Artifact: The Puzzle
Power: Significant.
Description: About the size of a large apple, a bronze box made of interlocking mechanical pieces engraved with a small, intricate script. Covered in language that is not language and made of complex parts that move in unison to achieve nothing, it nonetheless seems to hold deep mystery for the naturally inquisitive. Investigation reveals bottomless, fractal depths to its history and the interpretations of its workings. What does it all mean?
Smashing it to pieces reveals nothing.
Effect: The occult version of a roach motel crossed with a rubix cube. Most people who play with it are unaffected but for anyone with a passion, obsession or identity relevant to uncovering mysteries it's clearly an important piece of ...whatever big goal they're chasing right now.
Playing with the puzzle is satisfying and addictive. A successful roll (on Knowledge or Notice), resets a spent passion once per session. Resisting the urge to fiddle with it once used is a Helplessness check, rank 4 plus 1 per previous use of its reset ability. Succumbing to temptation and failing to make progress is worse, total absorption consumes the user: they’ll neglect their other obligations, their relationships, slow starve themselves in all-consuming fascination with the puzzle.
No comments:
Post a Comment