Synaptic Masks

Companion Stone ofResistance: The wielder ofa staff enhanced with this stone gains a +4 resistance bonus to all saving throws (Fortitude,Reflex,and Will).

Manifester Level: 12th; Prerequisites: Craft Universal Item, resistance; Market Price: 32,000 gp; Weight: —

Companion Stone ofTruthful Dealings: The wielder of a staffenhanced with this stone can discern lies, as a standard action,up to three times per day.

Manifester Level: 7th; Prerequisites: Craft Universal Item, discern lies; Market Price: 25,700 gp; Weight:—

A synaptic mask consists ofseveral thin leather straps that affix to the wearer’s face.Most ofthe wearer’s face is visible through the leather webbing.The strands that make up the mask all come together at the wearer’s left temple,where a setting is affixed.The setting contains a clamp in which owners can set various types ofspecial stones.

A synaptic mask uses up the same area on the body as a headband,hat,or helmet;a character wearing one ofthese cannot also wear a synaptic mask.

Synaptic masks have an Armor Class of5,10 hit points,a hardness of3,and break DC 15.

Activation: Synaptic masks are always active while worn (they do not require activation).A synaptic mask confers an effect only when a shard or a meld stone rests in its setting.

Synaptic Mask: Without a specified stone such as a shard in its setting,the synaptic mask confers no extra abilities.As described in Chapter Seven:Psionic Items in the Psionics Handbook, shards are fragments ofcrystal imbued with small portions ofpsionic power.Normally,using a shard is a standard action (shards telepathically reveal their command word into the minds ofpsionic creatures who handle them).

A shard grants a temporary competence bonus on one specific skill,ranging from +1 to +10.Normally,the bonus lasts until the skill is used or 10 rounds pass,whichever comes first.Unless set in a synaptic mask,a shard disintegrates after use,even ifits user doesn’t utilize the bonus.

Competence Bonus Market Price

+1 20 gp +2 30 gp

+3 +4 40 gp 60 gp

+5 +6 100 gp 140 gp

+7 +8

200 gp 250 gp +9 320 gp +10 400 gp

Manifester Level: 13th; Prerequisites: Craft Universal Item, fabricate; Market Price: 3,000 gp; Cost to Create: 1,500 gp and 120 XP; Weight: 1 lb.

Ifa shard is placed (or replaced)in a synaptic mask setting (as a standard action),the wearer can use the shard’s skill bonus indefinitely without using up the shard. The mask preserves the shard while at the same time allowing the wearer to continuously gain the shard’s benefit.The wearer can remove the shard later and use it normally, though this results in the shard’s disintegration as described above.

Manifester Level: 13th; Prerequisites: Craft Universal Item, fabricate; Market Price: 3,000 gp; Cost to Create: 1,500 gp and 120 XP; Weight: 1 lb.

Meld Stones

A meld stone appears somewhat similar to a shard, though they commonly are crafted with higher gem-grade crystal. Unlike a shard,a meld stone cannot be used ifnot set in a synaptic mask. Each meld stone contains a suite ofskill bonuses usually related by a theme or task.

Meld Stone ofthe Alchemist: When set in a synaptic mask, the meld stone ofthe alchemist grants its wearer a +8 competence bonus on his Alchemy checks,a +6 competence bonus on his Appraise and Use Magic Device checks,and a +4 competence bonus on his Knowledge (arcana) checks.

Manifester Level: 13th; Prerequisites: Craft Universal Item, 8 or more ranks in Alchemy,Appraise,Knowledge (arcana), Use Magic Device; Market Price: 3,040 gp; Cost to Create: 1,520 gp and 122 XP;Weight:1 lb.

Meld Stone ofthe Infiltrator: When set in a synaptic mask, the meld stone ofthe infiltrator grants its wearer a +8 competence bonus on his Bluffchecks,a +6 competence bonus on his Disguise and Forgery checks,and a +4 competence bonus on his Gather Information checks.

Manifester Level: 13th; Prerequisites: Craft Universal Item, 8 or more ranks in Bluff,Disguise,Forgery,and Gather Information; Market Price: 3,040 gp; Cost to Create: 1,520 gp and 122 XP; Weight: 1 lb.

Meld Stone ofthe Nimble Trickster: When set in a synaptic mask, the meld stone ofthe nimble trickster grants its wearer a +8 competence bonus on his Tumble checks,a +6 competence bonus on his Escape Artist and Hide checks, and a +4 competence bonus on his Move Silently checks.

Manifester Level: 13th; Prerequisites: Craft Universal Item, 8 or more ranks in Escape Artist,Hide,Move Silently,and Tumble; Market Price: 3,040 gp; Cost to Create: 1,520 gp and 122 XP; Weight: 1 lb.