Legendary Artifact

Stele

Created and held by Angel Cooper.
A steel-reinforced wooden bat scratched in red pen with runes of varying legitimacy, sturdy, a bit bloodstained, and well loved

Stele’s name comes from the Shadowhunters franchise that Angel loves so much- a stele in this case is an intricate thin tool made of adamas, heavenly metal. Most of its bullshit runes come from that franchise. When the bat is in use, all of these runes, bullshit or not (he really doesn’t know), flare up in their inky, energetic red. Whichever rune is most in use with the effect flares the brightest.

Activated Rune: Bind To


This Artifact cannot be broken.

If this Artifact is lost and in no one’s possession, it finds its way back to its creator during the next Downtime.

This Artifact's creator is always aware of the direction and distance to this Artifact.

This Artifact's creator must have it with them to have restful sleep. They cannot regain Mind or Source while separated from this Artifact.

  • "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.

Angel hefts up a bat or anything similar and swings it from a ways away. Despite the lack of physical contact, the target is struck across the face and put into a pleasant, smiling daze like Angel’s previous default. They may look around or ask questions like “Why am I here again?”.

Activated Rune: Calm Anger


Expend a point of Battery and spend an Action. Select a Animate target within 20 feet. Roll Brawn + Influence at Difficulty 7.

If you succeed, the target will suffer a dice penalty equal to the Outcome for the next 3 Rounds. Dice pools may be reduced all the way down to 0 by this penalty. This breaks Concentration.

  • This Penalty is not removed if a character Exerts their Mind to ignore penalty.
  • If a character has a dice pool reduced to 0, they cannot attempt that action.
  • 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.

Angel Cooper takes up his bat and grins in anticipation, then swings it down or around towards his target. If and when he hits, the reverberation one feels when a bat connects with something rings through him. It makes every rune on his bat that’s been activated flare up on the bat itself, as well as Angel’s forearms, searing like hot red ink until he can calm his mad adrenaline.

Angel’s strikes may “build up” reverberation on a successful enough attack. In these instances, the target feels a painful buzzing sensation as the energy of the swing penetrates bone and shatters an extremity to uselessness.

Activated Rune: Power


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

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

You also gain the following effects:

  • Blade Breaker: If you successfully Defend against a melee attack or if an opponent is unsuccessful at Defending against your melee attack, you may break your opponent's weapon.
  • Pin: If you Injure a target with an Attack, you may choose to leave your weapon. If you do, the target is “pinned” to that location until the weapon is removed. Removing the weapon increases the Severity of that Injury by 2.
  • 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.

Community Artifacts

Harmony Warden Talisman

Created and held by Kroll Rebuke.
a necklace with a woven rope the size of a finger. connected to a 1inch thick wooden puck that has an intricate symbol that reminds people of Celtic symbolism. it appears like 1 symbol is layered on top of the other

You activate the talisman be pressing your open palm with fingers spread apart and silencing chaotic thoughts, often 'the original' (owner) would use righteous fury to summon the power of the token.

once you press down the talisman against your chest in this way the two layers of symbols align and slot together to form a single symbol and the center briefly glows the yellow of the sun on the inner sides and a burst of practically physical air descends from just above the Contractor like a whirlwind and instantly gusts out in all directions. the wind barrier 'scoops' up and pushes away all those the wearer deems to be agents of chaos.

as the wind hurls its foes away the wearers eyes also turn a solid yellow and its like looking into twin suns. As their eyes glow, drawn from their lips at any volume or language "begone chaos" is said and all those affected by it hear the words as if said next to their ear.

All those affected are then roughly 'plopped' at the edge of the talismans area of influence. Ejected from Harmony

While the wearer concentrates they stand in place and with eyes of the sun active. Air whirlwinding around them and bursting out to maintain the dome of harmony.

Everything and everyone inside the dome of harmony while it is active and during activation are completely unruffled by the physical air barrier.

In fact everything inside the dome feels like its being cradled. To all animate beings it imparts a sense of comfort in who and where they are.


Spend an Action or Reaction.

Create a repulsion field which extends out 45 feet from you in every direction, and lasts for the next 5 Rounds. Any Animate targets within the field cannot move any closer towards you. If they were within 45 feet from you when you activated the effect, they are immediately pushed back to the edge of the repulsion field.

You must maintain Concentration during this Effect.

When you activate this effect, you may designate any number of specific individuals to exclude from the Effect. Anyone designated in this way is unaffected by the repulsion field, and can approach you as normal.

You must remain standing in the same location while this Effect is active. Moving to a new location will interrupt your Concentration and end the Effect.

This Gift's Cost is capped at 2 and cannot be increased further.

  • If you use this Effect as a Reaction to dodge, you still need to make a roll to dodge. The Effect will occur regardless of the Outcome of this roll, but if you fail you will be hit by the relevant attack prior to the Effect occurring.
  • 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.

The Travelling Band

Created and held by zzzArtifacts.
A piano covered in blue and purple rhinestones. The bench is attached to the piano itself, and can fit 3 people comfortably. The piano has a larger area where the strings are to house a motor.

While being played, the piano is capable of movement as though it were a car. Before playing, a destination must be given, and the person giving the command must have an idea as to where the they are going and how they would like to get there.


This Artifact can be used as a piano. It is roughly the same size as a piano but can be collapsed into a piano key and concealed. Collapsing or expanding it costs a Quick Action.

This piano has a motor that only functions while the piano is being played. Any roll to pilot this vehicle receives +2 dice.

You also gain the following effects:

  • Mind of its Own: This vehicle can move and take Actions without you driving it. It has seven dice for all Drive rolls.
  • Steady As She Goes: The motion of your vehicle never causes your passengers dice penalties, and you do not suffer dice penalties from the unsteadiness of any vehicle you are riding in.
  • No Muffler: Any stealth rolls made to hide your vehicle automatically fail, and any rolls made to notice your vehicle automatically succeed.

  • If there is not enough free space to expand the object, it cannot be expanded. You cannot expand this Object as an attack.

Multipass

SLE4442 Chip Card with nanomorphic coating.

A thin coating of nanite material has been applied to this plastic card, which can now change its outer form to become a driver's license, Passport card, government employee ID, security system badge, or any other form of ID or security pass the bearer wishes, including affecting the chip, mag stripe, or NFC components to generate valid responses on scanners.


This Artifact can change its appearance. When not transformed, it is roughly the same size as a Blank SLE4442 Chip Card and just as difficult to conceal.

Spend a Quick Action to activate. This Artifact changes its appearance into an Object within the category of Identification & Security cards. This lasts until you decide to end the Effect, which may be done as a Free Action.

The new object's appearance can mimic specific items (such as a particular painting, a certain person’s ID, etc), but must be of a similar size and weight to this Artifact.

The new appearance is illusory; it will hold up to scrutiny, but its composition is not altered and it gains no new functionality. Any attempt to use it for a function which it cannot perform (for instance, making bread look like a knife and then trying to stab someone) will cause the illusion to fail or allow a Perception check to see through the illusion, at the GM's discretion.

When used as identification and scanned, the scanner will act appropriately and bring up appropriate generic information. Further searches for the identity in the computer will turn up no results. This will not open security doors on its own.

  • Changing the Artifact’s appearance does not allow you to conceal its Alien nature while any of its other Effects are in use.

Diva

Created and held by Winsley Herman.
It appears as a clockwork version of the desired weapon. The projectiles are self-produced caseless rounds made of brass. The Words “Mortui salutem” Are etched into each round. Gears churn silently throughout its immaculate brass casing. Shots are left to a whispered hiss of steam. When changing forms tentacles reach out from within the casing and rearrange the barrel and shape in a moment. It can turn into a seemingly mundane lighter with clockwork inspirations that still functions as normally. Diva is a god of violence and craves the thrill of the hunt.

It appears as a clockwork version of the desired weapon. The projectiles are self-produced caseless rounds made of brass. The Words “Mortui salutem” Are etched into each round. Gears churn silently throughout its immaculate brass casing. Shots are left to a whispered hiss of steam. When changing forms tentacles reach out from within the casing and rearrange the barrel and shape in a moment. It can turn into a seemingly mundane lighter with clockwork inspirations that still functions as normally. Diva is a god of violence and craves the thrill of the hunt.


This Artifact can be used as a rifle. It is roughly the same size as a rifle but can be collapsed into a unique clockwork lighter and concealed. Collapsing or expanding it costs a Quick Action.Unless You have another living Artifact, this Artifact behaves as its mundane counterpart.

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.

Anyone who touches this Artifact will notice it warping their mind and may drop it. If they choose to hold or use it, they immediately receive the following Trauma: you believe that the gun is alive at all times, is named Diva, and is a close friend you’ve known for years. during moments or rest or extreme stress make a self control roll not to talk to the gun. If any Diva is destroyed make a trauma roll.. If they lose possession of this Artifact, the Trauma heals over the course of the next day.

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.
  • Silencer: The report of any shots you fire may be made silent at will.

  • If there is not enough free space to expand the object, it cannot be expanded. You cannot expand this Object as an attack.
  • 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.
  • 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.

Nondescript Title Belt

Created and held by "Big" Jim Newman.
Some sort of title belt sold by an unknown wrestling promotion, its small foam frame stretched almost to breaking point around 'Big' Jim Newman's hulking form.

Within the confines of the packed courtroom, no-one spotted the torrent of flying nails headed directly for the lead witness, Gladys Newman.

None except for BIG JIM.

The eagle-masked wrestler leapt down from the rafters to the awe of the jury and blocked the ensuing torrent of sharp projectiles with his gloves, giving a knowing glance to Gladys before sprinting straight for the freaky Elvis impersonator responsible.
Big Jim charged at Vito, ramming him through a solid wooden wall and slamming him into the ground, whilst a disembodied announcer screamed somewhere.

"BY GAWD, HE MUST BE BROKEN IN HALF!--"


You gain the following benefits as long as you are wearing this Artifact and you are engaged in unarmed combat.

+2 dice to rolls for Attacking, Defending, and Clashing without a weapon. Unarmed attacks do +0 Weapon Damage (instead of -1).

Possession of this Artifact causes the following Battle Scar to manifest over the course of a day: Immovable wrestling mask. If they lose possession of this Artifact, the Battle Scar heals over the course of the next day.

You may Defend against melee, projectile, or firearm Attacks from any range and Clash with those in range of your Attacks. Attacking materials like steel or spikes will not Damage you unless it has an Effect that does so.

You also gain the following effects:

  • Body Slam: If you move and then make a successful attack against a target with a Brawn rating less than or equal to yours, if your target was closer than the full distance you could have moved, you may knock them back the excess movement distance and choose whether or not to follow them.
  • Bodyguard: You may use your Reaction or a Desperate Defense to Defend against any Attack where the attacker, target, or line of fire is within 15 feet. If you do so, you may opt to take the Damage from the Attack instead of the target.
  • Brutal Strikes: If your attack inflicts a Battle Scar, you may choose which of the appropriate-severity Battle Scars the target suffers. If it causes a less severe Injury, you may inflict a Minor Battle Scar of your choosing.
  • Jiu-Jitsu:When you successfully grapple an opponent, you may choose to also deal damage to them equal to the Contested Outcome on the grapple roll.

  • The total damage of a ju-jitsu grapple-attack is equal to your Outcome minus their Outcome. Bonus Damage from the Bonus Damage Parameter does not apply to damage dealt through this Enhancement.
  • Unlike the Ability Brawl, this Effect does not affect small weapons such as knives.

Stock Legendary Artifacts

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.

This Artifact can change its appearance. When not transformed, it is roughly the same size as a passport but can be collapsed into a wallet and concealed. Collapsing or expanding it costs a Quick Action.

Spend a Quick Action to activate. This Artifact changes its appearance into a chosen Object. This lasts until you decide to end the Effect, which may be done as a Free Action.

The new object's appearance can mimic specific items (such as a particular painting, a certain person’s ID, etc), but must be of a similar size and weight to this Artifact.

The new appearance is illusory; it will hold up to scrutiny, but its composition is not altered and it gains no new functionality. Any attempt to use it for a function which it cannot perform (for instance, making bread look like a knife and then trying to stab someone) will cause the illusion to fail or allow a Perception check to see through the illusion, at the GM's discretion.

When used as identification and scanned, the scanner will act appropriately and bring up appropriate generic information. Further searches for the identity in the computer will turn up no results. This will not open security doors on its own.

  • If there is not enough free space to expand the object, it cannot be expanded. You cannot expand this Object as an attack.
  • Changing the Artifact’s appearance does not allow you to conceal its Alien nature while any of its other Effects are in use.

This Effect activates whenever you are recorded. It does not require an Action or Exertion. Select a Non-Sapient Object within 20 feet no larger than a duffel bag (35 liters). Your target should be intuitively based on the triggering event. Roll Perception + Culture 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.

The Airship of Solitude

The airship of solitude is an imposing black blimp. While flying through the air, it is regularly struck by lightning, terrifying those below.

This Artifact can be used as a blimp. It is roughly the same size as a blimp but can be collapsed into a phone-sized canvas cube and concealed. Collapsing or expanding it costs a Quick Action.

This blimp has full science laboratory, bullet-proof envelope, and ample parachutes. Any roll to pilot this vehicle receives +2 dice.

You also gain the following effects:

  • Crew of One: You alone may stand in for an entire crew if the vehicle would normally be piloted by more than one.
  • Mind of its Own: This vehicle can move and take Actions without you driving it. It has seven dice for all Drive rolls.
  • No Muffler: Any stealth rolls made to hide your vehicle automatically fail, and any rolls made to notice your vehicle automatically succeed.

  • If there is not enough free space to expand the object, it cannot be expanded. You cannot expand this Object as an attack.

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.