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Hearthstone Relay

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Treachery of Water

Stone of Still Waters (Scrollreader)

 Water Aspected
 Manse •

This stone, a perfectly smooth ovoid of pale blue, gives the wearer the serene countenance of a still pond, hiding the treacherous snags beneath. Mechanically, it adds two dice to any rolls to tell a lie, no matter how fantastic, as the character's body language and nuances give nothing away. The bearer is also able to hear any bad news, no matter how disastrous to his private plans, and show no visible reaction at all. Many versions of this stone are rumored to exist, but after their widespread use by House Iselsi in their failed attempt against the Empress, their Manses were seized by the Scarlet Throne. They currently find favor with the many operatives of the All-Seeing Eye.

Gem of Thirst (Nikink)

 Fire Aspected
 Manse ••

This Hearthstone is always bone dry, and is pale brown with red flecks. When this stone comes into contact with a liquid, that liquid becomes unable to quench thirst. Up to a couple of litres per success on a Willpower roll may be affected. The liquid remains 'dry' for one hour and provides no refreshment or respite to its imbiber(s) in that time, and indeed, their thirst may become even greater for lack of quenching -- a cruel trick to play on those in the Southern Deserts.

The Remedy for Ill Scruples (FourWillowsWeeping)

 Solar Aspected
 Manse •••

This stone is a pale green crystal that shifts through various geometric shapes. The wearer of this stone can beseech the spirits of water to protect him from falsehood; spending 1 mote, he touches a container of water or another reasonably pure and clear liquid. If the person this beverage is served to lies and then drinks from the cup, it will instantly poison him as though with arrow frog venom. Each time he lies, the poison becomes more virulent, adding 1 to the difficulty of resisting the poison.

• A Sidereal version of this Hearthstone exists; it looks like a cold, slightly damp ball of crushed paper which smells of bitter almonds. Known as the License of Mephitic Cordial, the user must spend 10 motes to activate the Hearthstone for a scene. Each deliberate untruth a person speaks during that scene gives force to a toxic destiny that wraps its arms around him, reducing his dice pool to resist poisoning by one die per untruth, or raising his TN (maximum 10) by one increment per untruth, for the wearer's Essence in days. Furthermore, he will suffer at least one poisoning attempt per lie, all within the month.

• A Wood-Aspect version of this Stone, the Toxic Bijou, is a milky blue-white orb that is slightly soft to the touch. The wearer of this Stone can impose a test for trustworthiness; spending 1 mote, he touches a container of water or another reasonably pure and clear liquid. The drink becomes infused with arrow frog venom. If the drinker has not spoken a lie or deliberately misled a person - intention, not result, is the test here - within the past hour, then he may add his Temperance to his resistance roll, and furthermore he halves the effects of the toxin regardless of the result of this.

West-words Stone (Nikink)

 Water Aspected
 Manse ••••

This stone appears to be made out of aqua-coloured glass with a hidden depth of darkness in the centre that seems to draw the eye. It is shaped somewhat like a mollusc shell, with a similar texture, but feels strangely warm to the touch.

The bearer of this stone may hear any conversation that takes place near water within their Essence in Miles. To do so requires submerging themselves within a body of water (at least their entire head), the conversation location must be known, and there must be at least enough water to submerge a head present. A large vase, urn or jug is sufficient. The conversation must be within the wearer's Willpower in yards of the water to be overheard.

While this power is being used, anyone making a successful Awareness check (dif. 4) will be able to see a reflection of the Stone's wearer in the water. Note that the Stone only allows audible eavesdropping, and does nothing to prevent the user from drowning (Water-Aspected Dragon-Bloods have the advantage here). The sound is a bit muffled, but clearly understandable by the user.

Stone of Pestilent Ice (haren)

 Water Aspected
 Manse •••••

This stone appears to be a cloudy crystal filled with water. There is a constant snowflake in the center, which seems to grow and spread like a frosty thorn bush, before shattering into a piece of ice and slowly growing again.

By concentrating, the bearer of this hearthstone can cause water to freeze solid. This can work on about a gallon of water at first. It does not return to liquid form easily; it must be brought to the temperature at which water normally boils, and will slowly return to its solid form over time.

The frightening part of this ice is that it can slowly infect other water, also turning it solid. This process causes the ice to increase its radius about a yard every minute. The changes inflicted by this Hearthstone last for five days, at which time all the ice (including contagiously) thaws naturally.

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Comments

I designed my stone with the postulate that a level 3 Stone is something amazingly useful in the correct circumstances, like the Sphere of the Revolutionary Dog. - willows

Yes, I had similar thoughts, but for a Level Two stone you have to really think about how to make the most of it's powers... Anyway, Have Fun... Nikink

Remedy for Ill Scruples seems a bit harsh! If the drinker hasn't lied within the hour, he still gets poisoned but may add his Temperance... Oh Joy! B-) How about not giving someone who has told the truth any poison at all? "You sir!, You appear to be an honest man! Why not drink this poisonous draught? I swear it will only poison you a little if you truly are!" Just a thought... Have Fun... Nikink

You could maybe swap the effects of the Wood Aspected stone and of the Solar one. -- Bira

That would actually be a really good idea. Thanks! - willows

Well, looks like someone read Cat's Cradle. :D -- Sparrowhawk

Eh? Explain. - willows

I think it's a reference to Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle, which involves a form of spreading ice similar to that produced by the Stone of Pestilent Ice, but a lot worse. -- AntiVehicleRocket

Hearthstones indexed and linked over on HearthStones. -- JesseLowe 6/26/05