MelWong/ColdFlameDagger

The Cold Flame Dagger

By MelWong

Inspired by the image linked below the navbar, of John Constantine lighting his cigarette with a cold flame dagger...

The Cold Flame Dagger
Artifact ???
Flame-forged throwing dagger.
Thrown Statistics: +4 Acc, Dmg +3L, Rate 1, Range 20 Min: Dex 2 (without Magical Material bonuses)
Melee Statistics: Spd +3, Acc +3, Dmg +3L, Def +0, Min: Str 2 (without Magical Material bonuses)
Commitment: 3

On the surface, the Cold Flame Dagger appears to be a well-worked trinket - a dagger and matching scabbard worked of filligreed brass. Its ornamentation is wrought in an aniconic style utilizing the strokes of Old Realm script to depict stylized flames, and both hilt and scabbard are inset with polished nuggets of crimson glass and creamy aged bone.

However, the dagger refuses to be drawn from its scabbard. Neither force nor cunning will coax the blade from its rest until the bearer has spent the time to attune his anima to it. The Exalt wishing to draw the blade must invest three motes to the dagger; it is useless to the unExalted.

Then - when it is finally drawn, a thing of marvel happens. Instead of being forged of mere metal, or even a Magical Material, the dagger's blade is made of magically solid flame, its acid green hue pointing to its demonic origins, where it was siphoned from the heart of Ligier.

When held in the hand, the dagger is eerily cold to the touch - its unnatural flames will still ignite material but issue forth a chilling aura instead of the usual pleasant warmth one would expect from a normal fire. The weapon has a pleasing heft and hangs far back in the hand, but above all it is balanced for throwing. When thrown the dagger will wing through the air to impale itself in a target and sear the wounds it has created.

Hidden in the hilt's filligreed curves of brass is the tiny, missable inscription, "Makarios Made Me", in Old Realm. Those familiar with demon lore know that Makarios is a demon of the Second Circle. Makarios forged this weapon at the behest of a Solar sorceror of the Eclipse Caste, siphoning its shape and form from the Exalt's dreams over a year and a day. On the second day of Calibration the demon merchant set to work, willing the dream-weapon into reality. He gifted it with a blade of Ligier's fire, forged from rays caught in a prism of purest crystal, kindled by the blood of a fire-hearted Fair Folk prince of chaos and tempered in draughts drawn from the furthest reaches of the Elemental Pole of Air.

It came into Creation on the first day of the New Year as its Exalted owner invested it with the Essence it required to escape the fabric of his dreams and thus be drawn forth in flesh and cold metal and it has sung its quiet song ever since. The price the Solar paid is unspoken of and unknown, but this weapon possesses no particular malevolence and one can assume that the bargain was fairly done.

This dagger, besides being particularly keen and well-balanced for throwing, bears two additional powers gifted upon it by its demonic craftsman.

Firstly - the flames used to craft the blade of the dagger were drawn from the heart of Malfeas. Fuelled by the wielder's Essence, they are unquenchable. In its normal state the blade glows a bright, mad green, and will ignite any flammable object as readily as a torch despite its unnatural chilling aura - the dagger's owner has been witnessed lighting hand-rolled cigarettes with its blade.

By spending a single mote of Essence, the Exalt attuned to the Cold Flame dagger may bank the flames, reducing the unnatural chill to a mere coolness and the light to the faint glow of dying embers. Grasping the hilt and willing it instantly returns the demon-blade to its normally burning condition.

If the wielding Exalt spends 3 motes of Essence, the dagger's blade hisses and sheds the unhallowed green glow of the Malfean sun. In this state the blade may be employed to cut through ironbound wooden doors, or thick wooden walls, in no more than 10 turns. This chill, inimical to Creation, lasts for a full scene and can also be allowed to flare wildly so that it may instantly ignite a bonfire or consume smaller objects within two turns. In this state the dagger does 2 additional points of damage.

Anyone attuned to the Cold Flame Dagger gains resistance to normal flame and receives a +2 bonus soak against heat or fire.

Additionally, the scabbard and the blade are forever entwined - when the Cold Flame Dagger is hurled, it wings its way back to its wielder's hand, or its scabbard, at the end of the turn. If its return is blocked or if it is more than a hundred yards away from its rightful home, the dagger can be commanded to sing its way through Elsewhere, reappearing with a low, soundless hum against the lip of the scabbard. It automatically drains one mote from its owner as a reflexive action if such is commanded. It may not be asked to return once its attunement has faded, making prolonged separations both unwise and impractical.

Due to the nature of its construction, the Cold Flame Dagger grants no Magical Material bonuses for its attunement. It has a single Hearthstone setting set upon its scabbard.

Comments?

It might make sense for it to grant the orichalcum MM bonus. After all, a FA Eclipse commanded it made, so he might want to make it as powerful as possible for its class. There is certainly ample precedent - the fire claw and flame spear, for example.

Also, are you the Mel Wong who moved to the States from Singapore?

- Damarus

Damarus- I haven't moved yet, but I'm working on it. INS is sitting on my fiance visa application. Otherwise, I probably am the Mel Wong you are referring to. - Mel

This weapon is shiny! I love the description, and the story is excellent, but for a three point artifact, I'd want a bit more oomph. Maybe make it return instantly/make copies of itself (mechanically: throw it multiple times/turn) or make the one throw you can make be something to fear and dread (mechanically: make this dagger mess stuff up!). Otherwise, cooool. Anyone who makes a John Constantine reference is right by me. -- DODurden

Could make it do aggravated damage... I mean, it's made of Ligur. Surely thats almost as bad, if not quite a bit worse than pyrefire (Pyreflame by the book, but pyrefire sounds cooler). Also, i'm not sure if artefact ??? is artefact 3... it could be unknown. Clarification from author please?
--Darloth