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About the Skurra face paint

Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2026 10:42 am
by Teravala
I was recently poking through Carnival and in one of the sidebars it talks about how PC's with Vistani heritage can make use of the magic face paint to protect themselves from the twisting. I was wondering if anyone could offer some clarification on this for me. Basically I am unsure how long they need to remain silent for it to continue to work. Like, for example, if they leave carnival and wash it off and go about their life speaking, but then reapply it and remain silent for the duration of their time IN the carnival, will it protect them still, or is it like a "once the silence has been broken it will never function again" kind of thing? Permanent, everlasting silence seems a big ask from a PC, and while cool conceptually doesn't really allow for fun times at the table, which is my top priority. (it is a game after all, and who likes showing up to a game they aren't allowed to speak in EVER?)

Re: About the Skurra face paint

Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2026 10:45 am
by Teravala
From the text: "The Skurra face-paint protects anyone of Vistani blood from the effects of the Twisting. Half-Vistani heroes who travel with the Carnival will be offered the secrets of the skurra-vera’s creation, and the opportunity to wear it if they wish, although they must abide by all the restrictions noted by Madame Fortuna. Most importantly, they must never speak, and they must never reveal or even answer to their true names." As I said, my biggest question is does this apply even while they are no longer inside the Carnival?

Re: About the Skurra face paint

Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2026 5:34 pm
by Strahdsbuddy
I don't like it for players, honestly but it is a way to avoid the Twisting. So is leaving the Carnival. I would say washing off the paints upon leaving should allow them to begin speaking immediately, but I'd add something unsettling to their voice which wears off after about a week for each month spent with the troupers. I'll double down on full vistani should not be a playable race, they are deus ex machina through and through.

Re: About the Skurra face paint

Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2026 5:20 am
by Mistmaster
In my version of the Carnival the twisting affects only willing or evil creatures.

Re: About the Skurra face paint

Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2026 1:58 pm
by TheArcaneWeirdo
Question:
The Twisting is a part of the Ravenloft setting I've only heard of in general lines.
Is it necessarily a bad thing?

Like, the changes are supposed to reflect who you are on the inside, aren't they?
So if you're a jerk, you don't wanna know what it'll turn you into. But if you're pure of heart, can't there be positive effects?

Re: About the Skurra face paint

Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2026 2:07 pm
by TheArcaneWeirdo
Like, personally, I think I'll just give up the protection and see what I turn into.
Maybe it's a teenage thing - I'm still figuring out who I am on the inside myself, so if some celestial is willing to give me a visual clue I'd be more than glad to take it.