We all knew the followers of Ba-Seen wore hooded cloaks as black as the heart of the Dark itself. They called them Lychnobite’s Cloaks, for they loved the night like a mother. What we didn’t realize until much later was that each garment held a bit of their master’s dark soul within it.
Objects of power are magical items that have a more permanent nature than ephemera objects. They can potentially be used many times.
“Objects of power” is such a Maker term. Vislae more likely say “magical items” or “magical tools.” A few lump them all together as “magical weapons,” even though they are by no means all weapons. People in general say “wondrous devices” or just “devices.”
Even more likely, however, is that people don’t need to refer to them collectively at all. A vislae with a Patient Prism has no reason to think of it in the same terms as the Lethiferous Brand a demon offers them in exchange for a favor to be named later. People walking around with Aethyr Links would not think to associate them in any way with the infamous weapon simply called That Sword.
This nomenclature issue arises from the fact that all objects of power are individual devices made by different people for different purposes (if they were made at all). Other than in terms of the rules in this chapter, there’s little reason to think of these things as being of a kind. They’re individual manifestations of magic.
Artifacts and relics are two different subsets of objects of power. Both are rare. Some rare objects of power earn the name “artifact.” Artifacts are always particularly potent, and most of all they are unique. They are often—but not always—old and even legendary in reputation. Artifacts never deplete, although to call them permanent is to misunderstand them, for they can change or even fade away over time. When an artifact disappears or changes, the owner very likely earns 1 Despair.
Relics, unlike other objects of power, were not created intentionally through the effort of a mortal, like a Maker. Instead, relics occur “naturally.” Their powers come from their inherent nature, their proximity to a source of power, or some other unintentional source. The Actuality teems with relics of its own magical character.
Objects of power rarely just make an action easier or directly enhance the actions of the user. That’s what kindled items do. Instead, objects of power provide a new capability to the user or offer something unique. This is the primary difference between a kindled item and an object of power. (The fact that most kindled items are simple and common enough that they can be purchased without magecoins also factors into the distinction.)
As with ephemera, characters cannot own many objects of power at once. The magic within them is too much to take. All characters are limited to a maximum of three objects of power at a time.
Kindled items, a Maker’s signature item, and of course ephemera do not count toward this limit. Neither do things like magical materials and ingredients, leaves of emotions, and so on.
Characters with the Magical Management secret can handle five objects of power at one time.
When you use an object of power, it’s much like casting a spell. However, it costs you no Sorcery to do so. It’s like a free spell. Conversely, you cannot use your own power to increase the level of the effect—the level is set. Just like with a spell, you can add additional Sorcery, but in this case, all a bene of Sorcery does is add +1 to the venture or grant additional damage or an additional effect.
Characters using objects that can be aimed, like an Insanity Pistol or That Sword, can use bene from Accuracy rather than Sorcery.
Like spells and other effects, the effect created by an object of power often has a depletion to let you know when it ends. However, objects have their own depletion to let you know when the object’s power is drained. As you sit in Shadow, you might liken this to a battery-powered electric light that turns off after a time but can be turned back on. You have to know how long the light stays on, and you need to know when the battery is exhausted and the light won’t turn back on at all.
Thus, you’ll see many objects with entries for Effect Depletion and Object Depletion. For objects with both, you’ll need to determine if the effect depletes separately from the object. One does not relate to the other in any fashion.
Typically, an object wielder can end an effect they create with the object at any time, just as if they had cast a spell.
Sometimes, an object will have a depletion entry with two ranges, separated by a slash. This means that when a depletion roll is made, two dice are rolled, and both dice must show the stated result to indicate depletion.
Artifacts do not deplete.
The magical nature of an object of power isn’t always obvious. Sometimes a spell or ability that senses the presence of magic is needed. If a vislae knows that an object has power, they can attempt an identification action (modified by Intellect, and probably using the skill magical lore) to learn its name, level, and properties.
Objects of power of level 8 or higher have such a palpable aura of magic that anyone—even nonvislae—can sense their energy if they are close. (The only exception is if the object is intentionally hidden.)
People only rarely sell magical devices of this kind of potency. Most don’t have the funds (or the right kind of funds) to purchase them, and they’re rare enough that most people don’t want to part with them.
As with ephemera objects, trading is easier and more common. A level 1 object can be traded for another level 1 object. A level 3 for a level 3. And so on. If an exchange is desired but the levels don’t match, the party trading the lower-level object probably has to put up the difference in magecoins.
Simply put, things are worth what people are willing to pay for them. Value should probably vary based on depletion and actual effects, and not purely level. In the very broadest of strokes, though, the general value of an object of power can be summed up as follows:
Level 1–3 1 magecoin + 1 magecoin/level
Level 4–6 2 magecoins/level
Level 7–8 3 magecoins/level
Level 9 30 magecoins
Level 10 50 magecoins
Level 11 75 magecoins*
Level 12 110 magecoins*
Level 13 160 magecoins*
Level 14 220 magecoins*
Level 15 300 magecoins*
Level 16 400 magecoins*
Level 17 550 magecoins*