Earthdawn 4E: Anatomy of a Thread Item 29 - Anticipation

This is the twenty-ninth 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.

A thread item written for an online game I offered to help with thread items. This was written with the request of a bonus to ranged Attack ability. I've never been one to resist by basest impulses when it comes to puns and doing something a little weird, and I certainly didn't start here.

Anticipation

Maximum Threads: 2
Mystic Defense: 12

Legend Point Cost: Journeyman

A quiver of beautiful oxblood leather. The design is a work of minimalist art, adorned only by the Sperethiel tooled into the leather, “Anticipation. What the arrow feels before. Kisses sweet, red.”

Thread Rank One
Key Knowledge: The owner must learn the Name of the quiver.
Effect: 24 hours after an arrow is placed in the quiver, it gains all the benefits. The wearer gains +1 to Attack tests with affected arrows.

Thread Rank Two
Effect: The wearer gains +2 to Attack tests with affected arrows.

Thread Rank Three
Key Knowledge: The owner must learn what creature the leather came from and where.
Effect: The wearer gains the Anticipation ability. As a Free action for 1 Strain, an affected arrow takes on a red sheen and gains an additional +3 to the next Attack test.

Thread Rank Four
Effect: Arrows affected by Anticipation have +2 Damage against opponents with a lower Initiative or who are taking their turn after the wearer. Injuries caused by the arrows are surprisingly bloodless.

Thread Rank Five
Key Knowledge: The owner must learn the Name of who created the quiver and the significance of the words.
Effect: The wearer gains the Kisses Sweet, Red special maneuver.

Kisses Sweet, Red (Wearer, Affected Arrow): The wearer can spend additional successes on the Attack test to reduce the target’s Wound Threshold by -3 per success. This reduction affects the damage of this attack only.

Thread Rank Six
Effect: Arrows affected by Anticipation have +2 Damage against Wounded opponents.