Cursed Armor/saved posts
Topic: Duskruin Arena
Message #: 12675
Author: GM Xeraphina
Date: 02/07/2021 01:50 PM CST
Subject: A Curse Upon Thee...
Perhaps it was a mistake to wander into this shop, I had thought, while debating my choices in life as I stared at the wares that eerily called to me. I should not have tarried too long, as my curiosity oftens gets the better of me... and it was starting to now. Each item bore a unique design, but all maintained a similar trait: armor... with bits of black ora.
Goose pimples rose from my skin as I continued my meandering, looking for someone, anyone, who might be able to offer some insight as to what I was seeing. No one was found, despite the feeling of being watched from all over. Terror overcame me as I could feel spectral fingers grip my neck and drag me towards one display. I was beholden to my curiosity, but also my fear. I must get away from here... but my feet would not move in the direction I begged of them. No... no... I was drawn to what seemed my destiny.
In a panic, I offered up my payment to a worker who suddenly appeared, and was in turn, offered a new set of armor that held an ominous presence. It hungered...
No longer held in place by whatever malicious presence remained in the shop, I stepped out and stared down at my newly acquired leathers. Time stood still as I debated my decision. It was too late, as I sensed the merchant behind the shop, Shadowed Light, had an "ALL SALES FINAL, no returns or exchanges, no store credit" policy in place. I was stuck with this, whether I wished it or not.
Something... shadowy seemed to slither across the surface... or perhaps I imagined it. I gulped, fearing this would be the end, and offered a prayer to Fash'lo'nae, before donning the armor. I felt those shadows ooze out of the armor, and then, I couldn't breathe. I wanted to scream, but my voice caught in my throat. I tried to remove it, but it was then I realized the armor was stuck to me... and refused to come off. I cried, resigning myself to my fate... and my hunger.
To be continued...
Topic: Duskruin Arena
Message #: 12684
Author: GM Xeraphina
Date: 02/07/2021 08:33 PM CST
Subject: A Curse Upon Thee... Part 2
I awoke in a gutter nearby the grate where many ran in and out, scurrying like the rats they are. My body, my mind, it all ached. The last thing I remembered was attempting to REMOVE the armor from me, only to have pain rip through me like those in the arena rip through their voucher books. My nerves were shot... I could feel everything. Why... what did I do to deserve this? I PULLed at the armor that clung voraciously to my body... my soul... I could feel my spirit drain from me. I was scared. I... I didn't know what to do.
I stood, trying to make sense of what had happened, what was happening to me. Distractedly, I TOUCHed my hand to chest, covering the leather, and felt a sharp pain stab at my fingertips, the sensation fading as quickly as it surfaced. I could not help but think... armor is meant to protect me... yet all it has given me so far is pain. I could feel it starting again, forcing me to BOW in submission to it. I saw the shadows once more, rising up to my face before dissipating completely.
The hunger... I was so hungry... but... was it actually the armor begging to be fed? How...? The urge to RUB my armor over my stomach was overwhelming and I was suddenly wracked with starvation, as though I had not eaten in days... weeks. The cravings came on so strong and I... if I did not eat, I would die... No... if the armor did not eat... it might kill me.
To be continued...
Topic: Duskruin Arena
Message #: 12689
Author: GM Xeraphina
Date: 02/08/2021 12:02 PM CST
Subject: A Curse Upon Thee... Part 3
It was beginning to feel like a second skin, the armor... The longer it was stuck on me... the more I felt... comfortable? No, not comfortable... eerily at ease. We were slowly becoming one with an odd AFFINITY for each other. Not quite parasitic in nature... perhaps more symbiotic.
Despite the growing comfort, from time to time, I felt the need to CRACK my neck, as if trying to relieve an unfelt discomfort... but each time it did, I felt almost dizzy, my vision blurring so much.
Occasionally, I would lose my focus on whatever task was at hand, distracted by a vision that I couldn't place properly. When I regained my attention, I realized I had SCRATCHed myself sufficiently enough to draw blood. Should I have felt afraid? I was more worried that I didn't.
To be continued...
Topic: Duskruin Arena
Message #: 12699
Author: GM Xeraphina
Date: 02/08/2021 06:00 PM CST
Subject: A Curse Upon Thee... Part 4
There are shadows everywhere... all around me. Am I just seeing things? The visions persist, Clouding my eyes, Obscuring my sight. When will it all just Leave me be?!
I try to STRETCH my body, as the armor feels tight around me. I cough, and feel a dark essence escape my lips. If I RAISE my hand... tendrils of shadow ooze from my fingers... I feel them caress my face.
Am I possessed? Am I mad? Have I sold my soul? I feel so lost... Someone... anyone... help... me...
To be continued...
Topic: Duskruin Arena
Message #: 12706
Author: GM Xeraphina
Date: 02/09/2021 08:28 AM CST
Subject: A Curse Upon Thee... Part 5
I am being haunted... I am being hunted...
I see dark figures in my peripheral view, but when I turn to look, they are not there. I BREATHE, trying to calm myself, but the pervasion feeling of paranoia encompasses me, making me acutely aware of each thumping beat of my heart.
No, nothing is there. Wait? Am I wrong... What was that? Can it hear me? I'm waiting to EXHALE, only to be tormented by the shadows surrounding me.
I can do only one thing... I SURRENDER to the darkness.
Fin
(Stay tuned...)
Topic: Duskruin Arena
Message #: 12707
Author: GM Xeraphina
Date: 02/09/2021 03:08 PM CST
Subject: A Curse Upon Thee... Epilogue
I hope you all have enjoyed my little story following one's descent into madness upon wearing... Cursed Armor. I know you all have been DYING for the deets, so here they are.
Cursed Armor has four tiers of unlocking available, each tier granting both benefits and backlash. This is based on an affinity (hunger) system. The higher the tier, the higher the affinity. With the armor being cursed, similar to black ora, you need to UNCURSE it to remove it. This is very important to remember because you WILL incur damage if you even attempt to remove it prior to doing so...
Backlash affects will continue to be felt until max affinity for the tier is reached. So, as noted by the table below, if you max your affinity/attunement, you will not feel the affects of the noted backlash. Also, be warned that foreign wearers of the armor (once affinity starts being gained by the originial wearer) will find themselves falling victim to backlash more than the one who has built up affinity to the armor.
That being said, those who belong to a certain CULT of madness will notice some additional benefits beyond what someone who doesn't walk in the light will see.
Please note that each consecutive tier will have both the boosts, and the backlashes of the prior tier available to it.
| Tier | Affinity | Boost | Backlash | Cult Perk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OTS/1 | 0-500 | Chance to flare Calm when hit successfully by a foe | Random hard RT up to 10 seconds | 1x/day Hypnosis (HANG)/Possession (POUND) using mana, not spirit. (2x/day upon full affinity) |
| 2 | 0-1000 | Chance to flare +5 DS (per unlock tier) upon attack attempt | Chance of -5 DS (per unlock tier) upon attack attempt | 1x/day Healing (HOLD) using mana, not spirit (2x/day upon full affinity) |
| 3 | 0-3000 | +3 TD (per unlock tier) to Tier 2's boost) | Random head injury and hard RT | 1x/day Mana Regen (WAVE) for 10 min (2x/day upon full affinity) |
| 4 | 0-4000 | Chance of +20 AS/+12 CS upon attack/cast attempt | -12 TD to Tier 2 backlash, 1 spirit drained if armor is not fed (persists with full affinity) | 1x/day Darkness (SURRENDER) (2x/day upon full affinity)* |
*Reduces spirit to 1. If already at 1, rank 2 nerve wound instead.
Mana reduced to 0
Cult benefits stripped
Can be used in RT and stunned (you CANNOT use if unconscious or dead)
CANNOT be used in anti-magic rooms or rooms you would otherwise not be able to teleport out of
Will not appear "drained" in public
FORCED prone with a stun
Now, aside from the mechanics, I will leave everything else for you people to discover and I can't wait to see it all on the wiki (hint, hint).
THANKS
- First: this project could not have been completed without the awesome code ninja skills of GM Naiken, so thank you, GM Naiken, for all your hard work on this armor.
- Second: GM Sindin offered up some additional and awesome flavorings to this. I hope you all enjoy them as much as I did. Thank you, GM Sindin.
- Third: I would like to thank the group that inspired this idea.