3rd edition style artefacts, or wondrous items

What follows are some ideas I had for flavoring artefact creation and use, inspired by 3e. These are designed for potentially mixed parties of Nephilim, Selenim, Ar-Kaïm, and/or Bohemians. Refer to Gamemaster’s Companion and Enlightened Magic for the original rules. These artefacts operate similarly to sorcerous items (see Basic Roleplaying p246).

These rules may be instead of or in addition to those in the GMC and EM. If introducing these as a new type of magic item, then my suggested name to distinguish these is “wondrous items” (a la Dungeons & Dragons, referring to their wondrous usefulness).

Wondrous items, or wonders, are extremely useful because they allow anyone to cast the enchantment. Mortal or immortal, with or without the corresponding Ka. They’re useful for Selenim because these don’t cost points from their own reserves, which they only replenish by draining Solar-Ka.

Creating wonders follows steps 1–2 explained in GMC p26–9. The spell is enchanted as part of the ritual purification. Use the enchantment rules explained in EM p20–1 instead of making a Lower Magic roll and spending 1 Ka. A wonder cannot be enchanted with more than one spell.

Using the wonder requires a keyword chosen upon its creation. This may be a literal keyword spoken aloud, a gesture, a sign traced on the ground or written on paper, etc. Figuring out the keyword to activate a wonder will require research and appraisal of the item itself.

The wonder has its own Ka-element and Ch’awe to cast spells on its user’s behalf, even if the user lacks the requisite Ka-element or any Ch’awe. The spell is cast as if using Casual Magic. No technique roll is made: the spell is cast automatically a la BRP Sorcery (see Basic Roleplaying p122). The wonder must still have sufficient Ch’awe to cast the spell.

The wonder’s hit points limit the amount of Ch’awe it can store. It regenerates 1 point per day at sunrise anywhere the magic fields are present, modified by its element's astrological modifier and local intensity is applicable. It may be recharged faster by any source of the wonder’s corresponding Ka-element, similarly to charging a Stasis. An Immortal with that Ka-element may spend temporary points of his Ka-element to charge the wonder's Ch'awe on a 1:1 basis: the character’s reduced Ka-element regenerates 1 point per week at sunrise on the next day corresponding to that element. 

Black Moon wonders will only recharge wherever the Black Moon Field is present, the rate modified by the lunar phase and field intensity a la Entropy. Selenim may recharge a Black Moon wonder with their own Black Moon Ch’awe.

Wonders aren’t Relics or Masterpieces and cannot cast the enchantment under their own power. Wonders contain Ka that powers spells similarly to Relics or Masterpiece, but lack any sentience or programming.

Only spells of Sorcery, Summoning (including Black Summoning) and Necromancy may be enchanted. See the chapter on enlightened Alchemy for rules on alchemical items.

Hope you enjoyed!