Glyphshot Cartridges - Hanzo Pattern
"One shot. One miracle. One catastrophic disaster." — Hatori Hanzo
Overview
Type: Single-use arcane munitions (cartridges)
Common Names: Glyphshots, Hanzo shots, Judgment rounds
Maker: Hatori Hanzo (master smith, notorious for terrible safety advice)
Use: Load a glyphshot into a Hanzo glyph-caster (gun, rod, staff, or other focus). The cartridge determines the effect.
These were once nicknamed “caster shells,” but guild lawyers and imperial censors now insist on Glyphshot Cartridges (or just Glyphshots). The name changed. The nightmares didn’t.
Naming and Codes
Each cartridge bears a leading hash # plus a code. For World Anvil compatibility all codes are ASCII only.
Examples: #1, #6, #VR12, #LG03, #MY05
Rarity Tiers
- Rare (5): Solid battlefield effects meant to lull new users into a false sense of control.
- Very Rare (30): Exotic damage, control, terrain warps, strange side effects.
- Legendary (15): Battlefield-level calamities that leave literal marks on maps.
- Mythic (5): Reality-bending verdicts. Each is a story event in a can.
Using Glyphshots (system-agnostic defaults)
- Load: 1 action (or a bonus action with suitable training or a feature).
- Fire: As part of the Attack action or as specified by the cartridge.
- Save DC (default): varies wildly depending on the DM's mood.
- Attack bonus (if required): Use your normal ranged spell/weapon attack bonus.
- Single use: Each cartridge is consumed on use.
- Attunement: The device usually does not require it; some Legendary/Mythic shots may demand oaths or attunement.
Random Loot Generation
Primary Table (d100)
Roll once per cartridge discovered.
| d100 | Result |
|---|---|
| 1–13 | #1 Thunder Snap (Rare) |
| 14–26 | #6 Flame Kiss (Rare) |
| 27–39 | #12 Glacier Shot (Rare) |
| 40–52 | #18 Grav Pin (Rare) |
| 53–65 | #24 Venom Whisper (Rare) |
| 66 | #VR01 Veilpiercer (Very Rare) |
| 67 | #VR02 Lantern Maw (Very Rare) |
| 68 | #VR03 Cagesong (Very Rare) |
| 69 | #VR04 Starvecoil (Very Rare) |
| 70 | #VR05 Brimthorn (Very Rare) |
| 71 | #VR06 Gleamsunder (Very Rare) |
| 72 | #VR07 Fallowwake (Very Rare) |
| 73 | #VR08 Glintmaw (Very Rare) |
| 74 | #VR09 Pulsewound (Very Rare) |
| 75 | #VR10 Tangleghast (Very Rare) |
| 76 | #VR11 Waneheart (Very Rare) |
| 77 | #VR12 Bladereign (Very Rare) |
| 78 | #VR13 Brandgrave (Very Rare) |
| 79 | #VR14 Shardslumber (Very Rare) |
| 80 | #VR15 Clutchthorn (Very Rare) |
| 81 | #VR16 Halo Maw (Very Rare) |
| 82 | #VR17 Sableshade (Very Rare) |
| 83 | #VR18 Crackspire (Very Rare) |
| 84 | #VR19 Hollowgaze (Very Rare) |
| 85 | #VR20 Dreamcleft (Very Rare) |
| 86 | #VR21 Brandwhisper (Very Rare) |
| 87 | #VR22 Clutchmaw (Very Rare) |
| 88 | #VR23 Shattersmoke (Very Rare) |
| 89 | #VR24 Thirstwound (Very Rare) |
| 90 | #VR25 Claspthorn (Very Rare) |
| 91 | #VR26 Spinebloom (Very Rare) |
| 92 | #VR27 Gloomcoil (Very Rare) |
| 93 | #VR28 Snapthorn (Very Rare) |
| 94 | #VR29 Crownrift (Very Rare) |
| 95 | #VR30 Murkspire (Very Rare) |
| 96–99 | Roll on High-End Table (Legendary/Mythic) |
| 100 | Roll twice on this table |
High-End Table (Legendary/Mythic, d100)
| d100 | Result |
|---|---|
| 1–6 | #LG01 Graveburst (Legendary) |
| 7–12 | #LG02 Skyfissure (Legendary) |
| 13–18 | #LG03 Stormchant (Legendary) |
| 19–24 | #LG04 Sorrowreef (Legendary) |
| 25–30 | #LG05 Bloodshade (Legendary) |
| 31–36 | #LG06 Clutchwake (Legendary) |
| 37–42 | #LG07 Spindlegrave (Legendary) |
| 43–48 | #LG08 Crimson Thornfall (Legendary) |
| 49–54 | #LG09 Sunvulture (Legendary) |
| 55–60 | #LG10 Riftspire (Legendary) |
| 61–66 | #LG11 Ghoulhaze (Legendary) |
| 67–72 | #LG12 Starshred (Legendary) |
| 73–78 | #LG13 Ravelmire (Legendary) |
| 79–84 | #LG14 Ashmantle (Legendary) |
| 85–90 | #LG15 Gravemaul (Legendary) |
| 91 | #MY01 Crownbreaker (Mythic) |
| 92 | #MY02 Hiveheart (Mythic) |
| 93 | #MY03 Dreadwake (Mythic) |
| 94 | #MY04 Helix Wound (Mythic) |
| 95 | #MY05 Sunsunder (Mythic) |
| 96–99 | Player’s choice of Mythic (or reroll Mythic subset) |
| 100 | Roll twice on this table |
Misfires
Trigger: Natural 1 when firing a glyphshot, GM discretion.
Index of Cartridges by Tier (names only)
Rare:
#1 Thunder Snap, #6 Flame Kiss, #12 Glacier Shot, #18 Grav Pin, #24 Venom Whisper
Very Rare:
#VR01 Veilpiercer, #VR02 Lantern Maw, #VR03 Cagesong, #VR04 Starvecoil, #VR05 Brimthorn, #VR06 Gleamsunder, #VR07 Fallowwake, #VR08 Glintmaw, #VR09 Pulsewound, #VR10 Tangleghast, #VR11 Waneheart, #VR12 Bladereign, #VR13 Brandgrave, #VR14 Shardslumber, #VR15 Clutchthorn, #VR16 Halo Maw, #VR17 Sableshade, #VR18 Crackspire, #VR19 Hollowgaze, #VR20 Dreamcleft, #VR21 Brandwhisper, #VR22 Clutchmaw, #VR23 Shattersmoke, #VR24 Thirstwound, #VR25 Claspthorn, #VR26 Spinebloom, #VR27 Gloomcoil, #VR28 Snapthorn, #VR29 Crownrift, #VR30 Murkspire
Legendary:
#LG01 Graveburst, #LG02 Skyfissure, #LG03 Stormchant, #LG04 Sorrowreef, #LG05 Bloodshade, #LG06 Clutchwake, #LG07 Spindlegrave, #LG08 Crimson Thornfall, #LG09 Sunvulture, #LG10 Riftspire, #LG11 Ghoulhaze, #LG12 Starshred, #LG13 Ravelmire, #LG14 Ashmantle, #LG15 Gravemaul
Mythic:
#MY01 Crownbreaker, #MY02 Hiveheart, #MY03 Dreadwake, #MY04 Helix Wound, #MY05 Sunsunder
Legality and Black Market
Outlawed across the Lelien Empire and subject to summary confiscation in most ports. Dravis issues kill-on-sight orders for smugglers. The black market deals in glyphshots using souls, favors, and kingdoms as currency.
Lore and Hanzo Marginalia
- "If it hums, don’t holster. If it sings, don’t breathe."
- "Names are the best gunpowder."
- "I made five to end wars. The rest are for fun."
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