The Dress of Love is a magical garment that makes viewers see the wearer as the person they love most, powered by moonlight.
Description
- Shiny dress that materializes in moonlight
- Makes creatures see wearer as person they love most
- Powered by moonlight
- Effect diminishes on second use in same location or with same person (unclear)
Origin
The Dress of Love was created from a tragic love story involving Bonnie, Rose, Jack, and DeWitt:
The Love Triangle:
- Bonnie was a seamstress who loved Jack
- Jack fell in love with Rose, daughter of seamstress DeWitt
- Consumed by jealousy, Bonnie orchestrated a deadly deception
The Deception:
- Bonnie lied to DeWitt, telling him Jack was a vampire
- Bonnie lied to Jack, telling him Rose would meet him at Wise Men Falls
- DeWitt killed Jack with a crossbow bolt through the heart
- Rose died of grief, becoming a ghost
The Creation:
- Rose’s spirit haunted the Love Shack, waiting for Jack
- Jack’s spirit remained trapped at Wise Men Falls, unable to move on
- When Rose learned the truth about Jack’s death, she finally found peace
- Rose possessed the water wheel at the seamstress cottage
- Her heart strings fed the loom
- A single bolt of moonlight cloth was produced: the Dress of Love
- Bonnie (the Green Hag) took the magical cloth
This origin story was depicted in a drama performed at an inn during The Intervals. The dress embodies Rose’s eternal love and sacrifice.
Mechanics
Activation:
- Requires a source of moonlight (the moon itself, or any reservoir)
- Dress appears as twinkles of light without orb
- Light streams from the source and coalesces into dress
- Once materialized, can be worn
Effect:
- Viewers see wearer as person they love most
- Works on different creatures differently
- Scout saw Helia Oriela wearing it as Queen of Hearts
- Does not work as well the second time (possibly same place or person)
Power Source:
- Moon Orb acts as reservoir and lens for moonlight
- Moonstone earring also works as lens (lesser effect)
- Moonbeam spell successfully refilled Moon Orb
- Refill had no effect on dress appearance
Chronology
Discovery:
- Party infiltrated Princess of Diamonds’ mansion to steal it
- Found closet with twinkles of light but no dress
- Cory found Moon Orb in desk with false bottom
- Brought orb to closet
- Light streamed from orb, coalescing into shiny dress
- Helia Oriela put on dress “gleaming with rabbit joy”
- During escape, scout saw Helia as Queen of Hearts
- Confused scout: “Why is Queen of Hearts attacking him?”
- Party escaped using pass without trace
Analysis:
- Louis Orrai performed arcana checks
- Determined orb acts as reservoir and lens for moonlight
- Moonstone earring acts only as lens
- Dress makes creatures see wearer as person they love most
- Helia Oriela cast moonbeam, refilled Moon Orb
- Refill had no effect on dress
Diminished Effect:
- Post coup, Helia reused the dress
- Dress did not work as well the second time
- Unclear if problem was location or person-specific
Connections
- Moon Orb for materialization
- Created from Rose’s heart strings and sacrifice
- Taken by Bonnie after its creation
- Born from the tragic love story of Rose and Jack
- DeWitt inadvertently played a role by killing Jack
- Love Shack and Wise Men Falls were key locations in the origin story