Legendary Artifact

hangman's blade

Created and held by Elizabeth Vanderson.

the lucky rapier given to Elizabeth by her former captain before she threw him overboard,

This Artifact can be used as a thrusting sword. It is roughly the same size as a thrusting sword and just as difficult to conceal.

Attack by rolling Dexterity + Melee, Difficulty 6. Successful attacks deal Contested Outcome +4 Weapon Damage.

You also gain the following effects:

  • Any Injury inflicted is considered unstabilized even if its Severity is less than 4. The equipment and roll required to Stabilize it is treated as though it is a minimum of Severity 6.
  • Shredder: If you successfully hit your target, the value of any Armor they are wearing is reduced by 2. For material armor, this penalty lasts until it is repaired. For intrinsic armor, it lasts until the end of Combat and any relevant wound is healed.

  • Reminder: additional Weapon Damage granted by this Effect does not stack with any other bonus to Weapon Damage. Instead the largest bonus is used.
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Community Artifacts

Umbrae Defender

Created and held by Harold Polk.
The Umbrae Defender, an artifact crafted by Mr. Porter, is a seamless blend of elegance, defense, weaponry, and cutting-edge “black tech” capabilities, all concealed within the form of a refined umbrella.

The Umbrae Defender is outfitted with advanced adaptive projection technology, a system of micro-projectors and flexible nanomaterial layers that allow it to shift its appearance seamlessly. These micro-projectors emit an ultra-fine holographic overlay onto the umbrella’s surface, precisely adjusting colors, textures, and details to match the desired disguise. Meanwhile, an array of shape-memory polymers within the artifact’s frame enables it to collapse or expand at will, adjusting its size from a full umbrella down to something as compact as a passport.

Embedded RFID spoofing technology enables it to mimic the function of an ID card when scanned. This module temporarily broadcasts generic but plausible data without creating a traceable record in external systems, a key feature for bypassing low to mid-level security checks. However, the spoofed signals don’t generate true access credentials, so they won’t engage high-security systems.

The technology that drives the Umbrae Defender’s disguise capabilities uses pressure-sensitive smart polymers that detect attempts to use it in unintended ways. If the artifact is forced into actions outside its structure—such as being disguised as a knife and used to cut—these polymers signal the projection systems to suspend the illusion, ensuring it won’t compromise its own integrity. This amalgam of adaptive materials and projection tech makes the Umbrae Defender a marvel of modern concealment technology, tailored for a sleek, sophisticated, and covert user experience.

This Artifact can change its appearance. When not transformed, it is roughly the same size as a Umbrella but can be collapsed into Passport and concealed. Collapsing or expanding it costs a Quick Action.

Spend a Quick Action to activate. This Artifact changes its appearance into a chosen Object. This lasts until you decide to end the Effect, which may be done as a Free Action.

The new object's appearance can mimic specific items (such as a particular painting, a certain person’s ID, etc), but must be of a similar size and weight to this Artifact.

The new appearance is illusory; it will hold up to scrutiny, but its composition is not altered and it gains no new functionality. Any attempt to use it for a function which it cannot perform (for instance, making bread look like a knife and then trying to stab someone) will cause the illusion to fail or allow a Perception check to see through the illusion, at the GM's discretion.

When used as identification and scanned, the scanner will act appropriately and bring up appropriate generic information. Further searches for the identity in the computer will turn up no results. This will not open security doors on its own.

  • If there is not enough free space to expand the object, it cannot be expanded. You cannot expand this Object as an attack.
  • Changing the Artifact’s appearance does not allow you to conceal its Alien nature while any of its other Effects are in use.

The Umbrae Defender, crafted by Mr. Porter, is the epitome of a spy’s tool—an elegant umbrella concealing a sophisticated arsenal. Its sleek, high-end appearance masks a precision projectile system, allowing it to silently fire high-velocity darts that dissolve on impact, leaving no trace. A discreet grappling hook is hidden within one of the umbrella’s ribs, with a high-tensile micro-filament line capable of latching onto distant surfaces, allowing rapid ascents, controlled descents, or swift repositioning. In close quarters, the umbrella’s frame subtly shifts to reveal a razor-thin blade along its edge, effective for silent takedowns without sacrificing its refined look. With all mechanical functions silenced by an internal “Stealth Mode,” the Umbrae Defender remains as discreet as it is deadly, blending seamlessly into any environment while ready to adapt to any challenge.

This Artifact can be used as a crossbow. It is roughly the same size as a crossbow and just as difficult to conceal.

Attack by rolling Dexterity + Firearms, Difficulty 6. Successful attacks deal Contested Outcome +2 Weapon Damage. Attacks do not require a successful called shot to do damage.

You also gain the following effects:

  • Infinite Ammo: This weapon never runs out of its standard ammunition.
  • Leave No Trace: Your projectiles crumble or vanish after impact, leaving no meaningful trace of your assault beyond the wounds they leave. If your attack would kill or incapacitate your target, they make no sound, even incidentally, for the next Round.
  • Not Quite Flying: You may Exert your Mind and use up your Movement to “follow” any attack using this weapon, traveling right next to its point of impact.
  • Razor String: You may use this weapon as a melee weapon. Roll Dexterity + Melee to attack or defend. Successful attacks deal Outcome + 2 Weapon Damage

  • The attack must be the primary form of attack for this weapon.
  • Reminder: additional Weapon Damage granted by this Effect does not stack with any other bonus to Weapon Damage. Instead the largest bonus is used.

When activated, the Umbrae Defender processes its gathered data and displays the results on a concealed, high-resolution screen embedded discreetly into the handle. As the multispectral imaging completes, the screen illuminates, revealing a color-coded map of residues and fingerprints, each substance tagged and classified with forensic precision. Soil, pollen, or microscopic traces appear as glowing markers, each one identified by its chemical signature, presenting a clear visual of the object’s recent environments.

Next, the GPS data renders as a series of coordinates on a small map overlay, showing the object’s last known locations. These coordinates pulse on the screen, tracing a path of its journey, almost like a breadcrumb trail left by the item’s history. You can zoom in on these points to get a sense of specific places, each location tagged with approximate timestamps that correspond to environmental changes noted by the sensors.

The LIDAR-generated surface map appears as a 3D model on the screen, rotating slowly to display every scratch, dent, and mark on the object. Each detail is magnified, allowing you to examine wear patterns up close and trace the item’s handling history. This surface map provides clues about the object’s use, as well as how it may have been involved in the crime.

Finally, any available RFID data or manufacturing records load into a separate information tab on the screen. This section gives background details like the object’s origin, manufacturer, and production date, presenting a digital “birth certificate” of sorts. Each piece of information, meticulously presented on the screen, combines to create a clear, organized summary of the object’s journey, origin, and recent interactions—making the Umbrae Defender a powerful, portable investigative tool.

Exert your Mind and spend a minute. Select a evidence of crimes within arm's reach. At the end of your investigation, roll Intellect + Culture at Difficulty 6.

You learn all the following information about your target:

  • You receive gps coordinates, allowing you to discern where this object has recently been.
  • You gather information about where the object was made and when.
  • You receive scene of what caused evidence during the crime telling you who has used this object recently.
  • You learn the object's intended function and how to use it for its intended purpose, though not necessarily the ability to do so.
The quality and specificity of information gained depends on your Outcome.

You cannot investigate the same target more than once per day.

  • You can target yourself if you qualify as a valid target by the other requirements.
  • Your target must be within line of sight, or within range of another sense if more fitting for the Gift's flavor.

The latest enhancement to the Umbrae Defender integrates advanced “black tech” defenses, blending next-generation materials science with covert tracking systems. The artifact now houses a layer of hyper-dense nanofiber mesh, invisible to the naked eye, which disperses kinetic energy from physical attacks. This nanofiber technology, known only to certain government labs and high-clearance contractors, reduces incoming damage significantly, rendering most forms of physical assault virtually ineffective. Only specialized attacks with legally encoded identifiers can bypass this armor, making it uniquely selective.

This nanofiber defense system is reinforced with a self-repairing lattice structure, embedded with molecular memory. If breached or damaged, the mesh automatically reconfigures itself, restoring to full strength within an hour, regardless of the intensity of the assault. This tech is resilient to armor-shredding tactics and cannot be bypassed by targeted shots, ensuring that the defense remains robust and consistent.

Embedded within the artifact is a miniature LiDAR tracking and triangulation system, activated immediately upon impact. When the armor is hit, this tracking system triangulates the origin point of the attack, locking onto the source’s exact location for 30 seconds. Utilizing covert radio frequency analysis, it provides a precise, untraceable data relay to the wearer, giving them a real-time, 360-degree awareness of their assailant’s position. The Umbrae Defender, enhanced by these black tech innovations, offers not only unparalleled defense but also an elite tracking system, turning each encounter into a tactical advantage.

You gain the following benefits as long as you are wearing this Artifact.

You have 6, which reduces incoming damage from all sources of physical attack except Legally Justified Attacks. Armor from multiple sources does not stack.

Your Armor cannot be destroyed, and it always provides a minimum of 2 Armor regardless of any Armor shredding or penetration. It cannot be circumvented with Called Shots. When shredded, it returns to full potency in one hour.

Whenever your Armor reduces incoming Damage, you are immediately made aware of the source of the Damage. You may pinpoint their location for 30 seconds.

  • This Effect’s Armor rating cannot be increased by any other Effects.

Nocturnal's Blessing

Created and held by Luz.
A key with a strange set of key wards. The bow of the key is almost like a door handle, with a repeating pattern of green-blue and black spirals and dots.

A soft golden glow surrounds the artifact and the hand of the user, then spreads to the target. The sound of a lock's tumblers clicking into place echoes in the ears of those that are aware of the effect.

The first iteration of this item looks like the Skeleton Key from Skyrim. Nocturnal's priceless opener of all doors, her blessing to her most trusted. Because Luz is a nerd.

Exert your Mind and spend an Action. Select a Non-Alien door, container, knot, or lock within arm's reach that is no more complex than a standard commercial door, personal safe or a keycard reader.

You may lock, unlock, and/or open your target.

  • Operating some locking mechanisms through this Effect may have a secondary effect, such as a turn-key ignition on an older or cheaper car causing it to start or stop. Note that the locking mechanism itself must satisfy the standard targeting requirements (including line of sight), not just the vehicle.
  • Any mechanism that requires a key, keycard, key fob, or combination may be considered locked, at the GM's discretion. This Effect may be used on doors and containers secured with control panels or other electronic locks, but not computer security systems at large.
  • You can target yourself if you qualify as a valid target by the other requirements.
  • Your target must be within line of sight, or within range of another sense if more fitting for the Gift's flavor.

Inquisitor's Rapier

Created and held by Hector Salman.
A silver rapier with a gold guard

A silver rapier that flashes crimson whenever he uses any affect.

Inspired by the song: Soldier Poet King

Hector's coder heard the song "Soldier Poet King" and thought it actually fit Hector's "method acting" goal, deciding to make Hector's next gifts after the song

This Artifact can be used as a thrusting sword. It is roughly the same size as a thrusting sword and just as difficult to conceal.

Attack by rolling Dexterity + Melee, Difficulty 6. Successful attacks deal Contested Outcome +2 Weapon Damage.

You also gain the following effects:

  • Blade Breaker: If you successfully Defend against a melee attack or if an opponent is unsuccessful at Defending against your melee attack, you may break your opponent's weapon.
  • Lasersaber: Given time, you may demolish any object or wall. To destroy 1 cubic foot of material: spend 1 Action for material demolishable with a crowbar or sledgehammer, and 2 Actions for other materials (like steel).
  • Shredder: If you successfully hit your target, the value of any Armor they are wearing is reduced by 2. For material armor, this penalty lasts until it is repaired. For intrinsic armor, it lasts until the end of Combat and any relevant wound is healed.

  • Reminder: additional Weapon Damage granted by this Effect does not stack with any other bonus to Weapon Damage. Instead the largest bonus is used.

Thunder Gun: Mark 1

Created and held by Hudson Cherry.
A massive rifle made specifically to hunt the nastiest ghouls Milkwater has to offer, though it's still in its testing phases.

With effort, and time, Hudson can create a special rifle bullet which tears the flesh much more than is standard. In addition to bypassing armor as a regular round does, it shreds it as well, leaving gaping wounds in the armor of targets....and if a target finds themselves soft and unprotected, they are quickly destroyed.

Cherry Rounds are visually similar to the .950 JDJ, only made by Hudson in a custom press and

This Artifact can be used as a heavy sniper rifle. It is roughly at least twice as large as a heavy sniper rifle and cannot be concealed on your person or disassembled for storage.Unless you load a round of .950 Cherry, each taking around 2 hours to craft with hand tools or with an appropriate machine time varies, typically less than an hour, but costing $50 in raw materials, you succeed on a Difficulty 7 Brawn + Firearms roll to fire it (Difficulty 5 with a stand), and on a failure you suffer a Severity-3 Injury, or a Severity-4 on a Botch, this Artifact behaves as its mundane counterpart.

Attack by rolling Dexterity + Firearms, Difficulty 6. Successful attacks deal Contested Outcome +5 Weapon Damage.

You also gain the following effects:

  • Any Injury inflicted is considered Unstabilized no matter its Severity. The roll required to Stabilize it is treated as though it is a minimum of Severity 6. These wounds do not heal naturally, though Effects may still be used to heal them.
  • Bane: Injuries dealt to targets without Armor value are increased by 2 Severity levels.
  • Shredder: If you successfully hit your target, the value of any Armor they are wearing is reduced by 2. For material armor, this penalty lasts until it is repaired. For intrinsic armor, it lasts until the end of Combat and any relevant wound is healed.
  • Virtuoso's Vessel: When using this Device for its primary purpose, you always roll a minimum of 8 dice. Excludes Effect activation rolls.

  • This Artifact cannot be disguised or morphed with other Effects like Shape-Changing object.
  • Reminder: additional Weapon Damage granted by this Effect does not stack with any other bonus to Weapon Damage. Instead the largest bonus is used.
  • Rifles are +1 Difficulty to use in melee range. Sniper Rifles are +3 Difficulty to use without a tripod or in melee range. Setting up a tripod takes an Action.

CoDeT (Collective Delusion Transceiver)

Created and held by MOLL(ⲩ).
The CoDeT is used to make direct connection with MOLL(ⲩ)'s dream engine. With it, the borrowed power of the Somningenium is at your fingertips. Use it responsibly. Unconscious submersion for longer than two hours per day is not medically recommended.

An intense cyan light flares from the microprocessor's spot beneath the user's skin (typically installed on the back of the neck or base of the spine). The user's irises, as well as random capillaries in any body parts augmented by their borrowed powers, emit the same light until the channeling is complete.

Exert your Mind and spend an Action. Choose MOLL(y) as a target, regardless of how far away they are. Roll a single D10 as a critical failure check. If you roll a 1, the Effect fails, and you experience a catastrophic synchronization error - immediately gain all of MOLL(y)'s current traumas. If you would gain no traumas from this, roll to resist the following Trauma: 'Identity Sublimation - When using a secondary ability, roll Self-Control. On a failure, roll as though you had a score of 0 in the ability.'. Your target may Resist to cancel the transfer.

You may choose a single instance of one of the following to transfer from your target to yourself, or from yourself to them:

  • A single Power. Lasts two hours. You cannot transfer this Power.
This Effect cannot be used again for the next hour.

Whenever you transfer an Injury, it's Severity increases by 1. Whenever you transfer Mind damage or Traumas, the recipient takes an additional Mind damage.

  • If the Player that controls the selected Blood Bond target is not present and has not given prior authorization that their character consents to all transfers, the Effect fails. You cannot pause the game pending communication with a Player that is not present.
  • You can target yourself if you qualify as a valid target by the other requirements.
  • Your target must be within line of sight, or within range of another sense if more fitting for the Gift's flavor.

Stock Legendary Artifacts

255TE "Lancer" Rife

A metallic disk that, with the press of a button, expands into a futuristic-looking rifle.

This Artifact can be used as a rifle. It is roughly the same size as a rifle but can be collapsed into a metallic disk and concealed. Collapsing or expanding it costs a Quick Action.

Attack by rolling Dexterity + Firearms, Difficulty 6. Successful attacks deal Contested Outcome +5 Weapon Damage.

You also gain the following effects:

  • Silencer: The report of any shots you fire may be made silent at will.

  • If there is not enough free space to expand the object, it cannot be expanded. You cannot expand this Object as an attack.
  • Reminder: additional Weapon Damage granted by this Effect does not stack with any other bonus to Weapon Damage. Instead the largest bonus is used.
  • Rifles are +1 Difficulty to use in melee range. Sniper Rifles are +3 Difficulty to use without a tripod or in melee range. Setting up a tripod takes an Action.

The Coffin

"The Coffin" is a black, alligator-skin briefcase made to look like its namesake. The interior is coated in red, quilted leather. It is quite a bit larger on the inside, appearing to stretch backwards like a dark passageway.

This Artifact holds 5 times what it normally could inside of it. Objects stored inside are weightless. Unless you are storing something commonly found in coffins, this Artifact behaves as its mundane counterpart. This Effect cannot be used unless you are storing something commonly found in coffins.

Living things can be stored in this Artifact. They will have access to anything else inside and may attempt to break free, damaging or destroying the Artifact in the process.

If this Artifact is destroyed, things inside may get out, and it will cease to function until it is repaired.

When scanned or investigated without opening, the contents of this container appear normal and unremarkable.

On a Downtime, you may change this Artifact from one type of container to another. Maximum once per Downtime.

If anyone other than you opens the container, it appears empty. Others can still destroy it to get at the contents.

  • You cannot change the container's type if you are not in possession of it.
  • A container of holding cannot be placed inside another created by the same Gift.
  • There is no cost to use this container.

The Skeleton Key

At first glance, this appears to be a standard, modern house key made of ivory. A close observer might compliment its skull-shaped head or usual material. No one would suspect it to be one of the Thief's most prized possessions: The Skeleton Key.

Spend an Action.

You may lock, unlock, and/or open any number of doors, containers, knots, or locks within arm's reach of you. Cannot be used on Alien technology.

If you successfully operate a lock, you may choose to destroy it, rendering it inoperable.

  • Operating some locking mechanisms through this Effect may have a secondary effect, such as a turn-key ignition on an older or cheaper car causing it to start or stop. Note that the locking mechanism itself must satisfy the standard targeting requirements (including line of sight), not just the vehicle.
  • Any mechanism that requires a key, keycard, key fob, or combination may be considered locked, at the GM's discretion. This Effect may be used on doors and containers secured with control panels or other electronic locks, but not computer security systems at large.
  • You can target yourself if you qualify as a valid target by the other requirements.
  • Your target must be within line of sight, or within range of another sense if more fitting for the Gift's flavor.

Recharging Sheild

You gain the following benefits as long as you are wearing this Artifact.

You have 6 Armor, which reduces incoming Damage. Armor from multiple sources does not stack.

Your Armor cannot be destroyed, and it always provides a minimum of 2 Armor regardless of any Armor shredding or penetration. It cannot be circumvented with Called Shots. When shredded, it returns to full potency in one hour.

Any time your Armor prevents Damage, your Armor rating is temporarily decreased by 2. Whenever it goes five Rounds without preventing any Damage, it is restored back to its full value.

  • Armor recharging happens automatically and does not require an Action.
  • This Effect’s Armor rating cannot be increased by any other Effects.

The Bug-out Bag

No hiker would bat an eye if they saw someone wearing this 80 liter backpacking pack in the backcountry. Those who look closer find it's made of a curious mix of modern materials and what appears to be rawhide stitching.

This Artifact holds 5 times what it normally could inside of it. Objects stored inside are weightless.

Living things can be stored in this Artifact. They will have access to anything else inside and may attempt to break free, damaging or destroying the Artifact in the process.

If this Artifact is destroyed, things inside may get out, and it will cease to function until it is repaired.

When scanned or investigated without opening, the contents of this container appear normal and unremarkable.

If anyone other than you opens the container, it appears empty. Others can still destroy it to get at the contents.

  • A container of holding cannot be placed inside another created by the same Gift.
  • There is no cost to use this container.

This Artifact cannot be broken. If this Artifact is lost and in no one else’s possession, it finds its way back to its true owner during the next Downtime.

By default, the creator of this Artifact is its true owner. The true owner may formally bequeath this Artifact onto another person within arm’s reach, after which they are its true owner. If the true owner dies or is destroyed, their ownership ends. If this Artifact has no true owner, anyone may spend one day attuning to it to become its true owner.

This Artifact's true owner is always aware of the direction and distance to this Artifact.

  • "Cannot be broken" means that damage cannot render the Artifact's Effects unusable, nor can it cease to be used for its primary mundane purpose, if it has one.