Lute of the Spirits
Lute of the Spirits
Aura moderate conjuration; CL 5th
Slot —; Price 1,800 gp; Weight 3 lb.
DESCRIPTION
This finely-crafted lute appears unremarkable at first glance, fashioned from polished mahogany with silver-stringing and subtle inlays along its neck. When played, however, faint echoes seem to accompany each note, as though unseen performers linger just beyond the veil of hearing.
A lute of the spirits grants its wielder a +3 competence bonus on Perform (string instruments) checks. In addition, five times per day, the wielder may use ghost sound (caster level 5th). When activated through performance, these sounds typically manifest as eerie but harmonious accompaniment - distant drums, soft flutes, whispering choirs, or low chanting - perfectly synchronized with the user’s music.
The conjured sounds are not random; rather, they seem to “know” the melody being played, enhancing the performance with an uncanny awareness. Many bards claim the instrument does not merely create sound, but channels something older - an echo of performances long past.
CONSTRUCTION
Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, ghost sound;
Cost 900 gp, 72 XP, plus 50 gp worth of rare woods and silver stringing
LORE
No two lutes of the spirits are ever said to sound exactly the same, and many scholars insist this is because each instrument is subtly attuned to a different lingering presence. Some believe these lutes capture fragments of performances from beyond the mortal world - echoes of ancient courts, lost festivals, or funerary dirges that refuse to fade.
Among traveling performers, possession of such a lute is often considered both a blessing and a quiet burden. While the instrument can elevate even a modest bard to greatness, there are whispered accounts of musicians hearing their spectral accompaniment continue long after they have stopped playing - faint notes drifting in the silence, as though the spirits were unwilling to let the song end.
In certain circles, particularly among those who traffic in the arcane or the occult, these lutes are believed to serve as subtle bridges between worlds. Whether they draw upon harmless echoes or something more aware is a matter of debate - but seasoned performers know better than to ask what, exactly, is playing along with them in the dark.

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