Skein Bowl

Description

A Skein Bowl is a ceremonial tool that commonly takes the form of a metal or wooden bowl.. The bowl is popular with the priests of Wintermark, where it is also sometimes called a Scop's Well or a Stormcrow's Basin. As part of a ceremony of testimony, the priest mixes a dose of liao with a little water, oil, or even blood (the latter is especially popular with the Navarr). During the testimony, the resultant mixture is used to either physically mark the body of the ceremony, or flicked towards them in cases where they are not a willing participant.

In Highguard and the League, this item is called a Righteous Aspergil and takes the form of a perforated sphere on the end of a short rod. The liao is mixed and poured into the sphere, which is used to flick the resulting liquid over the target in fine droplets. In Urizen, the item more commonly is called a Spiritwell and the liao is mixed with a little ink that is used to carefully trace a sigil on the hand or face of the target of the testimony - these items have seen increasing popularity in the Brass Coast where the liao is often mixed with henna and used to trace beautiful intricate designs on the target. This has replaced a more robust version of the item, still favoured by some Sutannir, called a Glass Bowl in which liao is mixed with a little spirit that is imbibed by the priest and then sprayed toward the target at the climax of the ritual.

Regardless of the extact shape it takes, it is used in religious ceremonies and directly empowers the ability of priests to mark a target's soul. It is a tool that can be used both to create indelible marks - marks which are much more durable than normal, especially where the testimony is part of a punishment or warning - but it can also be used to empower a priest to remove such durable marks.

Rules

• Form: Talisman. Takes the form of ceremonial regalia. You must be wearing this item to use its magical properties.
• Requirement: You must have the dedication skill to bond to this item.
• Effect: When you perform or cooperate with the performance of the testimony skill, you may spend up to five additional doses of liao to increase the strength or the ceremony by the same amount.
• Materials: Crafting a Skein Bowl requires TBC. It takes one month to make one of these items.