ARTIFACTS
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CoinspinnerCoinspinner is also called the Coin of Chance. It has a pair of dice engraved in white on its surface, and a effigy of a face on the other side.
Coinspinner gives its holder incredibly good luck, and brings misfortune on anyone trying to harm or hinder its current possessor. However, the Coin of Chance is the most unpredictable of all the Artifacts, having a nasty habit of leaving its owner when they need it most.
Coinspinner seems to be endowed with a limited form of intelligence. Should one take one's eyes off of it, Coinspinner can teleport to a new destination and a new owner (and, on at least one occassion, leaving behind a gold coin. Whether or not this occurs every time the Artifact takes itself elsewhere is unknown). Totally unpredictable, this Artifact is very good at creating distractions to achieve this purpose.
While a person holds Coinspinner, even if it remains in someone's pocket, they are blessed with supernatural good luck. If they were playing poker, every hand would win. If they were walking a tightrope, they wouldn't fall, and if they did fall, one can be sure that the fall would not harm them, and result in a personal profit.
A secondary use of the Coin is that it can function similar to Wayfinder, by pointing the user in the general direction of something they are searching for. It apparently doesn't home as strongly as Wayfinder, nor does it lead its possessor to interim goals required for successfully reaching the object of their desire. However, with the luck of Coinspinner, it is likely the user would be able to deal with any difficulty they meet with while en route. Until, that is, the Coin of Chance decides it is time to go.
Often Coinspinner will create a rebound effect of bad luck to its former owner after it leaves. It is not uncommon for Coinspinner to leave its master for his arch rival, with disastrous results. Therefore, Coinspinner serves as a wild card, making total control of the Artifacts of Power an impossible proposition. Because of this unpredictability, Coinspinner has often been the target of destruction for Shieldbreaker by those who wish to control all of the Artifacts, but Coinspinner always seems to escape its fate and slip away.
This artifact is currently owned by Ryugi Kazamaru.-
DoomgiverDoomgiver is also called the Shield of Justice. It has a hollow circle engraved in white upon its surface.
Doomgiver is one of the least understood of all the Artifacts.
Doomgiver is poorly understood because of the ambiguity of its use. It was observed to turn any attack directed toward it back to the source. If an arrow is fired at the wielder of the Shield of Justice, the arrow would turn around in mid-flight and fatally strike the archer. It also in general redirects maliciousness directed toward the one who holds it.
This artifact is currently owned by Henry Mere.-
DragonslicerDragonslicer also called the Lance of Heroes. It has a stylized dragon engraved in white along it's length.
Dragonslicer is one of the few Artifacts that is wholly benevolent in nature. In this world, Dragons are enarly extinct, but still a very real threat to us as a whole-- aside from the rare good natured dragon.
Dragonslicer guides its user into the right place to deliver a fatal blow to any dragon, and can peirce through dragon scale (and limbs, and tails, etc) as easily as soft butter. However, care must still be taken, for Dragonslicer does not actually magically protect its wielder against a dragon's various means of attack.
When not employed against dragons, it is simply an exceptionally sharp, well balanced, and well crafted lance that is proof against almost any damage, but offers no magical advantage. Thus, it is one of the least feared of the Artifacts -- at least by humanity.
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FarslayerFarslayer is also called the Bow of Vengeance. It has a series of concentric circles in the form of a bullseye or target engraved upon its design.
Farslayer is relatively straightforward in operation. The possessor must simply notch a normal arrow to the bow and think of the person whom they wish to kill while chanting, "For thy heart...", and then release it. The arrow flies from the bow, creating a shrieking rainbow-colored streak through the sky, terminating in the heart of the intended target. Nothing can be done to hide from Farslayer. Farslayer will pierce any substance that is placed between it and its target. Assassinations have taken place with the target in houses, fortified castles, even in caves hundreds of feet under ground. Distance from the target is also no obstacle. Only Shieldbreaker, and Doomgiver, as well as Woundhealer offer defense from the Bow of Vengeance.
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WoundhealerWoundhealer is also called the Sword of Mercy, and less frequently, the Sword of Love. It bears an open human hand engraved in white on its hilt.
Woundhealer is the only Artifact utterly incapable of killing. Instead, when flesh is touched with the obsidian blade, it has a powerful healing effect. The sword can instantly knit broken bones, heal any disease, fix genetic disorders, even regenerate lost limbs. Properly employed, it can enable its user to sustain terrific amounts of damage without dying. The sensation of Woundhealer healing an individual is described as a sort of exquisite pain. Woundhealer works on any living thing, human or animal. It is not known to restore the dead to life, though it could arguably revive a recently, or clinically dead person.
Woundhealer does not project a healing aura. The sword must come into contact and break the skin of the person being healed. Woundhealer can be self administered. For example, one could plunge the blade into one's chest, jump off a high cliff, and survive the fall, though it would not spare the individual from the pain and shock of the experience. The time of effect depends on the severity of injury or sickness, and proximity of the sword to the problem area. While Woundhealer can eventually repair a broken leg by being stuck into the patient's heart, the healing is instantaneous when it is sliced through the affected limb. It has also taken Woundhealer several weeks to completely regenerate a lost arm after a single application.
When in action, Woundhealer emits a sound similar to a human sigh.
This artifact is currently owned by Maximar Alvineon Dark.-
MindgemThe Mindgem is also known as the Gem of Glory, or by the pejorative Skulltwister. It has a flying banner engraved in white on its gleaming surface.
The amulet is one of the more overtly evil of the Artifacts. It is difficult to imagine a good cause Skulltwister would be associated with. The amuletd, when worn, compels absolute and fanatical devotion to the person wearing it. It emits a bright glow and the faint roar of a cheering mob, which cannot be blocked out by covering ears or averting eyes. All who are in visual or aural range are affected.
The strength of the devotion is such that one under the amulet's power would even throw their life away if so ordered. There is no possibility of resisting or recovery, except for the passage of time. When removed from the amulet's presence, a person will gradually begin to lose the unnatural loyalty they felt toward the gem's bearer and show signs of skepticism and then increasing rebelliousness before finally regaining their own mind. It takes around a week to fully recover, depending on the relationship between the target and the wielder, and the wielder's own personal charisma.
As if that was not enough, the amulet seems to have another, lesser property as well - wounds made from its user fester, preventing healing and possibly leading to fever and delirium. At one point, only the intervention of Woundhealer was enough to save one character from what was, arguably, little more than a light wound.
Other Artifacts provide some protection from the mind-control effect of Skulltwister, by virtue of their hold on the user's psyche. Sightblinder has offered resistance, although it still takes a great deal of willpower from the affected wielder. Soulcutter will trump Skulltwister's power, but in this case the cure can be worse than the disease. Shieldbreaker of course offers absolute immunity when employed.
The Mindgem is one of the few Artifacts that is always "on". On occasions when it has been abandoned in an unworn state, it emits a constant flow of psychic strain that starts several hundred meters from the gem itself, intensifying to near unbearable levels the closer one gets, inducing madness in those caught unprepared and without resolve. The "Gem of Glory" is one of the most sought after of all the Twelve. Tyrants want it to dominate others, and good men want it locked up where it can do no harm, or destroyed if possible.
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ShieldbreakerShieldbreaker is also called the Sword of Force, and occasionally 'the Widowmaker.' It has a war hammer engraved in white on its hilt. It is arguably the most powerful of all Artifacts.
When drawn, it offers absolute protection against all armed enemy attacks, including melee, ranged, and magical. It also interprets demonic or animal assault with tooth and claw as a weaponized attack and destroys the demon or animal on contact. When any weapon is brought against Shieldbreaker, it emits a rhythmic throbbing or hammering sound, that steadily increases in volume and speed as it is used in combat. When its blade comes into contact with any weapon, the weapon is destroyed, shattering into many fragments with explosive force. This often has a deleterious (even lethal) effect on the opponent.
Once it is unsheathed in combat, Shieldbreaker will not allow the user to let go of its hilt until the source of danger has been overcome or destroyed. The sword actually takes control over its wielder, directing his or her arms automatically to block incoming attacks, and to carry out counter attacks, imparting superhuman speed and strength if required.
While Shieldbreaker is unbeatable in armed combat, it does have a weakness. Literally, none, or no weapon, stands to Shieldbreaker. The Sword of Force is useless against an unarmed foe. The one way to successfully attack a person bearing Shieldbreaker would be to drop one's weapons and grapple with him. Not only will Shieldbreaker pass harmlessly through one's body if they are unarmed, but the wielder's physical strength will be greatly diminished, as all of their physical strength is literally being drawn into their sword-arm to wield Shieldbreaker. Since he is also unable to drop Shieldbreaker until combat is resolved, he is essentially helpless. Since this weakness was discovered, many showdowns involving Shieldbreaker end up in elaborate games of chicken involving dropping, picking up and repeated feints with the Sword and conventional arms.
Counters have been developed, including using a conventional sword to dispatch unarmed opponents while holding Shieldbreaker with one's off arm, though this requires some skill in swordplay and one must account for the personal strength the Artifact saps. Shieldbreaker is also a popular choice for dual sword wielding, since any other sword will greatly offset Shieldbreaker's weakness, with the exception of Woundhealer.
Shieldbreaker can destroy other Artifacts as easily as everyday items, even Artifacts whose own power would seem to counteract the 'Widowmaker'.
This artifact is currently owned by Lazenca Miranda.-
SightblinderSightblinder is also called the Cloak of Stealth. It bears a stylized human eye embroidered in white upon its fabric.
Sightblinder's powers are twofold. First, it alters the appearance of its possessor. This is not via a traditional cloaking device or holographic projection, but it alters how outside agents perceive the person wearing the Cloak of Stealth. When a person looks at someone wearing Sightblinder, they either believe they are looking at someone they love and trust implicitly, or someone they intensely fear.
The illusion is complete, regardless of how perceptive or skilled the target may be. One may see Sightblinder as a parent, sibling, lover, god, or leader. Interestingly, in a situation involving multiple targets, every person will see something completely different from everyone else. The illusion may switch from a person one fears to a person one loves and back again, but the effect is so convincing that the person never doubts from moment to moment the identity of the person they are looking at. Sightblinder will disguise its bearer's voice if required. Sightblinder disguises itself as well, appearing as a cane, a scepter, another Artifact, or even as nothing at all, depending on what would enhance the illusion. In practice, the effect is similar to the Mindgem in that the target will obey without hesitation most commands given to them. Unlike the Mindgem, the subject will not totally disregard their base inhibitions and are unlikely to throw their life away for the illusion, unless that is what they are naturally inclined to do.
The major drawback to this effect is that it makes sneaking around impossible. When one appears as a fearsome god, demon, or the most intimate relationship a person has, they do not easily escape notice.
The second effect of Sightblinder is that it enhances the perceptions of the person carrying it. In particular, their eyesight and hearing are supernaturally keen. It also allows its bearer to see through other illusionary magic and effects, no matter what the origin or strength. It offers some protection from the Mindgem by allowing its user to see the true nature of the other Artifact's possessor. Sightblinder's wearer intuitively can tell when a person is being honest or deceitful. As powerful as Sightblinder's effects are, it cannot fool either the one who carries Shieldbreaker, or Farslayer if they are unfortunate enough to be targeted by the Bow of Vengeance.
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SoulcutterSoulcutter is also called the Blade of Despair, or the Tyrant's Blade. Unlike the other Twelve Artifacts, the Soulcutter's blade is a dull color lacking all luster that actually seems to draw light into itself, creating a pocket of localized gloom when drawn. It is also unique in that it is created in an oriental fashion, much like a katana, and bears no symbol or other marking on its black hilt.
When drawn, the Tyrant's Blade projects a field of total apathy that spreads to cover a fair-sized battlefield. Any creature caught within Soulcutter's sphere of influence immediately loses all interest in life and slumps to the ground in a state of profound depression. They are incapable of movement and take no notice of hunger, thirst, or exposure to elements. They will eventually die of deprivation if the Sword of Despair is not sheathed.
The critical drawback is that not even Soulcutter's wielder is spared this effect. In fact, once they draw the weapon, they cannot find the motivation to sheathe the Sword, making the choice to use the Sword of Despair the last one they make. If by some extreme intervention, like a person bearing Shieldbreaker entering the scene and covering the cursed Blade, Soulcutter's possessor will have aged at an extremely advanced rate, and still suffer severe long-term depression. Woundhealer can dispel most of the lingering mental effects, but the physical wasting is irreversible.
Because of the horrific effects of the Sword, and the personal cost to the one employing it, Soulcutter is rarely drawn. It is sometimes used to achieve a credible threat, where the mere knowledge that one possesses the Tyrant's Blade deters attack. Most actual uses have been out of extreme desperation as an act of last defense. Soulcutter has also been drawn to counteract the Mindgem's influence, and it should be noted that Soulcutter "prevailed".
Shieldbreaker and Soulcutter together would render a person for all intents and purposes invincible.
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StonecutterStonecutter is also called the Gauntlet of Siege. It has a wedge driving into a block engraved in white on its surface.
Stonecutter's use, like Dragonslicer, is highly specialized. It treats any stone of whatever thickness or density as easily as soft butter. When it is being used to this end, it emits a distinct hammering sound (like the sound of a chisel chipping away stone), which is louder or softer depending on the scale of its use.
As its name suggests, Stonecutter can be used to topple walls, but it can and has been used by artists to sculpt fine art (or even to cut fine gemstones). Like all of its fellow Artifacts, the Gauntlet of Siege makes an excellent conventional item in addition to its magical properties.
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TownsaverTownsaver is also called the Rod of Fury. It has a fist raised into the air engraved in white in the middle.
Townsaver's power is defending groups of helpless people. When its wielder wields it for this purpose, the quarterstaff emits a screaming sound and takes over control from the user, moving his arms with superhuman speed and power to defeat any attackers. It is not an overstatement to say that Townsaver can singlehandedly defeat an entire army.
Unfortunately, unlike many of its fellow Artifacts, such as Shieldbreaker, it does nothing to protect the actual wielder. In fact, it will use the wielder's body to deflect and absorb ranged attacks and other blows, if it is practical to do so and if the action will result in the protection of the people it is trying to defend. Townsaver will keep its wielder alive until the battle is over. If the user has sustained serious wounds during the battle, they can and often do die.
In addition, Townsaver will not allow its user to drop or relinquish its power once the battle has been engaged. The user is totally committed once Townsaver is drawn. Another weakness of Townsaver is that it will only defend groups of people. Two or more people can be considered a group by the weapon, but one is not; in addition, it will take no action to defend the user if he stands alone.
Of course, countermeasures have been developed to offset Townsaver's weaknesses somewhat. Giving the user strong armor is one that has been used with success. Since it is not the user's speed and power driving the weapon, it is possible to burden the wielder with heavy armor that would ordinarily be a fatal encumbrance.
Townsaver would make an ideal dual-wield weapon. Combined with Shieldbreaker, for example, it would be an almost unbeatable defense.
This artifact is currently owned by Sunstrike.-
WayfinderWayfinder is also called the Compass of Wisdom. It has an arrow engraved in white on its underside.
Wayfinder's chief power is guiding its bearer to whatever it is they seek. Not only will it lead one to their ultimate goal, it will also intelligently guide them to things that are required to successfully accomplish its mission. Wayfinder seems to do better and be more kind to its user when the request is broad and general, and less so the more specific the user is. Its main drawback is that while it picks routes that will eventually lead its master to success, it never picks the safest route, if one exists. It is the opinion of many of the past owners of the Artifact that it actually picks the worst, most dangerous path for its user to follow.
For example, if one were to seek great wealth, Wayfinder might lead one to a bank vault. But before doing so, it would lead one to the world's best safe cracker, and then the equipment he would need to break into the vault. If the safe cracker would need some sort of special compensation to cooperate, it would help one find that as well. When it is operating in this type of "seeker" mode, it quivers when it is being pointed in the right general direction, also subtly steering its possessor's arms as a kind of divining rod.
In addition, Wayfinder can also act as the ultimate Magic 8-ball, answering questions such as, "Which of these plates of food is poisoned?" or "Which of these men is lying to me?" It is unnecessary to vocalize these questions; a mental query is sufficient. Just like when it is in seeker mode, it indicates the correct answer by quivering when its needle is pointing in the correct direction. This is the chief reason Wayfinder is also dubbed the "Compass of Wisdom".
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The GodslayerFrom where everything develops, everything returns; from nothing to something, from something to nothing. Such is the power of Godslayer.
As its name implies, its sole purpose is the destruction of gods; however, this also includes extremely powerful fiend lords, arch-devil, and demon princes, which on the good and evil spectrum, are essentially the same thing as gods, who are worshipped and have similar abilities to empower their followers. Godslayer is a relatively unique weapon in a way that it does not conform to one single shape. It changes depending on the user, appearing as the simplest form of a weapon, lacking any sort of decoration or additional functions. This is because Godslayer was designed for the sole purpose of exterminating a target, especially a powerful one such as a god, in the quickest and most efficient manner available, disguised as just another unassuming mundane item. The weapon itself, without an owner, will always appear in the form of its last use.
For example, an expert swordsman is no good with an axe, for he does not possess the skill to use it efficiently or skillfully. Power is nothing without skill.
The power of Godslayer's effect is limited to the divine rank of the victim. Additionally, Godslayer's power even channels to items and channeled powers. Items and individuals blessed by entities which possess divine ranks from 1-20 (Divine rank 0 hero deities do not possess the ability to channel power) are rendered inert, losing all power immediately and permanently. A power channeled from a deity is erased and removed entirely. Items enchanted by magic however, are not affected by this power. Godslayer's power cannot be prevented by the means of divine protection of 1-20 rank or anti-magic as well as other forms of supernatural power. Godslayer possesses the ability to truly wound and leave scars on deities and cause permanent damage. In the case that Godslayer takes the form of a non-leathal weapon, against a deity, the damage potential it produces is augmented so that blows dealt will have the equivalent effect of a leathal weapon.
Divine Rank 0, Quasi/Hero DeitiesSuch beings are the least affected by Godslayer's power. Being as 'untrue' deities, hero deities simply lose their divine rank and immortality altogether and are rendered mortal. This means that a fatal wound or blow dealt by Godslayer will simply remove their divine status and leave them as a dead mortal and are susceptible to any restorative abilities.
Divine Rank 1-5, DemigodsUnlike hero deities, demigods are completely affected by Godslayer's power, as they do possess a real divine rank. A demigod killed by Godslayer, either by a mortal wound or fatal blow, will be completely annihilated; they lose their divine status, and their spirit is returned to the state of nothingness. Demigods do not possess avatars.
Divine Rank 6-10, Lesser DeitiesLesser deities, the weakest of true deities, are the most susceptible to Godslayer's power. A lesser deity killed by a mortal wound or fatal blow by Godslayer will be completely annihilated similar to that of demigods. However, as lesser deities do possess avatars, the deity's true form may not necessarily have to be directly killed by Godslayer's power to be affected by it. An avatar killed by Godslayer will also obliterate the lesser deity to which the avatar belongs.
Divine Rank 11-15, Intermediate DeitiesIntermediate deities are affected by Godslayer's power in the same was as lesser deities and demigods. However, they do possess some limited resistances against it. An intermediate deity who is directly (meaning true form) killed by a mortal wound or fatal blow will be completely annihilated. However, if the deity's avatar is slain instead, only the avatar is affected by oblivion, meanwhile the deity will lose one divine rank permanently, signaling a weakening of strength. An avatar of an intermediate deity that is slain by Godslayer will be completely annihilated in its place. The avatar may not be raised by any means, and the deity may never use the same avatar again, as it has been obliterated.
Divine Rank 16-20, Greater DeitiesGreater deities possess the most protection against Godslayer's power. Only by directly killing a greater deity's true form by a mortal wound or fatal blow will the deity be annihilated. Avatars of a greater deity slain by Godslayer are fully affected, similar to that of an intermediate deity; the deity may never use the same avatar again. However, a greater deity who suffers the loss of an avatar is only temporarily weakened, losing one divine rank for several hours before its strength is returned.
LimitationsThough Godslayer is an extremely powerful weapon, it does possess its limitations. Neither mortals nor forces, as they are outside of the spectrum of Godslayer's effects, are susceptible to Godslayer's power, though death is still inevitable if fatal wounds are dealt to mortals. Additionally, only mortals unassociated with a deity may make use of Godslayer's power.
The use of Godslayer's power is extremely limited. The weapon carries twenty charges. Once lost, a charge may not be re-acquired by any means aside from switching planes of existence, where it will replenish all twenty charges. For every deity killed by Godslayer, the number of charges it possesses is reduced by a number equivalent to the divine rank of the victim. Blessings placed on individuals and items removed by Godslayer do not contribute to this count. Once the number of Godslayer's charges reach zero, it will teleport itself away from the current plane of existence. However, if the number of charges in Godslayer ever reaches a negative number, the weapon explodes with enough force to disintegrate all but the toughest matter in a five foot radius. If broken by any possible means within reason of its power, Godslayer can be reforged like any other mundane item. Godslayer can only be permanently destroyed by depleting more charges than it contains. If rendered to a state that it may not be reforged (such as melted down and then ground to dust), the pieces will all relocate (teleport) and reform the weapon after a week in a random location anywhere within a five hundred mile radius of where it was rendered to such a state.