Saturday 28 September 2019

151 - Thalassian Pottery

Artifact: Thalassian Pottery

Power: Significant.

Description: A brown, glazed amphora about 2 feet tall and half as wide. Sealed with a clay-packed stopper that has miraculously survived the ravages of time (mostly because they’re all reproductions, not genuine antiques). Around the body, drawn with the black-figure technique, are depictions of people engaged in religious worship of something that looks like a sea anemone. There’s modern manufacturer’s markings on the base. It sloshes when shaken.

Effect: Breaking the seal or the amphora releases a burst of acrid tasting gas that sears the nose and throat (no damage), there’s no liquid inside. Anyone breathing it suffers from hallucinations of being trapped deep underwater: drowning, being set upon by terrifying sea creatures and rupturing from sudden pressure changes. This does damage as a significant blast rolled at the time of effect, spread over 4 turns. Each turn they may make a Fitness roll to negate that turn’s damage. While this is going on they are thrashing on the ground, their skin erupting with injuries mirroring their nightmarish visions and spewing seawater. Everyone - affected and witnesses - takes a rank 5 Unnatural check.


Thalassian pottery can be reused but requires a specific consecrating ritual so long as it’s undamaged. It involves collecting tears from someone with a disorder related to fear of water or the sea, enough to fill the amphora half-way, and a handful of genuine Aegean clay.

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