Latest revision as of 01:16, 6 April 2010

Abyssal Hearthstones

Bauble of Corpse Gore</b>

<b>Manse ••, Abyssal
Trigger: None, Constant

This stone is a dark black red, covered in misshapen lumps. There is an a sort of softness to the stone, giving it both the appearance and feel of a large clot of blood.

While using this stone, the blood of the holder turns to a vitrious sludge of clots as if they were nothing more than a corpse. This prevents blood loss, but has a greater purpose. Any attempt to devour this foul mass of blood causes the one who feeds to make a reflexive Stamina + Endurance roll (difficulty of the holder's Essence) or be forced to retch up the blood. This retching and painful cramping goes on for a number of turns equal to the number of sucesses they failed to succeed by.

<b>Manse ••••, Abyssal
Trigger: Killing and draining a person's essence

This stone allows an Abyssal to not have to drink a single person's essence in the same scene they use Theft of Face, Theft of Mein, or Language Absorbing Method or similar Charms. They are able to keep a "library" of up to 8 essences that this stone has remembered that they can use as often as they want any time from when they drank the person's essence completely. This effectively flavors the essence of the Manse with the memories of these people. When the stone is in a setting and the Abyssal kills and drains a person's essence, they can choose to fill one of the 8 spots in the gem. Should the Hearthstone ever become unattuned to the Exalt, the library is lost. If the library is full, the Exalt can choose to replace one of the existing essence memories with another one.

The only known example of this Hearthstone is from the Catacombs of Forgotten Heroes. This Manse is a practical fortress and maze made from a Northern mountain. In reality, it was designed as a catacomb for the interment of great barbarian heroes of old, whose names have been forgotten over time. It was chosen because there are caverns where there are strange formations of stone which resemble forests and mirror-like planes of onyx throughout. One of the strange effects of the new additions of Soulsteel designs and gates is that the mirrors do not reflect a person's true appearance, but one of those whose essences are remembered by the Hearthstone. This Hearthstone was last known to be held by a Day Caste serving The Lover Clad in the Rainment of Tears. Rumor gives the Abyssal the title of Maid of Sweet and Silent Rest.

Comments

I am somewhat concerned by the fact that this hearthstone will only ever be useful to one particular type of Exalted, who knows one of three particular Charms. It seems too specialized.\\ _Ikselam

True enough, and I don't see it as a common Hearthstone, it would come about only from Abyssals with assistance who needed a long term solution to Charms of those types. The thing is, I can see similar sorts of Charms to that being created in and out of cannon, so it's just time before it becomes of more use. Also, the fact it's only of use to Abyssals... I can easily see Deathlord created Manses having this sort of limitation. About half of the Abyssal Hearthstones are sickness or decaying objects. I think there's more they can and should do, including certain death tainted versions of Solar gems. - haren

I agree with Ikselam that this is too narrow in scope for a Hearthstone. I strongly suggest that you change this to an Artifact or a Charm. - Quendalon

The only reason I made it as a Hearthstone is because I see the essence from the Manse gaining the "flavor" of the different people, just providing a continued influx of Essence. The stone doesn't change the nature of the Charm, it still needs the essence of a certain flavor, the stone just provides it. I can't see an Artifact doing that, (unless it somehow... drew essence out of the Exalt and then replaced it. As for a Charm, I'm a bit hesitant to do that, because I really am not sure of the exact specs needed (and provides a permanent Lunar advantage that can't be taken away). - haren

I feel that this isn't a useful 'general' Hearthstone, but would be appropriate attached to a character whose schtick it was to do this sort of thing, and who engineered a Manse to provide him with this effect. As such, I'd expect a small history of this character and a discription of the Manse. This isn't the kind of thing I'd expect to be just lying around in the Underworld; it's exotic enough that it would get geomanced out of existence unless someone actively wanted precisely this ability. Essentially, what I'm saying is, 'this isn't justified as source material, but it is as an integral piece of campaign material.' - FourWillowsWeeping

You know willow, that idea of over-specialized harthstones having unstable geomancy is interesting, like needing the ocational matinence of the lands keeping that hill from sliding, or that stream from wandering, is realy interesting - HeWhoSpeaksOfDarkness

There's precedent for artifacts (especially soulsteel) holding a victim's life-force, most notably Soul Mirror. - Quendalon