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The wind up key I need some friendly helpers
You place the windup key to the back of a toy, or similarly human representing golem. Twist for a minute until your hand begins to hurt. The toy will animate and grow in size to a friendly helper of the one holding the windup key.
This artifact relies on the cultural idea of toys, and the cultural idea of wind up toys, especially in the minds of children. The basic idea of these wind up toys is that you wind them up, then let them go and they move around doing toy things, seeming almost alive. This artifact takes that idea, and merges it with a few other ideas of ways to create useful servants to make an artifact capable of making useful friendly minions.
The ritual to create this artifact relies on a ritual involving
- A variety of children's toys which are popular in the shared imagination
- A collection of stories and myths about the Hebrew golumn
- Mary Shelly's frankenstein
- Carefully shaping the pattern of a wind up key while reading various relevant parts of these stories
Expend a point of Battery and spend one minute. This Effect cannot be used unless It is used on a toy with arms and legs which the artifact consumes.
Summon a single enlarged animated toy at your location. They will 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 2 minions active at a time.
- Attacking: Minions can make melee range attacks with 4 dice to attack.
- Body: Minions have 4 Body.
- Movement: Minions can move 45 feet per Round as Free Movement, and double that when performing an all-out Sprint.
- Intelligence: Minions have dog-level intelligence, and cannot communicate back to you. They may use equipment.
- Actions: Minions cannot dodge or Defend. Any Perception checks they make are rolled with 3 dice. Your minion is able to Medicine with a 7-dice pool.
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.
You may only use this Effect once per day.
- 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.
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Charlatans
“Unsettling are the days in which everyone is an expert.”
― Criss Jami
Nowadays you can't go a day without some phony prophet trying to peddle their wares to you.
Driven by the increased interest in the supernatural, charlatans from palm readers to televangelists are everywhere. And while the vast majority of witches, psychics, magicians, hypnotists, cures, potions, faith healers, and clairvoyants are complete fakes, they do make a living.
As the saying goes, "it's easier for an actor to make it in alternative medicine than Hollywood."
Most people scoff at these clearly-phony supernatural services, yet those same people often buy into at least one scam.
The most dangerous charlatans are the self-styled monster hunters who carry a mall-ninja arsenal and guns with silver bullets. Most have never encountered anything supernatural and do absolutely nothing besides burn some sage and patrol the area for a night or two. Even so, those who are superstitious, fearful, or desperate enough will hire them to solve the problems they simply don't understand. In some cases with disastrous results.
For Contractors, charlatans are red herrings and obstacles. Clumsy fakes that conjure a smokescreen of misinformation and escalate the situations they're in.
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Artifact Crafting Gifts
The Well's Benediction
"Life’s a forge! Yes, and hammer and anvil, too! You’ll be roasted, smelted, and pounded, and you’ll scarce know what’s happening to you. But stand boldly to it! Metal’s worthless till it’s shaped and tempered! More labor than luck. Face the pounding, don’t fear the proving; and you’ll stand well against any hammer and anvil." -Lloyd Alexander
The process takes quite a bit of time, as Luci must properly bind this object to its ideal image by bathing it in The Well. A process that, if witnessed by a normal person, would likely result in some minor traumatic occurrences. Luci watches over the item the entire time to make sure it is not swallowed up into the inky mess. A lengthy sweat-inducing endeavor, but by its end, when Luci pulls the item from the reservoir, it is all worth it.
The items in question will sport a dark tint on the paint job and if Luci desires it, she can make its primary or secondary colors as dark as she wants. The symbol of The Well, a fragmented snowflake that closely resembles broken glass, will appear embossed somewhere visibly on the item, marking it as improved.
The Well is oblivion and vice versa. There is no being or creature exempt from the prices that it exacts upon those that meet it uncordially. And like a hook, when it sinks its fangs into you, it will rip you root and all at even the slightest weakness.
The Well is also eternal. As long as the universe turns and toils, and unless someone has the power to circumvent or mimic the powers of Oblivion, upgrades items will persist ad infinitum.
Idealism was always thought to exist solely in concept, to associate reality with mental ideals as opposed to material objects. That somewhere in the cosmic lands above, a perfect image of this "thing" exists, and only its material imitations are founded in "reality". But what if a material object could be elevated closer to the status of its ideal perfect image? A question Luci had asked herself for a period, and while it took some time, she managed to find a way.
This Artifact has been upgraded.
This Artifact receives 3 extra dice to all actions taken for its intended use. Attacking with an upgraded weapon grants +3 Weapon Damage instead of additional dice. While it is upgraded, the item cannot be destroyed. Upgraded Armor is shredded by half the normal amount. If it is a piece of Armor, it instead receives half that amount as bonus armor rating, rounded up. If an upgraded shield and armor are both worn, the upgrade bonus does not stack with itself.
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.
- "Destroyed" in this context means "prevented from functioning for its primary purpose", so for instance, an upgraded land mine would still explode as normal if triggered, even though it cannot be "destroyed" and a car's windows may still be broken.
- Reminder: additional Weapon Damage granted by this Effect does not stack with any other bonus to Weapon Damage. Instead the largest bonus is used. The same is true for extra dice.
- Extra dice from this Effect do not apply to Gift activation rolls.
Traveling Through Perfection
This device generates a 3D image of the user's intended destination using floating metal shavings above an antiquated-looking analog console. Upon entering coordinates, the device activates, opening a rift accompanied by electric smoke and the sound of revving engines. When used for spirit walking, the effects are more subtle; the user merely needs to drunkinly walk through the bar as if seeking an exit. Upon leaving, they will find themselves entering any chosen bar, seamlessly transitioning to their new location.
From the perspective of the user, as they walk through the portal/bar, they are transported to a dimension of perfected forms. In the case of walking from bar to bar, there walking through their interpretation of a perfect bar. A large clockwork face of an old man can be seen creating these perfected forms, always with its back to the user.
Exert your Mind and spend 1 minute. Select a Location within your line of sight.
You are transported directly to the chosen Location. Anyone who is touching you as you Travel will be brought along with you. You must wait an hour before activating this effect again.
If you traverse any a bar for one minute, you may activate this Effect and travel to the edge of any other a bar that you’re aware of, regardless of range.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
Turncloak
When you decide it's time to pick a side, I'll help you get there.
An appropriately named jacket, coming in a variety of colors and woven with kevlar fabrics this blend of modern technology and fantastical ability can take you from anywhere to anywhere else you can see. Even through mystical means. Though you do ignite into a multicolored fireball and proceed to have all the skin slough off your bones before turning to ash and then repeating the process in reverse on arrival.
Exert your Mind and spend 2 Actions. Select a Location within your line of sight.
You are transported directly to the chosen Location. Anyone who is touching you as you Travel will be brought along with you. You must wait an hour before activating this effect again.
Anyone who witnesses you during this Effect's activation will almost certainly be disturbed to see The user ignites and burns to dust over the cast time.
- When narrating disturbing content, be cognizant of your group's tone and accommodating to those who would like to "fast forward" through the description.
- 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.
Ever shifting visage
Always be dressed for the occasion
The artifact quickly flows like water from one visage to the next, changing to resemble any set of clothing the user can imagine, changing based on the will and image of the user.
The ritual for this is a tricky one. Shape changing objects are a constant in the public's mind, but by it's nature, they aren't don't have many common symbols.
This took some effort from Vel, but after several trials Vel found a ritual involving
1 Destroying several different pieced of clothing simultaneously
2 reading then burning A variety of stories of Loki, Zeus, and other gods effortly changing shape
3 A chant about stories and specifications of shape changing objects in popular media
4 Carving the an image of a chameleon into the artifact being enchanted.
Which worked as intended.
This Artifact can change its appearance. When not transformed, it is roughly the same size as a Chestplate and just as difficult to conceal.
Spend a Quick Action to activate. This Artifact changes its appearance into an Object within the category of Apparel. 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.
The Firms Uniform
“We file the forms and have the uniforms.”
When “The Firm’s Uniform” is activated, the transformation it undergoes is both subtle and imbued with an air of professional gravitas. The artifact, perhaps initially resembling a nondescript piece of legal attire or accessory, begins to shimmer with an ethereal gloss reminiscent of the polished sheen on a lawyer’s briefcase or the gleam of a well-maintained courtroom. This visual cue is brief, serving as a prelude to the transformation, much like the opening remarks in a meticulously prepared legal argument.
As the item changes, its edges blur momentarily, mimicking the effect of pages flipping rapidly through a legal tome, searching for the right precedent or statute. This transition is smooth and deliberate, echoing the precision and confidence of a seasoned attorney presenting their case. The new form materializes with the precision of a well-drafted contract, each detail snapping into place with the finality of a judge’s gavel.
This Artifact can change its appearance. When not transformed, it is roughly the same size as a Clothing and just as difficult to conceal.
Spend a Quick Action to activate. This Artifact changes its appearance into an Object within the category of Clothing. 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.
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Artifact Crafting Gifts
Immunoboost Explant
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:
- Survivor: You are immune to all non-Alien diseases.
- All Brawn No Brain: You suffer a -2 dice penalty on Mind resistance rolls.
- These bonuses apply only to Body rolls made to resist Effects and other supernatural phenomena. They do not apply to other contexts such as attacks made while under the Creature Transformation Effect.
Helmet of the Mind
What's an "x-man?"
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 +0 dice to any Mind resistance rolls you make. You also gain the following effects:
- Naturally Resistant: Any time you make a Mind resistance roll, the individual who you are resisting must Exert their Mind, or your resistance succeeds automatically.
- Clash Of Wills: If you fail to fully resist an Effect, your Outcome is considered to be 0.
- These bonuses apply only to Mind rolls made to resist Effects and other supernatural phenomena. They do not apply to Trauma rolls or self-control rolls.