Item that sheds light/creates a light illusion as a swift/free action

Question

I play a monk with a Blood Reservoir. When I use its power to enhance an ability score, in my case Strength, I would like add the effect of red light surrounding my character as in this video. The effect would be purely cosmetic for some extra flavor, though I would also like to end it a round later than the 1 round effect of the Strength boost to possibly fool my enemies.

Is there an item that does something like this (illusion, some kind of modified-form dancing lights) as a swift or free action?

How would the price vary if I

1. coupled it to activating the Blood Reservoir
2. make it last a set number of rounds after activation
3. be able to dismiss it at any time after activating it

I thought about a ring of quickened silent image, but this seems a bit expensive for something in my eyes not very powerful.

Answer 1

I'm not really expert in the cost of magic items, but i can say it is not as cheap as 100gp.

First, the spell you are looking after is more of the kind of Faerie Fire or Unwelcome Halo, both lvl 1.

Second, to enable it at the same time of your Blood Reservoir you can use the same command word. The cost of such item is 1800 gp * caster level * spell level = 1800 * 1 * 1 gp = 1800 gp (see Magic Item Creation, under Magic Item Gold Piece Values > Table: Estimating Magic Item Gold Piece Values > Spell Effect > Command word: Spell level × caster level × 1,800 gp) very close to the Blood Reservoir. You just need caster lvl 1 because those spells last 1 minute/level.

Suppose they modify the spell to works like a lvl 0 spell, by limiting its duration to 5 rounds only, then the spell cost multiplier is only 0.5, dropping the item cost to 900 gp.

Limiting the usages per day could drop the cost a little bit more (Magic Item Creation, under Magic Item Gold Piece Values > Table: Estimating Magic Item Gold Piece Values > Special > Charges per day: Divide by (5 divided by charges per day)):

• 1 usage per day = 900 gp / (5/1) = 180 gp
• 2 usages per day = 900 gp / (5/2) = 900 gp / 2.5 = 360 gp
• 3 usages per day = 900 gp / (5/3) = 900 gp / 1.67 = 540 gp
• 4 usages per day = 900 gp / (5/4) = 900 gp / 1.25 = 720 gp
• 5 usages per day = 900 gp / (5/5) = 900 gp / 1 = 900 gp (the original cost)
• 10 usages per day = 900 gp / (5/10) = 900 gp / 0.5 = 1800 gp (huh? yes, more than 5 usages per day raise the cost up instead)

To say the item is just cosmetic is to underestimate the item; and, sorry to say it, a lie. It is powerful enough. You clearly stated you want it to be able to bluff foes. In addition: It can be detected by magic, so friends can find you using detect magic; anyway they can find you if you shed light where in darkness and some other concealing conditions, like fog ("Hey guys, just follow me!"); useful to send signals; it can make you momentarily visible when invisible without breaking the invisibility; it can ignore concealment (even provided by blur); among other creative uses.

Something the GM is not realizing is the character can use it to bluff a foe, making the foe believe it is that item what gives him the strength boost and not the Blood Reservoir. The monk is telling the orcs'leader "Boss, please spare the life of my companions, take this in exchange. It is a powerful item that brings you the strength of a bull, i'd teach you its word... You see? I'm bursting in power!". Then the party fight the orcs again in the middle of the night, the orcs' leader uses the item, no extra strength, the whole party clearly sees him and take it down with bows and some spells.