BrigandRansom/Arbalest

Arbalests?

In this context, I mean a combination of Clinch Aid, Unarmed Attack weapon and Ranged Weapon. There are at least 2 Canon references to these devices, but I'm looking for more. The only reason I call them arbalests is because that's what 'Eye and the Seven Despairs' calls his. If anyone can come up with another name for these devices that's cooler, then by all means lemme hear it =)

• "The Fatal Arbalest of Quietus and Eclipses", E:tA Page 99 sidebar
• "Gauntlet's of Distant Claws", Pictured page 66, statted page 80, Castebook: Night

An Exalted Sidearm / Clinch Aid / Stuntless Lethal Parrier. So I'm thinking that arbalests are considered both armor and weapon. Some are armor just by benefit of being made of a magical material (stuntless lethal parry), while others have definite armor-like effects (like maybe an arbalest that automatically parries on it's own, whether you know of the incoming attack or not). Each arbalest would probably use a different ability for it's use. Some might be appropriate for martial artists, while others might work with thrown. Or archery. or Brawl. or occult. Or lore: first age technology. Any charms that are in the ability the arbalest is based on are fully compatible. The Arbalest of Bone and Blood uses Thrown for it's ranged attacks, so Shaded Right Hand can use her thrown charms on the bone-spikes it fires. MA may be the exception to the rule, only allowing the use of MA charms that have clinch aids as the MA style weapon, or have a certain level of armor allowable my the MA.

Being of first age design whether they're from the first age or not, arbalests wouldn't hinder fine manipulation, and some of the better ones would probably become extensions of the weilder (sense of touch, ect).

Most arbalests would probably have at least one universal stone mount for it's source of power, barring such other power sources like Abyssal Blood in the case of the Arbalest of Blood and Bone. Some of the more powerful ones would have 2, 3 and 4 mounts, with only one of them being the Powering / Focus mount.

I also think that arbalests were as varied and unique as the Exalts who wielded them. The ideas I have listed below would be more common, mass-produced arbalests, or just something I happened to come up with at the moment. There could be arbalests that do any number of things. At least in my mind, the only hard-and fast rules about these artifacts are that they are somehow mounted to the arm, made of magical materials, and is both a clinch aid and a ranged weapon. There could be arbalests that allowed the use of self-only charms on others as a ranged attack, batman-like grappling hook arbalests, Arbalests that control a gigantic phantom fist once activated, the possibilities are endless. =)

Possible Artifact Arbalest ideas:

*Soulsteel Arbalests

• Arbalest of Blood and Bone

This Soulsteel Arbalest was comissioned by Bohddisatva Baptised in Darkened Waters for his protoge and lover, Shaded Right Hand of the Silver Prince. Lined with rows of Shark's teeth inside, the only proper way to put on this arbalest is to attune to it and bind it using Void Sheathe Technique. The Arbalest itself is powered by the blood of it's Abyssal Wielder, doing damage whenever it is used for it's most nefarious purpose. The Arbalest holds the wielder's arm stiff, and acts as an exoskeleton to support the arm. The wielder may reflexively spend (x) motes of essence to cause one of their arm bones to slide out of their palm, making an effective close-range knife. This effect may be used anytime, including during grapples (grab someone by the neck and ventilate their throat). The arbalest itself will drink any blood that it can, granting the wearer the effects of Blood Drinking Palm. However, half of any motes gained go directly to the Arbalest. The most vile of the Arbalest's abilities makes it truly dangerous. The abyssal may take a health level of damage (unsoakable) to launch the bone from their arm and immediately regrow another. This attack is made with Dex + Thrown, and the die-penalty for the health level taken is added to the attack in automatic sucesses (Example: Shaded Right hand is uninjured, and launches a bone-spike from her hand. She takes a bruised health level, which is -0. She makes her ranged attack, but gains no autosuceses for it. If she sacrifices her next health level (a -1 health level) on her next attack, the bone spike will have a single automatic sucess). Still need crunch, of course. Hell, I'd call Abyssal-bones being flung at superhuman speed agg damage, how about you?

• The Crystal Rain

This greivous soulsteel Arbalest has a pair of hearthstone mounts, one atop the shoulder and one in the palm. The any hearthstone mounted in the palm does not grant the usual effect, it's energy is used to power the Arbalest's abilities. When a Hearthstone of at least Manse 2 is inserted into the Palm mount, the Arbalest will begin growing tiny spikes of sharp, fragile crystal that point away from the exalt. These crystal shards can be fired from the gauntlet in large numbers, flaying the flesh from the bones of it's targets. Basically a Crystal Shotgun, need to figure out how long it takes for the crystals to grow. Recharge rate would probably be based on the strength of the hearthstone mounted in the palm. I'm sure you could also use the crystals to do ugly amounts of damage on an unarmed strike, but that would damage the crystals and they's have to regrow before firing... Hmm, parry with this would probably break the crystals as well, but I'm sure it would damage a fist if that's what you were parrying.

*Jade Arbalests

• this needs a name

Used extensively both during the war against the primordials and the Usurpation, Jade Arbalests were once common among Dragon Blooded warriors. These simple (as far as arbalests go) devices allowed the Terrestrial Exalts an additional avenue of attack during battle. Only an exalt of the same element may attune to a Jade Arbalest, and it requires a hearthstone of at least Manse 1 to be mounted in the palm. Any hearthstone mounted in this way does not give the exalt attuned to it the normal effect, it's power is used to fuel the arbalest. Jade arbalests are capable of firing a bolt of the appropriate element (Gust of Wind for Air Exalts, Gout of flame for Fire exalts, ect) for 6-(Perm Essence) motes. I'm sure I'll change this more, make them a bit more utilitarian. Although I do like the Idea of a Water-exalt "firefighter" with a firehoselike stream of water shooting out of the palm... great for crowd control as well =)

*Moonsilver Arbalests

• this needs a name

Quite rare even in the first age, these were created to replace the limbs of loyal lunar seconds who had been dealt greivous wounds in the battles with the primordials. If a limb had become mangled beyond even the healing abilities of a lunar, this arbalest would replace the limb. It attaches itself where the limb would have originally been, and once attuned becomes for all intents and purposes the limb of the owner. This is the ultimate prosthetic, allowing careful manipulation, sense of touch, and even powerful blocking and parrying abilities. It would also change form with the lunar, giving their animal form a Moonsilver limb. Being an arbalest, it should have some sort of ranged attack, possibly a powerful moonbeam type thing. Ooooh, sounds scary. This could also just be a seperate artifact, which does nothing but buy off the amputee flaw and give some lethal stuntless parry bennies.

*Starmetal Arbalests

Don't know enough about Sids to really come up with anything appropriate for them

*Orichalchon Arbalests

Hmm. Big Fat Sunbeam blast? Glowy Bastard damage to undead / abyssals / things that go bump in the night??

---

• The Hand of Midnight Sun

Created by a Night-caste solar with a penchant for tinkering, this device is a helpful tool for any exalt who needs to move about unnoticed. The gauntlet is constructed of matted Orichalcum (to dull the reflections) and black Jade alloy armor plates, and the palm of the glove is made of Spun Orichalc and Spider silk. The gauntlet has the following effects:

Any actions performed by the arm wearing the gauntlet are completely silent

The user may grasp shadows as if they were silk. This allows the wielder to climb shadows on buildings as if he had a rope, and even pull the shadows across himself to hide. This ability works for both hands, not just the one with the Arbalest

The Arbalest grants the use of Blazing Solar Bolt. Bolts from a Night Caste wearing this gauntlet are infused with the Anima ability of the Exalt, and are rendered completely silent by the gauntlet

• The Golden Hornet

Another Arbalest favored by assassins, the Golden Hornet is actually a pair of Artifacts: an Orichalc / black jade Gauntlet, and an Automaton Assassin in the shape of a Hornet. The Arbalest itself parries lethal stuntlessly, and attacks made with it are not only lethal, but poisonous (same poison as the Automaton). The arbalest can launch it's winged projectile, a ranged attack using Dex + Brawl. This ranged attack has 2 automatic successes, as the hornet flies toward the intended target.

*Mortal Arbalests

• Shimmering Rocket Fist Gauntlet

Cooked up by some mad mortal Savant (who's name was blown into nothingness, along with him), this is one of the rare bits of technology completely accessible by mortals. This clinch aid is made of steel and lined with a heat-resistant swamp moss. Around the wrist of the gauntlet is a rotating ringwhich holds three large flamedust rockets. Mounted further back on the arm is a hammer containing a burning stick of incense and several gears and levers. Inside of the gauntlet is a switch next to the thumb, which releases the spring holding the incense, igniting the rocket. Rotating the ring to ready another rocket resets the lever and leaves the device ready for it's next shot.

• Still needs a name

Idea I'm kicking around for a Heroic Mortal character, another arbalest with a zero-commit cost. Basically, a Mini-crossbow in the Haslanti style, mounted to the wrist. Slightly larger, with a few added features. Semi-automatic, pump action (compatible with archery charms not normally available to crossbows). Hold up to 20 bolts. Selective fire to a harpoon, similar to the Gauntlet of Distant Claws (except that there's only 1 claw). The character is a Heroic mortal, Lorehunter "Indiana Jones" type =).

Basically this was the masterwork of a Celestial Exalt in the first age. His goal was to create a weapon Without using his essence or charms, as near the end of his life he saw these things as crutches that were allowing him to get lazy in his creations. Having this artifact requires Resources 5, but all the cash is tied up in the Heirloom Merit. Ohyeah, and Wanted flaw of at least three points, since the Haslanti will very much be wanting to talk to you if you have this. And by talk, I mean stab. A Lot.

Peanut Gallery

Please feel free to comment here, or put specific questions and comments in my brainstorming area which I will take into consideration. Any comments that were here but arent now have been moved to the appropriate page

Why call them Arbalests? The term really does only relate to crossbows, siege engines and things. Eye and Seven Despairs just happens to have called his crushfistythingy that, probably because of the ranged weapon aspect.
-- Darloth

Well, because I needed SOMETHING to call them =) But you're probably right. I just like the visual, and I went off on a brainstorming tangent. Very DBZ style, Palm out, bracing the arm at the wrist... Kaaa Meeee Haaa Meee

But I digress.

I only called them that because that's what Ea7D was calling his, so I ran with it. Aside from the ranged attacks, they really are just a big gauntlets.

At the same time though, there isn't much in Canon for crossbows, and First-age seige engines were Warstriders. Most ranged attacks are limited to Powerbows, flamedust and thrown weapons (and the occasional charms, of course).

In fact, just thumbing through the Main book, players guide and Castebook Dawn, I don't see any crossbows at all. Hmm.

Ahh, they're in the Night Caste book though... along with on page 66, you'll see another Clinch-Aid-With-Ranged-Component =) ~ BrigandRansom

You will find more on crossbows in the Fair Folk and Autocthonian books as well. -Ambisinister

Another arbalest idea, a bit of clarification =) And you can't tell me that this picture and this picture don't just SCREAM Exalted =) ~ Brig

What picture on pg 66 of CB:E? --BrilliantRain

Erp! I meant Castebook Night, sorry :\ ~ BrigandRansom

Well, unknown gauntlets identified. I still think that they fit into the scheme of Arbalests =) ~ BrigandRansom

Crossbows are only used in autochthonia and by the Haslanti league, which is why they're so rarely mentioned. However, ballistae and their magical counterparts implosion bows are pretty common. You could always hand out the fuel-bolt launchers left right and centre if you need more ranged weapons, they're pretty cool, and essence-cannon can be made surprisingly neat with a bit of thought.
-- Darloth suggests a few alternatives, although these are still cool.

Added another note or three on some of the Arbalests, and an idea for an arbalest that I'll be using for a Heroic Mortal character. I'll get crunchy on these pretty soon here =) ~ BrigandRansom