I've been working on another artifact. Any comments? I'm particularly concerned about Thunder Serpent Constriction; I'm not sure if it's too powerful, or so easily broken as to be useless, or what. (It's probably also too complicated, but I can't figure out how to make it much simpler, and it's such a cool effect I don't want to drop it.)
Coiled Lightning (Blue Jade Direlash, Artifact •••)
Coiled Lightning is a direlash of braided blue jadesteel wires, with a handful of tiny orichalcum beads woven into its length. Its handle is wrapped with leather of a snake-like air elemental from the far North, and the artfully-crafted braid seems to continue the scaled pattern of the hilt. It was forged in the early years of the Shogunate for Ivory Mountain, a dedicated prefect who used it to retstrain and subdue criminals. In the centuries since, it has passed through many hands, including at least one Raksha during the Balorian Crusade.
Coiled Lightning's evocations reflect its ophidian nature. Its coils grasp and bind like a living thing, even as the lightning it was named for flows down its length.
Coiled Lightning has a single hearthstone socket at the base of the handle.
Emerald Evocations
Biting Lightning Lash (damage booster)
Cost: 2m; Mins: Essence 1; Type: Supplemental
Keywords: Dual
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: None
Electricity crackles along Coiled Lightning's length, ravaging those it strikes. This Evocation supplements an attack made with Coiled Lightning, or a savaging attack against a foe grappled with it. A withering attack deals an additional three damage, and a decisive attack may re-roll up to (Essence) 10s on its damage roll. Additionally, savaging attacks enhanced with this charm do lethal damage rather than bashing.
Grasping Coil Technique (enhance disarm or grab something)
Cost: 2m; Mins: Essence 1; Type: Supplemental
Keywords: None
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: None
Like many direlashes, Coiled Lightning has been known to tangle and bind at its wielder's whim. This charm supplements a Disarm gambit, adding an automatic success to the attack roll and the initiative roll, and if it is successful, the wielder may choose to pull the disarmed weapon into her hand rather than throw it away.
Tangled Thunder Constriction (grapple with whip; take no defensive penalties)
Cost: 6m; Mins: Essence 2; Type: Supplemental
Keywords: None
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: Grasping Coil Technique
Coiled Lightning seems most alive when it is binding a foe, tangling and constricting with a will of its own while its wielder stands untroubled. This charm enhances a Grapple gambit. The wielder may use (Dexterity+Melee) on both the attack roll and the control roll, and if it is successful, the wielder needs only to hold Coiled Lightning with a single hand to maintain the grapple, allowing her to ignore the normal penalties for being in a grapple. She cannot, however, use Coiled Lightning to parry while using it to grapple in this way.
Merciful Stunning Strike (deal bashing damage, including with evocations)
Cost: 1m; Mins: Essence 1; Type: Reflexive
Keywords: None
Duration: Indefinite
Prerequisite Charms: None
The first exalt to wield Coiled Lightning did so for over a century, and regularly used it to subdue rather than slay enemies. This instilled a capacity for nonlethal combat that remains to this day. While this charm is active, Coiled Lightning and all its Evocations deal bashing rather than lethal damage.
Sapphire Evocations
In order to unlock Coiled Lightning's Sapphire Evocations, the Exalt must first awaken at least two of its Emerald Evocations. Unlocking Coiled Lightning's Emerald Evocations adds the Innate keyword to Grasping Coil Technique and Tangled Thunder Constriction.
Searing Arc Extension (attack or disarm at range)
Cost: 4m, 1i; Mins: Essence 2; Type: Simple
Keywords: None
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: Grasping Coil Technique
A line of lightning extends from Coiled Lightning's tip, then solidifies, extending the direlash's reach. This charm allows the wielder to make an attack or a disarm gambit against an enemy within short range. Alternatively, she may simply grab an object within this range with Coiled Lightning, either to retrieve it, which she may do reflexively, or to anchor herself to a solid object.
Electric Binding Blast (enhance savaging attack)
Cost: 2m; Mins: Essence 2; Type: Supplemental
Keywords: Dual
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: Biting Lighting Lash, Grasping Coil Technique
When a foe is bound by Coiled Lightning, it may erupt in a searing blast of electricity that burns through flesh and armor alike. This charm enhances a savaging attack, allowing it to be made with Coiled Lightning rather than an unarmed attack. Furthermore, withering attacks increase their minimum damage by Essence, and decisive attacks ignore up to Essence hardness.
Chain Lightning Continuation (after hitting, reflexively attack a second enemy)
Cost: 4m; Mins: Essence 2; Type: Reflexive
Keywords: Uniform
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: Biting Lightning Lash, Searing Arc Extension
After striking one foe, the electricity that crackles around Coiled Lighting gathers itself and jumps to a second. After making an attack (or a savaging attack) that either crashes the target or increases his wound penalty, the exalt may use this charm to make a second attack against a second enemy within close range of the first. This second attack may be withering or decisive.
Adamant Evocations
In order to unlock Coiled Lightning's Adamant Evocations, the Exalt must first awaken at least two of its Sapphire Evocations. Unlocking Coiled Lightning's Adamant Evocations adds the Innate keyword to Biting Lightning Lash and Electric Binding Blast.
Thunder Serpent Constriction (create an electric serpent to continue a grapple for you)
Cost: 8m, 4i, 1wp; Mins: Essence 3; Type: Simple
Keywords: Perilous
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: Grasping Coil Technique, Chain Lighting Continuation
Cracking with both speed and thunder, Coiled Lightning births a serpent of living lightning that springs at a foe, seeking to trap him in its coils. The exalt attempts a grapple gambit against a foe within medium range (at no additional initiative cost). If the gambit is unsuccessful, the serpent dissipates immediately, but if it succeeds, the grapple is continued by the serpent rather than by the exalt. The serpent has as many rounds of control as the exalt's control roll indicated, and rolls Join Battle with (Exalt's Melee) dice. Each turn, the serpent will make a savaging attack with the wielder's (Dexterity+Melee) pool and Coiled Lighting's weapon traits, which may be withering or decisive at the discretion of the wielder's player. These attacks may be enhanced by Coiled Lightning's Evocations (drawing motes from the wielder's pool), but not by other charms (including excellencies). When the grapple ends, the serpent vanishes, its energy spent.
The serpent may be attacked directly to free its target; it has an Evasion equal to the wielder's Melee score (before the -2 penalty for being in a grapple), no soak or hardness, and (wielder's Essence) -0 health levels. If it is crashed or slain, it dissipates, ending the grapple. Attacks made against it also remove rounds of control as normal.
Lucent Body Blaze (environmental hazard hits anyone you're grappling)
Cost: 8m, 1wp; Mins: Essence 3; Type: Simple
Keywords: None
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: Grasping Coil Technique, Electric Binding Blast
The wielder cloaks herself it Coiled Lightning's power, searing anyone unfortunate enough to grapple with her. This charm may only be used while grappling, regardless of who controls the grapple. The exalt's foe is exposed to an environmental hazard with the traits of a bonfire (4L/round, Difficulty 5) save that the damage is caused by waves of electricity rather than by fire. This hazard persists until the grapple ends.
This charm cannot be used to damage a foe grappled by Thunder Serpent Constriction.
Crashing Thunder Impact (Enhance a throw; throw to short range and everyone within close range of the impact point risks knockdown)
Cost: 4m, 3i; Mins: Essence 3; Type: Supplemental
Keywords: None
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: Grasping Coil Technique, Electric Binding Blast
The Exalt hurls her foe with Coiled Lightning, and where he strikes the ground, thunder and lightning buffet all nearby. This charm enhances an effort to throw a grappled foe. The enemy can be thrown out to short range, and is left prone. Furthermore, all characters within close range of the impact point must make a Dexterity+Dodge roll with a difficulty of the wielder's Melee or lose 2 initiative and be knocked prone.