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Artifacts
I feel the list of artifacts in the Kindred of the East book can use a little rounding out, so I opened the Dungeon Master's Guide and copied a few magic items. (Just kidding, these babies are of my own creation.) Feel free to use these for your games, or give me feedback on 'em (my contact information is in the KotE index).
She-chang
Level Two Artifact
This well-crafted but utilitarian item is a naginata, a weapon that resembles a six-foot staff with a short, single-edged sword blade attached to one end. The wooden staff section immediately doubles in length (to 12') if a point of Yang Chi is spent towards this purpose, allowing the wielder to surprise her opponent (-2 difficulty to hit first time a victim is attacked this way). Less martial applications for She-chang include a makeshift vaulting pole, an extension for reaching high objects, and as a jam for gates or garage doors. The artifact's other power allows the vampire to bend and mold the wooden section any way she wants (which allows her, for example, to fold it in half so it will fit in a long coat); this requires a point of Yang, and the weapon will stay in that shape until another point of Yang is used to bend it again or "snap" it back to its original shape.
Though their existence is only legend, the enigmatic Serpent-Shifters are said to be fond of naginatas, and for this reason many vampires fear to use She-chang, not wanting to invoke these legendary demons' wrath. However, anyone familiar with the Snakes' fetish weapons will immediately recognize their unique quality. So it is clear, to informed Kuei-jin at least, that a She-chang is not a Nagah naginata.
Yin Blade
Level Three Artifact
A favorite weapon of Bone Flowers, most Yin Blades are slender, beautifully crafted bi shou daggers, though a few specimens are sai. However, all of them are small, ornate silver weapons. Yin Blades are quite cold to the touch.
A Yin Blade inflicts Strength + 1 unsoakable aggravated damage to most hengeyokai, as it is made from pure silver. It inflicts Strength +1 lethal damage to other Shen unless infused with a point of Yin Chi, in which case it inflicts aggravated damage, and grants the wielder the ability to attack Yin spirits (as per Bone Shintai 2) for one scene.
This blade has another function. On a successful attack with a Yin-infused Yin Blade (in other words, if any damage gets through soak), the wielder can spend another point of Yin to make the embedded blade transform and expand into a star shape, which is then pulled from the wound. This tears the insides of the victim to shreds, automatically inflicting a number of health levels of damage equal to the damage the original attack did; this damage cannot be soaked except with Iron Mountain. After being used in such a manner, the blade remains in that shape for an hour, and attack difficulties are increased by 2 during this time. Attempts to use this power consecutively, before the weapon returns to its original shape, immediately destroys the weapon.
Bakemono Cloak
Level Three, Four or Five Artifact
These nasty items are made and used exclusively by Devil-Tigers, who delight in turning Hell's power against itself. A Kuei-jin creates a cloak from the preserved skin of a bakemono (one that obviously angered the Celestial Devil), and binds the spirit of the hapless Yomi-spawn to its skin by some unknown means. The result is hideous apparel that grants the wearer the powers of a bakemono for a time; when activated, Bakemono Cloaks have been know to cling to the wearer, writhe around, bleed or ooze secretions, moan, and even scream when struck.
Level Three cloaks have one bakemono (fomor) power, Level Four cloaks have two powers, and Level Five cloaks have three powers. Especially potent bakemono powers may count as more than one power for determining the item's level, at the Storyteller's discretion.
The vampire can activate any power stored in the Bakemono Cloak by wearing it and spending a point of Demon Chi; each expenditure is good for activating one power. The Kuei-jin then has that bakemono power for one scene, unless he voluntarily "shuts off" the power or the cloak is removed. Though useful, Bakemono Cloaks impart dark thoughts and urges upon their wearers (as one might guess); for the duration of its use, the Kuei-jin needs one one more success than normal to avoid entering Shadow Soul.
Paper Tigers
Level Four Artifact
Paper Tigers come in sets of five, and are expertly made from rice paper and stained with rare inks. These curious items are believed to originate with the capricious Fox-Spirits. While gaki origami masters claim to have first made them, no Paper Tiger will ever attack or spy on one of the Kitsune, which does lend some credence to the first theory.
A Paper Tiger is a folded piece of paper the size of a woman's hand until it is activated with either Yin or Yang Chi (see below). At this point, it animates and grows, until it is the size of an actual tiger (though in volume only; they are hollow and as light as a feather). Yin-Tigers are bone white with bluish eyes and highlights, and black stripes; they move sinuously and make no noise at all, making them ideal spies. Yang-Tigers are bright orange, with glowing yellow eyes and scarlet stripes; these are quick and energetic, and bounce about aggressively until commanded to attack something. A Paper Tiger follows the commands of the one who last fed it Chi to the best of its ability (with exceptions noted above), though they are generally limited to combat or recon roles. They are limited to telepathic contact with their animators; they cannot speak other than by roaring.
All animated Paper Tigers conform to the following: Str 4, Dex 4, Sta 1, Cha 3, Man 1, App 3, Per 3, Int 2, Wit 3; 1 Health Level (any hit not soaked destroys it); bite or claw Str +1 lethal. They're immune to most forms of bashing damage, however. Tigers also gain Abilities, depending on what type of Chi is used to animate them.
Yin: Athletics 3, Dodge 3, Stealth 5, Alertness 4
Yang: Athletics 5, Brawl 5, Dodge 5
Attempting to feed a Paper Tiger both Yin and Yang Chi, or any Demon Chi at all, results in the destruction of the construct. Once a Paper Tiger suffers any damage, it's destroyed and reduced to useless shreds of paper; it can't be repaired or reanimated. Paper Tigers can remain active for up to an hour, after which point they refold into their original state and become dormant.
Kumo Mask
Level Five Artifact
The Kumo Mask is made of aged brass, and resembles the face of a giant spider. It has bloodstone eyes, yellowed fangs made of ivory (or bone), and eerie symbols etched into it. The origins of this unique and unholy item is unknown, but it is suspected that the goblin spiders gave this mask to an akuma ally who served their Demon Lord, Nareau. The item has since changed hands several times since the the death of the original owner, and the werespiders would pay dearly to retrieve the item... and make he who who has it pay dearly.
The Kumo Mask must be worn to be activated. When the wearer invests a point of Demon Chi in the artifact, eight leg-like appendages extend from the inside of the mask and tightly grip the wearer's face; while this is uncomfortable, it does no damage. While worn, the Kumo Mask grants the following:
Once per night, the vampire can poison a victim with a successful bite (i.e., one that inflicts damage). The bite causes the wearer's Stamina in aggravated damage, and the victim must make a Stamina roll (difficulty 7) or lose a point from a random Physical Attribute (this loss can be healed as aggravated damage). If any attribute is reduced to zero, the victim cannot move or take action.
The mask imparts a continual +4 bonus to all Athletics rolls involving climbing. In addition, the wearer can leap twice normal distance.
The Kumo Mask causes a Delirium effect in mortals who see the wearer (as outlined in Werewolf: the Apocalypse); if you do not have this book, then assume mortals who fail a Willpower roll (difficulty 9) spontaneously evacuate their bowels and run screaming.
Finally, the wearer can see in total darkness (as per Protean ●: Eye of the Beast).
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