Earthdawn 4E: Anatomy of a Thread Item 47 - Coldest Care, The

This is the forty-seventh 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 requests of an item that provided a bonus to a Purifier healing talent. Cold Purify is a great candidate. New ways and/or interesting ways to use Cold Purify isn't easy since I spent last year writing a bunch of new knacks. I don't like giving access to a knack through a thread item, since it dilutes both. However, I think this offers a nice compromise. The theming here was based around the talent and tailored to the character. It's always nice when I can do that, but it's hardly necessary. I also sometimes like to go contrary because I need to be amused too.


The Coldest Care

Maximum Threads: 1
Mystic Defense: 12

Legend Point Cost: Journeyman

Without a thread attached this silver armlet set with blue precious stones and neatly inscribed in gently curving runes is a piece of fine jewelry, once associated with high status among Landan nobles long ago. Once a thread is attached, the blue stones turn brilliant blue and cold to the touch. The metal shines as though wet and the enamel in the runes glows blue very faintly. When the wearer uses Cold Purify, the armlet absorbs into their skin, leaving the glowing blue runes as tattoos on the surface. The True water turns their blood vessels, lips, and eyes blue, and their skin cold. They exhale gentle frost for the duration.

Thread Rank One
Key Knowledge: The owner must learn the armlet’s Name.
Effect: The wearer gains +1 rank to Cold Purify.

Thread Rank Two
Effect: The wearer gains +1 to Mystic Defense.

Thread Rank Three
Key Knowledge: The owner must learn where the silver used for this armlet was mined.
Effect: The wearer gains +2 ranks to Cold Purify.

Thread Rank Four
Effect: The wearer can spend a Karma Point on an Action test to heal or treat a target’s injuries (this includes disease and poison). This is in addition to any other abilities that allow the owner to spend Karma on an associated test.

Thread Rank Five
Key Knowledge: The owner must learn who crafted the armlet
Effect: As a Free action when the wearer successfully heals a target’s damage with Cold Purify, they can spend a Recovery Test to heal additional damage using their Recovery Step for the test.

Thread Rank Six
Effect: The wearer gains an additional Recovery Test per day. This can only be used with the Rank Five effect.