Date: Sun, 20 Mar 1994 13:52:00 BST
Sender: Mythus Fantasy Roleplaying Game List <[MYTHUS L] at [BROWNVM.brown.edu]>
From: "John R. Troy (JRT--Mad Demiurge of Vargaard)" <[j troy] at [genie.geis.com]>
Subject: JRT-ART: EE Sub (1)
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Enchanted Equipment Submission
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Written By John R. Troy
Date Submitted--November 14th, 1993
For Mythic Masters Magazine.
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Begin Text
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The Cane of the Colored Tiger.
History:
(From a "Talking Scroll" of the Mad Demiurge)
"Codex--activating audio portion"
"System Engaged--audio casting activating"
"Running Dweomer, 5-4-3-2-1-go"
Hello again from Vargaard all you readers and listeners. Well, based on
the fact you've activating this thing, you must wish to know the history of
magickal device named on this scroll and described hereafter. Said device
was created by Umbalo, a Francian native who lived from 816 - 901 AAF. He
was a powerful wizard and savant. All you history buffs out there might
know him as the legendary "Colored Tiger", as that was his heraldic device.
Time out. Synopsis for you guys who don't know about the Colored
Tiger. Umbalo, while gaining a lot of power and skill in his art, wasn't
very high on the social ladder, and kept his true power a secret. He lived
in a small village in Southern Francia--land of wine, fashion, and a giant
Tinkertoy! An Alchemist, Sage, and Heka-Forger by nature, he was an
isolated eccentric recluse, creating many special castings and devoting
himself to the betterment of the Art.
In the latter half of the last century, Umbalo became aware firsthand
of a growing evil. The vile Kyrpinicus was a half-demon who had amassed a
lot of Magickal power and has attempting to set up an empire in AEropa,
starting with Francia, and become more than the potency creature he was,
backed by the will of Hectate. Needless to say, one mean mutha! He acted
covertly, and had many agents in all of Western AEropa acting to fulfill
his desires.
Umbalo woke up and found this guy was playing for keeps, but he alone
couldn't fight the evil, and the various governments and eccesiastical
organizations dismissed his concerns. Church and State ignored him.
Checked at this level, Umbalo had a groovy Idea: form a counter-
organization to the growing evil. A few trusted companions found
adventurers and noble-hearted people of exceptional caliber--heroes in
soul. As servants of "The Colored Tiger", the identity undertaken by
Umbalo, said operatives, whether alone or with companions, fought
Krypinicus' agents where they could be found, usually covertly, all garbed
as "Knights" of the mysterious personage.
Because many of operatives were...well, we could say "wimps", compared
to some the powerful demonic agents of Kyrpinicus, Umbalo would spend a lot
of his time creating new magicks, heka objects, and special formulas to aid
his servants. One marvelous achievement of his was this cane. The cane
was designed to aid his agents in their operations. The primary power of
the cane was designed to get users anywhere in the Known Mutliverse, any
Dimension, Plane, or Sphere. Curless's Cute Corneas!--This guy
accomplished a powerful dweomer of near Supernatural Power virtually
unmatched by other mages. This is how the cane became known in legend.
When a rainbow-hued portal opened suddenly in the midst of an isolated
place, and adventures marked in the garb of the famed Colored Tiger, a
legend was formed!
Events came to a head in 900 AAF. Kyrpinicus and his agents had moved
to overthrow the Monarchy of Francia. They took a more overt path,
empowered by minor Divine Intervention from Hectate, as allowed via
astrological influence. The Stars were right, as they say. A large battle
took place inside the Royal Palace between Umbalo and Krypinicus. Umbalo
slew Krypinicus with Hekau and several powerful castings. By the end of
the melee, the potency half-demon was dissolving like a microwaved Nestle'
Bar! Krypinicus, however, exacted a powerful doom on Umbalo, saying "he
would die ignobly". The next year, he was bit by a krate and died. It's a
dismal way to go, I'll give you that.
With the death of their leader, the surviving members of the Colored
Tiger's band went their separate ways, some forming sub-groups themselves.
One of them, Brenda Dregurnia, a wisewoman of no small ability, gained
ownership of the Colored Tiger's Cane. She ended up becoming a founding
member of Kylar's Band. From what I've heard, she was a person you didn't
cross. The cane was seen in her hands by witnesses until 918, so I'm going
to assume she lost it in an adventure somewhere.
Having a powerful effect, the cane was apparently sought out by evil.
I got a vague report from Russ via one of my Mage correspondents about it.
Apparently, a peasant farmer was shocked to see a black-robed sorcerer
speaking to the legendary "grandmother" herself, the Hag-Ogre-Witch Baba
Yaga. Grandma Yaga apparently gave this cloaked wonder the Cane in return
for what looked like the rarest of all elemental gems--solid Heka! I don't
think the fool knew what he was giving up. I know this actually happened
because I occasionally get a visit from Baba's Daughter...the nice one, not
the nasty one. She confirmed this meeting.
Apparently, this cloaked figure was one of the servants of the foul
Babylonian Dragon Queen Tiamat. A radical sect of the Babylonian Monster-
Deity attempted an assassination of Ascendant Cwyhon V two years ago (991
AAF). Does the word superfanatics ring clear here? Anyway, a foul squad
of Priestcraefters, Dweomercraefters, Assassins, and a few summoned Dracos
servants of the Dark Diety used the power of the Cane's gate creation to
assault Peel. By the stupidity of Homer, don't these commandos ever learn
that assaulting people on their home turf is TOUGH to do. Of course their
collective butts were summarily kicked and the plan failed.
The cane is now presumably in the hands of the Kelltic Pantheon, at
least that is what they say. However, I have it on good authority that
they lost the cane due to a mishap involving the plane. Needless to say,
many a nation's grubby little spies are all working to aquire the cane!
Okay, well time for me to go...I'll end my personal thoughts on this
cane, before you guys start yawning. Included in the scroll is all the
cool stuff...in other words, a precis of the Cane's powers, presented in a
statistical model for ease of explaination.
"End Voice Message"
"Heka Expended--wait for heka regeneration before requesting again"
Description:
The Cane appears to be a polished wooden cane of unsurpased quality.
It is composed of Yew and has been treated with heka to appear as black. A
few runes of AEgyptian sort can be found on the cane. The cane is
protected by a Link Mask Ritual (see pg 221 of the Mythus Magick book)--
thus finding the command words or even detecting if it is magical.
Powers:
Innate Weapon powers (Available to all personas)
The cane is a magickal weapon. The Cane does an Extra 1D6 damage to
any target. As such, it is also considered a dweomered weapon for the
purposes of determining whether or not a creature can be affected by said
device. Note that in the hands of one with Martial Weapons skill--it can
be a very potent weapon.
Once per day, the cane can engage in a special attack. By shouting the
proper command word, the next successful strike will do 5d6 Impact damage
to the target. The user must strike a target within 1 BT after shouting
the command word, otherwise the effect is wasted.
Command Activated Powers:
Illumination: When the proper command word is spoken, the Tip of the cane
will glow with a bright white light. The light is equal to that of a torch
and illumates a 20' radius. This effect will last until dispelled or
negated via Heka, or until the user speaks the command word again.
Dectect Heka: When the proper command word is spoken and the wand is
illumated, the color of the light will change as the wand gains the ability
to dectect various forms of Heka. This power can only be used once/hour,
and lasts for 1 AT. During that time, whenever the wand is pointed at a
specific target, it will change color and intensity to indicate what type
of magick and the power of it. The colors shown by the wand are listed
here:
Color Type of Magick
Red -- Devilshine (Necromancy, Sorcery, Witchcraeft)
Orange -- Aportropism, Exorcism
Yellow -- Supernal (Sunlight/Moonlight) White School
Green -- Mysticism, Green School, Herbalism, Balance,
Spellsongs
Blue -- Elemental Castings, Conjuration, Alchemy, Astrology
Indigo -- Grey School, Shadowy Darkness
Violet -- Black School, Gloomy Darkness, Negative Energy
Dim - Bright -- Grade I - X
Constant -- Preternatural Levels
Shimmering -- Supernatural Levels
Strobeing -- Entital Levels
Dimensional Portal:
This special power of the cane provides an unusual form of
transportation to other places, spheres, planes, and dimensions. The power
takes 1BT of time to activate, and the user waves the cane while thinking
of the place he or she wishes to go. The user must make a successful roll
at DR Complex (x1.5), using either the personas MR Category or the Mutliversal
Plane/Spheres K/S area (if owned), whichever is best, to successfully
create the portal. Apply the dice roll modifiers to the chance from the
Create Portal Ritual on page 49 of the Mythus Magick book. Note that the
portal will not open unless the destination location is successful, so
there is no chance of going to the wrong place/plane/sphere.
On a successful roll, a very visible rainbow-hued portal then opens--
unusual for a portal. The portal is only one-way--to the "stepping" sphere
it accesses. The portal will stay open for 2BTs, then will disappear. The
portal opens into a special sphere. It is believed to be a sphere formed
in the 9th Dimension. When the other portal closes, another door opens
anywhere within 250' of their arrival. The door will stay open for 2 ATs,
then vanish. Thus the users must pass through the portal before it
vanishes. When the successfully pass through the portal, another Rainbow
portal will appear at the destination. This one will last until the last
member passes through or the time limit is exceeded. It is also a one-way
door. Note that, despite a possible time of 2 ATs spent in the other
sphere, time passes slower in the "stepping" sphere, so it only 2 CTs pass
for travel time.
Because the travel method involves the 9th Dimension, said portals can
appear virtually anywhere, and pass through ALMOST any barrier. Such
transportation usually can breach pentacles, force fields, dimensional
traps, and the like. Your JM will determine what types of barriers can't
be breached by this device.
The Sphere accessed is Earth-Like, with mostly Earth-like Flora and
elements. although there may be exceptions. The Magick of this sphere is
Mythus norm. Every time the power is used, a different area of the sphere
is accessed. Thus, a user may find themselves in a forest one time, a moor
another time, or a savannah field the next time. However, they will never
appear in any place that is hostile to the users--not in the ocean, a
volcano, in a hurricane, in mid-air, or the like.
There is a risk in this transport. First of all, it is possible for a
user of this device to become trapped in the sphere. If the second portal
closes on a traveler, said traveler is trapped in the sphere, until he or
she can find some way of escaping on his own. Note that if the cane
becomes trapped in the sphere, the cane will disappear to either the
previous sphere/plane it was on or the destination sphere/plane.
Secondly, there is a possibility of encountering malevolent creatures
in the "stepping sphere". Each time accessed, there is a 5% chance of
encountering a hostile creature. Furthermore, if the Cane is used more
than 1/Month, an extra 5% chance of hostile encounter is added per use, up
to a maximum of 35% chance of an encounter. JMs should note that this
sphere is similar to a "High Fantasy" world, thus strange creatures,
fantastic beasts, humanoids, or demons could be encountered. The specific
types of creatures encountered is up to the JM. Note that the reason
attention is drawn to the portals is because there are VERY FEW portals
created on this sphere, and dimensional/planar travel is extremely
difficult to do on this sphere. Thus, the attracted attention. The power
can only be used Twice/Week, and can't be used more than once every 3
Action Turns--thus preventing quick "pop-in/pop-out" operations.
Restricted Powers (Available to limited personas)
These powers can only be used by those who have any skill in
Dweomercraeft--they don't have to be of Dweomercraeft vocation, or of Full
Practice, just so long as they have STEEP in the skill. These users become
instantly aware of the other possible powers of this device. Note that
these powers cost half as much as castings of similar effect would. This
is because the device effectively adds Heka to the practioners via AEtheral
forces. All take 1 CT to activate.
* Lethargy Wave: This power allows the practioner to put a crowd on
non-hostile opponents to gradually nod off. The power has a
range of 1 Chain, and will affect all within a 10' radius of the
target. It affects all mundane forms of creatures who sleep, rest
or nap, such as animals, humans, humanoids, and certain Phaeree
creatures. It will not affect Demons, Golems, or Undead, for
example. Unless disturbed via combat, the victims will nod off
within 1 AT turns time, and stay asleep for 6D6 ATs. Victims make
avoidance at MR vs. Difficult, "Hard" if actively trying to stay
alert or having any skill in Heka, "Moderate" if any form of Full
Practioner. It costs 50 Heka points to activate, and can be used
3/day.
* Sunbeam: This is the same as the Grade V White School casting of
the same name. It lasts for 10 CTs, Costs 25 Heka, and can be
used 2/day. It has range of 100 yards and illuminates a 10'
width.
* Heka Beam: This power can only be invoked 1/day. It is
similar to the General Dweomercraeft Grade VIII Casting of the
same name. It has a maximum range of 10 furlongs. The power
requires 120 Heka and does 12D6 Impact Damage.
JM's Notes: This cane could be a good offensive weapon for players
interested in a multi-purpose device. It also makes for good campaign
material. The power of the Cane makes it such a device that would be
wanted by many of AErth's nations, leaders, powerful sects, secret
societies, and individuals. Note that the "stepping sphere" allows for a
demi-campaign or campaign development if the JM decides to give the beings
of that sphere an active role in the campaign. Could be interesting to
those up to the challenge.
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