Legendary Artifact

Sparky

Created and held by Katherine DeLacey.
A customized Barret Light 50 that, instead of bullets, shoots balls of lightening.

The 255TE "Lancer" Rife fires extremely deadly balls of lightening 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 silver dogtag that can fit into any utility belt and hangs in a place of honor on Kate's neck (making this weapon a part of her standard kit.)

This weapon came as payment for https://www.thecontractrpg.com/contract/4065/

No Spoilers here, but in journal.

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:

  • Infinite Ammo: This weapon never runs out of its standard ammunition.
  • Virtuoso's Vessel: When using this Device for its primary purpose, you always roll a minimum of 8 dice. Excludes Effect activation rolls.

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

The Napoli sign

Created and held by Rocco Marino (Rocky).
A small Lighter with the Napoli sign engraved on the side

A brass lighter with the Napoli sign flicks open, flame sparking, then snaps shut with a sharp click.

The sound echoes. A garbage truck roars to a halt nearby. Its doors swing open. Out steps Roccos crew in sharp suits, cold eyes, each wearing a crafted token of loyalty.

The signal was lit.
It’s cleanup time.

Those entrusted with the sign of the Napoli family swear more than loyalty they bind themselves to the foundation that holds the family strong. Before the lighter is passed on, the oath is spoken:

"I stand with the Family, in shadow and in fire. I raise no hand, voice, or will against the heart that keeps us whole. I keep what must be kept, cleanse what must be cleansed, and serve what endures.
What is given to me, I hold for us; where I walk, I walk for us; what I claim, I claim in our name.
In doubt, I turn first to kin; in danger, I stand where we stand; and in all things, my steps remain known to the Family, as my hands remain open to them."

Only those who speak these words truly earn the right to carry the lighter. When sparked and sealed, it calls the crew. The truck arrives. Equipped with the finnest weapons (Automatic) .mess is handled. No hesitation.

Exert your Mind and spend two Actions performing the following ritual: Lighting the lighter and calling the crew. You must maintain Concentration while activating this Effect, and it fails if you are interrupted.

Summon up to 5 Sapient Mafioso at your location. They last for two hours or until they are destroyed. They are controlled by the GM but will follow any commands you give. This Artifact may have at most 5 minions active at a time.

  • Initiative: Minions act directly after you in Combat starting the Round after they are summoned.
  • Combat: Minions roll 7 dice to dodge, Grapple, or make Firearm Attacks. Their unarmed Attacks have 50 feet of range and deal +4 Damage.
  • Body/Mind: Minions have 5 Body. Your minions roll 3 Mind resistance dice.
  • Armor: Minions have 2 Armor.
  • Movement: Minions can move 25 feet per Round as Free Movement and double that when performing an all-out Sprint.
  • Intelligence: Minions have human-level intelligence and can speak your language. They can use equipment, Artifacts, and Consumables. However, they cannot Exert their Mind.
  • Actions: Any Perception checks they make are rolled with 4 dice. Any other roll is made with 4 dice. They can lift and haul as though they have 2 Brawn.
  • Unusual: Minions are not obviously Alien.

After you finish activating this Effect, you cannot move quicker than a walk (max 15 feet per Round) for one minute and suffer a -1 dice penalty for an hour. Exhaustion’s penalty and duration stacks with multiple activations.

  • Minions die if targeted with Energy Transfer (before the Effect resolves) or if an Artifact or Consumable they use would Injure them or cause them to roll Trauma.
  • Exhaustion penalties and duration stack. If you activate this Effect or another Effect with Exhaustion, your penalty will worsen, and the duration is increased by one hour.
  • Your minions may count as additional targeting types based on their flavor. For example: Living, Computer, Creature, etc.

Roman Collar

Created and held by Father Thistles.
A stiff white collar worn around the neck. Worn by members of a religous clergy to have them stand out amongst a crowd.

While chanting the incantation the Roman Collar releases a dim light and a smoky incense begins to steam off the Father's shoulders. When the rite is complete a set of brilliant white feathers burst forth from his back and form a set of wings. A total wingspan of about 7 feet, but are often furled up behind the Priests back. He grows a few feet, gaining wisdom and strength beyond a regular man.

Exert your Mind and spend two Actions performing the following ritual: Pro, Mater, tuum laudo sacrificium.. You must maintain Concentration while activating this Effect, and it fails if you are interrupted.

You transform into Angel for 3 minutes. You have access to all of your Powers while you are Angel, and you can use your equipment. The Injuries and Battle Scars of your Alternate Form and your true form are tracked separately.

While transformed, your Brawn is increased by 1 and your Charisma is increased by 1. You do not suffer any Stress while transformed.

  • Attribute bonuses from multiple sources do not stack. Instead the highest bonus is used.

Fedora and Trench Coat of Sus-anoo

Created and held by Reginald Jackson.
They appear to just be a normal everyday fedora and trench coat but they seem to be emanating a dark energy of unknown origin. The fedora appears to be rather worn out near the tip from extensive grabbing by it's owner. The trench coat is XXXL while also looking too small on it's wearer all the time, it is black just like the fedora but it smells like it hasn't been washed since it was acquired.

The user will tip the fedora and flap the flaps of the trench coat dramatically and strange runes will begin to glow on the trimming of both articles of clothing.

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

You have 3 Armor, which reduces incoming Damage. Armor from multiple sources does not stack. Called Shots may circumvent your Armor, depending on its coverage.

You may spend an Action or Reaction and Exert your Mind to double your Armor rating for one Round.

When you take Damage from a source which is within 5 feet, deal back as much Damage as your Armor prevented.

Four Humours Bottle

Created by Gregor Eriksson, given to Dr. Theodore "Laz" Lazcowicz.
A 355ml bottle made of what appears to be heavy glass, and filled with a viscous liquid that churns in ribbons of black, dark red, pale yellow, and a sickly green.

A 355ml bottle made of what appears to be heavy glass, and filled with a viscous liquid that churns in ribbons of black, dark red, pale yellow, and a sickly green. When it is drunk, it goes down smoothly, but there are no words to describe how unpleasant the aftertaste is. Immediately after being downed, the mouth, throat, sinuses, and stomach burn. The body rejects any toxic or diseasing contaminations and expels them through any available avenue, along with the ingested elixir, as the mind trembles under the experience.
Roughly a third of the bottle's contents must be consumed to take effect, and it seems to reconstitute the volume of a single use per day.

Expend a point of Battery and spend 1 minute. Select a Living target within arm's reach. Your target takes a Severity 1 Injury. Your target must make a Trauma roll when you activate this Effect.

You may cure any Non-Alien diseases, toxins, or poisons afflicting your target even if you have not diagnosed or fully understood it. You may cure diseases or poisons even if they are not treatable through modern medicine. During treatment, the malady you are treating does not progress or cause additional Damage or other effects.

Anyone who witnesses you during this Effect's activation will almost certainly be disturbed to see the target's body visibly shakes with obviously excruciating agony as blood, phlegm, and black and yellow bile are expelled from their pores, mouth, and sinuses.

  • When narrating disturbing content, be cognizant of your group's tone and accommodating to those who would like to "fast forward" through the description.
  • Without some sort of diagnostic Effect, “fully diagnosing” a disease or poison will always require a roll of some sort, frequently Intellect + Medicine, but the specific roll and difficulty is at GM’s discretion.
  • 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.

Ringmaster's Whip

Created and held by RINGMASTER.
A long black bullwhip with a colorful ribbon-wrapped handle.

The Ringmaster's bullwhip whistles through the air to split the target's skin. Even atop the painful strike of a whip, the wounds caused by the Ringmaster's bullwhip seem reluctant to heal...

Exert your Mind and spend an Action. Select a target within 50 feet. Roll Brawn + Alertness Difficulty 6. The target may contest by rolling to Dodge or Defend as a Reaction, Difficulty 6.

If the Contested Outcome is positive, the target takes that much Damage plus 4.

Any Injury inflicted is considered Unstabilized no matter its Severity. The roll required to Stabilize it is treated as though it is a minimum of Severity 6. These wounds do not heal naturally, though Effects may still be used to heal them.

Finesse: When Attacking a single being, you may limit the Severity of any Injury you inflict or determine a maximum Wound Level, including Incapacitated. You may also choose to make this Injury properly or improperly stabilized, or to keep it unstabilized.

The target suffers a -3 dice penalty for the next hour or until the Injury is healed. This dice penalty does not stack multiple times on the same target.

If the target suffers an Injury from this Effect, they will receive at least a Minor Battle Scar regardless of its Severity. When this Effect causes a Battle Scar, you may select which one of the appropriate level.

  • You can target yourself if you qualify as a valid target by the other requirements.
  • Your target must be within line of Effect. There must be no substantial obstructions between you and your target.

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.

Cloak

You gain the following benefits as long as you are not at all wet and you are wearing this Artifact.

You and everything you are carrying is obscured in one of the following manners. You may Spend an Action to change the way in which you're concealed.

  • Hearing: You are completely obscured from hearing. You produce no sounds while this Effect is active. All attempts to detect you via hearing fail. Attempts via other senses where hearing would assist are rolled at -2 dice.
  • Sight:You are partially obscured from being noticed by sight. All attempts to detect you using sight are rolled at a -3 dice penalty, and all attempts to detect you where sight would assist are rolled at -1 penalty. Anyone who detects you cannot determine any visual details about you beyond your general shape.

While this Effect is active, any Effect that would obscure you or your equipment specifically from other, additional senses fails automatically.

If someone discovers you, this Effect will not help you hide from them for the next minute. This Effect does not end early when you activate an obvious Effect, attack, or receive an Injury.

  • GMs should use their discretion when determining the exact impacts of this Effect, particularly in conjunction with environmental factors. Standing still against a complex background may render you impossible to detect, and footprints in snow may make it easy. A chance to detect you is not guaranteed.

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.

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.

255TE "Lancer" Rife

A metallic disk that, with the press of a button, expands into a futuristic-looking rifle.

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:

  • 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.
  • 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.