Fang of the Ouroboros (Item 1)
Contents
Appearance
The 'Fang of Ouroboros' is 'C' shaped and is formed of some-kind of translucent ivory canine, though in reality is has far more in common with the fang of a serpent, which seems to be how it came to be named. The fang measures approximately the distance from a grown man's wrist to his elbow or roughly 18 inches. The fang can best be described as having the same basic shape as the bass cleft or an elongated and drawn out c-shape. The large end is about an inch in diameter and ends abruptly and jaggedly as if ripped from the cranium of a giant prehistoric cobra. The small end tapers down to a very slender and sharp point about millimeter in diameter.
Despite the fang being termed a knife, it is not, as it has no slashing edge, just a very sharp point for piercing. The term fang and its reference as coming from the Ouroboros (world serpent) implies that it has a venom channel or reservoir, which it does not, as it is completely solid; this fact has led some of the more scholarly to assume it may have come from something other than a snake. The enamel of the fang is highly reflective and scratch resistant and has a faint amber coloring which implies it is an old and well used ivory weapon. The large end is commonly used as a handle, with the thumb covering the broken edge, this gives the fang an ergonomic feel and though it would seem reasonable to cover the thick end with a leather handle, the grip is surprisingly solid.
At first glance the fang is without ornamentation of any kind, making it easily confused with more mundane fangs of approximate size and shape and has given rise to countless forgeries. If exposed to the light of the full moon, the fang's translucent nature reveals an ancient and alien script, well below the surface, which is tightly wound around the fang in close set coils from the jagged break to the life devouring point. The alien script glitters with an cold white fire under the light of the full moon and the periodic breaks of text imply a poem or recitation.
Background
Whatever originally generated the fang, its long and sordid history of use has led to the probably false legend that its was torn from the mouth of the ancient Ouroboros by by a god or demigod. From one century to the next, the known power of the fang has been its ability to kill with but a scratch, making it the deadliest weapon in history.
According to legend, during the inaugural year of the Roman emperor Caracalla, the fang was stolen from the temple of Mercury in Londinium, by of all things - a Christian angel. Thereafter, it vanished from the recitations of hermetic historians for centuries, until a rumor of it surfaced in Transylvania during the millennial hysteria of the high middle ages. Thereafter, it rumors of it would appear from time to time, always at a time of upheaval, social unrest or war.
Current Events
In the autumn of 211 C.E., a hermetic sorcerer has been able to fully analyze the fang, with a ritual rumored to have been created by Hermes Trismegistus. The results could abort the approaching 'Long Night' and usher in an entirely new age of fear and wonder.
Parameters
- The ritual to create the fang, was cast approximately 5000 B.C.E.
- The ritual to create the fang is rank six of Koldunic sorcery.
- The ritual is called ‘Blood Phylactery'.
- The common identity of the caster is Triglav, childe of the Tzimisce Ancient.
- The fang is also a body-relic of the Tzimisce Methuselah Triglav.
- Should the phylactery fall into the hands of another magician, the difficulty of all magic directed at the item’s original owner is reduced by three (to a minimum of four).
- Magic that uses the phylactery as a focus or physical component may have dramatically increased effects.
- For every full night that the Koldun is physically separated from the phylactery, he loses a point of temporary willpower, until the item is destroyed.
Primary Powers
- Should the phylactery become separated from the Koldun, the sorcerer need only roll Perception + Occult at a difficulty of seven to detect is direction and approximate distance.
- The difficulty of all hostile magic directed at the Koldun increases by one. This includes the magic of mortal mages, as well as that of all forms of blood sorcery.
- The difficulty of all the Koldun’s ritual castings, path activation rolls and willpower rolls decreases by one. If the Koldun is using his primary path, the difficulty decreases by three (to a minimum difficulty of four).
Secondary Powers
- The fang does strength +1 damage in combat and gains the bonus of its owner’s willpower rating in automatic damage as well.
- The fang’s user need not ‘kill’ the victim, but may elect to ‘absorb’ the victim’s form and abilities without losing his or her own inherent nature, memories or motivations. As such, the fang is the penultimate tool of diablerie.
- Those who use the fang are exempt from all mystical detection regarding diablerie, unless that detection is used upon the fang itself; in that case the diablerist crime and all details relating to it become apparent to the investigator.
- With every use, the fang is regenerated of any damage it may have incurred and is brand new once more.
- It is strongly resistant to physical damage and can only be destroyed by being eaten by a living dragon. Were it to be destroyed, the creator would become immediately aware of its destruction and who the last party was to hold it.
- The fang has a rudimentary intelligence of its own, as well as a strong survival instinct and will likely act in the best interests of its master.
Quotation
"The wielder of the fang of the great serpent, is both victor and victim, for the fang is double edged and cuts in both directions."
