"A shroud of living shadow, woven from the whispers of the unseen."

Description

The Wraithcloak Mantle is a masterpiece of Shadow Forging, a flowing cloak woven from shadow-infused silk and infused with the essence of the Plane of Shadow. Unlike ordinary fabric, this mantle shifts and ripples as though half-alive, clinging to the wearer’s form in an ever-shifting veil of darkness. When in motion, the cloak moves unnaturally, sometimes flickering between solid and incorporeal, as if the wearer themselves were phasing between realms.

The inner lining of the Wraithcloak is embroidered with Ebonthread Binding, intricate runes that pulse faintly when the wearer is in dim light or darkness. The hood, when raised, obscures the wearer’s face in shadow, even in areas where light should touch it. Legends say that those who don this mantle fade from memory the longer they remain unseen.

Magical Properties and Features

• Living Shadow: The mantle constantly shifts and reforms, making it difficult to track the wearer. Attackers have disadvantage on Perception checks to locate the wearer in dim light or darkness.
• Ethereal Drift: Once per short rest, the wearer can phase into the Plane of Shadow as a reaction, becoming incorporeal until the start of their next turn, allowing them to move through solid objects.
• Veil of the Forgotten: If the wearer remains motionless in dim light or darkness for at least one minute, they become invisible until they move or take an action.
• Shadowmeld Step: As a bonus action, the wearer can teleport up to 30 feet to an unoccupied space they can see within dim light or darkness (usable once per long rest).

Item Bonuses

• Skill Bonus: Grants a +2 bonus to Dexterity (Stealth) checks.
• Darkened Presence: Creatures with darkvision have disadvantage on Perception checks to detect the wearer while they are in dim light or darkness.

Drawbacks and Risks

• Shadow’s Hunger: Prolonged use of the mantle may cause the wearer to feel drawn toward the Plane of Shadow, experiencing brief moments where they become incorporeal against their will.
• Light’s Bane: If exposed to bright light, the mantle’s magic weakens, temporarily suppressing its teleportation and invisibility effects for 1 minute.
• The Wraith’s Mark: Those who don the mantle for extended periods may fade from the memories of others, making it harder to form long-lasting connections or be recognized.

Lore and History

Forged in the Umbral Forges of Zephara, the Wraithcloak Mantle was said to be a gift from Nyxarthos, the Weaver of Night, to the greatest spies and assassins of the Shadowbound Guild. Wielders of this mantle moved unseen through enemy strongholds, striking from the void and vanishing without a trace.

Legends claim that some mantles carry whispers of past wearers, their presence never truly fading, leaving echoes in the world long after their bodies have been lost to the shadows. Some believe that each Wraithcloak remembers its wearers, ensuring that no one truly fades from existence.

Additional Roleplay Features

1. The Living Veil: The cloak reacts to the wearer’s emotions, subtly shifting when they feel threatened or uneasy.
2. A Legacy in the Dark: Some believe that the Wraithcloak chooses its wearer, only appearing in the possession of those worthy.
3. The Shadow’s Toll: Over time, those who wear the mantle for extended periods may find their reflection fading, becoming a mere outline in mirrors and still water.

Item Information

• Item Type: Wondrous Item (Cloak, Very Rare)
• Weight: 1 lb
• Market Value: 5,000 gold pieces
• Black Market Value: 15,000 gold pieces (highly sought after by assassins, shadowmancers, and planar scholars)

Summary of Item

The Wraithcloak Mantle is a very rare Shadow-Forged cloak, seamlessly shifting between solid and incorporeal states, making its wearer difficult to detect, able to phase through objects, and capable of stepping through shadows. While it grants unparalleled stealth and planar abilities, prolonged use may cause the wearer to lose their place in reality, risking an existence between the Material Plane and the Plane of Shadow. Wielded by those who seek to move unseen and forgotten, this cloak is both a gift and a curse to those who dare to embrace the void.

"Wear the night as a second skin, and let the world forget you were ever here."

Notes: Bonus: Stealth, Buff