Diz
2006-06-03, 09:39 PM
I recently used one of these in my current campaign (to be concluded next session... DUN-DUN-DUNNNNN!) to provide a plausible method of disguise for a particular antagonist. Yes, it was inspired greatly by Roy's crossdressing antics in the amusing OotS story arc, but who said I was original?
The poor old antagonist who first used this item is dead now (killed by the Big Bad Evil Guy in the penultimate session for betraying her), but here's the item she used to sneak about a rather anarchic city, completely undetected despite her renowned status:
Belt of Elective Gender-Changing
Elstrom, the well-travelled cleric of Corellon, gaped in uncharacteristic surprise as Joseph, their burly informant, reached to his belt buckle, tapping it with a grunt of discomfort. "Josephine," his voice spoke, with a certain amount of apprehension. Joseph's skin glowed slightly as his form from head to toe changed slightly... revealing someone the group had encountered before. A powerful priestess of Hextor, no less.
"Dominia!"
Her green eyes, watering with pain, narrowed at Elstrom's exclamation.
"That's Archbishop Claudia to you, half-breed."
This belt appears, at first sight, to be a normal leather belt with a faded brass buckle. Closer inspection will reveal some curious symbols on the buckle, with two simple arrows in a circular layout pointing to the ancient symbols for male and female.
When worn normally, the item has no effect on its user other than holding up the user's trousers. However, when the user touches the belt buckle and speaks a given name - determined at the item's creation with particular conditions - their physical form changes to that of a creature with their opposite gender, with roughly the same height and build and physical features as that of their original form.
Upon touching the buckle and speaking a second, predefined name, the user's original form is restored. While under the effects of the belt's magic, the wearer cannot remove the belt without the use of a remove curse spell - it is a technically cursed, though harmless item (other than the obvious changes it makes).
If the belt is destroyed while the effects of the item are active (such as a successful sunder attempt), the items effects on its user are permanent, barring the use of a wish or miracle spell. Rather than being a simple curse, the item permanently changes the user's form, for better or for worse.
The names used to activate and deactivate the item are determined at the point of completion. Most often, the two names will be male and female forms of a similar name, such as Joseph/Josephine, Michael/Michelle or Nicholas/Nicola.
Activating and deactivating the item is a full-round action. The process of activating and deactivating the item takes a few seconds, and can often be a bit painful for those unused to the effects of transmutation magic.
When active, the item grants an inherent +10 bonus as any part of an attempt at creating a disguise. After all, who would suspect such a "man"...?
Transmutation; CL 3rd; Craft Wondrous Item, alter self; Price 3,600gp.
EDIT PART DEUX: Thanks for the critique! (Disguise bonus reduced to +10, damage penalty removed, familiarity penalty removed)
The poor old antagonist who first used this item is dead now (killed by the Big Bad Evil Guy in the penultimate session for betraying her), but here's the item she used to sneak about a rather anarchic city, completely undetected despite her renowned status:
Belt of Elective Gender-Changing
Elstrom, the well-travelled cleric of Corellon, gaped in uncharacteristic surprise as Joseph, their burly informant, reached to his belt buckle, tapping it with a grunt of discomfort. "Josephine," his voice spoke, with a certain amount of apprehension. Joseph's skin glowed slightly as his form from head to toe changed slightly... revealing someone the group had encountered before. A powerful priestess of Hextor, no less.
"Dominia!"
Her green eyes, watering with pain, narrowed at Elstrom's exclamation.
"That's Archbishop Claudia to you, half-breed."
This belt appears, at first sight, to be a normal leather belt with a faded brass buckle. Closer inspection will reveal some curious symbols on the buckle, with two simple arrows in a circular layout pointing to the ancient symbols for male and female.
When worn normally, the item has no effect on its user other than holding up the user's trousers. However, when the user touches the belt buckle and speaks a given name - determined at the item's creation with particular conditions - their physical form changes to that of a creature with their opposite gender, with roughly the same height and build and physical features as that of their original form.
Upon touching the buckle and speaking a second, predefined name, the user's original form is restored. While under the effects of the belt's magic, the wearer cannot remove the belt without the use of a remove curse spell - it is a technically cursed, though harmless item (other than the obvious changes it makes).
If the belt is destroyed while the effects of the item are active (such as a successful sunder attempt), the items effects on its user are permanent, barring the use of a wish or miracle spell. Rather than being a simple curse, the item permanently changes the user's form, for better or for worse.
The names used to activate and deactivate the item are determined at the point of completion. Most often, the two names will be male and female forms of a similar name, such as Joseph/Josephine, Michael/Michelle or Nicholas/Nicola.
Activating and deactivating the item is a full-round action. The process of activating and deactivating the item takes a few seconds, and can often be a bit painful for those unused to the effects of transmutation magic.
When active, the item grants an inherent +10 bonus as any part of an attempt at creating a disguise. After all, who would suspect such a "man"...?
Transmutation; CL 3rd; Craft Wondrous Item, alter self; Price 3,600gp.
EDIT PART DEUX: Thanks for the critique! (Disguise bonus reduced to +10, damage penalty removed, familiarity penalty removed)