Fanwork#973 Words
Analysis of "A Hero's Panoply"
I. The Forebear's Blade
Tenfold strength and speed, and the resilience to withstand such exertions
Infuses all attacks made by the bearer with the power of Ruin
The power of Ruin ravages and destroys without leaving trace, penetrating - at least partially - almost all defenses
Grows steadily in power and refinement alongside its wielder (abstracted as an extra Experience multiplier)
We've known or witnessed most of those, but I forgot that line about the Blade growing with us because it wasn't as apparent as the rest of its awesome properties. A really great Artifact, completely worth that Lesser Remittance slot.
[Thick as Thieves] II - ++Intelligence, ++Charisma, ++Heartlessness
Heartlessness is just another word for Greatness! Will become increasingly relevant as we interact more and more with civilized beings, might even become our most important tool.
We represent a unique opportunity to them: a connection to the Foremost, potential for new advancement in the research of Armaments, and just plain power that could be directed at their enemies. We'd be a very good assassin, especially if we get a Stealth offer again. But we are also a danger to them: our Decimation the most direct-viewing, but there are also the catastrophes Apocrypha is going to attract, and the possibility of us going out of control - assuming Letty doesn't blab about our plans to conquer them, in which case things will get even more dicey.
To navigate this deadly labyrinth we'll need our wits far more than we'll need power, though neither is dispensible.
[Fell-Handed Stroke] - A devastating blow of unutterable magnificence from which no recovery is possible. A powerful, but draining strike that inflicts cursed wounds from which spirit and will leak as freely as blood. Resists healing.
Hmm, its combat effectiveness is superb, but does the Stroke also have brainwashing applications? If the wounds it inflicts 'leak spirit and will', can one interpret it as will debuffs that we can take advantage of? They tell to speak softly and carry a big stick, but surely people will hear better if we hit them with our Sword first!
Potential Advancements
[Iron Curtain] - 7 Arete. The Forebear could not be dissuaded, nor could he be stopped. To dissent was folly, to resist was death. The laws of the Forebear were as natural law, and just as inevitable. When active, ++Willpower, +++Protection, ++Constitution, Ignore Wounds, Deflect Exotic Attacks. Become Tired afterwards.
Our Tyranny made manifest in the physical realm. Not only do we get Battle Continuation and become a Determinator, we can also deflect everything from fireballs to beam attacks to even stranger things. Though how far does this stretch? Can we deflect AoE spells? Mind influence? Luck debuffs?
[Once And Future] I - 25 Arete. Channel a fraction of the Forebear's true might, and glimpse a small fraction of his true history. +1 Astral Rank, applied externally after all other factors. Does not raise the difficulty of improving Rank. +2 Astral Rank in matters military.
As befitting a 25 Arete option that concentrates on a single kind of enhancement, this blows almost everything out of the water, especially at higher levels. Right now the effect wouldn't be
that impressive, we'd jump to Rank 5-6 and punch far above our level, but it gets more ridiculous the greater our Rank is. At Rank 8, which still counts as middle Ranks, we'd effectively be a Rank
10 in a fight, without compromising our ability to advance.
I'd almost say it was unfair and completely unbalanced if it wasn't for the painful price.
II. Hunger
Imparts noticeable spiritual vigor and a thirst for life's pleasures
Cripples non-combat, non-conflict advancement, but dectuples progression from any conflict with serious stakes
[Ring of Power] - Asserts bearer's will upon the world, bending it to his designs.
Is it the vehicle through which we can use Pressure with greater efficiency? Because that sounds like what Pressure is supposed to do. If we want to embrace the mage archetype as all munchkins dreaming of quadratic wizards do, I suppose this would show the way. Seems more like a utility thing to me at the moment.
[Might's Repose] - Only grow stronger, more glorious and more capable with age, so long as bearer sleeps 9+ hours per day. Life- and healthspan can be indefinitely extended in theory. Modest bonus to physical actions, minor bonus to mental actions when well-rested. Immune to hostile sleep / tiredness effects.
We've seen a possible goal of this Artifact's development, gaining immortality and affecting reality even while asleep. I'm curious what other possibilities are there. Can we explore dream realms? Make others fall asleep with us? Become partially dreamlike ourselves? Precognitive abilities?
Sadly we're much more interested in active aspects of our power right now, so it might be a while till we explore this.
Potential Advancements
[Ring of Blood] - 2 Arete. Wielder fully recovers health with [Might's Repose], can use [Ring of Power] to restore health, though inefficiently.
We've already noticed how much not having healing sucks when one has Apocrypha hounding one's steps, so this is a pretty solid choice. We have Sky's protections now though, so it's less urgent.
[Ruling Ring] - 25 Arete. There can only be one Ruling Ring. Enormously increases the strength, range, and control of the [Ring of Power] effect. ++All Stats, ++Progression.
If I understand this correctly and this really improves our
Progression, the very basis of our power, it might be completely worth the evil overlord jokes we'll have to endure. Though I'm not sure how this would be expressed in practical terms. An Experience bonus sounds too mundane for something as amazing-sounding as this. Maybe it'll be like Shatter Heaven, relaxing some of our limits?
Oh, it also improves stats and the basic effect of the Power Ring, but ++Progression kind of completely overshadowed that for me.
III. Evening Sky
Deflects physical attacks within its coverage less powerful than an atom bomb
Imparts 75% resistance to almost all other forms of damage
Imparts 75-90% resistance to most inimical status conditions
Grants breathtaking majesty of the evening sky [++Charisma]
-Physical attacks stronger than an atom bomb no longer count as "mundane force" - capable of blotting out the sky. Magical attacks reduce this protection proportional to the strength of their magic.
-The attack of a Rank 2 being bearing signature weaponry is slightly magical.
Some concrete numbers at last.
...So we can resist nuclear explosions. Not that such forces are that big of a deal in Rihakuverses, but goddamn, we've barely started and are already at a level where WMDs have to be deployed against us. Though we were told that while Armaments are rare, the current civilizations have managed to produce cheap knockoffs that have middling Accretion Rank, so magical opponents won't be rare even there.
Potential Advancements
[Opalescence] - The soft light of evening before which all attacks falter. Improves defensive parameters. +Protection.
In the vein of Forebear's Echo, a pretty unitary enhancement to the Artifact's basic effects. But given that we were made immune to atom bombs with just two pluses, another plus is nothing to scoff at.
[Winter Moon] - 2 Arete. The cold bright orb which presides above all nocturnal wisdom. Gain access to the wearer's [Soul Evocation], though no especial talent is guaranteed.
We'll definitely take it sooner or later, though how soon is the question. We need immediate power right now, and can't be certain anything useful comes of Winter Moon. Still, it has Moon in its name, so it can only be a good thing! Though the mention of Winter brings me back to EFB...
As for our Soul Evocation, some guesses would be getting some kind of stealing power - it's specifically noted as being the Hero's talent and the one area where he exceeded the Tyrant decisively - or maybe something connected to his identities as a former Hero or Cursebearer. Plot Armor? Cursing others? Mental enhancements?
Too many possibilities to count, not all of them similarly useful in our circumstances.
[Pillars of Creation] - 25 Arete. At the end of each lunar month, wearer and companions may steal away to the realm of Evening, during which no time passes in the mortal world. Divine opulence and every conceivable luxury await the fortunate interlopers, restoring wholeness of mind, body, and spirit.
The realm of Evening responds to the desires of the wearer and can be shaped to induce a variety of effects at nigh-deific scale - worthy enemies, fields of unique reagents, anagathic peaches, arms and armor of myth. Only one rule is absolute: that each stay lasts seven days, no more and no less. Items typically cannot be carried out, though the effects of items consumed within the realm remain after departing it.
All Curses save the Geas of Indenture are only at one-third severity within the realm, though this does not stack with other forms of mitigation, nor impede their function outside.
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You are free to discuss / plan for Potential Advancements and speculate on your own, but do not vote for them as they are not being offered at present.
Jotunheim and Elysium lie dead, but from their corpses this abomination was born. having a private Realm where we have broad reality-bending powers is always good, though as always the 25 Arete price makes me experience phantom cramps. There are probably limits on what kinds of items it can produce, or this would be completely overpowered.
Hmm, right now I really want to open that Winter Moon mystery box, but I'm afraid this will be a time waster. Other than that, we'll need Thick as Thieves and the Power Ring increasingly more when we arrive in civilization, while Opalescence and Forebear's Blade options are more suited for combat inside the Voyager Realm
