Dangit, I missed this, could I still post my set? If not no matter, my favorite is based on one that was probably posted already but it's stationary and requires a small quest to complete after construction
Sorry, no, we're all closed up. Also, not in the market to add any more hurdles on here for the most part. Adding an additional step on after the charm is created is in the same vein as a charm design featuring materials we don't have.
Hmmm... I think "Further Experimentation" = "Incredible Violence." But that might just be me.
I'm down to experiment all over Geng Tu's face.
Mechanics: Combat transformation: this would require a large amount of anam for a combat form.
Mechanics: Adds a prosthesis that Zhi can use to aid in a variety of tasks and combat.
Mechanics: Cycling action can be undertaken to feed debuffs and negative physical traits into the charm. Removing traits in this manner results in physical stress. They can then choose to convert the debuffs and physical traits into a temporary positive trait.
Mechanics: Only a single form available at the start. New forms require collection of materials and treasures.Charm name: A Fractal View.
Ingredients: Blood/Star 42 (A Love Transfixed), Life 6 (Everbloom)
The Stars are but points of light but the powers of them come from the meaning we give them. What for one group of stars in the Radiant Empire is clearly a bowl endlessly emptying for other the stars form the shape of a cup being filled. They can lead us to foreign shores or we can follow them to find our home.
This charm aims to use the power of guidance and the interpretative nature of the stars and apply it to blood and flesh.
The charm takes the form of a larger than 2 fists sized cube. The LoveTransfixed was carefully carved away with many facets created in it. It is a large rotating puzzle with different channels and facets creating different refractions and paths for light to go through. Each arrangement creates different paths for runes and therefore channels the power for different effects. In the centre of this Fractal puzzle is the Everbloom. Placed in the centre with incredible canny care like one places a ship inside a bottle. It's living energy transmutes the cold power of the stars into a more vital essence.
This charm works only with a period of meditation and the slow channelling of anam. You must have the purpose and the constellation you wish to draw meaning from firmly fixated in one's mind and "tune" the charm to reflect in it that purpose. It can only be bound to a single individual at a time and the charm does not need to be on one's person after it has been "set" for the effect of it to continue on the body.
Why these anam types?
Star - The source of the blueprint/inspiration/guidance for the change.
Life - Life endures and adapts. This transforms the cold guidance of the stars into a form that works with Zhi's body and intent
Blood - A catalyst to make the change made manifest on our flesh.
Possible constellation effects
The Constellation of the Tireless Oxen:
While under the Sign of Indefatigable Strength, Kong Zhi will find himself able to work harder than normal and for longer than normal. What would normally have been an exhausting day at the forge is instead a calm but focussed afternoon. Should Kong Zhi find himself in combat, his enemies will find that he shrugs off lesser blows with ease, and hits with far greater force than normal.
The Constellation of the Graceful Crane:
While under the Watch of the Delicate Strider, Kong Zhi will find his precision and poise enhanced. The most fiddly of crafting tasks will be completed easily, and elegant artistry will be completed with a graceful flourish. Should Kong Zhi find himself in combat, his enemies will seem to be always aiming at where he was, and their weaknesses will be plain to him.
The Constellation of the Rising Sun:
While under the Light of the Energising Flame, Kong Zhi will feel filled with anam and curiosity. Cycling could not feel more natural. Studying could not feel more exciting. And for other people, Kong Zhi could not be more engaging. Should Kong Zhi find himself in combat, he will seem to have an endless supply of anam available.
Deep thanks to Knight-Radiant, KreenWarrior and HousePet from the Path discord for their help in writing up this charm. I greatly appreciate all of you!
Mechanics: Used as a channeling focus for channel carving. As each channel is carved KZ will revert more and more to previous form and gain deeper benefits/insight into Farmer.
Mechanics: Spend anam to transform into different versions of Zhi.Spymaster's Pride
Materials used: A Love Transcended (Blood/Star 42), Vestige's Ice (Ice 8)
Shape: A Love Transcended is set on the top of a scepter/cane made of the Vestige's Ice. There it is carved with runes to bring out its effect. The gem always glows with its channeled starlight. Mundane metals decorate the icy shaft to make it look fancy schmancy.
Effect: This charms allows the user of the charm to shape its own body as if it were an artist's canvas. One's body mass, hair color, and other such physical attributes may be molded by the charm. This charm does not allow for one to mold themselves into another beast or make themselves a dramatically new person. There are two general limitations. 1. The changes cannot alter the basic humanoid/bipedal structure of the user. 2. The changes cannot change the user's appearance to stray too far from the original identity. In short, the Star Anam centers itself on the identity of the user and all the changes guided by the star cannot shape oneself dramatically away from its user's internalized identity. Once the blood, using the star's guidance, shapes itself as the user desires, the Ice Anam of the scepter freezes the new body shape for the forseeable future, or until such a time where the charm is used again. The ice anam also serves to preserve the memory of the forms shifted to and from.
This charm is actually a spy's best friend. While Kong Zhi cannot transform himself into a bird or into another person, there is plenty of potential for himself. Firstly, any undesired mutations may be removed. Secondly, should infiltration be necessary, as Kong Zhi's new duties may require, Kong Zhi may choose to use this charm to transform himself into a Blonde Zhi, a bearded Zhi, a buff Zhi, an emaciated Zhi, an older Zhi, etc. While the charm cannot disguise the feel/properties of his anam, the other five senses may be fooled by the new form Zhi takes.
The charm also preserves the memory of the forms Zhi shifts to and from to allow himself to easily adopt on guises he has taken on before.
Mechanics: allows important events to be channeled into benefits, using the charm as a focus. Dependent on the strength of the event and zhi's skill at crystalizing them into himself.My ALT charm idea, originally posted here and iterated upon in the meantime.
Charm concept name: Chrysalis of the Polestar
Materials used: A Love Transfixed (Blood/Star 42), Still Growing Sapling (Wood/Life 13)
Charm summary: a large wooden periapt seating a bonsai tree grown around ALT allowing the user to periodically reforge their body with the purifying, scouring, guiding energy of Star anam; each reforging also alters the user in a fashion reflecting the user's recent life experiences.
Charm construction: a cutting of the Still Growing Sapling is taken, while the majority of it is used to create a large periapt consisting of an ornate setting for A Love Transfixed in the shape of an inverted pyramid and wooden chain links carved from the wood such that they are interlinked from the moment of their shaping. A Love Transfixed is placed within the setting atop the pyramid and the cutting placed upon it, where the cutting's roots are guided to encompass the gem without entirely obscuring it and the cutting is cultivated into a bonsai tree using the gem's Star anam. The necessary runes are placed upon the gem setting and chain links.
Charm function: the user wears the charm around their neck and enters a meditative trance. The sapling grows and the gem swells until the entranced user is incapsulated in a ruby cocoon set into base of a tree. Inside, the user's body undergoes a metamorphosis according to their conception of an idealized self. Elements dissonant with the user's self-conception may be removed entirely or take on new, less dissonant forms touched by the supernatural: a grotesque arm reformed with a pearlescent ivory sheen, an amputated leg regrown with a wood grain, a blinded eye restored with a glow like soft moonlight; these supernatural touches may further change or spread over multiple reforgings should the user's self-conception come to include them as part of the idealized self. Furthermore, the user's recent experiences are crystallized and alloyed in some way into their very being. Traumatic, triumphant, life-changing, or otherwise weighty experiences manifest as mental, physical, or spiritual quirks: the death of a loved one might cause the user's flesh to toughen and densify, carving a crucial channel within a Moon anam wonder might increase mental acuity when bathed in moonlight, a near-drowning at sea might give the user an affinity for water anam - the magnitude of the alteration's effect corresponding to the weight of the experience. This crystallization is metaphysical: a spiritual event is not certain to beget a spiritual alteration. At the conclusion of the transformation, the charm devolves back to its previous form and releases the user, and will require a lengthy period before it can be used again.
Aspect utilization and thematic resonance: the tree grasps at the gem in a simulacrum of photosynthesis, a fundamental act of transformation. The charm is worn to position it over the center of our body and place the bonsai over our core. The Blood and Life anam allow the body to be reforged anew and the mind and spirit tempered. The Star anam serves as both guide and crucible to discern and shape the more perfect self as well as crystallize and fuse alterations borne of experience. The Wood anam forms a substrate of slow, continuing metamorphosis, allowing iterative, accumulative change to the user in the same manner a tree grows its rings. The inverted pyramid shape of the periapt evokes the Delving heart sigil and the challenges that led to its construction. Lastly, its powers reflect two core themes of Kong Zhi's story: being true to who he is, and being shaped himself by the connections he has made.
The periapt before the bonzai tree and ALT are seated upon it would resemble the Millennium Puzzle:
lightly edited to no longer specify the time spent within the chrysalis
