Magic Tattoo

Magical Tattoos

Tattoo magic is an incredibly old form of magic, and is a form of art utilized by many different cultures across the multiverse. The designs and function of these tattoos varies wildly between peoples, races, species, countries, continents, and planes, from a lucky charm for sailors, to a mark for slaves.

A New Tool Proficiency

In order to create a tattoo, either mundane or magical, the artist must have proficiency with *tattooist's tools*, which are a type of *artisan's tools*. In order to ink a magical tattoo onto a wearer, the artist must have proficiency with *tattooist's tools* and must be able to cast at least one spell.
Whenever you would gain proficiency with a type of *artisan's tools* from a background, you may substitute that proficiency for proficiency with *tattooist's tools* instead. Your DM may allow you to gain proficiency with *tattooist's tools* over the course of play.

Tattooist's Tools

This kit is a sturdy briefcase which can hold a variety of hammers, needles, medical supplies needed for sterilization, and differently colored inks, all of which are necessary in the creation of magical and mundane tattoos. The kit may also include a sketchbook filled with original designs, and has space for any magical templates the owner finds during their journeys.

The Artist's Sketchbook

When an artist first gains proficiency with *tattooist’s tools*, their teacher gives them a sketchbook containing designs for a number of Simple or Average tattoos equal to 5 + their Intelligence modifier.
The sketchbook is a unique compilation of designs, with its own decorative flourishes and margin notes. It might be a plain, functional Leather volume that they received as a gift from their teacher, a finely bound gilt-edged tome they found in an ancient library, or even a loose collection of notes scrounged together after they lost their previous sketchbook in a mishap.

Discovering new templates

Most examples of tattoo templates are exceedingly rare and either well-hidden or carefully guarded, as existing tattoos are either culturally significant or highly prized by their current owners. In rare cases, ancient tattoo templates may be found in such areas as ancient temple walls or found carved into totems. The most common way to learn a new template is to copy it from a tattooed person. Copying the design of a tattoo from another body requires the tattooist make an Intelligence check. The DC is determined by the condition of the body:

Mechanics & Inner Workings

Tattoos pertaining to The Mighty Menagerie

Eye of Darkvision

(Head, Small Average) Ink + 2,500 gp
Your eyes become accustomed to total darkness. You can see into the darkest corners of the world.
Once per long rest as an action, the wearer can gain the ability to see in the dark, and has darkvision out to a range of 60 feet for 8 hours. If the wearer already has darkvision, this increases the range of their darkvision by 60 feet, to a maximum of 120 feet.
An Ornate version of this tattoo exists, which applies a permanent effect, instead of a temporary one

Significance

Shadow in the Snow was studying the art of tattoo which was amplified after the Elder of the Dawngreets gave her the reward of proficiency.
Sas W.T. Rayce & Bastion Bladesinger got the tattoo of "Eye of Darkvision" in Wide Berth