SaltLotus/RosesoftheSun
Stats
Roses of the Sun</b>
Artifact: 3
Type: Living votive
Commitment: N/A
Description
The petals of the Roses of the Sun are a deep burnished gold at the base, which fades upwards into a luminescent platinum at the tip. In the First Age, legend told that the Roses of the Sun grew only in the high places of Creation where the Unconquered Sun’s feet have trod upon stone or soil.
Those who imbibe the rose’s pollen partake of the Sun’s excellence. A pregnant woman who does likewise will ensure that her child is a paragon of human potential, born free of all defects. If administered to an ill individual, the flower’s pollen will cure any rot or sickness, including the Great Contagion.
A Rose of the Sun never wilts or spoils, even after it has been picked.
The Sun’s roses are exceedingly rare. When found, it is most often in the mountains of the Blessed Isle.
Phantasmal petals from a Rose of the Sun are present in the anima banner of Fia in the story SaltLotus/SaltLotus.
System
In actuality the Roses of the Sun are a living tribute to the Unconquered Sun, created by one of the Dragon Kings’ greatest luminaries before humankind walked the face of Creation. The flowers were planted at sites to commemorate early meetings between the Sun and his saurian worshipers, and are thus most commonly found around the blighted city of Meru, on the slopes of the Imperial Mountain. The roses do not spread naturally, but if clipped, another flower will grow from the roots of the first over the course of four centuries. This long growth time combined with the paucity of still extant flowers means that the roses are considered an N/A artifact for reasons of sheer scarcity. However, a knowledgeable Nexus savant has recently come into possession of a single rose, and a dose may be purchased for resources 3 in that city, once per month.
If placed in a temple of the Unconquered Sun where regular worship takes place, a clipped flower will produce enough pollen for one dose every week. In all other circumstances one lunar month is required for enough pollen to be harvested.
Until the sun’s next rising or setting, a healthy character who imbibes a dose of pollen adds a number of successes to equal to half his permanent Essence to all ability and virtue rolls
A child carried by a mortal mother who ingests the pollen during pregnancy is granted an extra three permanent attribute dots at birth and will be free of all defects and sicknesses. If one of the unborn infant’s parents is a Celestial Exalt, the child will automatically be born as a Half-Caste, even if her Exalted parent possessed an Essence below 4 at the time of conception. Additionally, a Golden Child gains the Anima Powers and Material Resonance merits for free. The petals grant no additional potency to the blood of the Five Elemental Dragons, only an additional three permanent dots in attributes to the off-spring whose Dragon-Blooded mother ingested the pollen.
Sick individuals who consume the roses’ pollen are automatically cured of all physical or mental illness, including the Great Contagion, but gain no further benefits.
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