Out of Character (OOC):
Description:
A Small golden bell to be rang by hand. It's a bell clapper 9 inches in height with a bell at the bottom end that is 10 inches in circumference. There is no dongle inside and the only way to produce sound is to strike it against something to ring. Handle made of some king of ancient petrified wood, very pale gray and sanded very smooth and made to fit a petite hand. The handle feels cool, the gold parts a warm and soft. The Metal is soft and can be bent with bare hands but has remarkable elasticity and quickly returns to its crafted shape. The gold seems more red-hued, like a sunset. The reflections on its smooth surface seem to dance as if wreathed in flames.
Inside the bell and written in rings around the inside are bands of writing. They are True Atlantean and detail how to perform a special spell. The bell is actually an Inscribed Grimorie. Around the center of the bell’s circumference are a ring of round-cut precious gemstones about the size of a penny each in the following order: Diamond, Ruby, Emerald, Sapphire, Onyx, Amethyst, Moonstone, Amber, Jade and Aquamarine. Centered below the Amethyst is what appears to be a High Speech Glyph but you cannot tell what it says.
No one recognizes this name, its made from many many overlapping High Speech gylph. It is hypothesized that this is the name of the Dethroned Queen. Each mage sight adds a layer of dimension to the shape of the name, it is a 10 dimensional name made from all the Arcana. Is this the full holy name of the Exarch herself before she was cast down, her shadow name lost to the ages? This symbol is much like the great seals of the Archigenitors, the top 4 Exarchs. Except this is also different from all of them. Casstiel has seen the names of The Father, The General, The Eye, and The Unity and this is not one of them. It glows brightest with Time sights, the other names focus on one Arcanum as well (Prime, Forces, Space and Mind respectively). This presumes she was once was the chief Exarch of Time before she was replaced by the obscure Exarch known as The Prophet.
Each different mage sight makes its corresponding gemstone appear to blaze with that magic type. Use the Ringsight table to see what gemstone flares for which sight.
Basic Stats:
Durability 6, Size 1, Structure 7, Holds 14 Mana
Effective Gnosis: 3 (Mage accessing the Artifact can use any combination of Gnosis and Arcana on a given spell on the item)
Effective Reach/Arcana: 4
Yantra: +1 path tool for Acanthus
Determining usage: In general, it takes 14 successes on an extended research to figure out how to use the items power. Opacity is 5 to study the item itself.
Wisdom Sins:
1. Every Use of the Ring
Wisdom Check at current level dice, after a wisdom loss the character can Inure themselves from the custom Ringsight spell or learned Ringsight Rote and avoid additional checks. This is Playing god somehow, tearing back the skein of reality and seeing the subtle control of the Exarchs. This isn't immediately apparent though, the check is made without the character knowing why. Rather than the normal Conditions from Wisdom loss the character gains the Condition: False Signs. Regular failure grants the character a normal Wisdom loss condition (Megalomania or Rampant) and also grants the Character Condition: Ring Paranoia (See below).
Condition: False Signs (Persistent)
Anytime you use the Ring you get the exact opposite of seeing the Exarch's influence in the world around you. Instead you start seeing the people you trust most with the taint of Exarch control on them them and those under the true influence of the Exarchs are less noticeable.
Effect: much like the mundane Condition: Paranoid, you take a -1 to all composure based rolls. The other effects are role-play driven.
Resolution: Gain a point of Wisdom or lose a Point of Wisdom.
Beats: Gain a beat whenever the false information drives you to cause significant drama and set-back amongst your Cabal and friends.
Condition: Ring Paranoia (Persistent)
When you use Ringsight you start seeing what you want to see. People you suspect of having the taint of control, do. People you don’t trust start pinging as well. People you dislike the most give you a reason to hate them more. They are all under the influence.
Effect: much like the mundane Condition: Paranoid, you take a -1 to all composure based rolls. The other effects are role-play driven.
Resolution: Gain a point of Wisdom or take another Wisdom check as a result of your actions. Note, this cannot be a Wisdom check from more Ringsight usage.
Beats: Gain a beat whenever the false information drives you to cause significant drama and set-back amongst your Cabal and friends.
2. Learning the Rote - Learning the Custom Seer Rote "Ringsight" (Prime 1) is a Wisdom Sin for anyone of Wisdom lower than or equal to 6.
Conditional Effects:
I. Ring Fixation OOOO
Mind Patterning Spell w/ Condition Duration Attainment (Fate 2) and Conditional Trigger (Time 2) and specialized Indefinite Duration
An effect that doesn't act as a traditional spell, but is triggered by use of the Ring whoever uses the Ring as a Grimorie, Yantra or uses Ringsight triggers a clash of wills (Resolve + Gnosis) vs (Item Gnosis 3 + Item Reach 3). If the user fails the CoWs they gain the Condition: Fixation (Ring). No spellcasting roll is made for the effect and the spell has an Potency of 4 and an infinite duration.
Condition: Fixation (Ring) (Persistent)
This condition mirrors the mundane Condition: Fixated but is persistent and focuses on the desire to keep and protecting the ring.
Effect: Your character focuses on a single thought or command, in this case, keeping and protecting the Ring. When the Ring is shown or used in a given scene, she takes a –2 penalty to all actions for the rest of the scene other than acts the enable the victim to acquire the Ring or protect it from harm. This urge does not force the character to immediately try to steal the Ring or attack people to get it, they are simply penalized due to the distraction of wanted to focus on the Ring.
II. Ringsight O
Prime Unveiling Spell w/ Condition Duration Attainment (Fate 2) and Conditional Trigger (Time 2) and specialized Indefinite Duration.
The primary effect of the Ring is that it grants a special effect that activates the next time the mage uses Active Mage Sight. This spell was created by through a combination of all Arcane Attainment effects captured from all the Active Mage Sights. What makes this different, is that it shows the characters something they have to research or deduce to discover: it starts highlighting the control of the Exarchs on the Fallen World through the interpretation of the purview of each Arcana involved. The ring created by the bell is the actual reason this item is called The Ring and not The Bell, the ring itself, its resonance is the actual item, not the bell itself.
Activation:
When struck against a surface of wood, plastic, metal, or stone the item spends a mana from the item's internal storage. The bell reverberates the holder’s soul with a bass-rich tone and it hangs in the air after it quiets as if the world is waiting for something.
Upon closer inspection mages can determine that a spell occurred and like a standing wave the sound now vibrates the pattern of the mage, holding a spell effect in the pattern for later.
The next time the Mage who rang the bell activates their Active Mage Sight (AMS), its it twists the focus from the Arcana involved to highlighting the control of the Exarchs. To the mage, is alters the what AMS should highlight to some odd. Why is that person glowing on Prime Sight when they are completely mundane in every way? (for example).
Mechanics: Ringsight only lasts until the mage drops their AMS again. AMS with Ringsight can be transitioned into Focus Mage Sight (FMS) and will highlight the resonance of control exerted by the Exarchs and their servants. To regain Ringsight, the bell has to be rung again. The spell doesn't change any mage sights that are currently being used when it is cast but instead works the NEXT time the person who used the bell. Once Ringsight is learned as a Rote it can be cast using normal spell factors with the addition of the Conditional Trigger and special duration at no cost. The spell automatically will last indefinitely so long as the target doesn't use Active Mage Sight. Since AMS and FMS are incredibly distracting and possibly harmful, its extremely hard for anyone to keep the sight up longer than a few scenes. Normal penalties for distraction (-2 and -3) still apply and the spell terminates as soon as they drop their mage sight. No spellcasting roll is made for the effect and the spell has an Potency of 6 (withstood by Resolve) and an infinite duration.
Ringing the bell emits a tonal sound wave brings the user in sync with a different level of reality and is able to perceive the hidden influences of the Exarchs directly. This manifests as seeing a type of “taint” or "influence" with each Arcana. It is unknown if each single Arcanum only shows the influence of its patron Exarch or if it shows all Exarchal influence. Further study may clarify this.
1. Prime Sight: - Diamond
The mage sees a “color” of resonance you have never seen before. It is so foreign it can’t be described (think Octarine from Discworld), a combination of radiant green and orange. Scales from a slight discoloration to overwhelming brightness and omnipresence.
The Father is the Archigenitor Exarch patron of the Prime Arcanum and the Greater Ministry of the Paternoster. The Paternostic Ministry subjugates mankind through religion.
Faith is an unbreakable chain. Resplendent in ceremony and encouraged by the soft certitude of cultured piety, those of the Ministry of Paternoster style themselves priests of the Father, Exarch of control through faith and religion. Champions of all zealotry, the Ministry reinforces dogma and fear while quashing the positive aspects of religion. The Ministries scour Sleeper religions for hints of Supernal insight, that they can be grounded and guttered to promote the pure Exarchal religion.
2. Mind Sight: - Ruby
The mage sees physic push or presence seems to hang over people. In their presence you feel like its looming over them and you with increasing levels of scrutiny. You want to turn and look behind you or up, into your periphery but are terrified at what might be watching. Gods are watching.
The Unity is the Archigenitor Exarch patron of the Mind Arcanum and the Greater Ministry of the Hegemony. The Hegemonic Ministry subjugates mankind through collectivism and socialist governance. Since the rise of capitalism and globalization starting in the 90s the Hegemony went into decline and has faded in influence to the strength of a lesser Ministry.
The State is the soul. The first true Ministry finds itself embattled by factional conflicts, as globalization nips at the heels of the servants of the Unity, Exarch of control through nationalism. Dominating nations and attracting leaders, the Hegemons did quite well while humanity existed in a collection of nation-states and far-flung empires, but have fallen prey to the subversive power of the merchant class, represented by the Lesser Ministry of Mammon, servants of the Chancellor. As theocracies and corporate interests rise ascendant over political interests, many within the Pyramid whisper that the 21st century will be the last with Hegemony as a Great Ministry.
3. Space Sight: - Emerald
The mage sees bizarre warping of space around a person. Ranges from slight tweaks to spatial distances to an absolute swirling vertigo spiral emanating from a person who is under the influence of the unseen lords.
The Eye is the Archigenitor Exarch patron of the Space Arcanum and the Greater Ministry of the Panopticon. The Panoptic Ministry subjugates mankind through observation and personal transparency.
Vision is power. Making extensive use of surveillance technology, the Panopticon styles itself servants of the Eye, Exarch of control through surveillance. With every tracked private message, every law passed to strip a bit more privacy from citizens, the Panopticon gains power. Eyes high in orbit can see every inch of the globe, and the Ministry spends a great deal of time managing Seer conspiracy cults, promoting a culture without privacy, so that the people shackle themselves for fear of retribution.
4. Fate Sight: - Sapphire
The mage sees the threads of fate have a weight to them surrounding a subject. They are more tangible than the normal threads of fate and heavy. Those under the influence of the Exarchs appear to have puppet strings leading skyward. The strings loop, snag, tangle, and pull. More strings or heavier strings denote influence intensity.
The Ruin is the Exarch patron of the Fate Arcanum.
5. Death Sight: - Onyx
The mage sees people under the influence have tags on ears or toes or fingers as if they were cadavers in a morgue. The writing is blurred, just slightly out of focus. The larger tags or more writing, font, size, denote intensity of influence.
The Psychopomp is the Exarch patron of the Death Arcanum and the Lesser Ministry of Thanatacity. The Thanatonic Ministry subjugates mankind by using the fear of death, beliefs in the afterlife, and by utilizing the dead.
6. Time Sight - Amethyst
The mage sees people, things and places significant to the Exarchs hold the shadow of their time of importance. Young people may have the shadow of the elderly or old people have the shadow of the young. None of these shadows depict people in the prime of their lives. All are either infirmed by an excessive age or youth.
The Prophet is the Exarch patron of the Time Arcanum and The Dethroned Queen used to be this Arcanum's patron.
7. Spirit Sight - Moonstone
Mages see subjects under the influence have multiple afterimages that trail behind them. You can see a very unusual kind of essence that motes off of them and infuses them. Perhaps this is something the Exarchs farm and harvest?
The Nemesis is the Exarch patron of the Spirit Arcanum.
8. Life Sight - Amber
The mage notices that tainted subjects have a parasitic aura around them, as if they had a parasitic infection. That is how it reads but the mage can find no trace of biological infection using other Life Knowing spells. The intensity of the aura ranges from a slight discoloration of the skin to a massive growth on their bodies. There always only to appears to be coming from one parasite per person.
The Raptor is the Exarch patron of the Life Arcanum and is the embodiment of mankind's fear of nature. She uses the fear of the natural world and its secrets to keep mankind hemmed in from elevating their state in existence. Mages speculate that she may also be the Crone some vampires worship or the Dark Mother, Lilith, mother of all monsters.
9. Matter Sight - Jade (mundane)
The mage sees people tainted by the Exarchs seem to have extra weight/density/mass to them. Gravity and density seems increased around them and other objects seem to pull towards them ever so slightly. Sometimes they feel like invisible chains pulling on the observer and the person, place, or thing. The most tainted you can actually see distortions of the chains on reality all around them…
The Chancellor is the Exarch patron of the Matter Arcanum and the Lesser Ministry of Mammon. The Ministry of Mammon subjugates mankind through wealth and power.
The Chancellor is also served by another Ministry (as if hedging it's bets), the Ministry of the Pantechnicon. The Pantechniconic Ministry subjugates mankind through technological superiority and isolation. Since the failure of the Pyramid to recruit the Free Council of Assemblies both the Mammonites and Pantechnics have rushed to fill the power vacuum as the Hegemony continues to decline. The Great Refusal (when the Free Council of Assemblies rejected the Seers) destroyed the Seer's hope to create the great Technocracy the Seers suffered perhaps their greatest blow. The Pantechnicon continues the dream of the Technocracy and its Technocrats maintain it is their destiny to restore what could have been.
10. Forces Sight - Aquamarine
the mage sees that around influenced subjects they can hear this hissing sound. They also hear whispers in varying tones and urgency. Analyzing this further, the sounds seem to emit as if someone was talking through a wall, words muffled and just barely incoherent. The tone and volume of the whispers varies in intensity based on the concentration of the control.
The General is the Archigenitor Exarch patron of the Forces Arcanum and the Greater Ministry of Praetorian. The Praetoric Ministry subjugates mankind through military might.
The weak fear the strong. Brutal demagogues and warriors, the soldier-priests of Praetorian
serve under the General, Exarch of control through violence. Where their counterparts in the Adamantine Arrow practice combat as a symbol of righteous struggle, Praetorian mages espouse warfare as dehumanizing meat-grinder, through which warlords rise to subjugate others with the fear of violence. As western societies are increasingly militarized by fear of terrorism, and the world bathes in the blood of countless never-ending wars, the Praetorian Ministry seems unassailable in the Iron Pyramid.
Persistent Effects:
I. Attuned Orichalcum O
Chronicle: Mage 2: The Dethroned Queen
Venue: Mage: The Awakening 2nd Edition
Chronicle Storyteller: Jerad Sayler
Venue: Mage: The Awakening 2nd Edition
Chronicle Storyteller: Jerad Sayler
Assistant Storytellers: Hannah Nyland & Alex Van Belkum
The Ring of the Dethroned Queen
And the Exarchs
“By her grace She leaves this Ring, so we might find the Truth we seek.”
The following is a conversion and upgrade of the Artifact: Ring of the Dethroned Queen to Mage: The Awakening Second Edition rules. Sources: The Merit as written, straight out of Mage: The Awakening 2nd edition. The Artifact example I converted is from our current campaign and straight out of the Reign of the Exarchs sourcebook.
The Ring of the Dethroned Queen
(7 dots) Artifact: OOOOO OO (4 Experience Points)
Description:
A Small golden bell to be rang by hand. It's a bell clapper 9 inches in height with a bell at the bottom end that is 10 inches in circumference. There is no dongle inside and the only way to produce sound is to strike it against something to ring. Handle made of some king of ancient petrified wood, very pale gray and sanded very smooth and made to fit a petite hand. The handle feels cool, the gold parts a warm and soft. The Metal is soft and can be bent with bare hands but has remarkable elasticity and quickly returns to its crafted shape. The gold seems more red-hued, like a sunset. The reflections on its smooth surface seem to dance as if wreathed in flames.
Inside the bell and written in rings around the inside are bands of writing. They are True Atlantean and detail how to perform a special spell. The bell is actually an Inscribed Grimorie. Around the center of the bell’s circumference are a ring of round-cut precious gemstones about the size of a penny each in the following order: Diamond, Ruby, Emerald, Sapphire, Onyx, Amethyst, Moonstone, Amber, Jade and Aquamarine. Centered below the Amethyst is what appears to be a High Speech Glyph but you cannot tell what it says.
No one recognizes this name, its made from many many overlapping High Speech gylph. It is hypothesized that this is the name of the Dethroned Queen. Each mage sight adds a layer of dimension to the shape of the name, it is a 10 dimensional name made from all the Arcana. Is this the full holy name of the Exarch herself before she was cast down, her shadow name lost to the ages? This symbol is much like the great seals of the Archigenitors, the top 4 Exarchs. Except this is also different from all of them. Casstiel has seen the names of The Father, The General, The Eye, and The Unity and this is not one of them. It glows brightest with Time sights, the other names focus on one Arcanum as well (Prime, Forces, Space and Mind respectively). This presumes she was once was the chief Exarch of Time before she was replaced by the obscure Exarch known as The Prophet.Each different mage sight makes its corresponding gemstone appear to blaze with that magic type. Use the Ringsight table to see what gemstone flares for which sight.
Basic Stats:
Durability 6, Size 1, Structure 7, Holds 14 Mana
Effective Gnosis: 3 (Mage accessing the Artifact can use any combination of Gnosis and Arcana on a given spell on the item)
Effective Reach/Arcana: 4
Yantra: +1 path tool for Acanthus
Determining usage: In general, it takes 14 successes on an extended research to figure out how to use the items power. Opacity is 5 to study the item itself.
Wisdom Sins:
1. Every Use of the Ring
Wisdom Check at current level dice, after a wisdom loss the character can Inure themselves from the custom Ringsight spell or learned Ringsight Rote and avoid additional checks. This is Playing god somehow, tearing back the skein of reality and seeing the subtle control of the Exarchs. This isn't immediately apparent though, the check is made without the character knowing why. Rather than the normal Conditions from Wisdom loss the character gains the Condition: False Signs. Regular failure grants the character a normal Wisdom loss condition (Megalomania or Rampant) and also grants the Character Condition: Ring Paranoia (See below).
Condition: False Signs (Persistent)
Anytime you use the Ring you get the exact opposite of seeing the Exarch's influence in the world around you. Instead you start seeing the people you trust most with the taint of Exarch control on them them and those under the true influence of the Exarchs are less noticeable.
Effect: much like the mundane Condition: Paranoid, you take a -1 to all composure based rolls. The other effects are role-play driven.
Resolution: Gain a point of Wisdom or lose a Point of Wisdom.
Beats: Gain a beat whenever the false information drives you to cause significant drama and set-back amongst your Cabal and friends.
Condition: Ring Paranoia (Persistent)
When you use Ringsight you start seeing what you want to see. People you suspect of having the taint of control, do. People you don’t trust start pinging as well. People you dislike the most give you a reason to hate them more. They are all under the influence.
Effect: much like the mundane Condition: Paranoid, you take a -1 to all composure based rolls. The other effects are role-play driven.
Resolution: Gain a point of Wisdom or take another Wisdom check as a result of your actions. Note, this cannot be a Wisdom check from more Ringsight usage.
Beats: Gain a beat whenever the false information drives you to cause significant drama and set-back amongst your Cabal and friends.
2. Learning the Rote - Learning the Custom Seer Rote "Ringsight" (Prime 1) is a Wisdom Sin for anyone of Wisdom lower than or equal to 6.
Conditional Effects:
I. Ring Fixation OOOO
Mind Patterning Spell w/ Condition Duration Attainment (Fate 2) and Conditional Trigger (Time 2) and specialized Indefinite Duration
An effect that doesn't act as a traditional spell, but is triggered by use of the Ring whoever uses the Ring as a Grimorie, Yantra or uses Ringsight triggers a clash of wills (Resolve + Gnosis) vs (Item Gnosis 3 + Item Reach 3). If the user fails the CoWs they gain the Condition: Fixation (Ring). No spellcasting roll is made for the effect and the spell has an Potency of 4 and an infinite duration.
Condition: Fixation (Ring) (Persistent)
This condition mirrors the mundane Condition: Fixated but is persistent and focuses on the desire to keep and protecting the ring.
Effect: Your character focuses on a single thought or command, in this case, keeping and protecting the Ring. When the Ring is shown or used in a given scene, she takes a –2 penalty to all actions for the rest of the scene other than acts the enable the victim to acquire the Ring or protect it from harm. This urge does not force the character to immediately try to steal the Ring or attack people to get it, they are simply penalized due to the distraction of wanted to focus on the Ring.
II. Ringsight O
Prime Unveiling Spell w/ Condition Duration Attainment (Fate 2) and Conditional Trigger (Time 2) and specialized Indefinite Duration.
The primary effect of the Ring is that it grants a special effect that activates the next time the mage uses Active Mage Sight. This spell was created by through a combination of all Arcane Attainment effects captured from all the Active Mage Sights. What makes this different, is that it shows the characters something they have to research or deduce to discover: it starts highlighting the control of the Exarchs on the Fallen World through the interpretation of the purview of each Arcana involved. The ring created by the bell is the actual reason this item is called The Ring and not The Bell, the ring itself, its resonance is the actual item, not the bell itself.
Activation:
When struck against a surface of wood, plastic, metal, or stone the item spends a mana from the item's internal storage. The bell reverberates the holder’s soul with a bass-rich tone and it hangs in the air after it quiets as if the world is waiting for something.
Upon closer inspection mages can determine that a spell occurred and like a standing wave the sound now vibrates the pattern of the mage, holding a spell effect in the pattern for later.
The next time the Mage who rang the bell activates their Active Mage Sight (AMS), its it twists the focus from the Arcana involved to highlighting the control of the Exarchs. To the mage, is alters the what AMS should highlight to some odd. Why is that person glowing on Prime Sight when they are completely mundane in every way? (for example).
Mechanics: Ringsight only lasts until the mage drops their AMS again. AMS with Ringsight can be transitioned into Focus Mage Sight (FMS) and will highlight the resonance of control exerted by the Exarchs and their servants. To regain Ringsight, the bell has to be rung again. The spell doesn't change any mage sights that are currently being used when it is cast but instead works the NEXT time the person who used the bell. Once Ringsight is learned as a Rote it can be cast using normal spell factors with the addition of the Conditional Trigger and special duration at no cost. The spell automatically will last indefinitely so long as the target doesn't use Active Mage Sight. Since AMS and FMS are incredibly distracting and possibly harmful, its extremely hard for anyone to keep the sight up longer than a few scenes. Normal penalties for distraction (-2 and -3) still apply and the spell terminates as soon as they drop their mage sight. No spellcasting roll is made for the effect and the spell has an Potency of 6 (withstood by Resolve) and an infinite duration.
Ringing the bell emits a tonal sound wave brings the user in sync with a different level of reality and is able to perceive the hidden influences of the Exarchs directly. This manifests as seeing a type of “taint” or "influence" with each Arcana. It is unknown if each single Arcanum only shows the influence of its patron Exarch or if it shows all Exarchal influence. Further study may clarify this.
1. Prime Sight: - Diamond
The mage sees a “color” of resonance you have never seen before. It is so foreign it can’t be described (think Octarine from Discworld), a combination of radiant green and orange. Scales from a slight discoloration to overwhelming brightness and omnipresence.
The Father is the Archigenitor Exarch patron of the Prime Arcanum and the Greater Ministry of the Paternoster. The Paternostic Ministry subjugates mankind through religion.
Faith is an unbreakable chain. Resplendent in ceremony and encouraged by the soft certitude of cultured piety, those of the Ministry of Paternoster style themselves priests of the Father, Exarch of control through faith and religion. Champions of all zealotry, the Ministry reinforces dogma and fear while quashing the positive aspects of religion. The Ministries scour Sleeper religions for hints of Supernal insight, that they can be grounded and guttered to promote the pure Exarchal religion.
2. Mind Sight: - Ruby
The mage sees physic push or presence seems to hang over people. In their presence you feel like its looming over them and you with increasing levels of scrutiny. You want to turn and look behind you or up, into your periphery but are terrified at what might be watching. Gods are watching. The Unity is the Archigenitor Exarch patron of the Mind Arcanum and the Greater Ministry of the Hegemony. The Hegemonic Ministry subjugates mankind through collectivism and socialist governance. Since the rise of capitalism and globalization starting in the 90s the Hegemony went into decline and has faded in influence to the strength of a lesser Ministry.
The State is the soul. The first true Ministry finds itself embattled by factional conflicts, as globalization nips at the heels of the servants of the Unity, Exarch of control through nationalism. Dominating nations and attracting leaders, the Hegemons did quite well while humanity existed in a collection of nation-states and far-flung empires, but have fallen prey to the subversive power of the merchant class, represented by the Lesser Ministry of Mammon, servants of the Chancellor. As theocracies and corporate interests rise ascendant over political interests, many within the Pyramid whisper that the 21st century will be the last with Hegemony as a Great Ministry.
3. Space Sight: - Emerald
The mage sees bizarre warping of space around a person. Ranges from slight tweaks to spatial distances to an absolute swirling vertigo spiral emanating from a person who is under the influence of the unseen lords.
The Eye is the Archigenitor Exarch patron of the Space Arcanum and the Greater Ministry of the Panopticon. The Panoptic Ministry subjugates mankind through observation and personal transparency.
Vision is power. Making extensive use of surveillance technology, the Panopticon styles itself servants of the Eye, Exarch of control through surveillance. With every tracked private message, every law passed to strip a bit more privacy from citizens, the Panopticon gains power. Eyes high in orbit can see every inch of the globe, and the Ministry spends a great deal of time managing Seer conspiracy cults, promoting a culture without privacy, so that the people shackle themselves for fear of retribution.
4. Fate Sight: - Sapphire
The mage sees the threads of fate have a weight to them surrounding a subject. They are more tangible than the normal threads of fate and heavy. Those under the influence of the Exarchs appear to have puppet strings leading skyward. The strings loop, snag, tangle, and pull. More strings or heavier strings denote influence intensity.
The Ruin is the Exarch patron of the Fate Arcanum.
5. Death Sight: - Onyx
The mage sees people under the influence have tags on ears or toes or fingers as if they were cadavers in a morgue. The writing is blurred, just slightly out of focus. The larger tags or more writing, font, size, denote intensity of influence.
The Psychopomp is the Exarch patron of the Death Arcanum and the Lesser Ministry of Thanatacity. The Thanatonic Ministry subjugates mankind by using the fear of death, beliefs in the afterlife, and by utilizing the dead.
6. Time Sight - Amethyst
The mage sees people, things and places significant to the Exarchs hold the shadow of their time of importance. Young people may have the shadow of the elderly or old people have the shadow of the young. None of these shadows depict people in the prime of their lives. All are either infirmed by an excessive age or youth. The Prophet is the Exarch patron of the Time Arcanum and The Dethroned Queen used to be this Arcanum's patron.
7. Spirit Sight - Moonstone
Mages see subjects under the influence have multiple afterimages that trail behind them. You can see a very unusual kind of essence that motes off of them and infuses them. Perhaps this is something the Exarchs farm and harvest?
The Nemesis is the Exarch patron of the Spirit Arcanum.
8. Life Sight - Amber
The mage notices that tainted subjects have a parasitic aura around them, as if they had a parasitic infection. That is how it reads but the mage can find no trace of biological infection using other Life Knowing spells. The intensity of the aura ranges from a slight discoloration of the skin to a massive growth on their bodies. There always only to appears to be coming from one parasite per person.
The Raptor is the Exarch patron of the Life Arcanum and is the embodiment of mankind's fear of nature. She uses the fear of the natural world and its secrets to keep mankind hemmed in from elevating their state in existence. Mages speculate that she may also be the Crone some vampires worship or the Dark Mother, Lilith, mother of all monsters.
9. Matter Sight - Jade (mundane)
The mage sees people tainted by the Exarchs seem to have extra weight/density/mass to them. Gravity and density seems increased around them and other objects seem to pull towards them ever so slightly. Sometimes they feel like invisible chains pulling on the observer and the person, place, or thing. The most tainted you can actually see distortions of the chains on reality all around them…
The Chancellor is the Exarch patron of the Matter Arcanum and the Lesser Ministry of Mammon. The Ministry of Mammon subjugates mankind through wealth and power.The Chancellor is also served by another Ministry (as if hedging it's bets), the Ministry of the Pantechnicon. The Pantechniconic Ministry subjugates mankind through technological superiority and isolation. Since the failure of the Pyramid to recruit the Free Council of Assemblies both the Mammonites and Pantechnics have rushed to fill the power vacuum as the Hegemony continues to decline. The Great Refusal (when the Free Council of Assemblies rejected the Seers) destroyed the Seer's hope to create the great Technocracy the Seers suffered perhaps their greatest blow. The Pantechnicon continues the dream of the Technocracy and its Technocrats maintain it is their destiny to restore what could have been.
10. Forces Sight - Aquamarine
the mage sees that around influenced subjects they can hear this hissing sound. They also hear whispers in varying tones and urgency. Analyzing this further, the sounds seem to emit as if someone was talking through a wall, words muffled and just barely incoherent. The tone and volume of the whispers varies in intensity based on the concentration of the control. The General is the Archigenitor Exarch patron of the Forces Arcanum and the Greater Ministry of Praetorian. The Praetoric Ministry subjugates mankind through military might.
The weak fear the strong. Brutal demagogues and warriors, the soldier-priests of Praetorian
serve under the General, Exarch of control through violence. Where their counterparts in the Adamantine Arrow practice combat as a symbol of righteous struggle, Praetorian mages espouse warfare as dehumanizing meat-grinder, through which warlords rise to subjugate others with the fear of violence. As western societies are increasingly militarized by fear of terrorism, and the world bathes in the blood of countless never-ending wars, the Praetorian Ministry seems unassailable in the Iron Pyramid.
Persistent Effects:
I. Attuned Orichalcum O
- Perfected: Orichalcum offers a +2 tool Yantra for spells cast upon itself
- Perfected: Orichalcum durability cannot be reduced by nonmagical means.
- Perfected: When used as a Tool Yantra for Forces or Prime spells, the mage gains 9-again on the spell roll
- Perfected: It is completely impervious to corrosion and is considered chemically inert.
- Perfected: It is completely impervious to corrosion and is considered chemically inert.
- Attuned: If the wielder of an Orichalcum imbued item knows a version of the rote contained in the item, she gains the 9-again quality when she casts the rote if she is wielding the item of power.
II. Grimoire O
Reading the writing on the inside of the Bell reveals instructions to learn the custom Seer spell "Ringsight" (Prime 1 w/ Fate 2 & Time 2) for 1 Experience point. The Rote skill used is Occult. The spell no longer has an indefinite duration (expires when the spell duration ends) but is still triggered by Active Mage Sight and terminated after AMS drops without the need for hanging the spell in a Time spell.
The spellcasting roll still needs to be made and can target anyone instead of being limited to the person casting it. It does not have the automatic potency, starting at potency 1 as typical. Casting Ringsight as a Rote Spell while holding the Ring of the Dethroned Queen gains the 9 again quality. Reading the Rote from the inside of the bell while casting grants the Rote quality as typical for Grimoire use.
Reference - Merit: Artifact Rules
Artifact (•••+, Special) Effect: Your character possesses an Artifact, an item from the Supernal World which is both a physical symbol of magic and a unique item independently empowered create to sorcerous effects. These items possess their own Mana stores, and have their own effective Gnosis and Arcana with which to generate effects. They can cast these effects when harnessed by an Awakened owner who has researched (or divined through Prime) the manner in which the item works.
- Determining usage - In general, this takes successes on an extended research action equal to twice the Artifact’s Merit dots.
- Dot Rating - To calculate the cost of an Artifact, look to its single greatest effect, and map it to a spell effect. The base cost is equal to the highest Arcanum used, or three, whichever is higher. Each additional effect adds to the cost, but only half the highest Arcanum used (rounded up)
- Utility Attainments - Including a Utility Attainment in a spell effect (for example, an Artifact that can cast at Sympathetic Range) increases the cost by one dot for each Attainment included.
- Mana - Item can store Mana equal to twice the dot rating.
- Effective Gnosis Rating - The item’s effective Gnosis is equal to half the dot rating, rounded up.
- Accessing Mana - An owner can access the item’s Mana as if it were her own, or can use it to fuel the Artifact’s abilities. The Artifact can also use its Mana as part of its own activation.
- Effective Arcana Rating/Reach - The Artifact has effective Arcana equal to the highest Arcanum used in its various effects.
- Reach/Paradox - Artifacts cannot Reach beyond the “free” Reach for their Arcana ratings on their own. If an Artifact risks Paradox, the user can spend Mana to mitigate Paradox (in any combination of her own or the Artifact’s Mana pool, up to her Gnosis-derived limits) and may choose to contain the Paradox herself. Otherwise, the Artifact automatically releases it.
- Triggering Use - Every Artifact will use its effects under different circumstances, determined when you create the Artifact. For example, an Artifact might cast its effect the moment it is first seen by human eyes, or whenever it’s dropped on the ground.
- Combining Ratings -If an owner accesses the Artifact’s effects, she may use her own Gnosis and Arcana, the Artifact’s, or any combination thereof.
- Path Tool Yantra - Every Artifact is also a Path tool Yantra worth +1 dice for mages of the Path of the Artifacts’ highest Arcanum.
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