Full Item Description
It is a beautiful tube of lipstick. It is a dark greenish black color with an intricate 'weave' etched in it. If viewed under bright moonlight (or blood is dripped on the case), certain mystical runes and symbols... and not those of a good variety... will become apparent. Of course, few will actually notice said runes.
History
The origin of the item is unclear. Some believe it is a 'gift' from a succubus.
Magic/Cursed Properties
The shade of the lipstick is Dark Blood Red. When first applied, it is that color. Yet almost imperceptively, it changes to 'the perfect shade of red' for the person wearing it. The woman who is wearing it, unless she is mystically trained, will see it in that shade. In fact, it is such a perfect shade, it makes her look prettier than she is. (She wants to wear the lipstick often). Men are attracted to her like bees to honey. She is beautiful and captivating. They crave her kiss. Women are both repulsed by her ('What has she got that I don't have?' and attracted (she is pretty and if I hang around her maybe I will get her secret as well as her 'left overs').
If a woman wearing the lipstick truly kisses someone, a point/ pawn/ unit or so their personal power are drained. A magic user might notice this lack of energy (or loose a stored spell), but most people will be unaware of the loss until they approach no personal energy left (then they will be fatigued, feel like they have the flu, and be undermotivated). If she kisses someone enough times over, they will suffer they symptoms of over extending their power use and even die.
The power gather thus empowers the glamour of the lipstick. It also renews the color in the tube, so it never 'runs out'. If left 'unfed' for a while, the next kiss will be quite draining.
Oh yes... if the woman ever kisses a mirror to kiss herself (which she might want to do eventually, given the confidence, attention and ego the lipstick will evoke in most people, she will suck her own soul into the lipstick and promptly die.
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? Responses (12)
I can't remember what inspired this... but I owe someone something for it.
I like the Idea. It has a lot of promise, and a real wicked streak for any non-evil person who puts it on. I definately like any items that incorporate a twist of the knife.
However, it needs an anecdote, be it a history of the item's origin, or some legends surrounding it, or the story of somebody who put it on. The item is just too poweful to go without one.
Mediocre item+Unique form (Lipstick)+cruel effect+no history+no plot ideas(extra credit)=3.5/5.0 (Sweet Idea)
Bah Nobody. It is a fairly basic cursed, in the Friday the 13th the TV show, sort of way. Not everything magical needs to be mythic.
Very Buffy.
The item is okay and certainly has its uses. It seems more fitting for a modern game, but put in a brothel or noble mansion context I could easily have spawned lots of plotlines around this item.
Although the description matched a modern item, cosmetics have been in use since the dawn of history. Medieval moralists railed vociferously against cosmetics, pointing out that they were a snare of the devil (as this one apparently is).
Medieval women of the middle class (merchants, yeoman farmers, etc.) would rarely wear cosmetics; an item like this would be associated with the nobility or with courtesans.
In an ancient or medieval setting, the lipstick would be replaced with a small pot of colored ungent, smelling faintly of beeswax and rare spices. It might even be part of a full set of cosmetics: Kohl to outline the eyes, white lead powder to give a pleasingly pale complexion to the face, sprigs of clove for the breath, and rose water or a musky perfume to give a pleasant scent. These might be found with other items: An ivory comb for the hair, a set of picks and a buffing cloth for the teeth, and a mirror of smooth bronze.
I find myself agreeing with Wulfhere with a little imagination this could easily be incorporated into almost any setting
As for the lipstick a fine example of pulp gothic horror great fun definitely 4/5
I agree with Wulfhere and dragon, but I would tone down the 'death' part of hissing herself to something more subtle. Perhaps she gets possessed (or becomes)a succubus.
As her lips touched the cool silver, the Demoselle felt part of her self drawn away. A strange sense of loss touched her, but only for a moment: Straightening up, she felt somehow stronger and more confident. A cynical smile touched her features; no longer would she let her feelings of tenderness or love stand in the way of what she wanted.
Soon, the young men of the Duke's Court would see that the maiden they had known was a woman, and not someone to be taken advantage of.
Perhaps the death of innocence is the cruelest loss of all...
This certainly has a place in the old morality plays and in the film noir world. This could turn any character into femme fatale. It is unclear if the author is suggesting if the lipstick has some mind control effect on the women or if the author's opinion of woman is that will want to wear anything that will make them attractive and desriable. The fact that it makes other women catty or jealous may also offend some roleplayers. But all this is par for the course with any item that plays to old "dangerous temptress" troupe with in fanatsy.
As for plot ideas, I could see this used to drain the power of an urban spell caster so he or she can be captured. The woman wearing the lipstick may not know how or what she is being used for.
Overall this doesn't cover new ground, but it doesn't cover the old ground badly. The use of the lipstick to induce this dangerous sexuality for some reason turns my stomach.
One minor edit: you write "a point/ pawn/ unit or so their personal power are drained"
maybe it should say "a point/ pawn/ unit or so OF their personal power IS drained"
The greatest 'evil' items are often those, that don't turn their victims to evil... they merely nudge them slightly and let them follow the path to damnation. Of course, for every noble and attentive person, that resists a subtle item like this, there will be ten more, who will fall head on to their popularity (because that's what this item brings, popularity and its lures).
Good evil item and a plus to Wulf's idea.
A solid item for the Garage Sale from Hell.