Difference between revisions of "Artifacts/Paincake"

Revision as of 07:55, 16 February 2006

FLUFF (Stats at the bottom)

As it stands, it is nearly impossible to tell that this weapon's original form was an ugly, boxy thing created from crude blue crystal out of the deeps of Rathess. Upon close inspection it isn't apparent that despite looking excrutiatingly beautiful it is actually a weapon. Created through such powerful circumstances that it has transcended the physical and appears to be barely-solidified light, this weapon still flickers in a person's sight as though trapped mid-motion. Knowledgeable savants (occult 4, perception 4) can discern that it is a personification of emotion and energy, and that the crystal it was once made of is merely a housing. Longer than a human man's outstretched arms yet light as a feather, the weapon's unique design enables an arm-clasping position when in use and a secondary set where it extends from the shoulder; this frees the arm for other uses and provides a dangerous obstacle to enemies. Appearing at all times to be a shifting whorl of gemstone colors, there does not appear to be a surface thicker than a thin sheen of light; since it is cast of crystal rock it is rough to the touch. The sight of the weapon unwielded is enough to give any living being and most dead things a temporary rush of triumph. When adorning the arm of one Committed to the item there awakens within bottomless depths of color a spark of Life. The colors cease their random patterning and brighten instantly, causing any being witnessing its awakening to catch their breath in awe. When used the weapon's beauty multiplies exponentially; unshielded minds may feel the creeping touch of mania invade them everafter. When fired shards of scintillating blue light traverse the space between the weapon's forward area and the target in a dance of such complexity that it is difficult to avoid, and such breathtaking grace that few wish to do any avoiding. The weapon's violence has never yet gainsaid its beauty.

Crafted by the Dragon King Master Artisan named Uruok R'yha, the original artifact was named Flying Rain. R'yha created this weapon for the famous Twilight Caste Sorceress named Hearkening Flower in tribute and as a gift for her decision to become the Solar Deliberative's Emissary to Rathess during a five year research mission. Unbenownst to R'yha, Hearkening Flower's great obsession at the time was reptilian life; she viewed the Dragon Kings as curiosities. Upon receiving the original gift, which was a simple modification to an existing Dragon King weapon technology, Hearkening Flower laughed and publicly lauded Uruok as 'quaint.' She made a quick modification of her own and sent it back to his dwelling with an insult at its simplicity.

Hearkening Flower's moods were known to be fickle and dangerous. When Uruok R'yha demanded an apology as an equal mind in the grace of the Unconquered Sun, Flower's enemies in the Deliberative manipulated circumstances to favor the Artisan's case. A public *personal* apology in Rathess' streets satisfied Uruok, who was not unaware of the potential future complications. Hearkening Flower became infuriated that anyone would so greatly embarass her, and she moved faster than he anticipated. He was caught unprepared. She cast several illegal spells upon him in secret; spells to sap creativity and livelihood, spells to ruin fortune. He lived a life frought with tragedy and hunger, his name fell out of use. Hearkening Flower forgot he existed inside of a week. Everyone else forgot sooner.

Many years passed before the weapon called Flying Rain fell into the ruined Artisan's hands one day. Upon contact with his and Hearkening Flower's old handiwork, Uruok discovered himself free of the weight of sorcery crushing down his soul. In a burst of frenzied mania he woke his forge and his old gifts of magic; inside himself several decades of supressed potential and good works fused themselves into a single Great Work. He created the single most potent artifact made by a lone Dragon King to this day.

In its ugliness he saw beauty, and so it became beautiful. In its perfection he doubted not, and so it was perfect. In its Majesty he put forth all his thought, and it Was. His rage and hate found homes there too; yet soon these became subsumed by the joy of one who has had no air and finds suddenly space to breathe. It grew to become these emotions manifest. His long exile in his own society made him alien and different to his people; so it remained in his new creation. Whether this was a final damnation or blessing from Flower's works against him remains to be seen; Dragon Kings find no awe or fright in the weapon's beauty; they accept it and are never adversely affected. He renamed it then, the Falling Rain.

Upon finishing his work, he became free of all negative effect; he sustained this freedom merely by touching his new creation. Awe and suspicion filled the streets of Rathess and Uruok again shook the Smoke Gardens (at the time the Central Plaza) with accusations against a 'higher being.' His ruined body; wracked by malice and sorcery. Upon his arm; a jewel fit to grace the crown of the Unconquered Sun.

Hearkening Flower met these accusations with silence. Her heart twisted with malice when she saw herself bested. In the dead of night she sent four of her best Dragon-Blood assassins to kill R'yha and destroy his work. None returned.

With the entire city against her, she personally waylayed R'yha in his own home with her avian Lunar lover Tempestuous Wind. Together they subdued R'yha, death no longer appeasing Hearkening Flower's fury. Most of his home was destroyed, but by Wind's arts the tumult was quieted and they escaped together to her Manse-Palace. There they stripped R'yha of his weapon and Flower conducted her foul experiments on a living Dragon King for the first time, though her decline into further horrors continued past this grisly event.

Flower tried everything in the attempt to commit R'yha's glorious device, which rebuked Flower's touch at his command. She painted it with his blood, called demons to tutor her as she flayed him and yet it resisted her influence. His inspiration became her obsession, this thing she coveted for herself, and yet she toiled fruitlessly.

When had passed a year and a day, as if by magic, (or indeed a demon's blessing) she came upon the perfect plan. In her deepest laboratory R'yha was tortured to death to pervert his ultimate work. Her efforts proved only partially successful; her touch upon the weapon rendered it null. Any other Exalt could now access its powers and beauty.

It is unknown whether it was this that caused the rift between Hearkening Flower and Tempestuous Wind, but shortly after he wielded the weapon in several mighty battles he was executed upon Flower's word of honor, (magically tested) that he gave his soul in supplication to the Yozis and plotted the End of the World.

The weapon was confiscated by a keen-eyed Sidereal who knew exactly who it belonged to. To his horror he discovered the final modifications made by Hearkening Flower, and he carried the weapon to the day of his death, when he descended among the five-score fellowship to hold at bay the ocean of fey at the end of the Contagion. It became truly Lost then, and has never been seen since.

Committment: 8 Acc: 10 Dmg: 5L/B Rate: 1 Range: 40 yrds Defense: 3

Abilities:

The Flying Rain (Original Modification)

Capable of dealing bashing or lethal, capable of seeking out its target among a crowd or to spread its damage evenly amongst several opponents.

Fueled by Dragon King crystals. (1 per 4 shots)

Hearkening Flower (Second Modification)

5 motes

The shards fired become beautiful; any creature struck by them gains a -2 penalty to all actions.

Fueled also by blood, living and once-living things. (1 unit per 3 shots)

The Falling Rain (Uruok's Final Modification)

Activation cost (per turn): 10 Motes

Appearance + 2, or weapon has Appearance 7.

-2 successes on all defense rolls made against this weapon.

Roll Valor difficulty 8 to attack wielder.

Mortals viewing activation of the weapon become encorcelled and must roll their wits or else permanently gain a mild derangement. Botches create larger derangements. Beings of equal or lesser essence than you must roll their Wits+Conviction. Greater essence? Do not roll. Once won, you become immune until the scene ends.

Roll Valor to determine which of your opponents goes first the first turn after the weapon is fired; you will go before them.

Fueled also now by magical metals. (1 unit per 5 shots)

Uruok R'yha - The Falling Rain (Hearkening Flower's Perversion)

All Exalted can attune. Costs 1 extra mote to attune and use abilities if Twilight.

The weapon becomes refueled for 4 motes (4 shots)

Attempts at artwork/craftsmanship are more likely to be successful while wearing. (25%) Upon removal of the weapon, however, these attempts get less successful. (as long as it is attuned and not worn.) (35%)

Neat concept, but the power listing is seriously mixed in with the fluff. Makes it hard to find. Is this correct as a summary?
Thrown Weapon: Accuracy +12, Damage +8L or +8B, Range 30, Rate 1

Drives mortals insane when activated. Can be loaded with any material; magical material provides lots of shots. Can spend 2 motes per extra target to attack multiple targets (damage is halved, accuracy -2 per two targets past 4). Living ammunition turns damage to +10A and causes a -2 die penalty to all extended actions. Two Hearthstone settings, but requires a Diff 4 Occult roll to set (Int + Occult, I presume?). +3 difficulty to all attacks against the user. +3 difficulty to all dodge attempts against the weapon. Orichalcum MM bonuses.

So, uh, yeah. If I'm reading you right, this is clearly Artifact N/A, and a strong one at that. The Accuracy is astounding (I would go so far as to say 'insane'), the damage is high, it's an area effect, it can deal massive Agg (which is a Level 4 or 5 power right there; agg is DANGEROUS), it drives mortals insane automatically (again, Level 5 right there), it can't be easily defended against, AND it's a super-shield. Also, infinite ammo. - FrivYeti

Ehehe, oops. it sucked before, but BOOYA I REVAMPED IT. Is it better now?? - Paincake

So... it's basically a crystal-powered, arm-strapped, shot gun? Now wherever would you get a silly idea like that. ^_-

-El Chupacabra

What does the weapon look like exactly? A crystal box? A gemstone? A Flamewand? It never quite says. And what does it actually do? You imply that it shoots stuff but never actually say. It sounds neat, but the details need a bit of clarification.
--BrilliantRain who thinks it's a pretty cool weapon, although the description is just a touch unclear.

Shotgun? You know full well that that was its original function, sirra. =D Rather than its new modified form. In the original description, I included a better physical view of the weapon's appearance. Basically, I wanted it to be an abstraction of many colors, leaving the actual down and dirty edges up to the imagination. For to satisfy you, hopefully, I added a little bit of description, and somewheres up there I did include that it fires things from its forward end; predominantly blue colored shards that fall like rain. (Thus the name) It clasps over your outer/upper arm leaving the inside of your arm bare and extending past your hand about 3/4 of a foot, and it goes out over your shoulder about a foot behind you. It fires from the front end, which is extra jagged. =) I hope that helps you imagine up a suitable picture. It can also extend out straight from your shoulder, swinging up like one of those cool car doors. (not the DeLorean, the one that goes straight up) - Paincake