Artifacts/Baubles
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Baubles of Tissendra
- Tissendra's "Baubles" are the creations of a powerful First Age Eclipse named, quite understandably, Tissendra. Savants say her Vanity was part of the madness that took all the Solars at the end of the First Age, but in truth Tissendra's vanity had nothing to do with the Great Curse at all. Equalled only by her skill at the forge, her vanity was a driving force in her life since long before the Sun gifted her with his power. The Baubles were crafted as much to enhance her wardrobe as to provide any function at all. Originally, they were burried with Tissendra in her tomb after she was betrayed by her Lunar husband, but the Tomb was breached centuries ago and the Baubles stolen along with many other Artifacts. Now they have been scattered, the ignorant theives unaware that the true power of the Baubles comes when one person wares all five parts of the set: the Essence Compass, the Ring of Rising Threat, the Aurora Earrings, the Amulet of Adamant Sunlight, and the Clasp of World's Blood.
- When all five items are worn at once by the same person, the total committment for the set is only 10 motes. In addition, the range of the Essence Compass and Rising Threat Ring are doubled, the Aurora Earrings add 1 to the wearer's Appearance, the Amulet of Adamant Light adds 1 additional difficulty and the Clasp of World's Blood holds 5 more motes then normal. Socialize, Performance and Presence rolls have their difficulty and target number reduced by 2. The complete set of Tissendra's Baubles count as a single level 10 Artifact, thus only avalible to Abyssal characters who may have gained it from a Deathlord collecting the Artifacts over centuries.
The Ring of Rising Threat (level 1 Artifact)
- Orichalcum filigree almost covers the Red Jade band known as the Ring of Rising Threat. Attuned as it is to life and living things, the Ring of Rising Threat can detect living creatures close to itself and give warning in the form of a low, nearly inaudible hum and tingle when a living creature within 30 yards of the ring threatens the wearer. The Ring commits for 3 motes.
The Essence Compass (Level 2 Artifact)
- Appearing to be a single ring of Orichalcum without even a true jewel to adorn it, the Essence Compass is the most practical, and least attractive, of Tissendra's Baubles. Suspended within an unbreakable drop of water that takes the place of the ring's jewel is a triangular shard of Black Jade. Whenever any amount of Essence, even a single mote, is burned within 30 yards of the ring, the Black Jade triangle points to the source of the Essence expenditure and the entire ring grows warm enough to alert the wearer. The Compass commits for 2 motes.
Aurora Earrings (level 3 Artifact)
- Made in the image of Tissendra's Caste Mark, the Aurora earrings are designed to conceal Tissendra's Anima from view, absorbing the ambient Essence into themselves, causing them to glow slightly. When worn with other parts of the Baubles, the absorbed energy is channeled into the jewels of the Baubles, causing them to light with inner fire in the most literal sense. Whoever wears the Earrings flares their anima at one level lower then normal, going Iconic only after 16+ motes of Peripheral essence are expended, and must commit 1 mote to each earring. The earrings also give a +2 bonus to Socialize rolls.
Amulet of Adamant Light (level 4 Artifact)
- A band of box-shaped links of Orichalcum set with alternating Red Jade and high-quality Amber, the Amulet of Adamant Light is the single protective device of the Baubles and the protection offered is limited, Tissendra considered any Eclipse caught in a battle's heat deserved what they got. She used the Amulet only as a defense against ambush by magical forces. Mortals were beneath her notice. Anyone committing 7 motes of Essence to the Amulet gains a measure of resistance to the Charms of the Celestial and Terrestrial Exalted. All attempts to attack the wearer with a Charm or Charm-enhanced effect are at +3 difficulty.
Clasp of World's Blood (level 5 Artifact)
- Larger and stronger then the Whimsical Creation, the Clasp of World's Blood acts as a battery of Essence, a belt of ruby and Orichalcum boxes connected by tiny links of Starmetal. Each of the 20 boxes contains a single Mote of Essence. While full, the ruby glows with a dazzling light, and when drained they appear dark as old blood. The Clasp itself costs 5 motes to attune. The motes contained within the Clasp can not be commited for any period of time nor used in Sorcery. Thus, only instant duration Charms and Anima Abilities can be activated with the motes stored inside the Clasp. Each box can only be re-charged by committing a mote of Essence to it for 1 day, after which the mote is absorbed and no longer committed from the wearer's pools. Only one box can be recharged at a time, thus refilling the Clasp should it be drained would take 20 days.
