Relics & Curiosities

Artifacts are rare, often sought-after items with special powers. The older an item's lineage is the more potential energy it carries and the more effective it may be as ab implement for blood crafts.

System: Distinguishing an actual sorcerous artifact in the wild usually requires Intelligence + Occult against a Difficulty of 2 or higher if the maker intended to conceal its nature. Some such items radiate in spectra perceptible by Auspex.

An item in ritual use for three centuries — not just any 17th-century antique — makes one die in a Ritual or other magical pool as a success: if you have a seven-die pool, flip one of them to a 9 before you roll the other six dice.

• At 600 years of magical use, the item pins two dice as successes.
• At 1,200 years of use, it pins three dice.
• At 2,400 years of use, it pins four dice, and so on.

You can’t just use the item in every ritual, though: it either has to be required in the ritual's ingredients list, or otherwise specifically, magically connected to that ritual. If there’s any doubt in the Storyteller’s mind, it’s not suitable. Of course, items that old have lots of former owners who might haunt them, have cursed them, or even come looking for them...

KNOWN ARTIFACTS

Cloak of Abalone

Woven by the Tremere as a powerful weapon against Toreador, the Cloak of Abalone is dull black, brown, or grey on the outside, but opens to reveal a lining that form a scintillating shower of mesmerizing color.

System: The wearer must make a Rouse Check to activate the cloak, after which the targeted Toreador is immediately treated as if they rolled a Bestial Failure and are afflicted as if their Toreador Obsession was in effect (VtM pg. 210). Note that the cloak only works on one target at a time, and there is seldom more than one cloak per Tremere Chantry.

_{Chicago Folios, pg 166}

Ironwail Blade

An ancient Bean-Sidhe was "artbound" to the blade of this shortsword in a past age. Already trapped between the Dreaming and the Shadowlands, the imprisoned Bean-Sidhe found itself twice-damned. The cold iron of the blade — anathema to fae — only caused further agony. The constant faint wail of this tortured creature, while impossible to pinpoint, seems to emit from whomever carries the weapon.

System: This shortsword has a damage value of 2. The cold iron material converts all damage to Aggravated when used against fae. While carrying the sword, take a one die penalty on rolls related to stealth.

_{Homebrew, pg. XX}

Rowan Ring

Rowan Rings are feared tools of assassination employed by elder members of the Banu Haqim or their trusted neonates. They appear to be simple wooden rings, but can be transformed into a sharp stake in an instant. They are detectable as magical with Auspex or other occult means.

System: After making a Rouse Check, the ring mystically sharpens and elongates into a wooden stake that can be used to make a stake attack (Corebook, pg. 221). The stake detaches after use and the ring falls off its wielder’s finger. A simple thought transforms the stake back into a ring when not in use.

_{Chicago Folios, pg 166}

• Ankaran Sarcophagus

• Bloodspot Dice

• Eye of Hazimel

• Lamp of Constantine

• Malady Pen

• Monocle of Clarity

• Powder of Rigidity

• Sargon Codex

• Tapestry of Blood