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Cape of the Mountebank

Cape Of The Mountebank
  • Category: Wondrous Item
  • Rarity: Rare

This cape smells faintly of brimstone. While wearing it, you can use it to cast Dimension Door as a Magic action. This property can't be used again until the next dawn.

When you teleport with that spell, you leave behind a cloud of smoke. The space you left is Lightly Obscured by that smoke until the end of your next turn.

Tactical Applications​

Combat Strategy: Provides excellent escape options and positioning capabilities. Most effective for hit-and-run tactics and emergency evacuation from dangerous situations.

Class Synergies:

  • Rogues: Natural synergy with stealth and escape-focused builds
  • Spellcasters: Excellent for maintaining safe distance and repositioning for spellcasting
  • Any Class: Universal benefit for escape and tactical positioning

Build Considerations: Most valuable for characters who need reliable escape options or benefit from rapid repositioning. The smoke screen provides additional tactical options.

Acquisition Methods​

Crafting Requirements: Requires materials associated with teleportation magic, dimensional manipulation, and theatrical enchantments. Typically costs 8,000-12,000 gp.

Common Sources:

  • Rewards from encounters with teleportation specialists or planar creatures
  • Inheritance from rogues, spies, or escape artists
  • Commission from enchanters specializing in transportation magic
  • Trade agreements with organizations that value stealth and mobility

Alternative Acquisition: Some thieves' guilds and spy organizations provide these capes to operatives for high-risk missions.

Value & Trade​

Estimated Value: 10,000-15,000 gp, with higher demand from characters needing reliable escape capabilities.

Trade Considerations: Highly valued by rogues, spies, and anyone who might need emergency escape options.

Character Integration​

Roleplay Elements: Suggests experience with stealth operations, teleportation magic, or theatrical performance. The brimstone scent hints at infernal connections.

Character Concepts:

  • Master thief or spy who specializes in infiltration and escape
  • Performer or charlatan who uses dramatic effects and misdirection
  • Adventurer with connections to infernal magic or planar travel
  • Character who values mobility and dramatic flair in equal measure

Adventure Hooks​

The Impossible Heist: A mission requires infiltrating a location with only one way in and out, making teleportation escape essential.

The Spy's Tool: Espionage work requires the ability to appear and disappear dramatically while gathering intelligence.

The Dramatic Escape: A performance or deception requires the theatrical elements of smoke and sudden disappearance.

The Emergency Evacuation: A dangerous situation requires rapid extraction of party members or important NPCs.

Variants & Customization​

Greater Cape of the Mountebank (Very Rare): Provides multiple uses per day or enhanced teleportation range and effects.

Cape of Silent Teleportation (Rare): Eliminates the smoke effect for more subtle escape options.

Infernal Mountebank's Cape (Very Rare): Includes additional infernal-themed abilities or fire-based effects.

Specialized Variants:

  • Spy's Cape: Enhanced stealth benefits and more subtle teleportation effects
  • Performer's Cape: Additional theatrical effects and illusion capabilities
  • Combat Cape: Benefits for tactical positioning and battlefield mobility

Lore & History​

Origins: Created by legendary escape artists and performers who combined practical magic with theatrical flair.

Historical Significance: Several famous escapes and heists succeeded due to the dramatic and effective teleportation these capes provided.

Cultural Impact: In theatrical and criminal communities, these capes represent the ideal of style combined with substance.

Infernal Connections: The brimstone scent suggests connections to infernal magic or deals with devils, adding an element of moral complexity.

Balancing Notes​

Introduction Timing: Can be introduced at mid-levels (8-12) when teleportation becomes valuable without overwhelming encounter design.

Campaign Impact: Provides significant utility for escape and positioning without trivializing most encounters. The daily limitation maintains resource management.

Dramatic Effect: The smoke screen adds tactical complexity and theatrical flair without being overpowered.

Encounter Design​

Recommended Challenges:

  • Situations where escape options are limited or heavily guarded
  • Infiltration missions requiring dramatic or sudden exits
  • Combat encounters where positioning and mobility matter significantly
  • Social situations where theatrical effects enhance performance or deception

Tactical Adjustments: Enemies may prepare for teleportation escape attempts or use the smoke screen to their own advantage.

Teleportation Magic: Other items that provide transportation or dimensional manipulation capabilities.

Escape Equipment:

  • Items that enhance mobility, stealth, or escape capabilities
  • Equipment that provides dramatic effects or theatrical enhancement
  • Tools that improve survival in dangerous or restricted situations

Complementary Equipment: Items that work well with teleportation tactics, such as stealth enhancers or dramatic effect amplifiers.

Roleplay Opportunities​

Dramatic Flair: Characters can embrace theatrical elements and dramatic timing in their adventures and social interactions.

Escape Artistry: The cape encourages development of skills in infiltration, performance, and tactical thinking about escape routes.

Moral Questions: The infernal associations may create interesting roleplay opportunities about the source and cost of magical power.