red liquid floats to the top. Snapdragon, a common garden flower used for decoration, dye, and poultices Medicine, Nature, weaver s tools The contents start to boil, then simmer down into a smoking orange liquid that smells like burnt toast.
Talismans can also be used for healing purposes or for enhancing specific qualities or abilities. The belief in talismans is deeply rooted in the human desire to control or influence the natural forces around us. It is a way to tap into the supernatural and seek assistance or guidance in various aspects of life.
The Bubbling Cauldron: A small non-combat encounter for players that like to experiment.
This little encounter is one you can use to fill all sorts of dungeon rooms or hideouts, anywhere you might expect a cauldron to be brewing. It's not game-changing, but it's a nice change of pace from whatever else is going on, can turn a fairly empty looting experience into a fun little game, and gives players an excellent chance to flex weird skill, tool, or language proficiencies.
The centrepiece of this encounter is a cauldron, simmering on the coals. A cocktail of scents arise from the broth within, clearly this is some kind of potion in the making! It only needs one more ingredient in order to be complete. *When I ran this, an NPC who was rescued nearby made this obvious, but you could just let the players fiddle with it and find out the hard way.
On a shelf nearby are an array of alchemical ingredients, but unfortunately none of them are labelled. It will require some sleuthing to figure out what's what.
Aha, but what's this? The would-be alchemist has a heap of notes nearby. They would be helpful, but alas they're all in infuriatingly vague shorthand, and also not written in Common. *It was Giant when I ran it, but you can choose any kind of language, best a niche language that a player knows so they can show off this once. Even the author of the notes doesn't know what every ingredient on the shelf is or what it does. In fact, the author of the notes only knows what three of these ingredients even do!
Below is a table that describes what each of the ingredients look like to the players upon initial inspection, what they're actually called and commonly used for, what skills or tools might be used to identify them, what visual effect occurs if one if thrown into the cauldron, and lastly what kind of potion or other creation results from the process. Remember, the players might not know what sort of concoction they just created! Not all results are equally useful, and some deduction and some luck might be required to get the most desirable results. You can set whatever DCs you like for the checks. Common plants such as parsley would obviously be much easier to identify than exotic pink crystals, but depending on player backgrounds might easily be able to spot mechanical lubricant on sight. Ideally the whole shelf can't be identified by just one person, multiple party members will have to work together.
| Description | Ingredient | How to Identify | Effect | Potion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cluster of red-brown roots | Garrison Root, a highly nutritious underdark plant used for disinfectants and bandages. | Nature, alchemy supplies, herbalism kit | The cauldron’s contents become viscous until stirred more, and leaves a dark brown reside at the bottom, while a red liquid floats to the top. | Potion of Greater Healing |
| Powdered salt-like pink crystals | Psion salt, a reside that appears in some underground lakes near psionic creatures | Arcana, alchemy supplies | The crystals fizzle in the mixture, which forms a heart-shaped bubble of pink liquid that rises to the top. The scent is heady an intoxicating. | Philter of Love |
| Bundle of dried herbs with stalks | Parsley, a common herb used in all sorts of cooking. | Cook’s Utensils | After a few minutes of stirring, the contents settle down and form a cloudy broth. It smells herby, in a good way. | Parsley Soup |
| Jar of acrid slime | Ankheg Acid, a caustic enzyme produced by Ankhegs to aid digestion and spray at foes. | Nature | The contents turn green and begin to spit and sizzle violently, creating an acrid scent. | Acid |
| Dark brown oily substance | Mechanical Lubricant, an oil used by dwarves to grease chains and gears. | History, alchemy supplies, tinker’s tools | The contents steam up into a cloud of smoke that floats away and leaves a black oil behind. | Oil of Slipperiness |
| Red flower in a pot. | Snapdragon, a common garden flower used for decoration, dye, and poultices | Medicine, Nature, weaver’s tools | The contents start to boil, then simmer down into a smoking orange liquid that smells like burnt toast. | Potion of Fire Breath |
Adding any one ingredient to the cauldron will cause the described effect to occur, and leave enough of the relevant potion behind for one dose. The area is littered in empty containers one could use to scoop up the potion and take it with you.
Putting more than one ingredient into the cauldron risks the whole mixture exploding! For each ingredient more than one that gets thrown into the cauldron, roll a dice. If all the rolls are an even number, nothing happens, and the mixture turns into a random potion of a type linked to one of the ingredients used. If there's any odd numbers, it explodes! The mixture heaves and billows out into a cloud of searing smoke. The contents of the cauldron are destroyed, leaving nothing but black char, while each creature within 15ft of the cauldron must make a DC 13 Dexterity Saving throw. On a failed save they take 2d6 fire damage, plus an extra 1d6 damage for each additional ingredient after the second (e.g. if two ingredients were thrown into the cauldron the damage is 2d6, if four ingredients were thrown in then the damage is 4d6 etc). On a successful saving throw, the creature takes half as much damage.
I love this little encounter, it's a nice bit of downtime you can fit in anywhere. You can encourage your players to be a bit experimental, perfect for those tinkerers and artificers. When I ran it, my players were poking around in a Fomorian's cozy little hut, but I could see this easily working in a Hag's den, wizard tower, goblin cave, and so much more. And of course there's plenty of creativity to be had with coming up with your own ingredients for different effects. What would be needed to turn the broth into a potion of Growth, or Animal Friendship?
I came up with this and ran it over a year ago, but this is so easy to slot in anywhere and get some loot in an interesting way that I figured that someone could use it and I shouldn't just keep it to myself since I'm not likely to use it again any time soon. Can't wait to hear your thoughts!
Aha, but what's this? The would-be alchemist has a heap of notes nearby. They would be helpful, but alas they're all in infuriatingly vague shorthand, and also not written in Common. *It was Giant when I ran it, but you can choose any kind of language, best a niche language that a player knows so they can show off this once. Even the author of the notes doesn't know what every ingredient on the shelf is or what it does. In fact, the author of the notes only knows what three of these ingredients even do!
Talismans are often associated with religious or spiritual beliefs, as they are believed to be imbued with sacred attributes or blessings. The design of a talisman is usually symbolic and meaningful, incorporating specific shapes, colors, or patterns that are believed to have a particular significance or power. For example, a talisman designed for protection may feature symbols of strength or ward off evil, such as a horseshoe or an eye. A love talisman may incorporate symbols of passion or romance, such as a heart or a pair of intertwined rings. Talismans can be worn as jewelry, carried in a pocket or purse, or displayed in a home or office. They are often personalized and chosen based on individual preferences, beliefs, or specific needs. Some people believe that the power of a talisman can be enhanced by performing rituals or by charging it with positive energy or intention. In summary, a talisman is a magical object that is believed to have specific powers or qualities. It is used for various purposes such as protection, good luck, or attracting positive energy. Talismans are deeply rooted in human beliefs and can be found in different cultures and religions around the world..
Reviews for "Talismans in mythology and folklore: stories of enchanted objects"
1. John - 1 star
I found "What is the talisman about" to be incredibly dull and lacking any sort of excitement or originality. The story was overly predictable, and the characters were one-dimensional and uninteresting. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult to connect with the story or the characters. Overall, I was very disappointed and did not enjoy this book at all.
2. Sarah - 2 stars
I struggled to get through "What is the talisman about" as I found the pacing to be extremely slow. The plot seemed to drag on, with little action or suspense to keep me engaged. Additionally, the writing style felt clumsy and awkward, with excessive descriptions that only served to further slow down the story. While I appreciate that this may be a matter of personal preference, I found the book to be rather lackluster and it did not live up to my expectations.
3. Emily - 2 stars
"What is the talisman about" failed to captivate me as a reader. The premise seemed interesting, but the execution fell flat. The characters lacked depth and development, making it hard to become emotionally invested in their journey. The narrative also suffered from inconsistencies and plot holes, leaving me with more questions than answers. Overall, I found this book to be underwhelming and would not recommend it to others.