Legendary Artifact

Witherheart Mask

Created by Cassiopeia Sonelios, stolen by Worgan Mells.
An ornate mask that covers the whole face, this artifact emanates a green mist during usage. It's unsettling to those wary enough to check, as if its very presence emanates a particular energy that saps away from their life force. Very few would know that an old wizard had sealed a heart of pure darkness within this object eons ago, and that it festers and feeds on human negativity.

The oracle dons the Witherheart Mask, which glows with a strange green mist. This mask is clearly magical, though seemingly only to predict the future as the oracle begins to speak their prophecy.

On mythology:
Cassiopeia has always been interested in the occult, to the point where she's done a double major involving Psychology and Classical Mythology. She's also incredibly curious about conspiracy theories, often going down lengthy rabbitholes, though part of her keeps a distance from it in that she's only reading a fictional story. With this gift she could very well bring them to life, and she's doing it all for the funsies.

On prophecies:
One has seen enough self-fulfilling prophecies in everyday life to know that people are very easily influenced by their own wills to stick to a path or stray from one completely. Though, it inevitably ends up the way it was predicted. If you were driving a car and trying not to hit a tree on the road, your focus is so solely on the tree that you veer towards it anyway. Cassiopeia is making use of this age-old hubris, this fallacy that "I'm not like them, I won't end up like this". She's not any better than this, of course she falls into this cycle too, but at least she's aware that it does happen.

On wordplay:
If she's going to use her arsenal of words learned from 4 years of being an Arts student, it's only fair to allow the listener some level of free will. Let them play their cards against what they perceive to be Apollo's blessing, when in reality it all relies on Cassiopeia's competence.

Exert your Mind and spend at least one Action. Select a Human target within 20 feet. Your target may be actively engaged in Combat. Communicate a command to your target. Roll Charisma + Occult at Difficulty 6. The target may resist by rolling Mind at Difficulty 7.

If the contested Outcome is positive, your target will be compelled to follow your command to the letter-- but not necessarily the spirit-- of the command until they have completed it or for your Contested Outcome in hours. You cannot issue another suggestion to the target until 10 minutes after they have completed the first command or 10 minutes after a failure.

The target is unaware that they are under supernatural influence and feel they are acting of their own free will. If you fail, they realize that you were attempting to influence them supernaturally with your command.

Your command can be an order to take an immediate Action and a conditional request. You cannot order a target to "do nothing," and they are free to take other Actions as they fulfill your request. Your command cannot be obviously self-destructive. The Effect ends if following your command would cause a target to cross one of their Limits in a way that would necessitate a Trauma roll.

You may activate this Effect as a Reaction to contest any Action a valid target is taking, reducing their Outcome by your own. Your command has no impact beyond disrupting their Action.

  • You cannot order your target to endanger themselves, but you may order them to flee, attack a certain target, take a defensive or offensive stance, or similar.
  • The target must be able to understand you and must receive your communication for the suggestion to work.
  • Allowed Commands
    • Conditional Request: implants a triggered response or latent order. (e.g. "when you see your mom, give her a kiss" or "when I give the signal, strip naked and pretend you're possessed by the devil.")
    • Direct Order: The target must take an immediate action (e.g. “Sit down,” "run away," or "tell me your password.")
  • 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.
Print / PDF
Learn about the Sons of Salem - Hide fake ads

Community Artifacts

Band of Sunshine

Created and held by Elrick Purslane.
Intricate golden bracelet

The druid is now able to call upon the help of nature to defend its companions. The golden bracelet is adorned with emerald gems that absorb sunshine throughout the day and release that stored sunshine to use its power. Once used, the band glows and loses a shine from one of its gems then big strong roots grow from the ground to defend the target.

Expend a point of Battery and spend an Action or Reaction. Select a Animate target within 20 feet. Roll Brawn + Alertness at Difficulty 6.

If you succeed, you create a barrier around your target, which absorbs the next Outcome + 2 Damage. The Damage reduction from the barrier is applied before Armor. This Artifact may only have 1 active barrier at a time.

You must maintain Concentration while using this Effect. The barrier will fall if you are interrupted, or if it absorbs the full amount of Damage. When a barrier falls, you cannot use this Effect again for a minimum of 2 Rounds.

  • 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.

Mutagen Injector

Created and held by Xaver Roth.
A handheld device cobbled together from medical equipment, which measures and injects a set quantity of a chemical into the target when used.

The user uses the Mutagen Injector to inject the target with a bubbling red liquid, which causes the target's flesh, bone, and organs to mutate and develop hard cancerous growths. Over time, these growths spread throughout the target's body, eventually proving fatal.

After obtaining a blood sample from a genetically-engineered werewolf, Xaver researched it's properties, and found that it contained independent compounds which could self-replicate any organic solution it is present in if stimulated correctly, and cause rapid cancerous mutations in most living tissues. Xaver is currently using this to expedite his research, creating cancer biopsy samples from various healthy tissue samples. While the mutagen takes time to self-replicate, it does create enough to be used once per day.

Exert your Mind and spend an Action to activate. Select a Animate target within arm’s reach. Roll Intellect + Medicine at Difficulty 6. Your target may resist by rolling Body at Difficulty 8.

If you succeed, the target is afflicted with a Condition that causes any number of the following symptoms:

  • Poisoned: The target gains a Severity-1 Injury which ignores Armor and doesn’t heal naturally. For every hour that passes, they receive a new identical Injury. If this new Injury would kill them, they roll 1d10 at Difficulty 6. Success cures the condition; otherwise, they will die.
  • Wasting Away: The target’s body is being eaten away by the affliction. Immediately on being afflicted, and again for every hour that passes, they will obtain a new Major or Minor Battle Scar.
Symptoms begin to appear immediately, and will remain and continue to worsen until the affliction is cured. The affliction is not contagious and will not spread to others.

The affliction is not treatable by modern medicine. It may be diagnosed by rolling Intellect + Medicine at Difficulty 6, and can be cured by cutting out the growths.

Anyone who witnesses you during this Effect's activation will almost certainly be disturbed to see the target mutating to display visible cancerous growths.

You may only use this Effect once per day.

  • When narrating disturbing content, be cognizant of your group's tone and accommodating to those who would like to "fast forward" through the description.
  • Successfully diagnosing an affliction also includes information about the treatment method.
  • The chosen method of treatment must be something that you could obtain in a small town given an afternoon.
  • Curing an affliction removes the Condition, but does not automatically heal any Injuries, Battle Scars, or Traumas which may have been caused by that condition.
  • 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.

Red Rain Runner

Created and held by Love Runner.
A YZF-R1 Yamaha supersport motorcycle that looks just slightly unfinished, though it's impossible to place why. The eye-searingly red paintjob is wind blasted and scraped up, but the construction is solid and the bike sounds as rambunctious as it looks.

With a rev of the engine and a belch of red tinted smoke, Red Rain Runner roars to life. While active, it rumbles, loud and obnoxious, though always just quiet enough that its rider can converse over it. It is built to draw attention and perform stunts. And oh how it longs to do both...

This Artifact can be used as a supersport motorcycle. It is roughly the same size as a supersport motorcycle but can be collapsed into a shark tooth necklace and concealed. Collapsing or expanding it costs a Quick Action.

This supersport motorcycle has shock absorbing suspension, reinforced tires, and a storage compartment under the seat. Any roll to pilot this vehicle receives +2 dice.

You also gain the following effects:

  • Afterburner: Your vehicle has a 25% faster top speed and you may Exert your Mind to accelerate to its top speed in a single Round.
  • Daredevil: Damage you and your passengers take from vehicle collisions is reduced by 2, and any Injuries suffered are limited to a maximum of Severity 4.
  • Jump: If going off a ramp, your jumps bring you twice as far and twice as high. If not, you may Exert your Mind to jump a minimum of 5 feet vertical and 15 feet horizontal.
  • No Muffler: Any stealth rolls made to hide your vehicle automatically fail, and any rolls made to notice your vehicle automatically succeed.

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: Speed Demon - While on this artifact, you must roll Self-Control to resist accelerating to max speed down any notably long straightaway (roads, hallways, open fields, ect). If they lose possession of this Artifact, the Trauma heals over the course of the next day.

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

Tenebrae Magnus Securis

Created by Haerin Yun, given to Devonia.
A large, wicked War Axe with a pitch black pulsating core with a red outline, with a deep and ravenous hunger.

A hulking, large, pulsating shapeless sword of pure darkness that leaks with a ravenous hunger, changing into any weapon that suits the user. It tears into the soul of those it harms, no matter how meagre or light the damage it gives, it tears into the soul, regardless of it being held within a body

This Artifact can be used as a great sword / giant axe. It is roughly at least twice as large as a great sword / giant axe and cannot be concealed on your person or disassembled for storage.

Attack by rolling Brawn + Melee, 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:

  • Bastard: You may spend a Free Action to change this melee weapon’s base stats into those of any other basic melee weapon. Changing this weapon's base type affects its size, range, Weapon Damage, and roll.
  • 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.
  • Extend-o-blade: This melee weapon may extend up to 50 feet for a single Attack, Defense, or Clash. Retracting back into its usable size is a Quick Action.
  • 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.

  • 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.

R.I.S.H.I. (Remote Integrated Security Hub Interface)

Created and held by Amarjeet Inderpal.
A steel Kara bracelet. The interior edge has a seam holding some kind of ferro-fluid.

The Henna marking unfolds from underneath the bracelet, crawling across the skin to form matching patterns on both the prospective client & the wielder of R.I.S.H.I. - this process is not fast, & is easy to avoid should someone wish to do so.

The quantum connection provided by the Ferro Fluid marking transmits telemetry including vitals, distance & direction. When activated, the R.I.S.H.I. will release ferro fluid markings that will form a lotus pattern on either the wielder or the target.

Expend a point of Battery and spend an Action. Select a Animate target within arm's reach. The target may Resist.

Your target is marked with a Henna marking. Your mark can be discovered if the target is inspected visually. Removal inflicts a Severity 1 Injury on the target.

You are aware of the marked target's vital status, injuries, direction and distance from you. This lasts for the next month, or until either the mark is removed, or you choose to end the Effect. This Artifact can have up to 3 marks active.

You may use any Awareness Powers on a marked target at any range.

Your Marked targets are all similarly aware of your direction and distance from them while the Mark is active.

  • Marked individuals satisfy the line of sight requirement for targeted Effects.
  • 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.

Lines of a magnetic ferro-fluid flow from underneath the steel bracelet, forming a Henna pattern on the desired surface. This effect cannot be employed unless "unlocked" by the activation of an Inderpal Close Protection Contract. When activated, the R.I.S.H.I. will release ferro fluid markings that will form a lotus pattern on either the wielder or the target.

To count as "Under Contract" the target must have an active Binding Oath negotiating a Close Protection Contract with Inderpal & the target must either a) be in close enough proximity for those services to be rendered or b) Inderpal must be attempting to regain such proximity at all costs.

Exert your Mind and spend an Action. Select a Location within 10 feet. This Effect cannot be used unless under a Close Protection Contract.

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 3 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.

You may declare a condition to watch for on an active Ward. If it occurs, you may roll Perception + Alertness, Difficulty 6, to notice it, even if you are not actively monitoring that ward.

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.

You may communicate through your ward, though doing so will reveal its presence.

  • Your ward's recording is maintained even if your Ward is destroyed.
  • Your ward cannot be used to satisfy the line of sight requirement for targeted Effects.
  • 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 holographic technology of the crystalline aliens has been incorporated into the Karra Bracelet. When under a Close Protection Contract, Amarjeet is capable of creating a prismatic field of shimmering light protecting her Client.

This technology is not without it's flaws, however - the target of the shield will suffer burns matching the prismatic lotus pattern created by the field. This damage pales to that suffered by would be attackers, however - a feedback mechanism causes a backlash of energies to strike down those who would attempt to pierce the field.

To count as "Under Contract" the target must have an active Binding Oath negotiating a Close Protection Contract with Inderpal & the target must either a) be in close enough proximity for those services to be rendered or b) Inderpal must be attempting to regain such proximity at all costs.

Exert your Mind and spend an Action or Reaction. Select a Animate target within 20 feet. This Effect cannot be used unless the target is under a Close Protection Contract. When you Activate this Effect, roll a single d10. If the result is 5 or lower, your target receives a Minor Battle Scar. Roll Perception + Technology at Difficulty 6.

If you succeed, you create a barrier around your target, which absorbs the next Outcome +6 Damage. Any Damage absorbed by the barrier is reflected back to the attacker, up to a maximum of 6. Their Armor applies in full. The Damage reduction from the barrier is applied before Armor. This Artifact may only have 1 active barrier at a time.

You must maintain Concentration while using this Effect. The barrier will fall if you are interrupted, or if it absorbs the full amount of Damage. When a barrier falls, you cannot use this Effect again for a minimum of 2 Rounds.

  • Effects which circumvent Armor completely also circumvent your barrier.
  • 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 advanced technology within the Kara has been upgraded to allow dimensional compression of weapons, reducing them to a two-dimensional "placeholder" as needed. These items may be withdrawn from "flat space" in the blink of an eye, seeming to coalesce in the wielders hand when needed.

Spend a Quick Action.

You may withdraw an item from your stash, or add an item that is within arm’s reach to your stash. You may only stash targets which are in your possession, grappled, or otherwise controlled by you.

You may store Weapons in your stash, each no larger than something which could fit inside a rolling luggage bag (50 liters), and you may store up to 7 things at a time.

You may choose to equip any equipment you withdraw at no additional cost.

  • "Equip" refers to drawing a gun, putting on a piece of armor, etc. You may store or withdraw a maximum of 6 items in a given Round. Reminder: you may perform up to two Quick Actions for -2 dice each or 3 if you use up your Action, unless a different Effect grants you additional Quick Actions.
  • Containers which hold multiple things may count as a single item so long as the things within are generally packaged together. For instance, you may stash a clip full of bullets, a medical kit full of medical supplies, or a box of crackers, but you cannot stash a backpack full of miscellaneous equipment.
  • You may only attempt to store Objects which are free-standing and disconnected from other things. The use of this Effect will not allow you to sever any connections holding an Object in place.
  • The Maximum Object Size parameter is intended to roughly capture the weight / size restriction of items and isn’t intended to restrict shape. GM discretion is advised. A human being is level 4 in the Maximum Object Size parameter.

The R.I.S.H.I. contains advanced profiling software, capable of gathering data from prospective clients or potential hostiles alike. When activated, the R.I.S.H.I. will release ferro fluid markings that will form a lotus pattern on either the wielder or the target.

Exert your Mind and spend a minute. Select a Sapient target within arm's reach. At the end of your investigation, roll Brawn + Alertness at Difficulty 6.

You learn all the following information about your target:

  • You learn where the target sleeps, how long they tend to sleep each night, whether or not they have nightmares, and what their nightmares tend to be about.
  • You learn the target's name, nicknames, screen names, and aliases.
  • You learn the target’s passwords, passcodes, secret phrases, pin numbers, etc.
  • You learn how to reliably contact the target.

The quality and specificity of information gained depends on your Outcome.

You cannot investigate the same target more than once per day.

  • Contact info Low Outcome: a means of communication (phone, email, a secretary). High Outcome: specific phone numbers, email addresses, protocols for getting access to the individual.
  • 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.

Stock Legendary Artifacts

The Bug-out Bag

No hiker would bat an eye if they saw someone wearing this 80 liter backpacking pack in the backcountry. Those who look closer find it's made of a curious mix of modern materials and what appears to be rawhide stitching.

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.

  • A container of holding cannot be placed inside another created by the same Gift.
  • There is no cost to use this container.

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.

  • "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.

The Coffin

"The Coffin" is a black, alligator-skin briefcase made to look like its namesake. The interior is coated in red, quilted leather. It is quite a bit larger on the inside, appearing to stretch backwards like a dark passageway.

This Artifact holds 5 times what it normally could inside of it. Objects stored inside are weightless. Unless you are storing something commonly found in coffins, this Artifact behaves as its mundane counterpart. This Effect cannot be used unless you are storing something commonly found in coffins.

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.

On a Downtime, you may change this Artifact from one type of container to another. Maximum once per Downtime.

If anyone other than you opens the container, it appears empty. Others can still destroy it to get at the contents.

  • You cannot change the container's type if you are not in possession of it.
  • A container of holding cannot be placed inside another created by the same Gift.
  • There is no cost to use this container.

Personal Shield Generator

The device itself is a metal hexagon that is worn on the belt and glows when active.

Expend a point of Battery and spend an Action or Reaction.

You phase out of reality for up to 4 Rounds. During this time, you cannot perceive or affect the outside world or take any Actions. You cannot move. Nothing can interact with you in any way.

When you activate this Effect, you may limit its duration to a period of your choosing. If you are able, you may also end it as a Free Action on your initiative.

You leave a golden glow shaped like yourself at your location.

  • If you use this Effect to dodge as a Reaction, it succeeds without the need for a roll. Cannot be used as a Desperate Defense.
  • You may use your Free Movement on the Round you phase back in, but you cannot take an Action.

Winter Fang

A massive bow made of solid ice.

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

Attack by rolling Dexterity + Athletics, Difficulty 6. Successful attacks deal Contested Outcome +3 Weapon Damage. Attacks do not require a successful called shot to do damage.

You also gain the following effects:

  • Infinite Ammo: This weapon never runs out of its standard ammunition.
  • Leave No Trace: Your projectiles crumble or vanish after impact, leaving no meaningful trace of your assault beyond the wounds they leave. If your attack would kill or incapacitate your target, they make no sound, even incidentally, for the next Round.

  • 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.

Umbrella Identification

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

Exert your Mind and spend an Action to activate. This Artifact changes its appearance into an Object within the category of forms of identification. 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.