Legendary Artifact

Thomas Edison’s Spirit Cellphone

Created and held by David Vance.
A BlackBerry cellphone with two options for calls. “Dial Up”, and “Contacts List”. The back of the phone has an artwork of a skull inside a lightbulb etched into it as some kind of company logo.

David pulls a what looks to be a BlackBerry cellphone out of his pocket, but it has an eerie design on the back of it….a skull, inside a lightbulb, whose vacant sockets seem to stare into yours. The phone puts out only static on one end, but then quietly through its speaker comes the voice of someone you know to be deceased. David speaks as if this is just a normal work conversation, hangs up the call, and puts the phone away in his bag.

(From user manual that was shipped with the phone) “Here at Spectrum S our researchers have combined the research of Thomas Edison’s spirit phone with the reliability and the durability of a modern cellphone! Putting the power to speak to the dead right in our user’s hands, Spectrum S has built you the best NecroTech spectral engineering can devise! Thomas Edison would be proud! But don’t take our word for it, call him up and take his!”
*Spectrum S is not liable for harms, damages, or unintended consequences of speech with the deceased. Thomas Edison’s Spirit Cell Phone(TM) is not warranty secured.*

Expend a point of Battery and spend an Action to activate. Select a Dead target of which you have Full true name and date of birth OR phone number.

The target can communicate in your language for the next hour.

  • You can target yourself if you qualify as a valid target by the other requirements.
  • Your target must be within line of sight, or within range of another sense if more fitting for the Gift's flavor.

If the phone would be shattered, fragments of bone within the frame pull it enough back together with a whisper (as sand falls out between the cracks) as Spectrum S's patented NecroTech does its work.

If the phone is ever lost, Spectrum S's warranty plan ships its protected item back to the client in ways that seem ubiquitous...it will soon show up unobtrusively in a suit pocket or desk drawer

Spectrum S provides warranty plans for its most esteemed customers. Using the souls bound to their tech itself to guide the items back to their bonded guide...or client.

David has more than proved himself to be worthy of a bit of VIP status among their highly select customer base.

This Artifact cannot be broken. If this Artifact is lost and in no one else’s possession, it finds its way back to its true owner during the next Downtime.

By default, the creator of this Artifact is its true owner. The true owner may formally bequeath this Artifact onto another person within arm’s reach, after which they are its true owner. If this Artifact has no living true owner, anyone may spend one day attuning to it to become its true owner.

If the true owner of this Artifact ever dies, it immediately disappears. At least one week later, it will appear to A personal friend of the previous owner (randomly determined among them—such is the nature of a warranty plan) and reveal its power to them. They become its new true owner.

  • If there is no available Next of Kin, it will wait two months and then appear to a random person. If multiple next of kin are appropriate, the GM will decide randomly.
  • "Cannot be broken" means that damage cannot render the Artifact's Effects unusable, nor can it cease to be used for its primary mundane purpose, if it has one.
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Community Artifacts

orange tasting rock

Created by Jimmy Rockman, given to Bev Good.
a small slighty orange rock

A rock with a quarter sized diameter. With a lollypop stick poking out of it. It tastes slightly sweet and makes your pain go away.

You gain the following benefits as long as you are wearing this Artifact.

Your Stress from Injuries and Mind Damage is reduced to 0.

Shades of Stardom

Created and held by Stan T. Mann.
Some kickass shades
Crafted by Stan T. Mann

The secret technique... I must jump... while in THE AIR! The artifact pulses a brilliant red as the air condenses underneath you to allow you to jump again!
While on the ground, you can also propel yourself with the power of rewriting the acceleration and velocity vectors!
(Disclaimer: It still needs a bit of fine tuning and on rare occasions, you may find yourself propelling over a cliff, into a bunch of enemies, and the like. Rewriting the laws of physics is hard, guys!)

Exert your Mind and spend an Action. Select a Location which is at most 60 feet away horizontally or 15 feet away vertically. Roll a single D10 as a critical failure check. If you roll a 1, the Effect fails, and you You end up jumping into a disadvantageous location (up to GM discretion).

You jump to the chosen location. If jumping blind or landing precariously, must roll Dexterity + Athletics to land safely. You will never take fall Damage from successfully landing a jump made with this Effect.

You may activate this Effect while in free-fall, as long as your target Location is a surface on which you can land. You are immune to fall damage.

  • If you are Encumbered, the maximum range is cut in half. If Encumbrance has reduced your total movement to 0, you cannot activate this Effect.
  • vertical jump height measures to the bottom of your feet, so your total vertical reach is at least a body length greater.
  • Rolls to land safely will generally be Athletics, but GMs may call for a different roll at their discretion if it makes sense for the specific circumstances.
  • You may only use this Effect once per Round of combat, regardless of any Enhancements you have taken.
  • Your target must be within line of sight, or within range of another sense if more fitting for the Gift's flavor.

Everyone’s seen swords thrown in movies with supposedly pinpoint accuracy. Everyone’s seen weaponized hats that are thrown like a frisbee. Heck, we've seen shields that ricochet and bounce around, defying all sense of realism. But has anybody ever seen somebody throw their kickass shades at somebody, knock em unconscious, then catch ‘em afterwards? Heck, why stop there? Why not have the shades fly back onto the thrower's face?
Stan pondered this for a while… and decided that he should be the first!
With the power of movie magic (and some fiddling with object vectors), this item can be thrown at a guy, boomerang style, and bounce between a bunch of goons. Afterwards, they fly right back into the wielder's hand; if they're kickass shades, they fly right back onto the wielder's face as if they were never taken off in the first place. So badass.
Stan typically uses his shades, but if a shield can be flung effectively, why can't anything else? Easier to throw small stuff, though. More believable.
All you need is that suspension of disbelief, kid. It'll take you to places you could've never imagined.

This Artifact can be used as a throwing knife. It is roughly the same size as a throwing knife and just as difficult to conceal.

Attack by rolling Dexterity + Athletics, Difficulty 6. Successful attacks deal Contested Outcome +2 Weapon Damage.

You also gain the following effects:

  • Chain Lightning: You may Exert your Mind to perform a chain lightning attack. If your attack succeeds, All targets within 5 feet of your primary target take full Damage. The Damage can “jump” up to 5 times. Each target can be hit only once.
  • Heavy Toss: If your attack hits a target, it either knocks them down, or knocks them back 5 feet times the attack's Outcome. Decide which before you roll.
  • Return: When you throw this weapon, you may opt to have it return to your possession at the end of the attack. Whoever threw this artifact last may use an Action to recall it from up to 100 feet away, attacking one target in its return path as they do so.

  • Reminder: additional Weapon Damage granted by this Effect does not stack with any other bonus to Weapon Damage. Instead the largest bonus is used.

Sometimes things don't work out. Sometimes they malfunction or go haywire.
For you? They seem to go well every time.
Thanks to movie magic (and some fudging of the coefficient of friction, though you don't realize it), any weapons that are swung at you seem to melt and become malformed as they collide with both you and the surrounding air, so long as you wear these kickass aviators that're emitting this li'l field of movie magic.
If you don’t pull em down and wink, then these babies won’t work. Little equations float around the glasses whenever they’re used in this way, too.
You still gotta act like you're taking the blow though. The trick works best when you get the fight choreography... just right.
How else will the audience appreciate the work put into this.

This Effect activates whenever you are attacked by a melee weapon. It does not require an Action or Exertion. Select a melee weapons within arm's reach no larger than a duffel bag (35 liters). Your target should be intuitively based on the triggering event. Roll Dexterity + Athletics Difficulty 6.

If your Outcome is 4 or higher, the target will be completely destroyed and can no longer function, though it may still be repaired. If your Outcome is less than 4, the target will be partially damaged, and any attempts to use it will suffer a dice penalty equal to your Outcome.

  • When triggered, the Effect activation resolves immediately after the triggering Action. It is not Reaction speed.
  • The penalty from an object being damaged will stack with itself if a target is hit multiple times, but the object is destroyed when it reaches a total penalty of -4.
  • You can target yourself if you qualify as a valid target by the other requirements.
  • Your target must be within line of sight, or within range of another sense if more fitting for the Gift's flavor.
Crafted by Koriol Celestheryne

You chase each bond after bond like it's all you'd ever want, not knowing it was always meant to be fleeting. The beauty of life and serendipity escapes you as you insist on pinning the red string of fate upon each and every milestone.

Now, it has made it to your gifts as well. They are tethered to you by what may be an invisible string, and eventually you are bound to be connected to so many that you become a network of promises. The visuals remind you of an evidence board, beautiful in its ordered chaos, soon to be smothered in red.

This item has been promised to you. Do not let anyone take it away.
Never again.

On the red string:
Koriol, ever the artist, weaves in crimson strings. They wrap around and through the artifact, pinned down in the same manner that one would install 10 locks on a door. He's slipping. He needs a safety net. This will have to do. Soon enough the strings appear to vanish, but deep down we all know... it was meant to be.

This Artifact cannot be broken. If this Artifact is lost and in no one else’s possession, it finds its way back to its true owner during the next Downtime.

By default, the creator of this Artifact is its true owner. The true owner may formally bequeath this Artifact onto another person within arm’s reach, after which they are its true owner. If the true owner dies or is destroyed, their ownership ends. If this Artifact has no true owner, anyone may spend one day attuning to it to become its true owner.

If this Artifact is in no one else’s possession, its true owner may Exert their Mind and spend two Actions to bring it to themselves.

  • "Cannot be broken" means that damage cannot render the Artifact's Effects unusable, nor can it cease to be used for its primary mundane purpose, if it has one.

Divine staff bident mk2

Created and held by Queen Shimizu Tsukihi the 1st.
A beautiful staff bident hybrid also acts like a heavy sniper.

A large golden divine magic staff topped with a gem, razor sharp wings as a Bident, the staff has multiple gems down the staff. When used as a ranged weapon acts as a heavy sniper rifle gains a magic scope and magically stabilises acting as if a bipod was used, the divine magic ammo takes the shape of a 50. Cal anti material round. When used as a Bident it uses mundane spear+virtuoso. Counts as a staff for the purposes of focus flaw.

This Artifact can be used as a heavy sniper rifle. It is roughly at least twice as large as a heavy sniper rifle and cannot be concealed on your person or disassembled for storage.

Attack by rolling Dexterity + Firearms, Difficulty 6. Successful attacks deal Contested Outcome +5 Weapon Damage.

This item is a living thing. When targeted, it counts as a Living Creature in addition to its other target types. If destroyed or abandoned for more than two days, it dies and becomes unusable.

You also gain the following effects:

  • Infinite Ammo: This weapon never runs out of its standard ammunition.
  • You may spend a Quick Action to change this firearm's base stats into those of any other basic firearm.
  • Virtuoso's Vessel: When using this Device for its primary purpose, you always roll a minimum of 8 dice. Excludes Effect activation rolls.

  • Changing this weapon's base type affects its range, Weapon Damage, concealability, and roll. Other mechanics of the chosen base firearm (such as the tripod requirement for sniper rifles) apply.
  • This Artifact cannot be disguised or morphed with other Effects like Shape-Changing object.
  • Reminder: additional Weapon Damage granted by this Effect does not stack with any other bonus to Weapon Damage. Instead the largest bonus is used.
  • Rifles are +1 Difficulty to use in melee range. Sniper Rifles are +3 Difficulty to use without a tripod or in melee range. Setting up a tripod takes an Action.

Martym's monocle

Created and held by Changsai Paowsong.
A small glass monocle with a silver frame and chain

Changsai pulls the monocle over his eye as he flicks his eyes back and forth across the glass. A police man brandishing a baton reveals himself from an alley way as the mugger moves in to strike Changsai but stops himself as he turns his head to see the cop. He jumps and runs from the scene the police chasing behind him.

The monocle originally owned by the Privateer Alvaro Martym and enchanted by an Aztec shaman grants the user the ability to pull things from their imagination into the world. Imaginary objects illusions to the eye, follow the command of Changsai's eye.

Exert your Mind and spend an Action to activate. Select a target within arm's reach. Choose an illusion to generate, which can be no larger than a person.

The chosen illusion is generated at your target, and it will remain in place for the next minute. It can be perceived by people through their hearing, smell, and sight. The illusion cannot be used as an attack. You may create a replica of a specific being, though it is still limited by whatever you do or do not know about that individual.

Anyone who touches the illusion (or who would be able to perceive it significantly through a sense it cannot fool) realizes it is an illusion and can choose to perceive it or not at will.

The illusion is not fixed to the initial target, and may move about at a maximum speed 30 feet per Round. It may have moving parts and engage in simple, predetermined movements but cannot perform anything complex or interactive unless you maintain Concentration and “puppeteer” it.

  • You can target yourself if you qualify as a valid target by the other requirements.

Modular Feathers

Created by Bryan Bosch, given to Polamedes.
A set of artistic origami wings that can grant the user flight. When deactivated, the wings take the form of a compressed stack of paper sheets with intricate origami feathers sticking out from the center. During the activation sequence, the paper automatically unfolds and extends to take the shape of a majestic, marvelous pair of wings. The inner parts of the wings are composed from a series of uniform, rectangular paper sheets, while the edges are lined by the origami feathers. On the surface of the paper stack and center of the wings is a signature written in cursive gold, reading "bb."

As the activation ritual is performed, the origami wings unfold from the user's back and extend ten feet on all sides. Due to their modular structure-- being composed of countless amounts of paper sheets and feathers-- the wings are effectively immune to damage, as they repair themselves with replacement feathers the moment they are destroyed.
The calibration sequence to connect the wings to the user requires them to extend their arms to the side (reaching their wingspan) and read aloud a pangram (ex: "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog").

The wings connect themselves to the user's inner Source or Mind to power their movements through the calibration sequence. Basically just imagine the wings the paper girl from Naruto uses (Konan).

Exert your Mind and spend two Actions performing the following ritual: activating and calibrating the wings with the user. You must maintain Concentration while activating this Effect, and it fails if you are interrupted. This Effect remains active for two hours.

As long as you are conscious, you are immune to falling Damage. Additionally, you may glide as you fall, traveling 35 feet horizontally for every 10 feet you fall. While gliding, you fall at a minimum speed of 10 feet per Round.

You may ascend into the air and fly using your origami wings. You require 10 feet of clear space on all sides to fly. You may add 50 feet to Movement you take while flying. If you take more than a Severity 4 Injury to your origami wings via a called shot or Battle Scar, you can only glide until they are healed.

You are subject to the following effects while gliding or flying:

  • Ethereal Wings: Your origami wings can no longer be damaged, destroyed, or receive Battle Scars.
  • Earthbound: You cannot fly or glide in an atmosphere thin enough to be unbreathable.
  • Weight-Limited: This Effect is suppressed any time you are over-encumbered.

  • Any penalties to dice or movement, including from Encumbrance, are applied as normal. If your movement is reduced to 0 due to encumbrance, you will begin to sink down to the ground.
  • You may activate this Effect while in midair, allowing you to slow and survive any free fall.

Stock Legendary Artifacts

The Skeleton Key

At first glance, this appears to be a standard, modern house key made of ivory. A close observer might compliment its skull-shaped head or usual material. No one would suspect it to be one of the Thief's most prized possessions: The Skeleton Key.

Spend an Action.

You may lock, unlock, and/or open any number of doors, containers, knots, or locks within arm's reach of you. Cannot be used on Alien technology.

If you successfully operate a lock, you may choose to destroy it, rendering it inoperable.

  • Operating some locking mechanisms through this Effect may have a secondary effect, such as a turn-key ignition on an older or cheaper car causing it to start or stop. Note that the locking mechanism itself must satisfy the standard targeting requirements (including line of sight), not just the vehicle.
  • Any mechanism that requires a key, keycard, key fob, or combination may be considered locked, at the GM's discretion. This Effect may be used on doors and containers secured with control panels or other electronic locks, but not computer security systems at large.
  • You can target yourself if you qualify as a valid target by the other requirements.
  • Your target must be within line of sight, or within range of another sense if more fitting for the Gift's flavor.

Lightning Bracers

A pair of bronze bracelets that glow with golden energy.

This Artifact produces ephemeral projectiles that can be used as a javelin.

Attack by rolling Brawn + Athletics, Difficulty 6. Successful attacks deal Contested Outcome +3 Weapon Damage.

You also gain the following effects:

  • Chain Lightning: You may Exert your Mind to perform a chain lightning attack. If your attack succeeds, All targets within 5 feet of your primary target take full Damage. The Damage can “jump” up to 5 times. Each target can be hit only once.
  • Magic Quiver: Instead of throwing this Artifact, it is an object that produces an endless supply of temporary throwable objects. For example, bracers that allow you to throw ethereal javelins, or a sack of throwing rocks that doesn’t shrink when you withdraw one.

  • If there is not enough free space to expand the object, it cannot be expanded. You cannot expand this Object as an attack.
  • Created projectiles last only until they strike their target and cannot be shared or stockpiled.
  • Reminder: additional Weapon Damage granted by this Effect does not stack with any other bonus to Weapon Damage. Instead the largest bonus is used.

Assault Helmet

Expend a point of Battery and spend an Action.

You automatically detect all people wielding weapons within 300 feet of you for the next hour. This includes any who come within range during the duration. You have a sense of how many valid targets are nearby, as well as their distance and direction.

  • This Effect does not satisfy the line of sight targeting requirement for other Effects.

The Axe of Legend

This electric guitar has one edge sharpened into a deadly blade. It can be used as either sort of axe.

This Artifact can be used as a sword / axe. It is roughly the same size as a sword / axe and just as difficult to conceal.

Attack by rolling Brawn + Melee, Difficulty 6. Successful attacks deal Contested Outcome +4 Weapon Damage.

You also gain the following effects:

  • Mjolnir: You may call your weapon back to your hand as a Quick Action if it is within 50 feet of you. Can only be used on melee weapon that you have wielded in the past hour.
  • Shredder: If you successfully hit your target, the value of any Armor they are wearing is reduced by 2. For material armor, this penalty lasts until it is repaired. For intrinsic armor, it lasts until the end of Combat and any relevant wound is healed.

  • Reminder: additional Weapon Damage granted by this Effect does not stack with any other bonus to Weapon Damage. Instead the largest bonus is used.

Wipe Memory

Exert your Mind and spend an Action. Select a Location within within arm's reach. All Sapient targets within 20 feet are affected. This Effect cannot be used unless the target is looking directly into the device with uncovered eyes. Roll Charisma + Influence at Difficulty 6. The target may resist by rolling Mind at Difficulty 7.

If the contested Outcome is positive, the most recent 1 hour from your target’s memory is either replaced with new memories or forgotten entirely. This is recorded as a Condition. The level of detail and completeness of the alteration depends on your Outcome. If you fail, the target realizes that you are attempting to alter their memories.

The period is chosen either by time (i.e. “last Friday night”) or by reference to a specific event (i.e. “when the murder occurred”).

  • You do not gain mind-reading through this effect, so your ability to alter their memory is limited by your knowledge of what they might know.
  • The target's roll to realize their memories have been altered can be made a maximum of one time per day.
  • You can target yourself if you qualify as a valid target by the other requirements.
  • Your target must be within line of sight, or within range of another sense if more fitting for the Gift's flavor.