Remus raised both arms up and behind his head, holding the enormous cross behind his back so low that it dug trenches into the dirt behind him. Corded muscles stood taught like elastic bands, ready to burst forth with explosive power until the hulking symbol was sent flying away from him.
Simultaneously, the cowboy grabbed ahold of one of the innumerous straps trailing from off of the shape's wrapped form, somehow being dragged alongside the wake of his own throw at immense speed.
(I haven't added this as an actual drawback since I don't see a completely accurate system for it, but a personal headcanon of mine is that Remus isn't actually particularly religious, only that this strange down payment from the Harbingers before his 1st Contract is a tool that becomes more effective the more crosses that its wielder has on their person. Doesn't make him stronger or anything in-game, just think it explains why his portrait appearance is so noisy.)
This Artifact can be used as a throwing axe. It is roughly at least twice as large as a throwing axe and cannot be concealed on your person or disassembled for storage.
Attack by rolling Brawn + Athletics, Difficulty 6. Successful attacks deal Contested Outcome +3 Weapon Damage.
You also gain the following effects:
Remus lay unresponsive on the floor; enshrouded in a cloud of psychoactive gas, his trusty oversized cross laying besides him as always. In spite of his condition, some semblance of a sentence managed to slur its way out of his unconscious lips.
"...Goddamnit, gotta get back to the fuggin' job-"
Still fully unconscious, one hand reached over in a slow and practised movement that had by now reached some sort of muscle memory: hefting up the large cross and slapping himself harshly across the side of the face with the enormous thing.
Bringing him back to the land of the living.
Expend a point of Battery and spend an Action.
Your Stress from Injuries and Mind Damage is reduced to 0. Lasts three hours.
If you are Stunned, asleep, drugged, or otherwise made unconscious for any reason other than being Incapacitated, you may Exert your Mind to wake up. Any penalty which was caused by this condition is removed.
The artifacts unfolds outward into the limbs of a bow, with a light-blue energy line that acts as a string to connect the two. The user can then pull on the energy line, causing it to shift colors and turn darker, until finally it is released and a arrow of blue energy is fired at the target.
Arrows are comprised of Hard Light and function and behave like normal arrows, apart from being able to produce a faint glow.
You gain the following benefits as long as you are wearing this Artifact and engaged in combat with this Bow.
Your attacks with this Bow have their base Difficulty set to 6, are no longer limited by your Brawn, and deal +3 Bonus Damage. Armor is fully effective against this damage. Reloading is considered a Free Action.
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.
While Luci communicates with her target (and in her own case, while she's projecting her thoughts and feelings onto the page), she draws a picture depicting the target's trauma and the circumstances behind its manifestation. Afterward, she rips the page out, crumbles it up into a little ball, and gives it to the target to eat.
It slips down into the user's stomach, melts into a bubbling mucus, and forces itself into their nervous system. The rogue energies force themselves directly up and into the target's brain, where they seek out the trauma they have been sicced on and forcefully pull it from the roots of grey matter. Not a pleasing experience in the slightest.
But to cap it off, the mucus coagulates in the target's stomach and begins to bubble violently until, inevitably, the target vomits the mucus back up. The inky black liquid- not too immediately dissimilar to the likeness of a roundworm, as it splatters onto the surface, takes a physical form related to the removed trauma and groans lowly as little appendages reach out and attempt to crawl back into the target's body.
When constantly meddling with what goes on outside of the base reality, there is always a likelihood that someone or something unfriendly may notice her. The Well is home to a variety of creatures, after all.
Amalgamations are typically just leftover spurts of energy that coagulated together and created something malformed. Most of the time, they are not that dangerous even if they are a little feral.
Revenants, wraiths- whatever you want to call them, they tend to manifest as undead spectres or wraiths- entities that are formless and only when looked at may take form due to the mind's inherent need to seek sanity. They may crawl itself up just in time and worm their way into Luci's mind if she isn't careful with some of her powers, and they will attempt to live out certain vices vicariously through her, in an attempt to experience basic needs that they are starved of in the Well.
Eidolons are typically not a concern for the complete opposite reason that Amalgamations aren't. They can be describe more accurately as a system than actual entities that were here long before the universe existed and will be there long after. Simply put, whatever Luci might be up to will hardly ever register for them- like to what esteem an elephant might hold an ant.
To most people, The Well is a type of Hell, and that doesn't necessarily change for Luci, except for with the creation of this power, allowing her to purge rogue entities from her mind and more safely maneuver the vast Oblivion. It has the unintended effect of also working against normal traumas.
Exert your Mind (unless you win a coin flip) to activate. Select a Living target within arm's reach. Your target must make a Trauma roll when you activate this Effect. Over the course of one minute, your patient must communicate with you and reveal at least one of their Traumas to you, including the details of those Traumas and the circumstances of how they were acquired. After the full treatment time has elapsed, roll Charisma + Crafts at Difficulty 6.
Your target may Resist. If your treatment is successful, you may remove one of the patient's revealed Traumas without incurring any Experience cost.
Once per day per target, you may choose to use this Effect to stabilize the Mind of a target within arm's reach. Treatment takes 30 seconds but will not remove any Traumas. If you are successful, restore 2 Mind damage.
Anyone who witnesses you during this Effect's activation will almost certainly be disturbed to see the target consume a piece of paper, and then a minute later, vomit up a thick black mucus. As it splats on the ground, it reaches up with several thin appendages and tries to crawl up and back into the target's mouth.
The user pours ink across the canvas and after watching it sink and seep into the sketchbook, must then makes a formal request for what they would like to see.
Time Walk: The ink seeps into the page and begins to move on its own, translating from the watchful eyes of shadows past into a complete picture upon the sketchbook page.
Got a Bad Feeling About This Place: Areas containing traps and ambushes are cleanly drawn together- to such detail that the user can recognize what the area looks like, while also being intuited upon the rough direction and distance.
Other: Pathways and passageways, whether hidden or overt, are clearly illustrated and labeled on the page.
Exert your Mind and spend a minute. Investigate an area with a radius of up to 1 mile You must use up 1 liter of Ink in order to activate this Effect. You must make a Trauma roll when you use this Effect. Its Difficulty cannot be reduced by any means. At the end of your investigation, roll Perception + Crafts at Difficulty 6.
You learn the following information about the area:
You cannot investigate the same area more than once per day.
Upon selecting the item of choice to repair, the user, must splash a surge of ink over the desired object. It completely surrounds the object for a few seconds before coagulating together beneath the object, into a pool of ink that bubbles and boils. From it, a spectre will rise from the Well beneath- an amalgamation that looks as if comprised of various humans and creatures stitched together by someone who failed biology. It looks different each time.
An incomplete drawing of the object will then appear on the sketchbook, reflecting the damaged parts of the object they desire to repair. The user will then need to fill in the incomplete drawing using nothing but their own drawing skills. As the user slowly completes the sketch, the spectre will reach down into the well, pull out various creatures from the Well, tear them into pieces, and melt them down into viscous blobs of ink, and mold them into the object. The ink will gradually take form into the vehicle and root itself within it.
This ritual is fragile- if the user is unable to finish it in its entirety, the repaired parts will melt back into ink and sploosh onto the ground.
Matter and energy can not be created or destroyed. Its fuel must come from somewhere.
Spend 10 Rounds. Select a Object within arm's reach that is of any size. You may target Alien technology, so long as you have an understanding of its intended function. When repairing Alien targets, you must Exert your Mind. You must use up 1 liter of ink in order to activate this Effect. You must make a Trauma roll when you use this Effect. Its Difficulty cannot be reduced by any means. More than half the target object must be present in order to begin repairs. Roll Perception + Crafts at Difficulty 6.
If you succeed, your target is repaired back to a functional state. If you fail, you spend the full time working before realizing you cannot repair the target. If your target only requires fuel or power and is otherwise in working order, this Effect costs no Exertion, and the target is fueled/powered for the next 24 hours.
Anyone who witnesses you during this Effect's activation will almost certainly be disturbed to see a spectre will rise from the Well beneath- an amalgamation that looks as if comprised of various humans and creatures stitched together by someone who failed biology. It looks different each time. As the user slowly completes the sketch, the spectre will reach down into the well, pull out various creatures from the Well, tear them into pieces, and melt them down into viscous blobs of ink, and mold them into the object..
This sketchbook is able to create imitations of perfect objects and bring them forth into reality. It does require some form of direction, in the form of a drawn picture. The picture, once finish, will rapidly lose form into a shapeless blob of weightless black ink. Within the span of a couple seconds, it will reform into the drawn object. This process isn't super squeaky clean- Luci only barely managed to stabilize the energies flowing through this artifact and so meddling with it can sometimes lead to a little more than a warning spurting out at the user.
Sometimes an undead spectre or wraith- someone who died in search of perfection- may crawl itself up just in time and worm its way into the user's mind, and will attempt to live through that person, acting out one of the vices that had killed them in the past.
The drawings can be predone so long as they follow along with the proper prerequisites.
Exert your Mind (unless you win a coin flip) and spend an Action. You must use up a competently drawn picture of the object desired (at least 4 successes) in order to activate this Effect. You must make a Trauma roll when you use this Effect. Its Difficulty cannot be reduced by any means.
Choose an Object which could fit inside a regular backpack (up to 27 liters). It must be Non-Alien and generic. You can create explosives, but they are limited in size to being no larger or more powerful than a satchel charge. You cannot create firearms.
Roll Perception + Crafts to fabricate up to 5 copies of your chosen Object. The Difficulty is assigned by the GM and depends on the specificity of your chosen Object. Your created items no longer expire, and will last until they are destroyed.
Anyone who witnesses you during this Effect's activation or for its duration will almost certainly be disturbed to see an Eidolon of the Well. The act of meddling with other planes of existence does not come without some undesired side effects. Sometimes, when peering through the veil with the intent to make use of its energies, something stares back and imparts upon the onlooker a warning of disorienting magnitude.
Luci's inherent map-making skills may not be the most prime, but with the assistance of this artifact, her scouting abilities are premier. Using the map created by Dance of the Shadow, Luci can pinpoint any area on the map, cover the page with ink, and manifest a live constantly moving image comprised of ink that moves and snakes along the page on its own to simulate what's going on in that location as if she was standing there herself.
Exert your Mind and spend an Action. This Effect cannot be used unless the area has been investigated or properly mapped out to a thorough degree. You must use up 1 liter of ink in order to activate this Effect. You must make a Trauma roll when you use this Effect. Its Difficulty cannot be reduced by any means.
You may perceive things within 1 mile of you with perfect clarity as though there were no walls or obstacles blocking your view for the next 30 minutes.
Others near you may choose to observe what you are perceiving by looking at Luci’s sketchbook.
You may perceive through up to 15 feet of material. The Difficulty of all Perception rolls made through a wall are increased by 1 per wall.
You kick the talons at your enemy, discharging a blast of concussive force. Shotgun shells are automatically discharged from the talons after particularly powerful blows. When grappling, the talons clamp around her targets body and squeeze them.
Simmy made this artifact in an adrenaline-fueled fugue state after her very first mission. She could not replicate it if she tried without a similar surge of divine inspiration.
The inner workings do not simply clamp over the wearer's boots, that would be far too imprecise. It instead has a portion which opens up to recieve the bare foot, and also includes seperate input plate at the toes which allows the wearer to clamp the talon closed at will and even discharge one of it's signature concussive blasts all only through toe inputs.
Simmy is anticipating having a lot of foot jokes made at her expense because of this and is not very happy about that. Still, this is the sort of breakthrough she's been looking for in her technological struggles, even if it's only the very first step. (Ha, step.)
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 +4 Weapon Damage (instead of -1).
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:
You take this device and point it at a mundane broken object close to you. A tiny bullet full of nano-bots if fired out, and immediately begin repairing the object. After 10 minutes, it's as good as new!
Hey there, I'm Harold Ford, Vice president of Ford Motors and president of Metalcraft™. Our boys at the lab where doing some market research and you know what they found? All of you people suck at repair work! I told my boys to be nicer to my fellow contractors but they insist, all you guys know how to do is investigate and shoot!
So I told my boys: Maybe the problem isn't the contractors it's the fucking tools you guys are making! I mean Jesus, can't I just have a gun that repairs my car?! So I got my boys working on that - They said it was impossible, and I said they're just lazy! A few months later they come back with this bad boy - Check it out!
I call it - the repair-o-gun! It looks like a ordinary device, but with a little pull of a switch and BANG BANG BANG! I LOVE YOU REPAIR-O-GUN! AAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
I LOVE THIS THING! I mean, next time anything breaks, you can just shoot it! Let's face it, you already solve most of your problems that way! Best-in-class repair device, patented nanotubular meshing. I don't understand how it works and neither do you!
Order now and receive free, same-day shipping courtesy of Offr Red! I love these devilish guys! Yah!
Exert your Mind and spend 10 minutes. Select a Object within arm's reach that is no larger than an SUV. Cannot be used on Alien technology. More than half the target object must be present in order to begin repairs. Roll Dexterity + Firearms at Difficulty 6.
If you succeed, your target is repaired back to a functional state. If you fail, you spend the full time working before realizing you cannot repair the target.
The 255TE "Lancer" Rife fires an extremely deadly spike of plasma at its targets. It comes standard with a volume control, allowing the soldier to mute its normally fearsome lightning crack report for stealth missions. When not in use, it can collapse into a small metal disk that can fit into any utility belt.
This Artifact can be used as a rifle. It is roughly the same size as a rifle but can be collapsed into a metallic disk and concealed. Collapsing or expanding it costs a Quick Action.
Attack by rolling Dexterity + Firearms, Difficulty 6. Successful attacks deal Contested Outcome +5 Weapon Damage.
You also gain the following effects:
Standard issue in the Future Soldier's home time, the Personal Shield Generator (PSG) projects a protective energy barrier around the body. It absorbs damage far better than traditional armor, but its battery is quickly drained. When depleted, the PSG must spend a few seconds recharging.
When struck, the normally-invisible field of the PSG flashes, revealing a bright yellow honey-comb pattern encasing the body.
You gain the following benefits as long as you are wearing this Artifact.
You have 6 Armor, which reduces incoming Damage. Armor from multiple sources does not stack.
Your Armor cannot be destroyed, and it always provides a minimum of 2 Armor regardless of any Armor shredding or penetration. It cannot be circumvented with Called Shots. When shredded, it returns to full potency in one hour.
Any time your Armor prevents Damage, your Armor rating is temporarily decreased by 2. Whenever it goes five Rounds without preventing any Damage, it is restored back to its full value.
Companions gawk at the sheer size and quantity of the equipment the survivalist stores in the Bug-out Bag, but when they open it, they find only a standard set of survival gear. Only when the survivalist opens it is its true capacity revealed.
This Artifact holds 5 times what it normally could inside of it. Objects stored inside are weightless.
Living things can be stored in this Artifact. They will have access to anything else inside and may attempt to break free, damaging or destroying the Artifact in the process.
If this Artifact is destroyed, things inside may get out, and it will cease to function until it is repaired.
When scanned or investigated without opening, the contents of this container appear normal and unremarkable.
If anyone other than you opens the container, it appears empty. Others can still destroy it to get at the contents.
The survivalist has depended on the Bug-out Bag for so long, they've formed a powerful bond with the pack. This bond renders the pack unbreakable, and grants the survivalist an understanding of what direction it's in at all times.
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.
This Artifact's true owner is always aware of the direction and distance to this Artifact.
The airship of solitude is the mad scientist's lair and preferred mode of travel. Not only does it include a full science laboratory, it can be collapsed into an incredibly small canvas cube and easily transported. The mad scientist may pilot the ship alone or rely on its autopilot features for ultimate convenience.
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:
Companions gawk at the sheer size and quantity of the equipment the survivalist stores in the Bug-out Bag, but when they open it, they find only a standard set of survival gear. Only when the survivalist opens it is its true capacity revealed.
This Artifact holds 5 times what it normally could inside of it. Objects stored inside are weightless.
Living things can be stored in this Artifact. They will have access to anything else inside and may attempt to break free, damaging or destroying the Artifact in the process.
If this Artifact is destroyed, things inside may get out, and it will cease to function until it is repaired.
When scanned or investigated without opening, the contents of this container appear normal and unremarkable.
If anyone other than you opens the container, it appears empty. Others can still destroy it to get at the contents.
The survivalist has depended on the Bug-out Bag for so long, they've formed a powerful bond with the pack. This bond renders the pack unbreakable, and grants the survivalist an understanding of what direction it's in at all times.
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.
This Artifact's true owner is always aware of the direction and distance to this Artifact.