Artifacts and Ka Reserves in the French version

So I've been doing more and more research on the French version's books, which is a huge mess btw. I discovered the rules for "Ka Reserves", which function basically like Elixirs do in the US version. 

I can't find a copy of the first edition French rulebook, so I don't know if Ka Reserves were present in the first edition that the US version was based on or whether these were adapted back to the French from the US version. There's also rules for active versus passive artifacts.

Ka Reserves

As of the second edition rulebook the rules for Ka Reserves are similar to those of Elixirs, but with a few differences:

  • Creating a Ka Reserve requires a mix of "Rare Earths" (the French name for what the US version names Litharge) and blood, flesh or whatever from the targeted Nephilim placed in the vessel.
  • It must be created during day of the desired Ka-Element.
  • The human mage may puncture and steal the Nephilim's Ka-Element at range, similar to a magical connection under the Liber Ka rules. The Nephilim doesn't need to be ritually sacrificed in person.
  • Only a few points of Ka-Element are stolen this way, not amputating the entire branch.
  • The ritual may only be attempted once per week.
  • Ka Reserves were used to activate Passive Artifacts (see below), spending 1 point per activation.

A variation of these were the "Litharges" (that's the French name) created by the Templars in North America. These used Rare Earths from Amerindian sacred ground and Ka from the indigenous Wowakan (Amerindian Nephilim). The unique combination allowed the user to cast spells and even manifest Metamorphoses from the Nephilim whose Ka was punctured.

I'm still looking for Ka Reserves in the third edition, but since artifacts in that edition are all active types then the utility of Ka Reserves is different. Rather than making passive artifacts useable, they serve to recharge the artifact's own Ka.

Artifacts

As of the second edition rulebook, artifacts came in two types: active and passive.

Active Artifacts had Ka invested in them and were enchanted with spells. By knowing the keyword to activate the artifact, waiting for a favorable enthronement, and performing a ritual, a human mage is able to activate the artifact's effect even while lacking the requisite Ka.

Passive Artifacts were enchanted with spells but no Ka was invested. It is activated the same way as an active artifact, but requires a source of Ka to power the effect. Nephilim use their own Ka, while human mages must supply it from a Ka Reserve (see above).

The number of spells that could be enchanted in one artifact was based on a number of factors, but most only had one spell enchanted.

In the US version, as given in the Gamemaster's Companion, all artifacts were essentially passive artifacts. However, they could be enchanted with any number of spells without limit. Nephilim used their own Ka to power the effect, while human mages used Sacrifices, Elixirs or Homunculi. Relics and Masterpieces were equivalent to active artifacts, but had their own personality and could cast spells on their own.

In the third edition, all artifacts (including Selenim creations) were of the active variety, contained a single spell, and could be used by anyone who knew the keyword even if they lacked the requisite Ka. However, the artifact spent points from its own Ka reserve to power the effect and would automatically recharge so long as 1 point remained. If the artifact's reserve was exhausted, then it couldn't be recharged and lost all magical properties. Some artifacts had unique properties, but these were outside the ability of PCs to create.

Relics

In the French version, relics were similar to artifacts in that they contained spells and other effects, but also contained memories from the Immortals who created them. The user could read these memories by activating the relic.

In the US version, "relics" referred to artifacts that had a Nephilim incarnated inside at the moment of creation. They had their own personality and could learn magic techniques and inscribe spells. Obviously, these are two different concepts.

In the third edition, these magic items were treated as variants of artifacts and given more details. The original relics were invented by the Mysteries to steal the memories and powers from Nephilim, while opposing Nephilim deliberately created relics themselves to hide the memories and powers stored therein. These worked like other artifacts, allowing the user to cast the spell enchanted on the relic even if they lack the requisite Ka.

I wish it was easier to find this stuff, but whatever. I’ll cross that bridge when I finish translating. Hope you enjoyed!

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