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White Bone

Level 4 Soulsteel Short Powerbow

The White Bone was constructed some 100 years ago one by the Mask of Winters most talented and demented Ghostly Artisians. It is said that Kal Hanthax laboured for over two years on the construction of the White Bone, gathering and forging each individual soul himself and carefully working the magics that created the incredibly powerful weapon.

The ancient craftsman was incredibly picky about his use of materials. Only the souls of former royality and nobility were used in the construction of the White Jade, the sigils and heraldry of each carved carefully into the wood inserts of the blade. Tiny scrawling writing, nearly maddening to read, tells the tales of those souls that went into the forging of the bow. Many of the grave goods of the fallen princes were used in the artifacts construction as well, ranging from the rewoven threads from their garments that make up the bowstring to the hanging charms that jingle lightly from the bottom of the bow. The 18, a set of Blood Jade Arrows that were crafted in time with the White Bone, were made from the jade offerings that made it into the Grave Goods of the fallen princes. Even the quiver was taken from one of the ancient heroes whose soul makes up the blade, though it is not magical in any manner.

The entirety of the processes that Kal Hanthax used to make the White Bone are unknown, despite the personal investigation of the Deathlord Mask of Winters to discover how even so potent a ghost made such an unusually powerful an artifact. Nor can Kal Hanthax himself elaborate on his methods, for he succumbed to the forging of the blade and fell into Oblivion not long after its crafting.

None the less, the Bow has remained in the holding of the Mask of Winters for the last century and has served him in good stead. It has been used by at least one Nemissary, and remained in the property of an Outcaste Dragon-Blooded who served the Mask of Winters for most of the century until the exaltation of the Mask of Winters Abyssal Servitors. Since then the Soulsteel Powerbow has been the constant companion of the Student of the Dusteaten Truths and its power has served her well.

Other Powers of the White Bone

• Close Quarters: The White Bone contains the memories and skill of countless dead heroes, and quickens the reflexes of its bearer. This Bow provides a Speed Modifier of +5 when used in close quarters with melee opponents.
• Fallen Heroes: The White Bone was forged of numerous souls, some 11 if the stories and tales written on the bow are to be believed. Some of these souls, however, are more powerful than others. The powers of one of the Bow's patrons can be summoned as a Simple action that costs 5 motes. It's blessing lasts for one scene, and replaces any previous blessing.
  • Qinnix of Sijan: A youthful noble of the city of the Dead, Qinnix trained in swordplay and archery from his birth and served to great distinction during several minor yet important wars and conflicts during his youth, eventually retiring to great esteem in dread Sijan. He was known for his great accuracy with the bow, said to be able to split an arrow at 200 yards. When invoking his blessing, the Abyssal can spend a willpower to add her Perception in automatic successes to an Archery roll and reduces the difficulty of any difficult shots by 2.
  • Caral Emeralis: The god-blooded daughter of one of the many Gods of Great Forks Caral was a raised in the utter lap of luxury and yet spent most of her time perfecting her fighting skills and went on to become of the greatest duelists of her age. She was known for her refinement and style in combat and was beloved by many. When invoking her blessing, the Abyssal gains +2 dice from stunts that involve the beauty of combat and gains the "Gallant" nature stacked atop her own for the purposes of regaining willpower.
  • General Anad: A mercenary captain out of Nexus, Anad and his company conquered the small kingdom of Tristal in the Hundred Kingdoms and set themselves up as the leaders of this small yet prosperous land which is still ruled by his descendents. Anad himself was a strong willful warrior, and is said to have slain well over 100 men over his career. When invoking his blessing, the Abyssal doubles the bows rate and halves any multiple action penalities for dodging or attacking with the White Bone.
• Legacy of Hanthax: Much of the power and essence of Kal Hanthax, the bow's creator, was absorbed into the artifact during its creation. Indeed, the bow took so much of his essential nature that he could not survive after its completion.
  • Willful: The White Bone has a Willpower of 5, which the Abyssal can use to activate combos, or channel the Conviction virtue. The Bow regains all of its willpower at the beginning of every story, and whenever it kills a mortal of heroic and noble bearing.
  • Shadow: The bow is vaguely sentient, and has an Intelligence score of 1. This awareness is very dim at the moment, only a shadow of a presence in the dim corners of the attuned bearers mind. Yet, the bow will grow more potent as it is used, it's mental presence growing stronger and more useful.
• Hanging Charms: The White Bone has a number of charms hanging from it, each tied with a bit of hair from the bodies of the souls that gave it its form. These charms provide the bearer with +3 dice to Dodge and Resistance rolls, and increase his effective Willpower by 1 for the purposes of resisting hostile effects and charms that rely on Willpower.
• The White Bone has one Hearthstone setting in its center, a small inset of soulsteel and a bit of black iron. A hearthstone set in this setting recovers essence more slowly, only at a rate of [(Manse x2)-1] instead of the normal rate. This is due to the shadow of the bow's mind drawing away some of the Essence into itself, and as the bow mind grows stronger its hunger will increase further.

The White Bone is a Soulsteel Short Powerbow, and an Abyssal or other Exalt who has fully attuned to it gains the following benefit added to the weapon's stats: +2 accuracy.

Commitment Cost: 4 motes (6 motes with the Eighteen)