Sz/Crunch

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Artifacts

Ishmael's Axe, also known as Heart-Devourer's Sitar

Artifact N/A

The Primordials made the humans to fill Creation. But they did not give them the might of bears or the ferocity of wolves. Neither did they give humanity the number of insects or the freedom of birds. Even, the gifts of Essence and insight given to the Dragon Kings and the Mountain Folk were denied to humanity. Yet, without all these things, humans spread and filled every crack of Creation. They grew to such an importance, they ultimately toppled the Primordial rule over Creation.

Then what was it that distinguished humans from the rest of Creation? Certainly, it is the strength of conviction. No other being in Creation lives a life as rich as a human's, filled with episodes of sadness and anger, joy and pleasure, wisdom and understanding. Each passing moment contributes to a human's being, expanding it manifold its original design. It is this force of willpower that allowed them the supremacy among the Creation-born.

If this is the force behind the human greatness, then, what of those who lose it? Without ambition and desire, is a human being any greater than a wild animal? A mere tool? Is the action of an empty human being any different from an unfortunate accident or a natural disaster? It is common knowledge that the most heinous acts are done by those who are in despair and confusion. But if the willpower to do something is what distinguishes humanity from the state of nature, then, is despair not the natural state of a human being?

This titanic self bow appears to be as old as the humanity itself. It is made with ossified husks of human soul--something that would have immediately unwoven itself in Creation had it not been so compressed and condensed, making it as solid as reality itself. Unstrung, it stands about 6 to 7 feet tall. Many colors dance across the surface of this bow, though colder shades of blue and gray dominate it.

Ishmael's Axe does not require commitment of Essence to activate. In fact, Ishmael's Axe may only be attuned by mortals with unawakened Essence; the awakened Essence within Essence wielders and Exalted prevent the bow from claiming the character's soul. For mortals, however, the only condition of attunement is that the character has no remaining temporary Willpower. In this state, when the character is unable to act on his primary Virtue, the attunement is immediate and the powers of Ishmael's Axe manifest soon afterward. Otherwise, it takes the usual 20 minutes to attune to.

Once the attunement is complete, the endless silence sealed within Ishmael's Axe bleeds into the wielder's soul. The echoes of nothingness can be heard from miles away, though it is always barely audible regardless of distance. As the transformation begins to take place, tears fall from the character's eyes. From beneath the skin, a hide of black iron emerges, tearing the surface inside out. Bloody patches of skin and hair fall from him, turning to gray-white ash as they fall. This iron hide destroys all of the character's distinctive features, including his physique, facial features and genitalia. Only the eyes remain on this smooth black body, which glow with faded red, nostalgic yellow or milky white. Throughout the transformation, the character grows in stature, becoming a 12-foot-tall primordial giant. His feet are replaced with black spikes at the end of his legs, and he levitates half a foot above the ground, never touching Creation's surface again. As the transformation comes to an end, fallen tears gather and shape into a transparent bowstring. Then Ishmael's Axe--now as tall as three grown men--bends itself to be strung with the wielder's shed willpower. Once Ishmael's Axe' limbs are pulled and tied, the wielder's soul is irrevocably bound with the Artifact.

Witnessing this transformation reminds all human beings of the power of inner emptiness. All human beings, including Exalts, must roll Conviction (add Essence if the character has awakened Essence.) Failure means that the character is unable to withstand the weight of infinite despondency, and must remain Inactive for the rest of the scene.

When Ishmael's Axe is bound with the wielder's willpower, the character gains the following effects -

• • The character becomes the avatar of nihilism. He has no Motivation or Intimacies.

• • Without desire, he cannot be driven to anything. He treats all mental influences--natural or unnatural--as explicitly Impossible Orders.

• • The husk of his soul contracts and warps, condensing its emptiness into pure Essence. The character gains Essence with a rating equal to (Permanent Willpower/2, rounded up). He develops an Essence pool as if he were a Fair Folk.

• • The character learns the first three Abyssal Excellencies for all 25 of his Abilities and may used them as an Abyssal.

• • The character's Attributes are increased by his primary Virtue. This may push the Attributes above 5 or the character's Essence. This bonus is not affected by decrease or loss of the primary Virtue.

• • The character gains -0 HLs equal to the total amount of his Virtues.

• • Old hopes and dedications bury the character beneath disappointment and disillusionment. For the purpose of calculating natural soak, add his Willpower and the number of Intimacies he once possessed to Stamina, with which he may soak as if he were Exalted.

• • Weapons forged from Soulsteel has no adverse supernatural effect on the character. He is already the stuff of the Labyrinth.

• • For purposes of supernatural effects, the character is considered to be Exalted, eliminating the -1 stunt penalty and such.

• • The Loom of Fate refuses to accept the character to be a part of Creation any longer, rendering him Outside Fate until he expires. If the character belonged to another realm, the effect is similar as only the Labyrinth--not even the Underworld--would accept him to be a part of the natural order.

• • On the downside, the character receives unsoakable Aggravated damage from weapons forged from gossamer. Also, for the purpose of the keyword Holy, the character counts as a Creature of Darkness.

• • Ishmael's Axe has Speed (8 - Conviction), Accuracy +(Temperance), Damage +(Willpower)B, Rate (Valor) and Range (Compassion x 100). These values are derived from the character's traits at the moment of attunement. This bow requires no ammunition to fire, but instead manifests a shimmering spike of blackness and emptiness when the string is pulled. Being struck by this arrow leaves no physical wound, but rather manifests as piercing vertigo and sudden undesirably epiphany. This arrow ignores armored soak wholesale, and against targets with Integrity lower than the wielder's Essence, the damage is Aggravated. Those killed by it dies as their heart gives up beating.

Optionally, with a Miscellaneous action, the wielder of Ishmael's Axe may shatter one of his Virtues for more awful effects.

Shattering the Virtue of Compassion gives the character the following effects -

• • The Virtue of Compassion once allowed him to reach out to others and share their pain. Now, Compassion can only help him reach out for blades and nightmares. By shattering a dot of permanent Compassion, the character may arbitrarily penetrate the borders between the worlds and cast his voice into the Underworld and/or the Labyrinth. Through his iron body, Plasmic horrors and a riot of hungry ghosts (or worse things) burst forth. For these beings, they consider their location to be a Shadowland at night, as long as they remain within the wielder's sight.

• • Devotion compelled him to appreciate the hidden beauty in his lovers and heroes--but such details were lies. Now, the hypocrisy stabs deep into his eyes, no matter how cleverly they try to hide it. By shattering a point of permanent Compassion, the character may perceive immaterial beings naturally and target them with Ishmael's Axe until he expires. Also, for the same duration, all attempts to hide from his senses fail--consider this to be a perfect defense effect against stealth.

• • Once, he fought for something, but that only ended up in him becoming this kind of horror. The self-hatred is such that he cannot bear to see others care. By shattering a point of permanent Compassion, Ishmael's Axe may target Intimacies instead of health levels. Thus enhanced arrows can be soaked by (Conviction + Integrity). Each levels of damage thus inflicted disconnects one of the target's Intimacy, beginning from the least significant. When they lose their last Intimacy in this manner, they suddenly realize why that monster came to be and ceases to struggle--catatonia besets them and they must spend the rest of the scene Inactive. This is an Emotion effect. Intimacies thus damaged are restored at a rate of one per night's rest, starting from the strongest Intimacy the character has lost.

Shattering the Virtue of Conviction gives the character the following effects -

• • The Virtue of Conviction once allowed him to overcome adversaries and triumph over challenges. Now, Conviction can only help him become so terrified of death that he is unable to put an end to himself. By shattering a point of permanent Conviction, the character begins to regenerate 1 health level regardless of damage type per (6 - Conviction) ticks. This effect does not stack. Furthermore, once employed, the character becomes unable to damage himself, even if this were arranged by others. This effect is temporarily disabled, however, when a character who possesses a positive Intimacy toward him or is a target of positive Intimacy from him talks to him. The fact that they still care annoys and comforts him too much.

• • At a glance, the world seems constant, ruled by forces of order and reason. This is not so, as one would realize once one empties themselves and perceive beyond the fog of delusional optimism. By shattering a point of permanent Conviction, his next attack with Ishmael's Axe may disrupt patterns of Essence. If the blow connects, he may roll (Conviction + Essence) with each success terminating a persistent supernatural effect that the target has on.

• • The force of dedication often inspires people to do the impossible. This principle remains with him, but the impossibility he seeks to achieve is the end of all things. By shattering a point of permanent Conviction, his next attack becomes perfect, negating both DVs. The attack need not to be rolled and is instead assumed to beat the target's DV with extra successes equal to (Conviction).

Shattering the Virtue of Temperance gives the character the following effects -

• • The Virtue of Temperance once allowed him to command his hotter emotions and wait for the miracles of existence to reveal themselves. Now, Temperance can only aid him in watching Creation tear itself down. By shattering a point of Temperance, he may perfectly soak an attack on Step 9 of attack resolution. However, when this effect is used against an opponent who possesses a positive Intimacy toward him, his soak is instead reduced to 0.

• • Pain only fortifies his argument for the destruction of all things. By shattering a point of Temperance, he gains Hardness rating equal to (Temperance + Integrity) until he expires. Furthermore, any attack that penetrates Hardness is met with a counterattack, as the black iron crushes in to reveal the echos of silence within. The counterattack has stats equal to a normal punch, but its Accuracy is derived from Charisma instead of Dexterity and its Damage is derived from Manipulation instead of Strength. This requires that the offending attack is capable of crushing in the character's body--therefore attacks of pure Essence or non-penetrative attacks such as throws do not trigger the counterattack.

• • The patience and serenity that once distinguished him gain a sinister edge. Watching and appreciating the futility that suffocates Creation has become something humorous and reinforcing to him. By shattering a point of permanent Temperance, until he expires he gains a mote of Essence per each failed die others make in his presence. Essence gained in this manner may exceed his regular Essence pool, but by no more than twice its original size. A successful roll only gives him motes equal to the number of failed dice, while a failed roll gives him motes equal to the character's entire dice pool. Botches multiply the amount of motes gained by the character's Essence.

Shattering the Virtue of Valor gives the character the following effects -

• • The Virtue of Valor once allowed him to draw forth his inner strength and attempt to surpass himself. Now, Valor can only drive him to devote even the last mote of his being into destroying those who boiled his heart into nothing but salt and iron. By shattering a point of Valor, the character gains an Extra Action per each offensive action he takes until he expires. This effect is Stackable and can be used repeatedly. Extra Actions gained in this manner, however, can only be used if all of his previous actions has been used to harm those who brought him to this condition and succeeded in doing so. If the opponent was someone he once had a positive Intimacy for, he gains an additional Extra Action upon a successful hit.

• • With bravery burning in his muscles and heart, he used to charge into foes and challenges far greater than him, wielding passionate ferocity as his shield, armor and sword. Now the passion has drowned in the inner emptiness and only the ferocity remains. By shattering a point of Valor, the character's opponent consider him to have Magnitude equal to them in mass combat (if their Magnitude exceeds the character's) (??!?! oh god I don't know how mass combat unit vs. solo unit works am I doing this right I screwed up didn't I T_T) and Essence in personal combat (if their Essence exceeds the character's). This effect does not affect the character's actual ratings, but rather how the opponent's effects are resolved (such as for the purpose of ping damage, dice reduction and supernatural defenses).

• • Courage is the strength of the heart, and Ishmael's Axe is a heart turned into a weapon. By shattering a point of Valor, Ishmael's Axe's Damage is increased by (Valor). The damage thus added deteriorates at the rate of 1 per each attack. This effect is Stackable.

When all of his Virtues have been shattered to feed Ishmael's Axe, the bowstring will snap and it will open its wraps of soul-husks and crack open its innards, revealing the emptiness which will devour the now-useless vessel. At this moment, some may recall the weapon's name--Katatonie, who was once the fetich soul of the Primordial that became Hegra. As the silent vortex slowly but surely chips away the black iron carapace, the wielder's voice may be heard through the cracks in his bondage. He will reveal that the only emotions he could feel were that of terror, weakness and regret. Most often, his soul will be utterly unmade while those emotions remain flawlessly perfect and Katatonie will return to nowhere whence it came.

This feeding process can be broken by a willing sacrifice. Even after death, the emotions Katatonie truly seeks are not terror and despair, but acceptance and hope. Given that anybody is willing to sincerely risk their own being to save the wielder from his doom, Katatonie will instead release him from the black iron prison and depart wordlessly, having drunk its fill.

The greatest threat this weapon poses against Creation is that it does not exists as a real construct, but as a part of the human subconscious. Any mortal who can form a contract with Katatonie may summon and attune to Ishmael's Axe, given that the despair drives her to.

Ozoi's Fishing Bell, also known as the Rattling Weaver

Non-MM Weighted Rope
Artifact 5
Attack: Speed 5, Accuracy +2, Damage +5B/A, Defense +2, Rate 4, Tags: M, R
Clinch: Speed 5, Accuracy +4, Damage +15B/A, Defense --, Rate (Special), Tags: C, M, P, R
Requires: Strength 2, Dexterity 4, Martial Arts 4 Commitment: 10

...now Ozoi, he a great man. He was very small but he smarter an' faster than he small, becau' the Hun'ress need her Stewards smart an' fast not big an' dumb--and Ozoi a mighty real good Steward! When he use' ta run in ta fields, all the Yozi-crazy people and the death-crazy people in Creation run an' hide becau' they scared of Ozoi. One time there this big an' rough beast--he so big an' rough the Yozis said "How big an' rough you are!" an' made 'im bigger an' rougher. His teeth were like old oak trees an' fur like Jade so everything scared of 'im! So he sees Ozoi an' he say "I ain't 'fraid of you little man! My teeth are like old oak trees an' fur like Jade and everything scared of me, not you!" an' make Ozoi angry, becau' he hate Behemoth' an' he hate Behemoth insults ta most. So Ozoi think up a prank an' tell ta beast "Suh Beast, how big an' rough you are!" an' give 'im big fish an' big deer. So the Behemoth happy an' tell Ozoi "Little Spider, I like ta big fish and big deer you gi' me, you a good frien' of me!" So Ozoi talk in very clever manner "Suh Beast, if we frien' let us play a game. You so big an' rough but I very smart." An' beast, he know everything 'fraid of 'im, so he say he play with Ozoi. The game is 'bout catching an' hopping. So beast got claws like mountain an' he try stomping Ozoi. But Ozoi smarter an' faster than he small, so he jump on the beast's fur so quick beast don' know where he's stomping. Ozoi tell beast "Suh Beast! Why you so slow!" So beast very angry and he stom' harder and he hurt 'imsel' and he even more angry. An' Ozoi say "Suh Beast! You ate too much big fish an' big deer, you too slow!" so beast mighty real angry and he stom' on Ozoi as har' as 'e can. He stomp so hard he crush 'is own heart! So Ozoi laugh at ta beast loud enough ta kill a god as th' beast try ta figure out how he kill 'imself' an' ta whole Creation amazed and 'fraid of Ozoi.

Now this Ozoi, he a chil' when th' Hun'ress choose him. He say he born ta be sac'ficed ta Yozis and demons by Yozi-crazy people. That why he hate Yozis so much. He say he lived in city full of Yozi-crazy people an' they live there becau' they have castle full of Yozi spawns and Yozi beasts. So Ozoi think "I hate Yozis so much! I mus' destroy this city full of Yozi-crazy people an' castle full of Yozi spawns and Yozi beasts!" becau' Ozoi smarter an' faster than he small. But Ozoi jump in an' Yozi spawns call Ozoi "Little Spider" an' hurt 'im an' bite 'im, becau' he new Steward an' he have no Daiklave. So Ozoi say "I mus' have my Daiklave before Cali'ration!" so he can stop a Yozi prince frum entering Creation. Ozoi runs across Creation becau' he very fast an' searches for 'is swor' but he can't fin' any. But he finds a spider god and he gets his web befo' Cali'ration. So Ozoi say "I hate Yozis so much! I mus' destroy this city full of Yozi-crazy people an' castle full of Yozi spawns and Yozi beasts!" an' try 'gain but he still hurt becau' ta web too small an' too weak. So this Steward panics becau' th' Cali'ration aludy here. But becau' Ozoi hate Yozis so much an' he smarter an' faster than he small, he does ta craziest thing an' he runs across every worlds an' find every spider web he can! In three days Ozoi run across Creation an' Heaven an' Wyl' an' Malfeas an' Dead Creation an' Metal Creation an' he goes below Creation an' above Creation and he talk ta every spider in every world! Th' peoples and gods and monsters and demons and faeries see Ozoi and ask "Little Spider! Why you in such hurry?" an' Ozoi say "Becau' I gotta big fish ta catch an' I 'fraid it get too fat ta catch!" an' ran faster than ta wind! Ozoi ask every spiders in every world for ta web and becau' he so smart every spider say "I like you Brother Ozoi!" an' give 'im their web. So on fourth day of Cali'ration Ozoi come back ta Creation an' bind every web frum every spiders in every worlds inta one--Then he tie the web to 'is fishing bell. Ozoi's web Daiklave so long, he spent a whole night wrapping it up! So on the fifth day he take 'is Daiklave an' say "I hate Yozis so much! I mus' destroy this city full of Yozi-crazies an' castle full of Yozi demons and Yozi monsters!" an' jump inta the city one mo' time.

So this Ozoi, he a mighty real good Steward. He small but he smarter an' faster than he small. The demons and crazies say ta Ozoi "Little Spider! You back again, you mus' like getting hurt!" but Ozoi don' say anything an' laugh at them becau' he know they dead. So Ozoi tells his Daiklave "I hate Yozis so much! Let us go hurt them and destroy them!" an' Ozoi's Daiklave glad becau' it hate Yozis as much as Ozoi hate Yozis. So glad that the bell right fly inta th' demons and fight by itsel'! So Yozi crazies 'fraid of Ozoi and 'is flying bell an' they use demon tricks on ta Steward. But they no work, becau' Ozoi's Daiklave right fly inta th' Yozi crazies and Yozi beasts an' knock them out befo' they even lift a finger! So on th' last day of that Cali'ration, Ozoi storm this Yozi-crazy city by 'imsel' and kill ten thousan' demons by 'imsel'! Ozoi hate Yozis so much, th' Yozi prince that tried ta come to Creation say "Ozoi small but he smarter an' faster than he small! He a mighty real good Steward, I'm too 'fraid ta come to Creation!" an' he run away! An' so since then the whole world amazed an' 'fraid of Ozoi, becau' he so smart and fast an' he a mighty real good Steward...

Comments

Hey sezzy you might want to consider statting this out as a third circle demon / raksha instead who possesses its wielder and has a weird personality. Check out TheHoverpope/Lepida for maybe some inspiration. ~capric

Heh, I had thought about that, but I kinda think this thing needs to be something... else. The idea I had was that... So, like, the Mountain Folk are poor Fae who had the Elemental Pole of Earth dropped on them, right? While I don't know if this makes sense, but I was thinking that maybe this could be attributed to a Fair Folk who got caught up by the Oblivion and stuck inside the Labyrinth. Or something like that. I dunno, I thought making this an Artifact was delightfully weird. :p (Also, if I do decide to make this a demon / raksha, it's going to be named Zetsubou Shita) - sz

Obviously this needs to be the artifact song "Wrenching Rumba of Entwined Distortion" ~capric