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Essence Storage Devices (version 1.0) - Expanded rules for artifacts like the Lightning Box in different MMs
Level 2-3 Artifact
Since the first age, Exalted of the different types have created devices, which allow them to store additional Essence, or to replenish their stores when they have run dry. The shape and function of these devices vary, as do the ways they are recharged. Similar to all of them is, that upon activation, the device returns to the user an amount of essence, which for all intents and purposes count as peripheral. This boost of Essence cannot exceed the Exalt's usual peripheral Essence pool, and excess motes are lost.
Descriptions:
Solar – Sun's Single Light:
Sun's Single Light is a small, thin slate of silver and orichalcum. It is perfectly rectangular and measures 2 inches times 5 inches, and it is about a quarter of an inch thick. Always aesthetically pleasing to the eye, these slates are made to either be hung from the belt as a decorative device, or sewn into clothes or boots, or maybe fitted in between the plates of a suit of armor. Despite its name, hundreds of these artifacts were forged during the first age.
Lunar – Moonbeam Prison:
Built as a slightly oval cylinder measuring two inches in length and no more than an inch on its widest spot, the Moonbeam Prison is a small device, most often used as a decoration of sorts, tied to an object, braided into hair, or attached to clothes. Many have elaborate carvings and symbols, though some do not feature any sort of engraving.
Abyssal – Flesh to Essence Converter:
The Flesh to Essence Converter is a small device, consisting of a round, thin plate, a little more than 2 inches in diameter, from which protrudes five 5-inch points perpendicular to the center plate. If two of these devices were put opposite of each other, they would form a perfect 2 × 5 inch cylinder. The device is made entirely of soulsteel, and the inside surface of the center plate is carved out to be some kind of maw or mouth.
Sidereal – Fallen Star:
Made from steel and starmetal, the Fallen Star is a perfectly round sphere, measuring 2 inches across. The surface is polished steel, with intricate carvings inlaid with starmetal. Relatively many of these artifacts have been constructed because of the small amount of starmetal required in the construction process. That being said, a Fallen Star is extremely difficult to obtain anywhere in Creation, as their whereabouts are almost certainly known by this Sidereal or that.
Dragon-Blooded - Device of Resplendent (Elemental) Essence Unleashed:
First developed by their Solar masters in the First Age, these devices were built to extend the fighting capability of the Terrestrials. Thousands were crafted in secret prior to the Usurpation by the Sidereals, and production of these devices continued by the Dragon-Blooded themselves during the Shogunate and to some extent, the Second age.
Common for these boxes are that they look approximately the same: a twelve-sided box, roughly two inches in diameter, and made entirely of a single color of jade.
Air: Lightning Box - See Wonders of the Lost Age, p. 60
Earth – Box of Stability:
This Device of Resplendent Earth Essence Unleashed is made of white jade. The surface of the device is polished and perfectly even.
Fire – Inferno Box:
The Inferno box is made entirely of red jade. The edges and points of the twelve-sided box are jagged and uneven.
Water – Undertow Sphere:
While still technically twelve-sided, the sides of the box have been rounded to an extent, where it is hard to tell if it is a box or a sphere. The Undertow Sphere is made entirely of black jade.
Wood – Essence Seed:
The surface of this box is rough and bumpy, being made of unpolished green jade.
Rules:
Solar – Sun's Single Light (•••, repair 1
The device activates by touching it, and spending a single mote to release the stored Essence. The user immediately restores 36 motes of Essence. This may not bring him above his usual limit, and any excess Essence is lost. When the Essence is released, the artifact flares up, and the user acts as if he had a totemic Solar Dawn caste anima banner active, complete with Dawn anima power, for the remainder of the action, no matter what kind of Essence user he is. From the following action, the banner fades at ten times the normal rate.
In order to recharge Sun's Single Light, the device must be left undisturbed in an open space, where it draws its Essence directly from the Sun. It recharges 3 motes/hour in clear sunlight, and 1 mote/ hour if it is even slightly clouded. Whether or not it is too clouded to recharge the artifact is left at the storyteller's discretion.
Lunar – Moonbeam Prison (•••, repair 1
The Moonbeam Prison is activated by touching it and reflexively spending a mote of Essence. Doing so immediately restores 36 motes of Essence to the user. This Essence is considered peripheral, and may not exceed his usual limit. Any excess Essence is lost. The Essence released causes the air around the user to shift and bend, blurring the form of the user and disturbing the eyes of any onlookers. The user may immediately try to conceal himself using stealth, even if he is standing in plain sight. He gains 2 automatic successes on the stealth roll. The effect lasts only for a single action, though, so unless he has some means to keep himself hidden, he will quickly be rediscovered.
The Moonbeam Prison is recharged by placing it in an open space. If left undisturbed it recharges 3 motes/hour in clear moonlight, or 1 mote/hour if it is even slightly clouded. Whether or not it is too clouded to recharge the artifact is left at the storyteller's discretion.
Abyssal – Flesh to Essence Converter (•••, repair 1
By touching the device and spending a single mote of Essence, the Flesh to Essence Converter releases 36 motes to its wielder, which may be absorbed and added to his peripheral Essence Pool. This may not bring him above his usual limit, and any excess Essence is lost. When the Essence is released, the artifact flares up, darkening the immediate area around the user. For the remainder of the action, he acts as though he had a totemic Dusk caste anima banner active, complete with Dusk anima power, no matter what kind of Essence user he is. From the following action, the banner fades at a factor 10 rate.
The Flesh to Essence Converter must be recharged, and this is done by plunging it into the flesh of a living being. When placed in a living a being, the device does one die of lethal damage every minute, by writhing its jagged ends into the flesh and eating and gnawing of the creature. Dependant on the type of creature the Flesh to Essence Converter feeds on, it regains motes of Essence. Humans and like creatures yield 3 motes of Essence per health level inflicted. Animals and other beasts yield 1 mote.
The experience of being eaten alive and having your body converted to Essence by a soulsteel device is an exceedingly painful one. When under the 'attack' of a Flesh to Essence Converter, victims suffer a -3 internal penalty due to the pain. The device may be used as a weapon in combat with the following stats: spd. 5, acc. -2, dam: +1L, def. -1, rate 2. In order to activate the device, it must cause at least one health level of damage. Once activated, an unrestrained target may remove it as a diceless miscellaneous action. As a final note, the process of being converted from flesh to Essence is also an exceedingly messy one, with the device spurting blood, gore, and body residue everywhere for the entire of the recharging process, which may easily take more than 10 minutes/victim.
Sidereal – Fallen Star (•••�, repair 1
Made from steel and starmetal, the Fallen Star is a perfectly round sphere, measuring 2 inches across. The surface is polished steel, with intricate carvings inlaid with starmetal. Relatively many of these artifacts have been constructed because of the small amount of starmetal required in the construction process. That being said, a Fallen Star is extremely difficult to obtain anywhere in Creation, as their whereabouts are almost certainly known by this sidereal or that.
Touching the Fallen Star and reflexively spending a mote of Essence immediately releases 36 motes, which are absorbed by the user and added to his peripheral Essence Pool. This may not bring him above his usual limit, and any excess Essence is lost. When the device releases its stored Essence, it immediately drains some of the ambient Essence of the user. During the five following ticks of having activated a Fallen Star, the user's anima banner goes down one level (i.e. If it was at the 11-15 mote level, it decreases to the 8-10 mote level within 5 ticks). This effects persists even if the user spends peripheral essence during these five ticks. However, if he spends peripheral essence during the 5 ticks, me must pay a one mote surcharge, that is absorbed by the Fallen Star.
The knowledge of how to recharge a Fallen Star is a closely guarded secret. In order to recharge the Fallen Star, the user must send a prayer to one of the minor branches of the Bureau of Heaven. It is prepared in much the same way as a petition to the Pattern Spiders, though simpler by far. The prayer to be sent is a standard form, needing no specific wording or materials to prepare (no roll required, assuming the user has the proper knowledge of how to prepare petitions to the heavens, and knows which branch of the Bureau of Heaven to address). Usually the prayer is processed and the Fallen Star recharged within 12 hours. This time can be shortened (or lengthened) by having placed appropriate bribes within the Bureau of Heavens.
Dragon-Blooded – Device of Resplendent (Elemental) Essence Unleashed (••�, repair 1
The Devices of Resplendent (Elemental) Essence Unleashed all function in the same way. A box stores 31 motes of Essence, and the user may release the stored Essence by touching the box and reflexively spending a mote of Essence. When the stored Essence is unleashed, it is followed by an elemental effect. This effect only affects the user of the box, and cannot be used as an attack.
Air – Lightning Box - See Wonders of the Lost Age, p. 60
Earth – Box of Stability:
When the Box of Stability is activated, the user is overwhelmed by the Earth Essence pouring into him, and he is immediately rendered inactive for 5 ticks. Earth aspected Dragon-Bloods are immune to this effect.
The Box of Stability is recharged by bringing it to the deep places of the world, abundant with Earth Essence. It must be placed in the deepest part of a cave, and left undisturbed for a full day in order for it to align itself with and absorb the earth Essence flowing around it. If the recharge location isn't 'earthen' enough, the storyteller should not allow the box to be recharged, or at least extend the recharge time significantly. If the box is left too long in a deep place, it will continue to concentrate Earth Essence. When the box is full, the resulting concentration of Earth Essence will eventually result in earthquakes of increasing strength and frequency. If left indefinitely, the immediate region surrounding the cave will be plagued by frequent and violent earthquakes.
Fire – Inferno Box:
Activating the Inferno Box, causes the Essence that is diverted into his body to explode in a short burst of flame, that erupts around his body. Upon spending the mote to activate the Inferno Box, the user suffers 10 dice of unsoakable lethal damage. Fire aspected Dragon-Blooded are immune to this effect.
In order to recharge the Inferno Box, it must be placed in an extremely hot place, such as a bonfire or the hearth of a smithy, for a full day. The fire must be kept burning at maximum heat at all times. If the fire is allowed to lose intensity, the recharging of the box should be slowed considerably or stopped altogether, at the storyteller's discretion. If a fully charged Inferno Box is left in a hot place, such as a smithy's fireplace, it will slowly gather fire Essence about it, causing the fire to burn longer and with growing intensity. If left long enough, it will create a magically strong fire which will burn indefinitely.
Water – Undertow Sphere:
When activating this box, the water Essence unleashed in the body of the wielder manifests in an explosion of water bursting out through every pore in his body. He suffers 10 dice of unsoakable lethal damage when activating this Device of Resplendent Water Essence Unleashed. Water aspected Dragon-Bloods are immune to this effect.
Placing the Undertow Sphere in deep waters and/or a place with strong currents recharges it. The sphere sinks steadily to the bottom of whatever body of water it is placed in, and no current, no matter how strong, can or will move it. If left undisturbed on deep waters or in a place with a very strong current (such as just before a river becomes a waterfall) for a full day, the box is recharged. If a fully charged box is left unattended it will start to gather water Essence around it. Currents will become increasingly treacherous and rivers will swell over time, until a shore or a portion of a river is frequently plagued by random swells and strong, unpredictable currents.
Wood – Essence Seed:
When activated, the Essence infusion disrupts the body of the user, warping his blood and turning it into, and infecting him with, a strong plant toxin with the following stats: damage 10L/action, toxicity 4, tolerance /, penalty -2. Wood aspected Dragon-Bloods are immune to this effect.
In order to recharge the Essence Seed, it must be placed somewhere associated with life and growth. Such a place could be a field in the spring, in the deep jungle, or in a brothel. The seed must be left undisturbed for a full day for it to replenish its Essence stores. If the area in which it is left is not vibrant with life, the replenishing process is slowed considerably or halted altogether. Whether a place qualifies as a recharging area is left to the storyteller's discretion. If the seed is left fully charged and undisturbed for a prolonged period of time, living things in its immediate vicinity will begin to be influenced by the concentration of wood Essence. The lust for procreation will be heightened, conception is more likely to occur, trees, plants, and weeds will grow faster and richer, etc., until the area becomes a small wilderness oozing of life.
Essence Storage Devices (version 1.0) - Expanded rules for artifacts like the Lightning Box in different MMs
Level 2-3 Artifact
Since the first age, Exalted of the different types have created devices, which allow them to store additional Essence, or to replenish their stores when they have run dry. The shape and function of these devices vary, as do the ways they are recharged. Similar to all of them is, that upon activation, the device returns to the user an amount of essence, which for all intents and purposes count as peripheral. This boost of Essence cannot exceed the Exalt's usual peripheral Essence pool, and excess motes are lost.
Descriptions:
Solar – Sun's Single Light:
Sun's Single Light is a small, thin slate of silver and orichalcum. It is perfectly rectangular and measures 2 inches times 5 inches, and it is about a quarter of an inch thick. Always aesthetically pleasing to the eye, these slates are made to either be hung from the belt as a decorative device, or sewn into clothes or boots, or maybe fitted in between the plates of a suit of armor. Despite its name, hundreds of these artifacts were forged during the first age.
Lunar – Moonbeam Prison:
Built as a slightly oval cylinder measuring two inches in length and no more than an inch on its widest spot, the Moonbeam Prison is a small device, most often used as a decoration of sorts, tied to an object, braided into hair, or attached to clothes. Many have elaborate carvings and symbols, though some do not feature any sort of engraving.
Abyssal – Flesh to Essence Converter:
The Flesh to Essence Converter is a small device, consisting of a round, thin plate, a little more than 2 inches in diameter, from which protrudes five 5-inch points perpendicular to the center plate. If two of these devices were put opposite of each other, they would form a perfect 2 × 5 inch cylinder. The device is made entirely of soulsteel, and the inside surface of the center plate is carved out to be some kind of maw or mouth.
Sidereal – Fallen Star:
Made from steel and starmetal, the Fallen Star is a perfectly round sphere, measuring 2 inches across. The surface is polished steel, with intricate carvings inlaid with starmetal. Relatively many of these artifacts have been constructed because of the small amount of starmetal required in the construction process. That being said, a Fallen Star is extremely difficult to obtain anywhere in Creation, as their whereabouts are almost certainly known by this Sidereal or that.
Dragon-Blooded - Device of Resplendent (Elemental) Essence Unleashed:
First developed by their Solar masters in the First Age, these devices were built to extend the fighting capability of the Terrestrials. Thousands were crafted in secret prior to the Usurpation by the Sidereals, and production of these devices continued by the Dragon-Blooded themselves during the Shogunate and to some extent, the Second age.
Common for these boxes are that they look approximately the same: a twelve-sided box, roughly two inches in diameter, and made entirely of a single color of jade.
Air: Lightning Box - See Wonders of the Lost Age, p. 60
Earth – Box of Stability:
This Device of Resplendent Earth Essence Unleashed is made of white jade. The surface of the device is polished and perfectly even.
Fire – Inferno Box:
The Inferno box is made entirely of red jade. The edges and points of the twelve-sided box are jagged and uneven.
Water – Undertow Sphere:
While still technically twelve-sided, the sides of the box have been rounded to an extent, where it is hard to tell if it is a box or a sphere. The Undertow Sphere is made entirely of black jade.
Wood – Essence Seed:
The surface of this box is rough and bumpy, being made of unpolished green jade.
Rules:
Solar – Sun's Single Light (•••, repair 1
The device activates by touching it, and spending a single mote to release the stored Essence. The user immediately restores 36 motes of Essence. This may not bring him above his usual limit, and any excess Essence is lost. When the Essence is released, the artifact flares up, and the user acts as if he had a totemic Solar Dawn caste anima banner active, complete with Dawn anima power, for the remainder of the action, no matter what kind of Essence user he is. From the following action, the banner fades at ten times the normal rate.
In order to recharge Sun's Single Light, the device must be left undisturbed in an open space, where it draws its Essence directly from the Sun. It recharges 3 motes/hour in clear sunlight, and 1 mote/ hour if it is even slightly clouded. Whether or not it is too clouded to recharge the artifact is left at the storyteller's discretion.
Lunar – Moonbeam Prison (•••, repair 1
The Moonbeam Prison is activated by touching it and reflexively spending a mote of Essence. Doing so immediately restores 36 motes of Essence to the user. This Essence is considered peripheral, and may not exceed his usual limit. Any excess Essence is lost. The Essence released causes the air around the user to shift and bend, blurring the form of the user and disturbing the eyes of any onlookers. The user may immediately try to conceal himself using stealth, even if he is standing in plain sight. He gains 2 automatic successes on the stealth roll. The effect lasts only for a single action, though, so unless he has some means to keep himself hidden, he will quickly be rediscovered.
The Moonbeam Prison is recharged by placing it in an open space. If left undisturbed it recharges 3 motes/hour in clear moonlight, or 1 mote/hour if it is even slightly clouded. Whether or not it is too clouded to recharge the artifact is left at the storyteller's discretion.
Abyssal – Flesh to Essence Converter (•••, repair 1
By touching the device and spending a single mote of Essence, the Flesh to Essence Converter releases 36 motes to its wielder, which may be absorbed and added to his peripheral Essence Pool. This may not bring him above his usual limit, and any excess Essence is lost. When the Essence is released, the artifact flares up, darkening the immediate area around the user. For the remainder of the action, he acts as though he had a totemic Dusk caste anima banner active, complete with Dusk anima power, no matter what kind of Essence user he is. From the following action, the banner fades at a factor 10 rate.
The Flesh to Essence Converter must be recharged, and this is done by plunging it into the flesh of a living being. When placed in a living a being, the device does one die of lethal damage every minute, by writhing its jagged ends into the flesh and eating and gnawing of the creature. Dependant on the type of creature the Flesh to Essence Converter feeds on, it regains motes of Essence. Humans and like creatures yield 3 motes of Essence per health level inflicted. Animals and other beasts yield 1 mote.
The experience of being eaten alive and having your body converted to Essence by a soulsteel device is an exceedingly painful one. When under the 'attack' of a Flesh to Essence Converter, victims suffer a -3 internal penalty due to the pain. The device may be used as a weapon in combat with the following stats: spd. 5, acc. -2, dam: +1L, def. -1, rate 2. In order to activate the device, it must cause at least one health level of damage. Once activated, an unrestrained target may remove it as a diceless miscellaneous action. As a final note, the process of being converted from flesh to Essence is also an exceedingly messy one, with the device spurting blood, gore, and body residue everywhere for the entire of the recharging process, which may easily take more than 10 minutes/victim.
Sidereal – Fallen Star (•••�, repair 1
Made from steel and starmetal, the Fallen Star is a perfectly round sphere, measuring 2 inches across. The surface is polished steel, with intricate carvings inlaid with starmetal. Relatively many of these artifacts have been constructed because of the small amount of starmetal required in the construction process. That being said, a Fallen Star is extremely difficult to obtain anywhere in Creation, as their whereabouts are almost certainly known by this sidereal or that.
Touching the Fallen Star and reflexively spending a mote of Essence immediately releases 36 motes, which are absorbed by the user and added to his peripheral Essence Pool. This may not bring him above his usual limit, and any excess Essence is lost. When the device releases its stored Essence, it immediately drains some of the ambient Essence of the user. During the five following ticks of having activated a Fallen Star, the user's anima banner goes down one level (i.e. If it was at the 11-15 mote level, it decreases to the 8-10 mote level within 5 ticks). This effects persists even if the user spends peripheral essence during these five ticks. However, if he spends peripheral essence during the 5 ticks, me must pay a one mote surcharge, that is absorbed by the Fallen Star.
The knowledge of how to recharge a Fallen Star is a closely guarded secret. In order to recharge the Fallen Star, the user must send a prayer to one of the minor branches of the Bureau of Heaven. It is prepared in much the same way as a petition to the Pattern Spiders, though simpler by far. The prayer to be sent is a standard form, needing no specific wording or materials to prepare (no roll required, assuming the user has the proper knowledge of how to prepare petitions to the heavens, and knows which branch of the Bureau of Heaven to address). Usually the prayer is processed and the Fallen Star recharged within 12 hours. This time can be shortened (or lengthened) by having placed appropriate bribes within the Bureau of Heavens.
Dragon-Blooded – Device of Resplendent (Elemental) Essence Unleashed (••�, repair 1
The Devices of Resplendent (Elemental) Essence Unleashed all function in the same way. A box stores 31 motes of Essence, and the user may release the stored Essence by touching the box and reflexively spending a mote of Essence. When the stored Essence is unleashed, it is followed by an elemental effect. This effect only affects the user of the box, and cannot be used as an attack.
Air – Lightning Box - See Wonders of the Lost Age, p. 60
Earth – Box of Stability:
When the Box of Stability is activated, the user is overwhelmed by the Earth Essence pouring into him, and he is immediately rendered inactive for 5 ticks. Earth aspected Dragon-Bloods are immune to this effect.
The Box of Stability is recharged by bringing it to the deep places of the world, abundant with Earth Essence. It must be placed in the deepest part of a cave, and left undisturbed for a full day in order for it to align itself with and absorb the earth Essence flowing around it. If the recharge location isn't 'earthen' enough, the storyteller should not allow the box to be recharged, or at least extend the recharge time significantly. If the box is left too long in a deep place, it will continue to concentrate Earth Essence. When the box is full, the resulting concentration of Earth Essence will eventually result in earthquakes of increasing strength and frequency. If left indefinitely, the immediate region surrounding the cave will be plagued by frequent and violent earthquakes.
Fire – Inferno Box:
Activating the Inferno Box, causes the Essence that is diverted into his body to explode in a short burst of flame, that erupts around his body. Upon spending the mote to activate the Inferno Box, the user suffers 10 dice of unsoakable lethal damage. Fire aspected Dragon-Blooded are immune to this effect.
In order to recharge the Inferno Box, it must be placed in an extremely hot place, such as a bonfire or the hearth of a smithy, for a full day. The fire must be kept burning at maximum heat at all times. If the fire is allowed to lose intensity, the recharging of the box should be slowed considerably or stopped altogether, at the storyteller's discretion. If a fully charged Inferno Box is left in a hot place, such as a smithy's fireplace, it will slowly gather fire Essence about it, causing the fire to burn longer and with growing intensity. If left long enough, it will create a magically strong fire which will burn indefinitely.
Water – Undertow Sphere:
When activating this box, the water Essence unleashed in the body of the wielder manifests in an explosion of water bursting out through every pore in his body. He suffers 10 dice of unsoakable lethal damage when activating this Device of Resplendent Water Essence Unleashed. Water aspected Dragon-Bloods are immune to this effect.
Placing the Undertow Sphere in deep waters and/or a place with strong currents recharges it. The sphere sinks steadily to the bottom of whatever body of water it is placed in, and no current, no matter how strong, can or will move it. If left undisturbed on deep waters or in a place with a very strong current (such as just before a river becomes a waterfall) for a full day, the box is recharged. If a fully charged box is left unattended it will start to gather water Essence around it. Currents will become increasingly treacherous and rivers will swell over time, until a shore or a portion of a river is frequently plagued by random swells and strong, unpredictable currents.
Wood – Essence Seed:
When activated, the Essence infusion disrupts the body of the user, warping his blood and turning it into, and infecting him with, a strong plant toxin with the following stats: damage 10L/action, toxicity 4, tolerance /, penalty -2. Wood aspected Dragon-Bloods are immune to this effect.
In order to recharge the Essence Seed, it must be placed somewhere associated with life and growth. Such a place could be a field in the spring, in the deep jungle, or in a brothel. The seed must be left undisturbed for a full day for it to replenish its Essence stores. If the area in which it is left is not vibrant with life, the replenishing process is slowed considerably or halted altogether. Whether a place qualifies as a recharging area is left to the storyteller's discretion. If the seed is left fully charged and undisturbed for a prolonged period of time, living things in its immediate vicinity will begin to be influenced by the concentration of wood Essence. The lust for procreation will be heightened, conception is more likely to occur, trees, plants, and weeds will grow faster and richer, etc., until the area becomes a small wilderness oozing of life.
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