Exalted | ArtiFacts

Totem Armor

 (Artifact o, Talisman)

Repair: Commitment: Activation:

Enchanment Formula of 3rd Degree 20 succ., diff. 3, 3d per roll

Materials: Hide and Skeleton of one or more Animals of the appropriate Type, Yasal Crystal, or Token of the Animal Spirit's appreciation.

Some of the Beastmen Tribes Elders remember the secrets that their Lunar Patrons once passed over to their Ancestors. The techniques of crafting miraculous Armors from the hides of hunted Animals, both Predator and Prey. These Armors were reserved for the champions of the tribe, thad had proven a strong connection to the animal represented by the individual suit of armor.

The ratings and Powers of these armors depend on the animal the armor is made from and whose spirit it is devoted to and the skills of the Craftmen builting it. The basic profile is XB/3L, Mob. -2, Fat. 2 for each armor. The L Soak is modified by one for each full tree dots of Stamina the animal from which it is created, has in its profile; the B Soak is the same as the animals. For every dot of Dexterity the animal has above three substract one point of Mobility Penalty, for every dot below three add one.

The armor also grants its wearer a one dice bonus to rolls involving the animals highest attribute (must be <3). If the animal has two or more attributes of the same rank in its profile, pick one. Additional the Armor grants the wearer in tune with his totem a special power common for it. All sorts of special senses, low light vision, hightened smell and even the ability to percieve the flows of Essence are possible options at Storytellers discretion. This bonus comes in the Form of a two dot Awareness Specialty of the appropriate Type. Alternatively the Player creating the Totem armor may choose the animals special mode of movement, represented by a two dot Athletics Specialty of appropriate Type, or the ability to breathe underwater, as the Totem Spirits special gift for the character. Only characters able of magical attunement can profit from the Armors special gift.

Beast armors are at least of exceptional quality. If the armorer creating it rolls the needed successes at a difficulty of 5 instead of 3, he gains the additional bonuses for perfect quality equipment for the ratings of the armor on top. Totem Armor always counts as a Talisman rather than an Artifact and its effects can be dispelled with Terrestrial Circle Countermagic. The bonuses provided by the armor are lost until a certain ritual is performed, which reconnects the Armor to the Totem Spirit, that was dwelling in it preferably performed by the shaman or armorer that created the Totem Armor.

Legend also speaks of more sophisticated Totem Armors made not only of hide and bone, but also Moonsilver and compounds of other magical materials, and even gigantic armored titans known as Warstriders devoted to Totem Spirits, but these were clearly reserved for the Gods and their celetial Children the noble Exalted.