Artifacts are powerful items or relics from the Age of the Ancients.
Origins
All artifacts are remnants of the Age of the Ancients.
The method of manufacturing artifacts was lost during Ragnarok, but various organizations are attempting to create new artifacts. Magitech is believed to be the closest, though magitech items tend to be graded at the metallic level for quality of effects at best.
Characteristics
Artifacts can be found in any form. Most of them are made of durable materials, such as Ancientium; clothing makes up a tiny number of artifacts.
Groups of artifacts are characterized as series. Each series is identified through a shared form, effect, and grade. Two artifacts may share the same kinds of effects, but their design must match to be considered part of the same series. For example, two artifacts (a sword and a knife) that have the effect of "cutting something apart" are considered to be parts of different series.
Classifications
All artifacts receive three grades based on the rarity, scale of effect, and quality of effect.
Rarity
Rarity indicates the number of identical copies of an artifact or the number of a series's members.
| Grade | # of copies |
|---|
| Common |
100+ |
| Uncommon |
25-99 |
| Rare |
2-24 |
| Unique |
1 |
Area of Effect
The area of effect for an artifact is measured by the maximum number of individuals or area that can by simultanteously targetted by that artifact. This is the maximum scale of the artifact, so naturally it can affect any number of targets below that maximum.
| Grade | # of individuals | # of square miles |
|---|
| Unit |
1 |
0a |
| City |
1,000 |
100 |
| Region |
100,000 |
10,000 |
| Country |
10,000,000 |
1,000,000 |
| Continent |
1,000,000,000 |
100,000,000 |
| World |
Unlimitedb |
Unlimitedb |
a A unit-grade artifact has a max area of effect of 100 sq ft.
b World-grade artifacts are only theorectical. No known artifacts of this grade are known to exist.
Quality of Effect
The quality of an artifact's effect refers to its ability to influence a target's intrinsic information.
Primary
Artifacts with a primary grade are the weakest of artifacts. The effects of these artifacts are limited to temporary alterations to Ether.
Metallic
A metallic-grade artifact is capable of inducing short-term effects on Essence. These alterations are non-fatal and temporary, and some artifacts are capable of isolating Essence from outside interference.
Jewel
Jewel-grade artifacts are ones known to cause severe disruptions to Ether in an area. These disruptions alter the qualities of Ether, which can cause a pruning event for an area. Although jewel-grade artifacts are unable to directly affect Essence, their effects are able to cause indirect, short-term damage to the Essence of nearby individuals.
Rainbow
Artifacts of the rainbow grade have effects that permanently affect Essence directly. These effects can inflict acute and fatal injury to the target. Rainbow-grade artifacts are said to be able to perform miracles.
Rainbow-grade artifacts tend to be unique in rarity. To own a rainbow-grade artifact is to be blessed by the House itself.
List of Known Artifacts
| Name | Grade | Description |
|---|
| Harvest Scythe |
Rare/State/Jewel |
|
| Judgment |
Unique/Unit-Army/Rainbow |
A ring-shaped artifact held by the Magitech Department in Rossai. |
| Paradox Spear |
Unique/???/??? |
A spear known to exist within the Recursive Paradox. |
| Vorpal Blade |
Common/Unit/Metallic |
A series of artifacts capable of separating mixes of Ether or Essence. They are incapable of causing permanent changes, simply removing outside influence from the target. |
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