“Tasha’s Cauldron” introduced magical tattoo’s to 5th Edition in an official capacity, and it turns out, they’re pretty awesome.
So this provides a campaign an opportunity to administer these tattoos through an NPC or shop themed around magical effects.
I thought it might be fun to brainstorm names for a tattoo parlor, and the NPC who might run it...I feel like such a place would be right at home in a fantasy city like Waterdeep.
Off the top of my head:
Squidly’s Seaside Ink - operated by a Triton possessing rare magical inks from deep-sea creatures of his native city, this artist normally provides magical tattoos to sailors and dockside workers in Waterdeep.
Good for tattoos like “Coiled Grasp” or “Eldritch Maw”.
Irk’s Tribal Inks - an orcish veteran of a dozen battles, Irk settled down in the city and developed his tribes traditional shamanic tattoos...and realized he could make a profit off them.
Catering to the drunken fools or pompous nobles who want a mean-looking tattoo to make them seem more imposing, Irk provides (begrudgingly) their tattoo of choice. (“Face tattoos are great for the ravagers of the mountain clans...not so great for hungover aristocrats”).
If an adventurer impresses Irk with their strength or reputation, he might offer a discount on the “Blood Fury” tattoo.
Tatters Tattoo Tunnel
Literally an underground magic tattoo parlor, Tatters is a goblin artist who provides elusive tattoos to members of local thief or criminal guilds.
Adventurers who ingratiate themselves to such a guild may receive the “Ghost Step” or “Masquerade” tattoos, making them more elusive.
Perry’s Posh Parlor
A magical establishment for high-ranking city officials and members of arcane institutions, the half-elf owner known as Perry provides various magical enhancements...including enchanted tattoos.
A “Barrier” tattoo provides great protection to assassin-prone government officials...while a “Lifewell” tattoo can keep them alive should, ah...the first one fail.
Infernal Skin. Adraz is a female tiefling that's known as 'The Flesh Poet'. A retired sorcerer, her skill with magic is impressive. She runs Infernal Skin out of a mobile - and magical - shop. Her shops settles in various cities for only a month, then vanishes for upwards of a week. Impossible to predict where the Infernal Skin will show next, Adraz and her business have reached legendary status.
Legends speak of the tap, tap, tapping, into all hours of the night, signaling the arrival of the shop. The tapping is Adraz working her tattoo magic as she hits a sharpened horn (removed from her head) with a small hammer - piercing flesh, creating a river of magical ink.
Infernal Skin. Adraz is a female tiefling that's known as 'The Flesh Poet'. A retired sorcerer, her skill with magic is impressive. She runs Infernal Skin out of a mobile - and magical - shop. Her shops settles in various cities for only a month, then vanishes for upwards of a week. Impossible to predict where the Infernal Skin will show next, Adraz and her business have reached legendary status.
Legends speak of the tap, tap, tapping, into all hours of the night, signaling the arrival of the shop. The tapping is Adraz working her tattoo magic as she hits a sharpened horn (removed from her head) with a small hammer - piercing flesh, creating a river of magical ink.
Love it!
Reversing that cosmology a bit:
Nyril’s Heavenly Needles:
An aasimar with celestial heritage, Nyril was bestowed a heavenly vision by their celestial patron: a falling star that landed somewhere in the countryside.
Journeying to the sight of the falling star, there in the center of the crater was a chunk of silvery metal...a fragment of the fabled Mt. Celestia from the Outer Planes.
Guided by her visions, Nyril forged from the metal a silver hammer, and a set of small, thin needles, as well as a tremendous amount of fine-grained powder.
The material added to the ink, Nyril is able to imbue her tattoos administered by her silver implements with the radiant power of Mt. Celestia...it is said that the sound of her hammer hitting the needles echoes the pleasant sounds of Mt. Celestia itself...the sounds of harp strings, merry mead halls, and bubbling laughter. The needles also inflict no pain; only a numbing warm sensation.
The tattoos shimmer with the same silvery glint of the fallen star. When activated, the tattoos glow with the radiant power displayed by the aasimar themselves.
A retired halfling adventurer, Neera provides enchanted tattoos to the local adventurers guilds.
Shrewd with business sense, she also attaches the spell “Magic Mouth” to her works; should any stranger to the adventurers inquire about their tattoo, the Magic Mouth will automatically inform the inquirer about the services Neera provides, as well as the address of her business.
She leaves this particular “feature” out of the conversation with her new clients, of course.
In recompense, the beneficiary of these tattoos also gain the benefit of the “Lucky” feat, with a single use.
Of course, if the “Magic Mouth” is dispelled; so is the “Lucky” boon.
Fair trade, by her reckoning.
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“Tasha’s Cauldron” introduced magical tattoo’s to 5th Edition in an official capacity, and it turns out, they’re pretty awesome.
So this provides a campaign an opportunity to administer these tattoos through an NPC or shop themed around magical effects.
I thought it might be fun to brainstorm names for a tattoo parlor, and the NPC who might run it...I feel like such a place would be right at home in a fantasy city like Waterdeep.
Off the top of my head:
Squidly’s Seaside Ink - operated by a Triton possessing rare magical inks from deep-sea creatures of his native city, this artist normally provides magical tattoos to sailors and dockside workers in Waterdeep.
Good for tattoos like “Coiled Grasp” or “Eldritch Maw”.
Irk’s Tribal Inks - an orcish veteran of a dozen battles, Irk settled down in the city and developed his tribes traditional shamanic tattoos...and realized he could make a profit off them.
Catering to the drunken fools or pompous nobles who want a mean-looking tattoo to make them seem more imposing, Irk provides (begrudgingly) their tattoo of choice. (“Face tattoos are great for the ravagers of the mountain clans...not so great for hungover aristocrats”).
If an adventurer impresses Irk with their strength or reputation, he might offer a discount on the “Blood Fury” tattoo.
Tatters Tattoo Tunnel
Literally an underground magic tattoo parlor, Tatters is a goblin artist who provides elusive tattoos to members of local thief or criminal guilds.
Adventurers who ingratiate themselves to such a guild may receive the “Ghost Step” or “Masquerade” tattoos, making them more elusive.
Perry’s Posh Parlor
A magical establishment for high-ranking city officials and members of arcane institutions, the half-elf owner known as Perry provides various magical enhancements...including enchanted tattoos.
A “Barrier” tattoo provides great protection to assassin-prone government officials...while a “Lifewell” tattoo can keep them alive should, ah...the first one fail.
Anybody else have any good ones?
What you have is brilliant. I'll bite.
Infernal Skin. Adraz is a female tiefling that's known as 'The Flesh Poet'. A retired sorcerer, her skill with magic is impressive. She runs Infernal Skin out of a mobile - and magical - shop. Her shops settles in various cities for only a month, then vanishes for upwards of a week. Impossible to predict where the Infernal Skin will show next, Adraz and her business have reached legendary status.
Legends speak of the tap, tap, tapping, into all hours of the night, signaling the arrival of the shop. The tapping is Adraz working her tattoo magic as she hits a sharpened horn (removed from her head) with a small hammer - piercing flesh, creating a river of magical ink.
All things Lich - DM tips, tricks, and other creative shenanigans
Love it!
Reversing that cosmology a bit:
Nyril’s Heavenly Needles:
An aasimar with celestial heritage, Nyril was bestowed a heavenly vision by their celestial patron: a falling star that landed somewhere in the countryside.
Journeying to the sight of the falling star, there in the center of the crater was a chunk of silvery metal...a fragment of the fabled Mt. Celestia from the Outer Planes.
Guided by her visions, Nyril forged from the metal a silver hammer, and a set of small, thin needles, as well as a tremendous amount of fine-grained powder.
The material added to the ink, Nyril is able to imbue her tattoos administered by her silver implements with the radiant power of Mt. Celestia...it is said that the sound of her hammer hitting the needles echoes the pleasant sounds of Mt. Celestia itself...the sounds of harp strings, merry mead halls, and bubbling laughter. The needles also inflict no pain; only a numbing warm sensation.
The tattoos shimmer with the same silvery glint of the fallen star. When activated, the tattoos glow with the radiant power displayed by the aasimar themselves.
Neera’s Little Pinpricks:
A retired halfling adventurer, Neera provides enchanted tattoos to the local adventurers guilds.
Shrewd with business sense, she also attaches the spell “Magic Mouth” to her works; should any stranger to the adventurers inquire about their tattoo, the Magic Mouth will automatically inform the inquirer about the services Neera provides, as well as the address of her business.
She leaves this particular “feature” out of the conversation with her new clients, of course.
In recompense, the beneficiary of these tattoos also gain the benefit of the “Lucky” feat, with a single use.
Of course, if the “Magic Mouth” is dispelled; so is the “Lucky” boon.
Fair trade, by her reckoning.