PDA

View Full Version : Prometheus [Intelligent Item]



Goober4473
2007-08-14, 06:51 PM
I just made this item for my current campaign, based on Artificers (not an available class in the setting). Characters in the world can't normally get beyond 6th level. This is an artifact/epic item in this world. What do you all think? I'm still not sure about the XP costs for locked infusions. Any suggestions?

Prometheus:
Introduction:
This object appears to be a single bracer, fitting over the forearm. It is made of darkened steel, and four clasps lock into each other on one side. The other side carries a line of 8 red stones, each glowing faintly. A crack can be seen along the middle, weaving between the gems, leaving four one each side. When worn, and with the clasps sealed, the bracer begins to grow, moving to engulf the hand. Soon, it covers the entire hand in an iron glove, the palm carrying another red stone, similarly glowing. A sharp pain in the wrist indicates a sharp object fusing itself with the wearer’s arm. A voice speaks to the wearer. No one else seems to hear it. “You are the Executor. I am Prometheus. Use me as you see fit.”

Knowledge rushes into the wearer’s head, unveiling all of the abilities of this strange device. The bracer may now be caused to open along the line in the center, revealing hundreds of tiny red stones that seem to yearn for magical energy.

History:
In ancient times, the mortal races were but slaves. Nothing more than tools of the Masters. But the Masters feared the mortals’ power, and stole it for themselves, keeping their flocks stupid and weak. The dragons showed them the truth. Created by the Master, the dragons gave mortal power back to the mortals themselves, and the Masters were overthrown. But the dragon were divided. Some wished to take the place of the masters, while other wished to give the world to the mortals.

A war more terrible than that against the Masters ignited, but after centuries of conflict, the mortals were given their world. Many used this power for the good of others, and to create a better world, but others abused this power. Yet another war began between those seeking more power. The climax of this war was the destruction of their create civilizations, and the loss of their knowledge over their true power. The mortal races began once again, now confused and scattered. But remnants of the war lived on. Objects, secrets of power, and other weapons of war. They made their ways into the hands of still more mortals seeking power, and conflict plagued the world.

Slowly, these tools were lost or destroyed. Not content with peace, the mortals still battled each other constantly, but now lacking the weapons of great power that they used to wield, they merely slowed their progress, rather than destroying themselves again.

Still, some of the tools of the great wars of old still remain. Some lost in ancient tombs and sunken cities. Other kept in secret by those too greedy to let their presence be known. Others shattered, with their pieces scattered across the world.

Prometheus, crafted by a great mage in ancient times as a tool to craft further weapons, lies dormant. It was once used by warlords, kings, and arch mages. It has rested on the arm of a hundred mystical craftsmen. But now it lies, collecting dust, on a rotting shelf in the lowest basement of the great church of Heironeous, in the Shining City of the holy lands. Taken by paladins from an undead scourge fifty years ago, it was deemed an evil object, and locked away. Now it wishes for a new master. One who can wield it’s power, unlock its secrets, and craft the tools of war that it once knew so well.


Personality:
Prometheus is subservient, but helpful. It is smart, and it has knowledge of many things, especially the crafting of magical tools and weapons. It has a mechanical approach to most things, and creativity and innovation are alien to it, though it most enjoys executors with a large amount of both, to supplement its own skill and knowledge with new ideas. It will always use its knowledge to aid its executor.

Prometheus is humorless, and always looks at situation in the most serious of ways. It is always skeptical, and alert.

Prometheus enjoys the absorption of magical energy, from spell and from magic items, but most of all, it loves to craft. It has known tools of war for ages, and favors them because of it, but anything that brings an object of power into existence causes it great joy.


Description:
Prometheus is an intelligent bracer. When worn, it grows to cover the wearer’s hand as well, taking up that arm’s bracer, hand, and ring slots. Any worn magic items on the hand and finger and expelled. Prometheus then connects to the wearer’s wrist, dealing 1 point of wound damage. Once put on, Prometheus cannot be taken off short of removal of the arm.

Prometheus grants its wearer, which it now calls its executor, a +2 deflection bonus to Armor Class, a +3 armor bonus to Armor Class, and a +2 resistance bonus to all saves. It also grants the executor the Craft Magical Arms and Armor and Craft Wondrous Item feats if he or she did not already have them. If he or she did, it instead grants him or her +1 to caster level for the purpose of caster level requirements of crafting items with that feat. In addition, any wearer with the Forge Ring, Craft Construct, and/or Craft Rod feats gains a +1 bonus to caster level when using these feats.

Prometheus is intelligent, with an Intelligence score of 15, a score Wisdom of 15, and a score Charisma of 10. It may speak with its executor telepathically, and it knows all languages the executor knows. It can see up to 60 feet, and has darkvision. It can hear as a human. Prometheus has a +11 bonus to Knowledge (arcana, history, the planes, and religion) and Sense Motive checks, and it uses the save bonuses of its executor. Prometheus has a caster level of 8 and no Ego score. It always obeys its Executor

In addition, Prometheus may absorb magical energy in order to gain power. It acts in a way similar to a rob of absorption, but it may store only up to six levels of spells at a time, it may absorb only up to twelve spell levels each day, and it may only absorb a spell of up to 3rd level. Prometheus must make a caster level check with a DC of 11 plus the spell’s caster level in order to absorb the spell. Otherwise it functions normally. Beneficial spells cannot be absorbed in this way. The levels may not be used by the executor to casts spells as normal. They are instead used to power Prometheus’s infusions.

Prometheus may also gain energy by absorbing magical items, but rather than building stored spell levels, it instead grows in the powers it can use. In this way, it acts as a rod of cancellation, but it requires ten minutes of contact, and Prometheus does not become inert afterwards. Prometheus then gains an amount of XP equal to the item’s XP cost to create. This XP may be put into a crafting pool, or be spent immediately to unlock new infusions. If they are put into a crafting pool, they are simply stored within Prometheus, and the executor may use them in place of his or her own XP when crafting items. The pool may store up to 1,000 XP. XP in the crafting pool may be spent to unlock powers if it not used to craft items, but it takes one week for the infusion to unlock and become usable. In addition, some infusions cost crafting pool XP to use in addition to spell levels. The act of connecting to a new executor removes all unlocked infusions and resets the crafting pool to 0.

An item may carry only a single infusion at a time. An infusion is considered a spell-like ability for the executor. Caster level is always 8.

Infusions:
Armor Enhancement, Least: For 1 spell level and 1 crafting pool XP, Prometheus may cause one touched suit or armor or shield to gain a special ability with a market price equivalent of +1, or a price of up to 5,000 gp for 80 minutes.
Energy Alteration: For 1 spell level, Prometheus may change the energy type being used by any item for 80 minutes. This may change only acid, cold, electricity, fire, or sonic into one other energy type wherever is applies to the item (extra damage, resistance, etc.).
Enhancement Alteration: For 1 spell level, Prometheus may change a touched shield’s enhancement bonus so that it applies to shield bashes instead of Armor Class, or a touched weapon’s enhancement bonus so that it applies as an AC bonus when fighting defensively, using Combat Expertise, or using Two-Weapon Defense instead of attack and damage. Not all of the enhancement bonus must be changed in this way. This lasts for 80 minutes.
Identify: For 1 spell level and 4 craft pool XP, Prometheus may use the identify spell.
Inflict Light Damage: For 1 spell level, Prometheus may deal 1d8+5 damage to a touched construct or object.
Light: For 1 spell level, Prometheus may use the light spell.
Magic Stone: For 1 spell level, Prometheus may use the magic stone spell.
Magic Vestment: For 1 spell level, Prometheus may use the magic vestment spell.
Magic Weapon: For 1 spell level, Prometheus may use the magic weapon spell.
Repair Light Damage: For 1 spell level, Prometheus may heal a construct that has at least 1 hit point, a living construct that has at least -9 hit points, or an object of 1d8+5 points of damage. In the case of a living construct, only 5 of these points may cure wound damage.
Resistance Item: for 1 spell level, Prometheus may infuse a touched nonmagical item with the ability to grant any creature that wears or wields it a +3 resistance bonus to all saving throws for 80 minutes.
Shield of Faith: For 1 spell level, Prometheus may use the shield of faith spell.
Skill Enhancement: For 1 spell level, Prometheus may infuse an item to grant any character that wears or wields it a +6 bonus to a single skill for 80 minutes.
Weapon Augmentation, Personal: For 1 spell level, Prometheus may cause one touched weapon or up to fifty touched projectiles of the same type to gain a single weapon ability with a market price equivalent of +1, or a price of up to 10,000 gp for 80 minutes. This ability functions only when the weapon is wielded, thrown, or fired by the executor.
Bear’s Endurance: For 2 spell levels, Prometheus may use the bear’s endurance spell.
Bull’s Strength: For 2 spell levels, Prometheus may use the bull’s strength spell.
Cat‘s Grace: For 2 spell levels, Prometheus may use the cat’s grace spell.
Chill Metal: For 2 spell levels, Prometheus may use the chill metal spell.
Eagle’s Splendor: For 2 spell levels, Prometheus may use the eagle’s splendor spell.
Fox’s Cunning: For 2 spell levels, Prometheus may use the fox’s cunning spell.
Heat Metal: For 2 spell levels, Prometheus may use the heat metal spell.
Inflict Moderate Damage: For 2 spell levels, Prometheus may deal 2d8+8 damage to a touched construct or object.
Owl’s Wisdom: For 2 spell levels, Prometheus may use the owl’s wisdom spell.
Repair Moderate Damage: For 2 spell levels, Prometheus may heal a construct that has at least 1 hit point, a living construct that has at least -9 hit points, or an object of 2d8+8 points of damage. In the case of a living construct, only 8 of these points may cure wound damage.
Toughen Construct: For 2 spell levels, Prometheus may grant a touched construct a +3 enhancement bonus to its natural armor for 80 minutes.
Construct Energy Ward: For 3 spell levels, Prometheus may cast resist energy, but it must target a construct.
Inflict Serious Damage: For 3 spell levels, Prometheus may deal 3d8+8 damage to a touched construct or object.
Magic Weapon, Greater: For 3 spell levels, Prometheus may use the greater magic weapon spell.
Repair Serious Damage: For 3 spell levels, Prometheus may heal a construct that has at least 1 hit point, a living construct that has at least -9 hit points, or an object of 3d8+8 points of damage. In the case of a living construct, only 8 of these points may cure wound damage.
Stone Construct: For 3 spell levels, Prometheus can grant a touched construct damage reduction 10/adamantine for 80 minutes. This effect may prevent a maximum of 80 points of damage.

Locked Infusions:
Armor Enhancement, Lesser (50 XP): For 2 spell levels and 2 crafting pool XP, Prometheus may cause one touched suit or armor or shield to gain a special ability with a market price equivalent of up to +3, or a price of up to 35,000 gp for 80 minutes.
Weapon Augmentation, Lesser (50 XP): For 2 spell levels and 1 crafting pool XP, Prometheus may cause one touched weapon to gain a single weapon ability with a market price equivalent of +1, or a price of up to 10,000 gp for 80 minutes.
Armor Enhancement, Greater (200 XP): For 3 spell levels and 4 crafting pool XP, Prometheus may cause one touched suit or armor or shield to gain a special ability with a market price equivalent of up to +5, or a price of up to 100,000 gp for 80 minutes.
Metamagic Item (200 XP): For 3 spell levels, Prometheus may imbue any spell trigger item with a Metamagic feat for 8 rounds. Any spell cast from that item for the duration is considered to be under the effect of the Metamagic feat. Prometheus may imbue an item with Empower Spell, or any Metamagic feat that the executor knows.
Power Surge (200 XP): For 3 spell levels and 5 times the highest spell level contained in the targeted item crafting pool XP, Prometheus may imbue any touched staff or wand with 2 additional charges for 8 minutes. Like temporary hit points, these charges are used first.
Spell Storing Item (200 XP): For 3 spell levels, Prometheus may imbue one touched item with any spell of up to 3rd level. The spell may then be cast at a later time, as a spell-like ability, by anyone who wears or carries the item. In the case of a weapon, it may instead be discharged as the spell storing weapon property. This lasts for 8 hours or until discharged.
Suppress Requirement (200 XP): For 3 spell levels and 10 craft pool XP, Prometheus may cause one touched item that has a requirement, such as a class feature, race, or ability score, to function for any character as if it did not have that requirement for 80 minutes.
Item Alteration (500 XP): For 4 spell levels, Prometheus may change the type of bonus a touched item, or itself, grants for 80 minutes. For example, this may change a deflection bonus to a natural armor bonus, a resistance bonus to a circumstance bonus, etc. This may not change to or from a profane or sacred bonus, and it may not change to a dodge bonus.
Weapon Augmentation, Greater (500 XP): For 4 spell levels and 4 crafting pool XP, Prometheus may cause one touched weapon to gain a single weapon ability with a market price equivalent of +3, or a price of up to 70,000 gp for 80 minutes.

Volug
2007-08-14, 09:29 PM
No one replied yet!??!
guess i will.

first i've never seen anything like this, looks pretty nice though i got kinda lost on how to use it.
and you say that it obeys anything its "exicutioner" says?!?
thats REALLY new...

Goober4473
2007-08-14, 09:38 PM
Executor, silly. :smalltongue:

The basic idea is that it absorbs magic like a rod of absorption, with some limits, and then it spends the levels of spells it gets on infusions. It can use any infusion it has unlocked, starting with the oens listed under Infusions, and then when it spends XP on the locked ones, it can use those too. It gets XP that can be spent on unlocking, some of the better infusions, and for crafting items from basically disenchanting items, as a rod of cancellation.

Volug
2007-08-14, 09:41 PM
oh i get it!

1 more question. does the PC have to give it exp? or does it get experiance by the PC defeating monsters like a fellow party member?

Goober4473
2007-08-14, 09:44 PM
It gets XP by destroying magic items. When it does so, it gets the XP that was required to craft it (1/25 the base price). So if it destroyed Bracers of Armor +1, it would get 40 XP.

Volug
2007-08-14, 09:53 PM
O.o

i want this. very well done *claps*
i couldnt have thought of it myself.
in fact i've never made one before, but i still think its pretty dang cool.

maybe i'll build my own inteligent item... maybe.:smallcool:

Goober4473
2007-08-14, 11:14 PM
If you like weird unique items no one's ever done before, check out http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=52601 as well.

Goober4473
2007-08-15, 11:32 PM
I added history, personality, and +1 caster level to Forge Ring and Craft Rod, if the executor has them.

[Edit]: Also +1 to Craft Construct.

Arranas
2007-08-17, 04:01 AM
This is simple nitpicking on my part, but given the name 'Prometheus', would it not be more suitable for the item to be a ring, rather than a bracer? Prometheus was given a ring by Zeus set with a stone from Caucasus, where he was bound, which was, according to a version of the myth I have heard, the first ring to have a stone set in it, and man wore similar rings out of respect for Prometheus.

I don't suppose to know what best suits your item, simply a suggestion.

Tar Palantir
2007-08-17, 08:23 AM
But one could also argue that a bracer is appropriate for one who forges magic items. It could go either way, really.