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The Swords of Sarage Player Stuff:
The two swords are identical in design (different in size of course). Both have black blades, pommel wrapped in black cloth and a golden Falcon's Eye gem imbedded at the end of the handle. It is evident just by seeing them that they are the swords of a Samurai, but it is just as evident that they are unlike the swords of any other Samurai. Noone knows the origin's of the swords. Even Sarage's family cannot recount what master created them, or how they became imbued with the powers they have. They are the property of the Lord, and are passed to the son who replaces the old master on his death bed. Once they are passed on, they belong to that individual, and the previous owner has no access to them. The Swords: GM Stuff: The swords themselves are magickal, which makes them an object of mystery and awe in the Kiel Hills. They are also sentient, in a very childish manner. They wish to be used all the tyme, both in the mundane use and in the magickal use -- even if their master does not want to use them. They are very jealous of other weapons. They are frightened by other people touching them. They experience pain if attacked and/or broken. For the most part, these feelings go on without the users knowledge. On occasion however, they make themselves known in startling ways. When they are first passed on to another, they go dormant. The act of giving them away makes them rejected and reclusive. They can still be used as swords of course and will do nothing to hinder that. After several months of this use, the swords start to warm up to the individual. Deep meditation on the swords (either intentional or not) will speed this up considerably. 1. Warming up. When the swords warm up to the individual in question, it isn't always pleasant for that individual. Each sword operates individually and therefore both may not warm up at the same tyme (especially if the individual spends a great deal of tyme with the one and not with the other.) If the individual is psionic, the swords will devour his PSP's in the effort of awakening from the dormant stage (if they awake on two different occasions, they both devour PSP's.) If the user is not psionic, they awaken by siphoning off 2d6 Con points each (These Con points are regained as explained below.) As mentioned above, the swords are very emotional, and once activated, these emotions start bleeding over into the personality of the user. Once the Katana is activated, the user begins to get very irrate, belligerant, and eager to fight. The slightest remark is seen as a personal insult that begs physical retaliation. The user becomes mistrustful even of old friends. Once the Wakisashi is activated, the user becomes very emotional, sad, and unable to control his tears. Everything is terriblly sad and disheartening. These effects tend to last for about two weeks. If one sword is activated and then the second is activated, the effects of the second sword override the effects of the first. Once these effects have died down, the call begins. 2. The Call. The user begins hearing 'voices' in his mind. If the Katana has been awakened, it begins to provoke the user to anger. It calls out, "Get angry .... Get pissed ...." It will resort to insults, and since it has become tuned to the user, it knows what will make that individual the most angry. Once the user begins to get angry he will become aware that "Something is happening." If the user wants to fight off the anger, he is allowed a savings throw vs. Polymorph to stave off the swords avances. If the save fails, or if the individual chooses not to save, then the sword's power is activated. If the Wakisashi is activated, it begins to guide the user into a deep focus. It calls out in a mantra, "focus ....focus ...." Again, once the user begins to pay attention to the weapon, he becomes aware that "something is happening." And again, if the user wants to make a savings throw, he has that option. 3. The Powers. The first tyme the powers are activated, it generally takes the person by suprise and they have no control over it. They roll 20 - d20. The Katana: That number of "Strength levels" is added to their strength. This sudden (and sometymes gigantic) boost to their strength only lasts for a round, and demands use. The user simply cannot gain that much strength without using it for something (i.e. smashing something, throwing something, cutting somethiing.) The Wakisashi: That number of "Focus Points" is added to any roll requiring precision. It lasts only for one round and it also demands use. Attack rolls, throwing, psionic rolls, pick pocket rolls (how did _he_ get the swords?) All things necessary to complete the action are given. The Archer trying to hit the individual a quarter of a mile away who focuses will have his vision temporary "telescoped" to pinpoint that individual. The swordsmaster who wishes to kill the mage in total darkness will have his hearing enhanced to the point of knowing exactly where that invidual is. These effects are because of the focusing, not in addition to it. The archer still has a gigantic penalty to his shot, and the swordsman still has the negative for fighting in total darkeness. It's simply that the focus points overcome those difficulties. Later, after this first attempt the powers may be activated in one of two ways. First, they may be activated on accident. If ever the person is gets angry, frightened or frustrated, the Katana will press for activation. This activation works the same way as the first tyme. The person feels that "something is happening" and can try to fight it. However, if the person fails that savings throw, the strength appears and the person must utilize it. If ever the person concentrates on something intently, the same thing happens from the Katana. Secondly, they may be activated intentionally. If ever the individual wishes to activate either sword, he needs only concentrate and 'will' them into effect. He makes a Will Roll (Wis) and whatever the number the individual succeeds by is the number of points added. If someone with a ten Wis wills the Katana into effect and rolls a four, then six Strength Levels are added to his strength. Sometymes, the user isn't sure about making the will roll, or wishes a greater deal of points than he can reasonably expect to gain. In this case, the individual can make an extra effort. For each point of Con extra he chooses to burn, he gets a plus two to his will roll. Someone with a 10 Wis wills the Katana into effect and chooses to sacrifice three extra Con points for a +6 to his roll. He rolls a four, gaining twelve Strength levels! He then looses fifteen Con points. It is possible to activate the Wakisashi in order to activate the Katana. The gains in strength would probably be enormous, but would also probably kill the individual, or leave him in a deep coma. It is also possible to activate both swords at the same tyme. In this case, one will roll is required. The benifits are applied to both and the penalty is paid by both. A person with a 15 Will activates both swords at the same tyme to attack and rolls a ten. This adds a plus five to hit, plus any bonuses gained from the five additional strength levels, but he looses ten points of Con. 4. Constitution At the end of that round, that number of points is deducted from the individual's Con Score. If this puts the individual in negative numbers for his Con, he makes an unadjusted Con check to simply stay conscious. If his Con falls below negative Con (-10 for someone with 10 Con) he falls unconsious and makes an unadjusted Con check to stay alive. This generally puts the individual in dire straits. Regardless of making his Con check, if the character falls to negative numbers with his constitution, he immediatly drops to the ground, unable to summon the energy to move any more than it takes to talk in a shallow whispered voice. If the individual is psionic and still has psp's, he may use them, and if the individual is a mage and has verbal spells, he may use them. If the individual is suicidal, he can choose to activate the swords again. Any additional strength gained will allow that individual to act for one round, and the focus may be applied to anything that can be done mentally. Otherwise, the individual is at the mercy of those around him. Additionally, all Con checks are now made with the adjusted score. A roll of one always succeds, even if the character has negative Con. However, if the Character has negative Con, he immediatly becomes susceptable to all mannor of illnesses, parasites, etc. His body's natural defenses are disabled and if great care isn't taken to protect that individual, even a cool chill can be fatal. Things directed towards that person's body that normally allow savings throws no longer do (i.e. the person is no longer able to defend against poison, polymorph, etc, etc.) These Con points are regained at a rate of one per day. If the person is at negative numbers for his con and he didn't make the check to stay conscious he will remain unconsicous until his Con returns to one. If he did make the check he will remain conscious and will be able to sleep and wake up again. He will remain weak and immobile until he gets at least three Con points. The "Heal" spell will heal d20 points of Con, and the psionic science "Complete Healing" will return the person completly. 5. Other Stuff. The swords refuse to be touched by others. If this happens, the swords, in fear, attack the minds of both the user, and the individual who violated them. Both are allowed a save vs paralyzation. Anyone who makes the save is blasted by the screams of the swords. Anyone who fails the save is blasted by the screams of the swords and takes d8 damage. They view themselves almost as children of thier current owner. In that way, they user himself is never at fault, even if it his his actions that (intentionally or not) destroy the swords. If the swords are broken, melted or otherwise rendered inoperable without being completely destroyed, "they" continue to exist and cry out in anquish. If the user listens he can hear them crying in pain. |