The process takes quite a bit of time, as Luci must properly bind this object to its ideal image by bathing it in The Well. A process that, if witnessed by a normal person, would likely result in some minor traumatic occurrences. Luci watches over the item the entire time to make sure it is not swallowed up into the inky mess. A lengthy sweat-inducing endeavor, but by its end, when Luci pulls the item from the reservoir, it is all worth it.
The items in question will sport a dark tint on the paint job and if Luci desires it, she can make its primary or secondary colors as dark as she wants. The symbol of The Well, a fragmented snowflake that closely resembles broken glass, will appear embossed somewhere visibly on the item, marking it as improved.
The Well is oblivion and vice versa. There is no being or creature exempt from the prices that it exacts upon those that meet it uncordially. And like a hook, when it sinks its fangs into you, it will rip you root and all at even the slightest weakness.
The Well is also eternal. As long as the universe turns and toils, and unless someone has the power to circumvent or mimic the powers of Oblivion, upgrades items will persist ad infinitum.
Idealism was always thought to exist solely in concept, to associate reality with mental ideals as opposed to material objects. That somewhere in the cosmic lands above, a perfect image of this "thing" exists, and only its material imitations are founded in "reality". But what if a material object could be elevated closer to the status of its ideal perfect image? A question Luci had asked herself for a period, and while it took some time, she managed to find a way.
This Artifact has been upgraded.
This Artifact receives 3 extra dice to all actions taken for its intended use. Attacking with an upgraded weapon grants +3 Weapon Damage instead of additional dice. While it is upgraded, the item cannot be destroyed. Upgraded Armor cannot be shredded. If it is a piece of Armor, it instead receives half that amount as bonus armor rating, rounded up.
Upgraded weapons count as any material your opponent might be particularly vulnerable to. Upgraded Armor cannot be circumvented by called shots. Upgraded Devices do not run out of fuel or energy.
This device can find any unusual energy in an area.
Expend a point of Battery and spend a minute. Investigate an area with a radius of up to 500 feet At the end of your investigation, roll Perception + Investigation at Difficulty 6.
You learn the following information about the area:
Possession of this Artifact causes the following Trauma to manifest over the course of a day: compulsion to never leave a teammate behind or harm a teammate. If you lose possession of this Artifact, the Trauma heals over the course of the next month.
Nikki focuses, channelling the raw, electric power of human potential into her crowbar. Voices, spirits, souls, wrenched from the Material and base and forming a blade of lightning around the metal. All of this stored energy can push the memories of people into her psyche, however.
When Kitty Lundstrum died, all of the energy absorbed over zir life, as well as zir volatile and rebellious nature was reborn as an electric conduit of human potential, Nikki Sparks...who'd later used this connection to tap into all death, and gained even more awareness and presence of others.
The anchoring, supernatural black hole parts of zir soul went...to other places.
This Artifact can be used as a club / improvised weapon. It is roughly the same size as a club / improvised weapon and just as difficult to conceal. Unless you Exert Your Mind or spend a point of Nimbus, which allows this weapon to work for 1d10 minutes and your Stop When I'm Dead power is active, this Artifact behaves as its mundane counterpart.
Attack by rolling Brawn + Melee, Difficulty 6. Successful attacks deal Contested Outcome +3 Weapon Damage.
Anyone who touches this Artifact will notice it warping their mind and may drop it. If they choose to hold or use it, they immediately receive the following Trauma: Whispers of Humankind: You must succeed on a Self-Control roll to avoid succumbing to the thousands of voices of the dead and in pain...losing control over yourself, repeating this roll at the end of each turn. If they lose possession of this Artifact, the Trauma heals over the course of the next day.
You also gain the following effects:
When channelling energy into it, the shield splits into millions of metal filings which soak into the skin and clothes of the target, leaving a grey gemstone and granting a first line of defense. If hit, it will sound and feel like hitting/breaking through a sheet of metal.
When the barrier is broken or runs out, the shield transforms back.
This shield is said to have been forged by the god Vulcan and gifted to the hero Aeneas, the mythical progenitor of Rome.
Even with modern equipment it is not fully understood whether the power of the shield is magical or technological or a combination of the two.
This artifact was loaned to one Jacob Sterns by the British Museum.
Exert your Mind and spend an Action. Select a Animate target within 20 feet. Roll Dexterity + Occult at Difficulty 6.
If you succeed, you create a barrier around your target, which absorbs the next Outcome + 4 Damage. The Damage reduction from the barrier is applied before Armor. This Artifact may only have 1 active barrier at a time.
The barrier will fall after two hours, or if it absorbs the full amount of Damage. When a barrier falls, you cannot use this Effect again for a minimum of 2 Rounds.
When delta radiation is nearby, it buzzes and lights up. There is also a little compass on the top that whirs around. When the device is positioned in a delta ray connection, the compass will point towards the source (north is the stronger side, south is the “receiver”).
Exert your Mind (unless you win a coin flip) and spend an Action.
You automatically detect all actively psychic beings within 50 feet of you for the next hour. This includes any who come within range during the duration. You have a sense of how many valid targets are nearby, as well as their distance and direction.
If no actively psychic beings targets are within 50 feet of you, and then one enters range, you automatically detect it, even if this Effect is not active.
The mad scientist can craft steel helmets that protect their wearers from mental influence and attack.
You gain the following benefits as long as you are wearing this Artifact.
You get +1 dice to any Mind resistance rolls you make. You also gain the following effects:
This device is a piece of chrome the size and shape of the back of a spoon. When placed against the skin, small hypodermic needles sprout from the device and attach it to the user's bloodstream. There, it filters and releases lifesaving drugs into the bloodstream, granting complete immunity from contracting new diseases and added resiliency in all other cases.
WARNING: The immunizing drugs have been shown to reduce inhibitions in test subjects.
You gain the following benefits as long as you are wearing this Artifact.
You get +2 dice to any Body resistance rolls you make. You also gain the following effects: