Earthdawn 4E: Anatomy of a Thread Item 06 - Tarrack Talons

This is the sixth 4E Anatomy of a Thread Item, an ongoing series about Earthdawn Fourth Edition. Introduction and Index.

Everything contained here is the work of a fan and not associated with FASA Games.

This is a new thread item written to build some flavor to the Roheline Forest that once was. It's very similar to feral bracers (Gamemaster's Guide, p. 214), but is different on the last two ranks that allow the items to stand together. The variety gives support to more styles of play and different group compositions. Feral bracers benefit greatly from group support—an ally with Distract is a boon—while tarrack talons below emphasize speed above all else, which is a more narrow character direction, but doesn't require group support.

Tarrack Talons

Maximum Threads: 2

Mystic Defense: 14
Legend Point Cost: Journeyman

These long fingerless gloves stretch nearly to the wearer’s elbow. They were worn by a loose affiliation of Beastmasters who once called the Roheline Forest home and kept the native creatures in check. The adepts were easily identified by their tarrack companions, which did little to quell their fierce reputation. Fashioned from tarrack leather, each pair is tooled to tell the story of their wearers.

Thread Rank One

Key Knowledge: The owner must learn the Name of the gloves.
Effect: The owner gains +1 rank to Claw Shape.

Thread Rank Two

Effect: The owner gains +1 to unarmed Attack tests.

Thread Rank Three

Key Knowledge: The owner must learn who created the gloves.
Effect: The owner gains +2 ranks to Claw Shape.

Thread Rank Four

Effect: The owner gains +2 to unarmed Attack tests.

Thread Rank Five

Key Knowledge: The owner must learn the tarrack’s Name the leather came from.
Deed: The owner must tool the leather to add their story to the gloves.
Effect: For 1 Strain, the owner can use the Tarrack Tear ability as a Free Action. If the owner’s Initiative is greater than their target, they gain +2 to unarmed Attack and Damage tests against that target. This can only affect the first attack the owner makes in a round and they must be using Claw Shape.

Thread Rank Six

Effect: If the owner uses Tarrack Tear before Initiative is determined, they gain a +2 bonus to Initiative.