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Shade Devices     Shade devices are only effective because they bond to the first Aterr to touch them after production, creating a "shade" - essentially, an imprint of the wielder's personality within the device itself. The shade enables the device to link with the Aterr's adamant, through which it is controlled and shares its power.
    As long as a shade device retains its imprinted shade, it is useless to anyone other than its owner. If the Aterr dies or otherwise leaves the device unattended for many years, the shade can become unstable and self-willed, "calling out" through adamant telepathy. Nearby characters may experience the shade asking to be returned to its owner, or to the Tennebris where the device was created. Just as commonly, the shade may project memories it received from its imprinted owner, such as important moments in their life. These experiences are all audible, but can also be visual if the device is actually touched.
    If left alone for many centuries, shades can fade from the device altogether, enabling ancient devices to imprint to a new user. Found devices can always be sold back to the Tennebris, as they are valuable in any state; even if the shade still exists, it can be extracted and the device made ready for a new wielder. Typically, an extracted shade is communed with for any relevant historical information in its visions, merged with any other shades from the same user, and then released to join the thousands of other shades in the mind of the Tennebris itself.
    Shade devices can only be produced at the Tennebris, and are virtually never resold elsewhere for fear of Aterr retaliation. Although all devices of a given type are visually different and reflect the tastes of their creator, device types are often named after the first Aterr to create such an item.

Atruensis Melee Weapon Modification
Requires Shade: 1
Price: +20% that of the equivalent Standux melee weapon
Weight: N/A
Carry Slots: N/A
Power Source: None
    An atruensis ("dark-blade") is the iconic weapon of the Aterr. Most examples are produced in Prestige quality, though in desperate times High or even normal quality can be the case. Atruensis are always Standux adamant, but can be any melee weapon type that includes the Sword competency category. Due to the Alacrian history and wealth of the faction, Aterr swords are most commonly medensis, avertensis, or dualensis. In most cases, the sword unfolds only with its owner's mental command.
    If you are the imprinted owner, your atruensis harmonizes with your reflexes. Its Offense and Defense ratings are increased by 1, provided it is the only kind of melee weapon being currently wielded (it can be dual-wielded with another atruensis to preserve, but not stack, the extra ratings). The psychic presence of the shade also provides a +1 bonus to WILL and a +4 increase to maximum melee insight, provided you are within medium range of your sword. If you dual-wield or otherwise own multiple atruensis, the benefits do not stack. If you spend melee insight when you are not wielding atruensis, the bonus to maximum melee insight is temporarily lost until your next 2-minute rest.
    All atruensis are jet-black Standux swords. They invariably contain a personally meaningful phrase etched into the fuller which glows when unfolded and held by its owner. The phrase, language, and glow color are selected when the user first imprints to the weapon. It functions as a dim light source unless deliberately suppressed by the user. It is thought that this trend originated as a mockery of the glowing Draconic scriptures often seen on acoluthic devices.
    Traditionally, atruensis are obtained by a Dark Master for their apprentice. After an Aterr dies, their sword is usually returned to the Tennebris, either by their own followers or by enterprising adventurers. This is because atruensis contain the strongest shades and most vivid memory-visions of all dark devices; other Aterr will often pay handsomely for the swords of historically important or personally beloved fellow Dark Ones.
Size increases cannot be applied.
Effects of Advanced Device: Increases the effect on maximum melee insight by a percentage equal to 25 times your excess degrees of Shade competency. Advanced status adds 2,000 coins to the cost of the device, rather than doubling the original cost.
Focus Ring of Amolior Requires Shade: 2
Price: 600
Weight: 0
Carry Slots: 0
Power Source: None
    When created, this device must be associated with an Arcana Ability; if you are inventing a device of this type, you must have the Arcana Ability it is being associated with. It provides a +TN of 2 during any roll described directly in the Ability as part of its use (this can include ranged offense rolls).
    Only two focus rings can be worn at once (one on each hand). If two rings are worn, they must be associated with different Abilities. A ring must be worn for 15 minutes before becoming effective, but its effects cease immediately if removed.
Size increases cannot be applied.
Effects of Advanced Device: Increases the device's +TN by 1/2 the number of your excess degrees of Shade competency.
War Horn of the Shadow-Gods Requires Shade: 3
Price: 1100
Weight: 3
Carry Slots: 2
Power Source: None
    When held in the hand and blown during a use of Word of Dread (Sorcerer), the effect on terror is increased by 5. Simultaneously, all allied characters within medium range are affected as though you performed a successful rallying social action; you do not need to actually rally, and your allies do not need to be able to hear nor understand you. During the Ability's use, the horn's sound is telepathically audible to all characters within 2 miles, even if they are deafened.
Size increases cannot be applied.
Effects of Advanced Device: Increases the effect on terror by the number of your excess degrees of Shade competency.
Belt of Lapsis Requires Shade: 4
Price: 1400
Weight: 1
Carry Slots: 2. Carry slots are ignored like armor while the device is being worn.
Power Source: None
    This device removes the stat point sacrifice from Reconstruction (Arcana); you simply gain a +2 bonus to the chosen stat, without a penalty to another.
Size increases cannot be applied.
Effects of Advanced Device: Increases the duration of Reconstruction by the number of your excess degrees of Shade competency.
Boon of Anathematé Requires Shade: 4
Price: 4200
Weight: 1
Carry Slots: 0
Power Source: None
    This small device is intended to be worn by someone you care for - it has no effect on yourself. In order to be effective, it must be held or worn by another character with whom you have High Rapport. When you imprint to the device, choose one of the following effects, which will be usable for as long as the device is worn by the other person:
    -You may use Energy Shielding - Basic (Arcana) on the bearer at up to short range at all times, without the requirement to touch them.
    -You may spread the effects of Bolster Adamant and/or Energy Shielding - Condensed (Arcana) to the bearer at up to medium range, without the need to touch them.
    -You may use Word of Conjunction (Sorcerer) to link to the bearer at any range, even if they are not an arcanist or not within your arcane sense.
    -If you use Ætherial Beacon (Sorcerer) on the device, it has no maximum distance. A beacon may be created in the device even if it does not meet the Ability's usual size requirement.
    The device will not work on any bearer who does not have High Rapport with you. It does not imprint to the person you give it to; it is simply effective on whatever High Rapport person currently has it. It remains effective if the character is incapacitated, asleep, paralyzed, or unconscious, but not if they die or stop carrying the device.
    The effects of this device are not bidirectional, even if the bearer is Aterr; if both of you want to have these benefits, the other Aterr must imprint to another Boon and give it to you.
Size increases cannot be applied.
Effects of Advanced Device: For each excess degree of Shade competency, choose another effect from the above list. This choice is made when you imprint to the device, or when you first touch the device after gaining another excess degree, and cannot be changed later.
Talisman of Vydéns Requires Shade: 4
Price: 4700
Weight: 3
Carry Slots: 1
Power Source: None
    If wearing this device, you may spread the effects of Bolster Adamant (Arcana) to up to two other characters who are grouped-up with you, with no need to touch them.
Size increases cannot be applied.
Effects of Advanced Device: For every 2 excess degrees of Shade competency, you may affect an additional grouped-up character.
Mirror of Læsensha Requires Shade: 5
Price: 5400
Weight: 3
Carry Slots: 1
Power Source: None
    If holding this device in one hand, you may choose two valid targets when you use Word of Dominion (Sorcerer), with no increase in insight cost. Alternatively, you may still choose only a single target, but at up to medium range.
Effects per Size Increase: Word of Dominion costs 1 less insight to use when holding this device. Increases carry slots by 1. Use Total Device Weight chart.
Cannot receive advanced status.
Echo-Stone of Eclipsis Requires Shade: 6
Price: 6000
Weight: 10
Carry Slots: 0
Power Source: None
    This device affects Word of Confusion (Sorcerer), making it easier for you to repeat its effects. If you used that Ability on your last turn, you may use it as a non-verbal minor action instead of a verbal major action. This effect continues as long as you keep using Word of Confusion every turn; once you miss a turn, it becomes a verbal major action again.
Effects per Size Increase: The die size used for the WILL roll to resist your Word of Confusion is increased, to a maximum of d12 at 3 size increases. Increases carry slots by 1. Use Total Device Weight chart.
Cannot receive advanced status.
Sceptre of Imætis Requires Shade: 6
Price: 6600
Weight: 3
Carry Slots: 3
Power Source: None
    This device works as an "antenna" of sorts to extend the range of Word of Wrath (Sorcerer). If you are holding this device in one hand when you use that Ability, its range is increased to medium range.
Effects per Size Increase: Word of Wrath costs 1 less insight to use when holding this device. Increases carry slots by 2. Use Total Device Weight chart.
Cannot receive advanced status.Serpent-Helm of Vys the First Requires Shade: 7
Price: 12000
Weight: 3
Carry Slots: 0
Power Source: None
    Whenever you are wearing this device and are within 500 miles of the Tennebris Guardian, any ZAoE you create with Arcane Storm (Arcana) has its damage increased by 25%, or by 50% if it is electric damage.
Cannot receive advanced status.

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