Latest revision as of 20:24, 26 May 2010

Fun Artifacts

And here I just write up artifacts which I have converted from fictional sources. Could be games, movies, books etc. Just stuff that caught my eye and decided to write up mechanics for in Exalted. Maybe other people might have already done the conversion, but this is just my opinion. Second Edition artifacts for those who are interested.

Incidentally, yes, some of these artifacts are crack artifacts meant for amusement only.

Movie Artifacts

Jack's Compass (Pirates of the Caribbean) Artifact ***

This compass has traces of all five magical materials worked into its needle and suspended inside a box made from a mixture of materials. When the box is placed in the palm of one's hand and opened, the needle will point at the user's greatest desire. However, it requires a certain conviction and clarity of mind to use. A successful Temperance roll will enable the user to focus on what he truly desires, or the needle may point to something else entirely. A successful Conviction roll is required to know what he truly desires, or the needle spins wildly, unable to read the confused heart. Still, within these limits the compass is infalliable. It will point unerringly at what the user truly desires, regardless of where it may be hidden. If the user is in Creation, the needle will point up if what he desires is in Yu Shan and down if it is in the Underworld. It will not be fooled by magical barriers or any form of concealment as long as the user is certain as to what he wants. However, it will only show the most direct route to his desire and will not actually help any way in obtaining it.

Proton Pack (Ghostbusters) Artifact ***

The Proton Pack looks like a smaller version of a firewand with the handle connected by wires to a backpack made from a combination of the five magical materials. This artifact requires a hearthstone to power it. The hearthstone is placed on the backpack and the wire filaments wrap around the hearthstone and absorbs it into the backpack. The hearthstone provides no other benefits while powering the Proton Pack. After the hearthstone is inserted, anyone can carry the Proton Pack on his back and use it as a weapon. When the trigger is pressed, a stream of colourful essence is fired from the firewand. It can cause general destruction to mundane materials and can be used as a somewhat unwieldy ranged weapon that utilises the Archery ability.

However, its main function is for use against ghosts. When the essence stream is directed against a ghost, it instantly holds the ghost immobile and the user may even force the ghost into a direction of his choosing. It cannot be used as a weapon when holding a ghost, although other ghosts may be caught and people damaged if one is foolish enough to touch the essence stream. The user may hold the ghost for a number of actions equal to triple the hearthstone’s level minus the permanent essence of the ghost, so truly powerful ghosts may not even be hindered by the essence stream. It may hold a number of ghosts equal to the level of the hearthstone used to power the artifact plus 3. However, this artifact is only effective against ghosts and will not work on other creatures. As a last resort, the user may cause the Proton Pack to self destruct as a reflexive action by flicking a switch that overloads the power matrix containing the hearthstone, releasing a blast of pure essence in a half-mile radius that cannot be parried and may only be dodged by fleeing outside of the blast radius. Everything within that radius must soak ten times the hearthstone’s level in aggravated damage. All mundane materials are incinerated and all plants, animals and mortals are usually destroyed. All that is left is a swath of empty land and a fine white ash. Magical armour may help soak the damage for their owner, but also needs to soak the damage from the self destruct or end up damaged. For the purpose of charms like Iron Skin Concentration, the attack’s Essence is equal to the hearthstone level. Interestingly, ghosts destroyed by the blast are sent to lethe and no ghosts emerge from anyone killed by the blast, their souls immediately sent along to lethe.

Speed Accuracy Damage  Rate  Range     Minimums   Tags
  6     -1     Varies   1   Varies'  Str 2, Dex 3   2
^Dmg is equal to 10L plus twice the hearthstone level. Against a ghost, no damage is done.
'The range is equal to 15 yards plus the hearthstone's level

PKE Meter (Ghostbusters) Artifact * or **

This artifact consists of a portable device with a gauge and needle lined with soulsteel, with the phrase 'PKE meter' carved in the handle. Savants are uncertain as to what PKE stands for but its function is simple to discern. When fed with one mote, it can be used for an hour. If fed with one willpower, it can be used for one day. It is used to trace the passage of ghosts, since they leave behind a slight taint of death essence where they pass. It is automatically successful when used to track ghosts, but it can't track specific ghosts and can only tell the user where a ghost or ghosts has passed. How far the needle moves along the gauge can be used to estimate the relative power of the ghost which has passed with a successful Intelligence+Occult roll. If a ghost were to come within 15 yards of the PKE Meter, the needle jumps crazily and the device emits a sharp whine to indicate the ghost’s presence. The greater the power of the ghost or number of ghosts, the louder the whine. It is useful to detect the presence of ghosts, although it is immediately obvious that a ghost has been discovered to everyone who is present. In the Underworld, the PKE Meter screams constantly and is more a hindrance than an asset. A more advanced version of this artifact is called a Giga Meter and costs 2 dots. The user may choose whether the artifact is silent or noisy, and it also indicates the number of ghosts that enter its radius.

Ecto-Goggles (Ghostbusters) Artifact *

These goggles are fitted over the user’s eyes and look like a pair of dark goggles. When fed with one mote, it works for an hour. When fed with one willpower, it works for a day. It allows the user to see both material and immaterial ghosts. If someone is possessed, the person appears to have a greyish aura. However, it confers no other special benefits and can only be used to see ghosts.

Ghost Trap (Ghostbusters) Artifact *** to *****

These artifacts are prized by ghost hunters, or at least, by those who know of their existence. They are simple soulsteel boxes connected to a simple foot switch by a long cord of flexible soulsteel. To activate the Ghost Trap, one need only press the foot switch, or press a button on the box itself. This causes the soulsteel box to open to reveal a vortex of spinning light that draws in all ghosts within its range and traps them inside the box. The vortex itself is only 1 yard in diameter, so its range is limited. Smart hunters ambush the ghosts or trick them into coming close enough to the box to be within the vortex’s range. Ghosts trapped in the box can be released by opening the box a second time, although they are under no other compulsion after being released. At level 3, the Ghost Trap may hold up to ten ghosts with a maximum of Essence 3 for an infinite duration. It may hold up to five Essence 4-6 ghosts for a maximum of ten ticks before it is destroyed and the ghosts are released. More powerful ghosts cannot be trapped by this level of artifact. At level 4, the Ghost Trap may hold five ghosts with an Essence of 4-6 for an infinite duration and up to twenty ghosts with Essence 3 and below. It can also be used to trap a more powerful ghost for five ticks, after which the artifact is destroyed and the ghost released. At level 5, the Ghost Trap may hold even the most ancient of ghosts for all time, although only one such ghost may be contained within the artifact at a time. There is no limit on the number of Essence 6 and below ghosts which it may contain. The Ghost Trap has a more dangerous feature that is not as well known and those who know it tend to keep it secret. After the ghosts have been trapped inside the box for a number of days equal to the highest permanent Essence that any ghost has, they begin to meld together and form a grotesque creature. The creature takes the highest values from its component ghosts to determine its traits, although its Intelligence is always 1 and it always passes Valour rolls (with Valour 5) and fails all others. After it is released from the box, it lasts a number of days equal to its permanent Essence and is a creature of instinct and rage that only cares for destruction. After its time is up, it breaks apart into its component ghosts and the ghosts dissipate into Oblivion.

Spear of Osiris (The Mummy Returns) Artifact **

The Spear of Osiris is a weapon made from pure orichalcum and shaped into an ornate scepter. It requires 5 motes to attune and has no hearthstone settings. In its scepter form, it can be used as a staff. As a reflexive action, the exalt may twist the sceptre and a sharp spike extends from the base of the sceptre, turning it into a spear. It is an excellent weapon, embodying the perfection of Orichalcum. While it has no other special powers, those skilled in divination can tell that the Spear of Osiris is meant to kill the Scorpion King. Most savants take it to mean that the Scorpion’s animal avatar is to be killed and the avatar believes so. Scorpions become the mortal enemy of the one who wields it. Still, the prophecy is imprecise enough such that it could refer to someone else.

         Speed Accuracy Damage Defence Rate Minimums Tags
Sceptre    5      +4     +10B    +4     3    Str 2
Spear      5      +5     +7L     +3     3    Str 2    2,R

Stormtrooper Armour (Star Wars) Artifact **

This is a full body suit of armour, similar in design to a superheavy plate complete with a helmet. It is made from a white material that is durable and resistant to damage, but much lighter than metal. It is meant for use by mortals, since exalts have little use for the protection it provides. When worn by mortals, it protects the mortal from damage by extras. In Mass Combat between armies of extras, it causes a curious mirroring effect where every soldier killed wearing Stormtrooper Armour means a soldier of the opposing army is also killed. The only way for the scales to tip in favour of one army is for interference by heroic beings.

  Soak    Hardness Mobility Fatigue Commitment
+12L/12B   6L/6B      -1       0       3m/1wp

Manga and Anime Artifacts

Cat's Bracelet (Fruits Basket) Artifact ***

This item is shaped as a simple bracelet with beads of white and red, stringed together by moonsilver wire. Someone observant will realise that the beads are bone and the red is blood. When slipped onto the wrist of a mortal, he or she automatically and permanently commits 1 willpower to the bracelet. This allows the mortal to communicate with all cats as if he were a cat himself. Cats will be naturally drawn to him, seeing him as a desirable companion. Also, if a wearer of the bracelet is hugged by a member of the opposite sex, or becomes sickly, he turns into a cat himself. Sometimes, this ability could even be useful. Eventually, he will return to his human form, but it does present some inconvenience. The greatest drawback occurs when the bracelet is removed. Should that occur, the mortal turns into a hideous creature, a monstrous feline creature with a foul stench. In this form, he has enhanced senses and reflexes, but also animalistic instincts and must also contend with the consequences of possessing such a hideous form. Mechanically, Perception, Wits and Dexterity rolls gain +2 dice but Appearance, Intelligence and Temperance is reduced to one dot as the animal instincts surface. This form lasts for one scene before the human re-emerges. He must put on the bracelet within one scene to prevent the creature from re-emerging. While in his creature form, he may also choose to chase after the bracelet although he will not be able to put on the bracelet until he returns to his human form. The bracelet is permanently attuned to the mortal for as long as he lives and will not affect a second person until the previous owner dies. For exalts, the artifact has a much simpler use and requires a commitment of 5 motes. This will allow the exalt to communicate with cats, although he also becomes walking catnip as cats become drawn to him. The artifact is not able to force transformation on exalts.

Television Artifacts

Concentrated Stupidity (Reality programs and stupid cartoons) Artifact ***

How this wonder, if that it can be called, is created is a subject of much debate among scholars. Some say that an act of pure stupidity performed in the Wyld can cause the Wyld energies to coalesce into the purest form of stupidity possible. Others say that situations in the Wyld defy logic so often that sometimes it spits out these pure essences of stupidity to relieve itself. Regardless, its effects are well known.

When the nugget of Concentrated Stupidity is exposed to people with a combined Intelligence of 5 or more, it automatically activates, shining with a flickering, fuzzy yet almost hypnotic light to draw in people’s gaze. Mortals with an Intelligence above 1 instantly fall into a catatonic state that lasts for (Intelligence x 5) minutes. During that time, they become highly susceptible to suggestion and their MDV suffers a penalty equal to their Intelligence. Exalts and those with an Essence greater than 2 must roll Willpower with a difficulty equal to their Intelligence to resist this effect. If attacked, they will snap out of their catatonic state, but the attack counts as a surprise attack.

Book Artifacts

The Alethiometer (His Dark Materials Trilogy) Artifact ****

This odd contraption is made from a combination of orichalcum, starmetal and yellow jade. It looks like a clock, or a compass, with hands pointing to places around the dial, but instead of the hours or the points of the compass there are several pictures, each delicately carved into the surface of the artifact. No one knows its origin but all know its function. One need only have a question and use the Alethiometer in the right way to know the answer. However, it is an extremely fussy artifact that only allows mortals to use it, and only certain mortals at that. A few people know that some children can use the artifact with ease, although they remain uncertain as to why. The child must not have reached puberty, be a virgin and have an Intelligence less than 3, Wits and Manipulation greater than 3, a willpower greater than 5 and Conviction above 2. With all the requirements met, the child will be able to instinctively use the Alethiometer to gain the answer to any question she may have. Adults can also use the artifact, but have harsher requirements. Their Intelligence must be above 2, Lore and Occult must be at 5 and have an Essence of 2. Adults spend their entire lifetime learning about the Alethiometer before they can use it. Although the artifact will always give an accurate answer to the question, the answer may also require interpretation depending on how complicated the question is. The artifact also cannot understand the vagarities of human morality and will simply answer questions very precisely.

The Subtle Knife (His Dark Materials Trilogy) Artifact *****

This unique artifact looks like an ordinary knife but its blade glints strangely in a way that hints at its terrible nature. The knife chooses its bearer, and when it does, it cuts off the ring and little finger of the bearer's left hand in a manner that seems natural at the time, but is always deliberate. The bearer automatically commits 10 motes to the artifact (or 5 willpower if one is mortal) and 1 Agg health level that never heals, after which he can freely use this incredible artifact. The bearer also automatically learns of the Subtle Knife's functions. And it has several. One side of the blade can cut through any known material in Creation, even the five magical materials given time. (Mechanically, the five magical materials gets to resist the attack by requiring a roll for damage.) From the softest silk to the hardest diamond, all yield before the blade like melted butter. This makes the knife an incredibly deadly weapon. An attack from the knife with its sharp edge cannot be parried, only dodged. If it fully parries an attack, it severs the attacking weapon in half, rendering it useless. Unarmed attacks result in the attacker having to soak an attack with 0 successes but normal raw damage. Mundane armour aids only against the first attack, after which the knife has destroyed its value. Artifact weapons and armour have to soak the knife's attack seperately from their user, and given time, the knife will eventually destroy them. Items made of pure essence follow the same rules as the magical materials.

The other side of the blade can be used for less lethal attacks as a somewhat normal blade, but has another, much more useful function. By spending 5 motes and a miscellanous action, the user can cut a window in the air to any place he has seen before. An additional 1 willpower is required if the user is travelling from Creation to the Underworld or Malfeas or Yu-Shan or any combination thereof. On his next action, he may step through the window and will appear at his destination. Another miscellanous action must then be spent to close the window again. Others may also follow him through the window if it is not closed. A successful Perception+Awareness roll at difficulty 3 will allow someone to find the window, difficulty 6 if the person is not actively searching for it. Ancient texts speak against leaving any window open for a prolonged period of time, citing how it weakens the fabric of Creation and could have terrible consequences, not to mention the possible consequences of leaving a window between Malfeas and Creation open. Still, the window is only as big as the cut the bearer makes, putting practical limits to its size, and all windows fade given time. One last warning surrounds the artifact. When the Subtle Knife chooses to leave and finds another bearer, its previous bearer dies. Once attuned, only death will release the bearer from this knife, and it is the knife that will decide when the bearer dies.

Speed Accuracy  Damage  Defence Rate Tags
  3      +6    +6L/+6A^   +6     4    P
^Agg only when using the sharp side.

Game Artifacts

The Infinite Bag (Every video RPG game ever) Artifact * to ***

This is a simple looking bag woven from a tough yet ductile material that can be easily carried with one hand or slung over one's shoulder. It is extremely resistant to damage but few people realise it is an artifact. It requires 2 motes to attune, but otherwise acts like a normal bag. When attuned, its true function is revealed. At its basic one dot, it can contain any mundane item inside its body. Anything from rations to daggers can be put into the bag and stored away and there will always be space for more. The user may also choose what others will see when they look inside the bag. Add another dot if the bag can contain artifacts as well. Add another dot for the bag to contain things larger than its apparent size. However, the bag can never store living things, nor can it store things that are too large to be moved.

Save Point (Every video RPG game ever) Artifact NShorlixa/StoryArtifacts/A

These are incredibly rare and treasured artifacts that rumouredly come in many different designs, from simple crystals to a spinning matrix of light. It breaks one fundamental rule in Creation. It allows one to go back in time. To use this artifact, one must focus on the artifact at some point in time and spend all his motes and willpower (and have a minimum of 20 motes and 2 willpower). This imprints that point in time onto the artifact. At some point in the future, if the exalt wishes, he may return to that moment in time, and redo what must be done. To return, he must touch the artifact, focus and reflexively spends all his motes and willpower (and have a minimum of 10 motes and 1 willpower). If he does not have the required power, he may sacrifice one dot of Permanent Essence to fuel the return. He will then return to the point in time when he imprinted the artifact, without any essence or willpower and at the same level of power he was when he imprinted the artifact, but able to start anew with all the knowledge has has already gained. If Permanent Essence was used to fuel the return, the dot is taken from the point when he returns rather than the future. (For example, if he had been Essence 3 when he imprinted the artifact and was Essence 5 when he chose to return but needed to sacrifice a dot of Permanent Essence, he will be at Essence 2 when he returns. Charms and other abilities that he had that requires Essence 3 will not be avaliable to the character until he raises his Essence again.) The artifact itself crumbles to dust and may never be used again.

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