RefractionOfLimitlessWaves
Refraction of Limitless Waves</b>\\ Artifact <b>••••</b>\\ Wyld-formed glass slashing sword\\ Speed +6 Accuracy +4 Damage +2L Defense +2\\ Requires: Dex 3, Melee 3; Commitment: 5
Description
Refraction of Limitless Waves is the right-hand sword of Qingu, a powerful fae who was "exalted," so to speak, by a half-formed primordial living deep within the Wyld known as the Sea of Chaos. After diving into her depths he emerged with this weapon at his side, as well as his other sword, Pearl of the Bottomless Sea, and the Armor of Glass Flames (both are listed artifacts). Thus armed, Qingu was charged to traverse the million miles of seemingly endless Wyld between the Sea of Chaos and the primordials' Creation, with orders to beseech the lonely Sea's primordial brothers and sisters to come back into the Wyld and lend her companionship and perhaps even the chance to start a new Creation.
Refraction of Limitless Waves looks like the blade is made out of glass with a greenish-blue light shimmering from within it. It is transparent and its interior seems to constantly shift and transform depending on the angle you look at it. Its shape is constant though--it is, like Pearl of the Bottomless Sea, a curved, thin, elegant saber, about 3 feet long; its blade is a little wider and flared at its tip like a scimitar. However, it is so light that even a weak human can wield it; only its handle and handguard, made out of blue and white coral twisted around each other and wrapped with green cord, seems to have any weight to it. Refraction of Limitless Waves has an adamantine glass scabard inlaid with white pearls and green and blue gems.
System
Refraction of Limitless Waves has no hearthstone setting and costs 5 motes to attune. It is incredibly light and is meant to be used as a one-handed sword; however the handle is long enough to use a three-handed grip.
Refraction of Limitless Waves has two magical effects:
- 1. When unsheathed, Refraction of Limitless Waves makes the sound of a tidal wave breaking on a shore. Everyone in 10 yards vicinity must make a stamina + resistance roll at difficulty 2; if they fail, they are thrown back about 10 feet and are stunned for the remainder of the round. For the rest of the scene anyone who failed that roll feels wet, out of breath and disoriented, as if they were laden with invisible ocean water--they suffer a -1 action penalty for the scene's duration. If they botch the roll, they suffer from a -2 action penalty for the scene's duration. Pearl's unsheathing effect trumps Refraction's if they are unsheathed at the same time. Unsheathing Refraction of Limitless Waves is an action. It can only be unsheathed once per scene.
- 2. Refraction of Limitless Waves' motions are as hard to predict as the whirls of the ocean's surface. Avoiding an attack by the sword seems to the opponent like avoiding an ocean wave. An opponent attempting to parry or dodge the blade reflexively rolls Wits+Awareness. He suffers an increased difficulty on all parries and dodges equal to the wielder's Essence minus his successes on the Wits+Awareness roll. The defender makes this roll only once per turn, even if the sword's wielder makes multiple attacks. (The defender of course need not make the roll on a turn he isn't avoiding Refraction.)
For example, Allad is fighting Qingu; Qingu goes first and is going to attack Allad twice with Refraction. Allad is going to dodge and parry. Allad rolls Wits+Awareness and gets 3 successes. Qingu's Essence is 7. So Allad must subtract 4 successes from his dodge and parry, as he fails to see the blade for what it really is and believes it as difficult to avoid as a mighty ocean wave.
If the opponent fails his Wits+Awareness roll, he is automatically thrown back about 10 feet by the (perceived) force of the blade, even if he succeeds in dodging or parrying it.
If the opponent botches the Wits+Awareness roll, he is automatically hit and can't defend, is thrown back 10 feet, and drops his weapon.
If an opponent rolls Wits+Awareness and gets more successes than its weilder's essence, the sword's effect is dispelled for the rest of the scene; he realizes that the sword is just a weird piece of glass and can parry and dodge normally.
Opponents thrown back by any of Refraction's effects take bashing damage as per the ST's discretion, like if they get thrown into a wall, etc.
A fae properly attuned to Refraction gets the following stats:
Spd 8; Acc 6; Dmg 2L; Dfs 2.
It is highly unlikely that anyone but a fae can attune to the chaotic energies of the blade, as it comes from a completely alien being. Vast sorceries would probably be needed.
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