ANDERS MAGE PAGE 2.0

Lost in the mists of antiquity, these items are fairly rare. It is said that only thirty of them exist and the methods for creating new ones are forever lost. They are black crystals of extreme hardness that are flat and non reflective. Often they are found with a silver chain and cage arrangement but others are found alone. The gems have a sort of runic language that is cut into them that is indecipherable. Hermetic mages believe them to be of Egyptian manufacture but some also posit that they might be Sumerian.

Shade crystals have an unusual ability when worn over the heart. If the wearer imparts a point of their own quintessence to the crystal it will hide them from notice. It gives them the same effect as mages with the very highest Arcane for one day and one night. Hermetics theorize that its power derives from some powerful and partially natural resonance effect. All that is required of the mage is a point of quintessence and concentration for a full minute.

The user effectively ceases to exist for a day. Those who have close emotional ties to the user will not forget them but if they are out of sight they will cease thinking about them. The user does not become invisible but she becomes so unobtrusive that she might as well be. Antagonists that are shooting at anything that moves will note movement in their line of sight but otherwise may not notice the mage.

To people other than those who are close, the mage effectively ceases to exist. Phone numbers become lost, computer files become corrupted, hardcopy files get coffee spilled on them. Sneaking into the movies or the subway becomes as easy as pie. Obfuscated vampires will notice something go by... maybe. Vampires with high Auspex might notice you if they happen to be looking.

Continued use of this item causes the mage to unwittingly leave his earthly life behind. Those with close ties will forget they knew him or even convince themselves that he is dead or lost in a Paradox realm somewhere. Archenemies will get on with their lives. Witch hunters will be confused. Parents and children will rearrange their personal histories and all traces of the mage's identity will erase themselves. The mage may even come home to discover that someone is selling their house. If the mage isn't prepared for this it could drive him into a seriously deep Quiet.

It is also known that mummies are capable of using these items. They power them with Sekhem and use them to leave lives behind them on occasion. It is rumored they are the creators of these items but that even they have forgotten how to make more. Considering the nature of the Shade Crystals, this is not all that unusual.

One point of quintessence activates the Shade Crystal for one day and one night. The wearer has an Arcane of 5 regardless what their Arcane rating was before. The quintessence must come from the wearer's own body. Tass or quintessence from any other source does not activate the crystal. The wearer does not need any knowledge in the Sphere of Prime to place a point of quintessence into the crystal. Shade Crystals do not store any quintessence. Sleepers cannot use Shade Crystals.