In the clandestine world of espionage, where shadows whisper secrets and the line between ally and adversary blurs, there exists a lawyer turned spy, a master of subterfuge with a power as unique as their dual life. This individual, known only to a select few, possesses an extraordinary ability to infuse mundane spy equipment with unparalleled capabilities, transforming them into artifacts of immense tactical value.
On a night draped in secrecy, our spy enters a nondescript room, the air thick with anticipation. Around them, an array of common espionage tools lay scattered across a workbench—each item a silent witness to missions past and yet to unfold. With a practiced eye, the spy selects a compact surveillance device, its appearance unremarkable, its potential untapped.
As their hands envelop the device, a faint glow emanates from their fingertips, casting an ethereal light in the dimly lit room. The air hums with unseen energy as the spy focuses their will, channeling their unique power into the heart of the gadget. Under their touch, the device begins to transform, its form becoming sleeker, its essence imbued with a power that defies conventional understanding.
This Artifact has been upgraded.
This Artifact receives 2 extra dice to all actions taken for its intended use. Attacking with an upgraded weapon grants +2 Weapon Damage instead of additional dice. While it is upgraded, the item cannot be destroyed.
Upgraded weapons count as any material your opponent might be particularly vulnerable to. Upgraded Armor cannot be circumvented by called shots. Upgraded Devices do not run out of fuel or energy.
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: I plead The Fifth -Roll a mind to speak to the police. If they lose possession of this Artifact, the Trauma heals over the course of the next day.
When in compact state, Filo appears as an antiquated fountain pen, having engraved "La Pluma" across its body. After performing three consecutive twirls, the pen bursts with ink into a bastard sword, with "La Espada" engraved on the body.
"Really, I don't want it. Only talks in Spanish about books, and will beg, BEG for you to give him a puff of your cigarette. Belonged to some writing nerd. But it's loyal, and will help you keep any foes where you want them to. Use it how you will, and there's no returns if you get tired of it!"
-The Talent, before giving The Rambling Blade to Julio.
This Artifact can be used as a sword / axe. It is roughly the same size as a sword / axe but can be collapsed into a pen and concealed. Collapsing or expanding it costs a Quick Action.
Attack by rolling Brawn + Melee, Difficulty 6. Successful attacks deal Contested Outcome +4 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:
A selection of several plants that promote healing - like, *really* promote it - which can be blended down into a dose of thick, slightly coppery red liquid. Unfortunately, the sensation of all your bones and flesh quickly snapping back into place can be... Disquieting.
Now available with or without pulp!
(This artifact uses the Chemistry secondary skill in place of Science if the user has it.)
Expend a point of Battery and spend 15 minutes. Select a Living target within arm's reach. Your target must also Exert their Mind to activate this Effect. Your target must make a Trauma roll when you activate this Effect. Choose a specific Injury on your target that has not yet been treated with this Effect and roll Intellect + Science at Difficulty 6.
If you succeed, the Injury is reduced in Severity by your Outcome. If you reduce its Severity to 0, the Injury is fully healed. Otherwise, it is partially healed and will heal the rest of the way at its natural rate.
This counts as a successful Makeshift Stabilization if the Injury was not already Stabilized; any Battle Scars caused by the Injury will remain.
The one bearing this map kneels, and holds it tightly in their hands. They close their eyes, and let out a breath.. and their mind slides into the Dreamlands. To people observing, the traveler appears to simply sleep kneeling.
To the one in the Dreamlands, they are in an unmapped part of the Dreamlands. The world around them is raw chaos, ever-shifting. It requires an incredible act of will to force this to resolve into something that can be understood. For not only are all potentials represented here, all times are. With focus, one can will the chaos into an image of something that happened in the past.
Spend a minute. Investigate an area with a radius of up to 20 feet At the end of your investigation, roll Charisma + Influence at Difficulty 6.
You learn the following information about the area:
This Gift's Cost is capped at 2 and cannot be increased further.
The user deeply inserts the lens of the gadget directly into their eyeballs as if attempting to scrape them out, before extracting a string of its nerve endings out to create the ward. The senses of the ward may then be accessed remotely through a companion lens connected to their nervous systems.
Spend an Action. Select a Location within 10 feet.
You place a ward, which is fixed to its initial location. You can hear and see through the ward as though you were standing at its location. This Artifact may have at most 1 wards active at once.
The ward requires Concentration to monitor, though it will remain active until you deactivate it. It can be detected with a roll and destroyed through mundane means.
Your Ward records all activity it observes, regardless of whether or not you are actively monitoring it. This recording can be played back and referenced later.
Anyone who witnesses you during this Effect's activation will almost certainly be disturbed to see the user poke and prod into their eyeballs to pull out a string of nerve endings.
This Gift cannot have more than 3 Drawbacks, and its Gift Cost is capped at 2.
Put together from broken electronics, salvaged scrap material, and high-end camera lenses, these visors are a work of natural ingenuity and resourcefulness. They allow the user see perfectly in the dark and detect heat signatures more clearly than any modern night vision or thermal imaging.
You gain the following benefits as long as you are wearing this Artifact.
Your senses are enhanced in the following way.
The user becomes a perfect replica of the target. Copying his appearance, knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Exert your Mind and spend an Action. This Effect cannot be used unless the syringe has been injected into the target.
You transform into A Perfect Replica for 30 minutes. You have access to all of your Powers while you are A Perfect Replica, and you can use your equipment. Your Battle Scars, Injuries, and physical Liabilities are carried over between forms. Reverting from your Alternate Form cannot cause your existing Injuries to kill you. Instead, you remain Incapacitated.
While transformed, your Attributes are the same. Your Stress is reduced by 2.
Your body is adapted to the abilities of the copied target. You receive +3 dice on non-attack rolls related to the abilities of the copied target.
The mad scientist can craft steel helmets that protect their wearers from mental influence and attack.
You gain the following benefits as long as you are wearing this Artifact.
You get +1 dice to any Mind resistance rolls you make. You also gain the following effects:
This device is a piece of chrome the size and shape of the back of a spoon. When placed against the skin, small hypodermic needles sprout from the device and attach it to the user's bloodstream. There, it filters and releases lifesaving drugs into the bloodstream, granting complete immunity from contracting new diseases and added resiliency in all other cases.
WARNING: The immunizing drugs have been shown to reduce inhibitions in test subjects.
You gain the following benefits as long as you are wearing this Artifact.
You get +2 dice to any Body resistance rolls you make. You also gain the following effects: