Elost Habroc was a powerful human mercenary who travelled throughout Barsaive and Vivane during the thirty years immediately prior to the Scourge, working for whomever would pay him the most. The Name of Elost is legendary in the areas he travelled, but response to the Name varies greatly. Therans hail the Name, as Elost helped them bring many villages under their sway in the final years Thera struggled to bring the Rites of Protection and Passage to those who were willing to offer their fealty. Several individual kaers consider him their savior, as he single-handedly slew several Horrors that threatened them. Others consider him a dangerous and amoral mercenary, who probably would have aided the Horrors had they offered enough coin. Nearly every citizen of Barsaive has heard one outlandish story attributed to Elost, and an attentive listener could catalog dozens...
---Meris Gramthanidicus, Apprentice to Stavil Hynd
The Armor of Elost appears to be a battered and rusted suit of ring mail when first found. As threads are attached, however, the rings slowly turn to crystal and begin to magically float around the wearer as the leather backing completely disappears.
Despite extensive searches, the location of the Armor of Elost has not been determined.
Back to the Arms and Armor of Elost
When first discovered, the Boots of Elost appear to be a normal pair of worn leather boots. As threads are attached, they become ornate boots fashioned from dragon hide. Even without threads attached, they keep the feet magically warm and dry.
Max Threads: 2
Rank One:
Spell Defense: 13
Key Knowledge: The wearer must learn that the Name of the boots are the Boots of Elost.
Cost: 125 LP
Effect: The Boots appear to become a new pair of travelling boots enhanced with True Air kernels. The wearer's basic movement rate is increased by one step.
Rank Two:
Key Knowledge: The wearer must learn the Name of the elementalist that wove the true Air kernels into the Boots. T'manix Waterblood, creator of the Gauntlets of Elost, also aided in creating the Boots.
Cost: 250 LP
Effect:
Rank Three:
Key Knowledge: The wearer must know the Name of the common dragon that provided the skin for the Boots. The skin was removed from the carcass of the dragon Deepbellow after he was slain by a Horror that attacked it in his lair.
Cost: 500 LP
Effect: The Boots may no longer be removed by the wearer without losing the rank three thread.
Rank Four:
Key Knowledge: The wearer must know the greatest weakness of the Horror that slew Elost. The Horror Vinmytosh-r'el's greatest weakness is that he becomes weaker when he must fight in an open area devoid of shadows.
Cost: 1850 LP
Effect:
Back to the Arms and Armor of Elost
The Gauntlets of Elost
The Gauntlets of Elost are an odd pair of leather gloves that have fingers made of several types of metal. From the thumb to the little finger, the glove fingers are composed of gold, silver, copper, bronze, and steel. Most of the metal is highly tarnished and in a bad state of repair.
Max Threads: 2
Rank One:
Spell Defense: 13
Key Knowledge: The wearer must learn that the Name of the gloves is the Gauntlets of Elost.
Cost: 200 LP
Effect: The steel finger transforms itself into True Earth. The wearer now gains +3 ranks to any knockdown test that must be made while standing on the ground.
Rank Two:
Key Knowledge: The wearer must learn the Name of the smith that created the gloves. Malag the Marvellous is the weaponsmith who created the gloves in response to a challenge by his rival brother Shimbar the Superb.
Cost: 300 LP
Effect: The bronze finger transforms itself into True Water. The wearer gains a +2 bonus to his physical defense.
Rank Three:
Key Knowledge: The wearer must know the Name of the elemntalist who assisted in the creation of the Gauntlets. T'manix Waterblood, a T'skrang of House Syrtis, provided the True Elements and the transforming ritual to the Gauntlets.
Cost: 750 LP
Effect: The copper finger transforms into True Air. The wearer may now levitate at 10'/200lbs/round per point of strain to a maximum of 60' per round carrying 600 lbs at a cost of 8 strain per round. Sideways movement is not conferred by the Gauntlets, but may be created by strong winds, pushing off, etc.
Rank Four:
Key Knowledge: None
Cost: 800 LP
Effect: The silver finger becomes True Fire. In unarmed combat, the wearer may cause the gauntlets to flame, causing Str+6 damage at a cost of 1 strain per round. The Gloves can not be removed from the hands so long as a rank 4 thread is attached to them by the wearer. Note this means only one person can have a thread at Rank 4 or higher attached to the Gauntlets.
Rank Five:
Key Knowledge: The wearer must learn where the body of Elost lies. The Horror carried it to it's lair in Kaer Nacu'ot to torment Elost for delaying it while the sealing rites were completed.
Deed: The wearer must cremate the body of Elost using flame ability of the Gauntlets to begin the fire. This deed is worth 800 LP.
Cost: 2100 LP
Effect:
The Helm of Elost
When originally discovered, the Helm appears to be a plain bowl of beaten copper. As threads are attached to it, the Helm becomes larger, shinier, and more ornate.
Max Threads: 2
Rank One:
Spell Defense: 13
Key Knowledge: The wearer must know that this helmet is Named the Helm of Elost.
Cost: 250 LP
Effect: The Helm confers +2 steps to initiative.
Rank Two:
Key Knowledge: None
Cost: 350 LP
Effect: The Helm mimics the talent Resist Taunt at rank 5.
Rank Three:
Key Knowledge: The wearer must learn the Name of the creator of the Helm. The Helm was created by Rublim Dreadeye to reward Elost for saving Kaer K'treved.
Cost: 500 LP
Effect: The Helm mimics the talent Lion Heart at rank 6. If the helmet is removed for more than one day, any thread higher than rank 2 is lost and must be reattached. The wearer will understand this intuitively once the rank 3 thread is attached.
Rank Four:
Key Knowledge: The wearer must learn where Elost died and the Name of the Horror that overcame him. Elost died outside Kaer Seinragh in an attempt to keep the Horror Vinmytosh-r'el from entering the kaer as the final sealing wards were emplaced.
Cost: 2100 LP
Effect: The Helm gives the wearer a bonus of +1 attribute point to the Perception attribute per item of Elost that has had the final thread attached to it. Note that this add is to the attribute score, and not the step value.
The Shield of Elost
When first sighted, the Shield of Elost appears to be a tarnished steel shield similar to any carried by an ork scorcher. As threads are attached, the Shield becomes a highly embossed ceremonial shield detailing the founding of the Eternal Library on Great Thera.
The Shield of Elost is believed to be among the rather impressive collection of threaded items owned by Pammenig Carinci, Theran Exemplar of Explorers (his own title, we have been informed).
Back to the Arms and Armor of Elost
The Blade of Elost appears to be a broadsword of simple steel, pitted and dulled beyond repair. As threads are attached, the sword hones iself into a fine edge and the blade gleams until it eventually becomes a blade of pure energy.
Rank One:
Key Knowledge: The wielder must learn that the Name of the Sword is the Sword of Elost.
Cost: 200 LP
Effect: The sword now appears to be a common, well-honed broadsword. Its damage is step seven, and it never needs sharpening.
Rank Two:
Key Knowledge: The wielder must learn the first location where the sword was used against a Horror. The Sword was first used against a minor Horror in Clavin's Gorge, an unremarkable site in Vivane Province.
Cost: 700 LP
Effect: Damage is step 8, and the sword now causes armor defeating hits one level of success less than before. This does not allow the sword defeat opponents who have armor that may not be defeated.
Rank Three:
Key Knowledge: The wielder must know the Name of the first Horror to be slain by the Sword. The Horror Frightwind was the first to be defeated by the Sword.
Cost: 1000 LP
Effect:
Rank Four:
Key Knowledge: The wielder must learn the Name of the Lightbearer who used a dying act to bless the Sword.
Cost: 1500 LP
Effect: The blade of the Sword turns into a faintly glowing, translucent crystal.
Rank Five:
Key Knowledge: None
Deed:
Cost: 3000 LP
Effect:
The Sword of Elost has been positively confirmed to be in the possession of Limac the Boisterous, who has attached all but the last thread to the Blade.
Last edited by Nyriv, 11/7/97 12:15 AM