Mantle's and how they work

A mantle is the first energy given off during creation of a specific idea, place, creature, emotion etc. If somethine was created sometime during the multiverse, it has a mantle attached to it. Some mantles have been absorbed by the gods over time. Ember has the mantle of fire and sun since he is an embodiment of those things, and other gods have absorbed mantles into there own repertoir of domains over the years. Basically, the first thing/object/creature created took alot of extra power to get it right. The mold for that power became the mantle, the essence of that creation.

What do they look like - Object, animal, or otherwise physical mantles look like that thing. Only detect magic can detect that they are something other than what they appear. Most animal mantles look like a sleeping version of that animal. A mantle of Vase's would look like a Vase. Mantles of more escoteric things may take varying effects, but generally get the point across. A mantle of laughter might appear as a jovial mask, A mantle of hope may take the form of a torch, lantern, candle or some other representation of hope.

How do I put a mantle on - Touching a mantle usually does nothing. Long ago priests of Sheshensis discovered the rituals to placing them on another creature or themselves. Some mantles are unbound as well, and will automatically bind to the first creature that touches them. Most religions have created rituals to bind mantles, as having these lesser gods in there clergy only strengthens there masters divine power, player characters can ask priests to create these rituals in scroll form for them, though theres usually a cost involved. Once a mantle is donned it disapears and becomes part of the character. It returns to its original form 1 week after the death of the original bearer.

How do the powers work - Most mantle powers are spell like abilities, though some are extraordinary or supernatural. Regardless of the normal rules Mantle powers never suffer from arcane spell failure. A mantle functions only in the creatures normal form, and treat the mantle as a whole, a special ability for polymorph or shapechange effects. Ie, its benefits dont carry over to alternate forms.

Experience cost and mantles - A mantle does not place a level adjustment on a character. It is a 12 level template. It gives a character some lesser statistical increases, 3 spell like abilities useable once a day, and the Timeless Body ability. A bearer of the mantle can opt to spend experience on the spell like abilities or on the Timeless Body ability to increase there functionality and power. A character can skip some abilities, taking the base, and spend XP on those they want, or simply mix and match as they go. Level Loss does not effect the ability, though you would lose the ability if you lost a level where the ability was gained, you would have the powers maxed out if you had already done so, or would be at the level of the power you had invested xp into. So if you had a 5th level ability and had 4 tiers purchased, then you lost a level, when you came back to that level you would again be at the 4th tier of that ability.

Feats and Mantles - Feats cannot effect a mantles powers. Ability focus, ability metamagic etc, does not effect Mantles in any way. The power of the Mantles can only be increased via the personal sacrifice of the characters XP.

Can I do anything Godly? - You can enter zones known as Nulls to common folk. They are areas of such great divine energy that most mortal creatures cannot move into them, and thus instinctivey and subconsciously avoid them.  Your powers and personal abilities must be used to make you seem more or less godly, as the Mantle is the least of the most divine powers.

Whats the Save DC of my mantle abilities - As spell like abilities, the save DC is as a 3rd level spell for the first ability, as a 4th level spell for the second ability and as a 5th level spell for the third ability. The stat that covers these abilities is left to the player. A player may choose wisdom, int. or charisma when donning a mantle, from that point on the save DC's of the effect will be based on that stat and cannot again be changed, even if lost and re-equiped by that person.

Mantles only go up to level 12. I want more power. - Mantles are the least in the divine rank of Godly power. They do not increase in power, and cannot be changed or modified. Most Mantles have weapons of destiny tied to them that can be sought out. Only mantle holders can actually use these items. Quests should be designed to attain them.

My mantle is stupid. Can I destroy it and gain another one? - Mantles can be destroyed, though its specific and usually extremely difficult to do. The mantle for snowflakes for example may need to be thrown into an erupting volcano and left there for a full week. The Mantle of Mice might need to be swallowed by a 16HD snake. Once you equip a mantle however, its the only one you get. You can never again don another mantle, even after losing one, you cannot re-equip another, even if it is destroyed.  There are rumors that Fayn has created a means to destroy unattended mantles, but this has yet to be validated.

The Dragon Cast Mord Disjunction on me. Am I screwed? - Yes becasue its a powerful dragon, but No because of the spell. Mantles cannot be removed from you forcefully through any means. Once donned they cannot be removed, even by the players themselves. No mortal magic can cause the loss of a mantle. Only by death or by the intervention of a god can the mantle be removed. If you die and someone else dons the mantle, then you are later raised, the only way you can get the mantle back is to kill that creature and wait for it to come off, then re equip it.

Why do I look normal. Im a God. I want to look wierd. - The players can decide how much the mantle effects there appearance, however it is only a superficial change. If the God of Vase's wanted his head to appear as a Vase with a face painted on it, that would be fine, however it would effect RP in some instances, though it would not effect normal mundane effects, such as eating, singing, sight, hearing etc. Players may also change there appearance gradually, and again, this is fine. The Mantle grants its bearer some freedom in there new appearance, and it could be changed as desired, within reason, and with the DM's final approval.