BurgerSlave/ArmOfTwilight
The Arm of Twilight
In the First Age, the artifice of the Twilight Caste overcame many infirmities and frailties of the flesh. It is said that the Copper Spiders could construct mechanical limbs to replace those lost by their comrades, and that these wondrous constructs could be imbued with great powers. Alas, like so many other wonders of that forgotten Age, the secret to building such mechanical limbs has been lost. A scant few exist, buried with the Solars who wore them as part of their grave goods. However, the knowledge to use these wonders remains lost to the flow of history.
The Twilight Caste Steel was able to find the Arm of Twilight, one of the many mechanical crafting aids forged by those of his Caste in the First Age, and has learned how to activate it. The Arm of Twilight is a perfect replica of a large man's left arm, reproduced faithfully in orichalcum. However, between the seams that form the rippling musculature, the observant will notice miniscule levers, gears, springs, and joints, whirring and clicking to mimic the full range of human motion. At the shoulder is graven the Twilight Caste Mark, while the wrist is carved with a setting-sun motif around the Arm's Hearthstone socket.
Without a Hearthstone set into it, the Arm of Twilight simply functions as a replacement arm for one (such as Steel) who has the misfortune of having lost one's arm. However, whenever a Hearthstone of Manse 3 or higher is placed into the socket, the Arm's qualities become readily apparent. The wearer of an empowered Arm may spend 5 motes to gain ONE of the following benefits for the scene:
- Function as an indestructible buckler shield
- Gain +2 dice to all touch-based Awareness rolls
- Gain 2 successes to any Craft (Blacksmith) roll
- All unarmed Brawl or Martial Arts attacks become lethal
- Add Essence successes to one Strength + Athletics check to lift or break an object
The Arm of Twilight itself is impervious to mundane damage. It may be damaged by a weapon made of the Five Magical Materials, but it repairs itself at the same rate as its wearer. In all other respects, the Arm of Twilight functions as a normal, flesh-and-blood arm.
The Arm of Twilight requires a committment of 2 motes in order to function as a replacement limb. Inserting a Hearthstone removes the committment requirement, and allows the Arm's wearer to gain the Hearthstone's benefit normally. The Arm is useless to the unExalted, and non-Solars must pay the double-cost to attune it as normal.
Commentary?
Hot stuff! I'm a fan of magical prosthesises, in general. I think they're cool. Two points, though. Firstly, what's the cost of this beauty. Secondly, are you sure you want the hearthstone to keep functioning while it powers the Arm and removes the necessity of attunement? The pattern is that if a thing requires a hearthstone to function, it uses up the hearthstone's power. Of course, it's just a pattern, but it usually seems fair...
- Seraph
