Ancestral Relic help

[Kamurai]

I am currently playing in a campaign where I have been granted an item that is the equivalent of an ancestral relic but I'm having some difficulty in figuring out what I would like to do with it. The item itself is a mask and my character is a Bard 7/Swiftblade 1.

I was so far thinking along the lines of a Charisma Bonus and some sort of protection vs. Blindness and/or Silencing. I thought it might also be interesting to add a per day spell to it, my mind keeps gravitating to Footsteps of the Divine for some reason (I really like the utility).

Would stacking a deflection bonus in there get too cheesy? Or expensive? Are continuous effects worth it?

I guess I'm looking for suggestions as well as critiques of this plan I've cobbled together so far.

[Exocist]

Well, if you're the fast-talking gambler type of bard, you could ask your DM that the Ancestral Relic be the dreaded Deck of Many Things (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/artifacts.htm) (not sure what the practical application of this is though).

If you were looking for a mask specifically, the only SRD "Mask" item is the Mask of the Skull (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/wondrousItems.htm#maskoftheSkull), which I don't believe you'd want.

However, a Mask of Disguise similar to the Robe of Blending (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/wondrousItems.htm#robeofBlending) might do well on a rogue-y type character.

Because you're a bard, you could try to argue for the Horn of Valhalla (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/wondrousItems.htm#hornofValhalla) as well.

Generally, I'd just pick a Wondrous Item/Artifact/Weapon of Legacy of your choice and then talk to your DM about how it's abilities "Unlock" as you level up.

[Crake]

For spontaneous casters, the generally accepted "best" use of an ancestral relic is to make it into a runestaff to expand your available spells. Since you don't need the prerequisites to add to an ancestral relic, you can add whatever spell you like to it.