Twicebolt is a double light crossbow constructed out of fine crystalwood (a very strong but light wood that, when properly harvested, is a translucent pale yellow color with veins of purple sap running through it. The crossbow has a unique over-under double mechanism with two separate triggers. Intricate carvings of shamrocks colored by the purple sap decorate the stock. Twicebolt was intended as a coming of age gift for the creator's daughter, Miranda. Soon after presenting Twicebolt to Miranda, the creator was killed in a Theran slaving raid.
Max Threads: 4
Spell Defense: 14
Rank One:
Key Knowledge: The wielder must learn that this crossbow is Named Twicebolt.
Cost: 150 LP
Effect: Twicebolt is now step 5 damage. Wielder may now use karma (step 8) that is stored within Twicebolt on any roll related to the use of the crossbow, including damage. As each of the karma points is used up, one of the carved purple shamrocks on the stock drains of its color. Only one karma point from Twicebolt may be used per round, and it may not be combined with karma from the Adept.
Rank Two:
Key Knowledge: The wielder must know the Name of the weaponsmith that created Twicebolt. (Alpern of Tarlin)
Deed: The wielder must avenge the death of Alpern by bringing his murderer to justice. This deed is worth 500 LP.
Cost: 500 LP.
Effect: Twicebolt may now shoot twice per combat round, both shots using missile weapons (or another appropriate talent or skill). This ability can only be used at short range, costs 1 point of strain, and both shots must have the same target. Roll one test to determine if both shots hit or miss; damage is rolled separately. In addition, the damage of Twicebolt is now raised to step 6.
Rank Three:
Key Knowledge: The wielder must learn where the Crystalwood that the crossbow stock was carved from was harvested. (Crystalwood only grows in the swampy sections of the Servos Jungle. This wood was gathered from a tree on the shore of the Anyder Sea of Reeds.
Cost: 700 LP
Effect: Damage is now step 7. Twicebolt may now fire two bolts up to medium range. In addition, for 1 strain, the two arrows may be fire independently with separate to hit and damages rolls. They must still be fired at one target, however. Both Twicebolt and the Adept wielder can spend one karma on each shot now.
Rank Four:
Key Knowledge: The wielder must know from what creature the strings for twicebolt were made. (Only the gut of a sarrank worm from the Badlands can be treated to create a bowstring strong enough to be of use in Twicebolt)
Cost: 900 LP
Effect: Twicebolt may now fire two bolts up to maximum range. In addition, for 2 points of strain, both bolts may be fired as one, causing step 16 damage and requiring one lower success level to defeat armor. Alternatively, twicebolt may be fired as in Rank 3, but with two separate targets being shot at once each. Twicebolt may use up to two karma on each shot from the bow per round -- one on the "to hit" and another on damage.
Rank Five:
Key Knowledge: The wielder must learn the unique karma ritual Alpern used to place karma energy into Twicebolt.
Cost: 1500 LP
Deed: The wielder must assist in creating a matching crossbow identical to Twicebolt. This deed is worth 1500 LP if done alone, 750 LP if the wielder only assists.
Effect: By repeating Alpern's ritual, up to 10 karma points (step 8) may be stored within Twicebolt. As the points are filled, the drained shamrocks fill again with sap from the Crystalwood. In addition, all the karma in Twicebolt may be used on one roll (either to hit or to damage), but Twicebolt will be destroyed if more than two karma are used this way.
Last edited by Nyriv, 3/29/98 12:10:00 AM