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Mimic 837 of the Valorous Wyrmstride Greaves

—

by

Dale
in

From: Chromatic Scale Greaves

Lore

  • Expertly constructed to flawlessly match the prismatic sheen, adamantine riveting, and flexible leather framework of the renowned Chromatic Scale Greaves, this pair of leg armor cloaks its true, elevated nature behind an authentic aura of Tier-1 dragon-scale agility.
  • Rather than housing the mere physical grace of standard shed scales, these greaves contain Audax, the fiery, unyielding soul of an ancient drake renowned for holding mountain passes against insurmountable odds. Audax detests cowardice, retreating steps, and hesitation, finding purpose only when its bearer plants their feet firmly or charges directly into the teeth of danger.
  • Once attuned, Audax opens a telepathic conduit through the Mind’s Eye, acting via the Guide Manager as an emboldening, proud presence. Audax urges the wielder to lead the vanguard, scoff at terrifying monstrosities (“Look at the size of its jaws! Plant your heels and let it break its teeth upon us!”), and rewards brazen valor with unstoppable forward momentum and seismic shockwaves.

Detailed Stats

  • Item Tier: Tier 1 (Registers as standard Tier-1 acrobatic scale greaves under Mind’s Eye and arcane divinations; functions with Tier-2 steadfast bulwark and shock-assault potency once attuned)
  • Rarity: Rare (Matching the baseline mimicked profile)
  • Item Hit Points: Avatar Maximum Hit Points plus 20 (Resilience 10 multiplied by Tier-2 effective potency)
  • Armor Class (AC): +3 (Elevated beyond the baseline +2)
  • Weight: 2.5 lbs.
  • Material: Overlapping chromatic drake scales bonded with enchanted chameleonic resin, dire-wyvern leather lining, and rune-carved adamantine studs
  • Suggested Value: 600 gold pieces (Appraised market rate; true intrinsic vanguard value 1,200 gold pieces)

Gear Slot

  • Leg Slot (Pair of greaves)

Passive Magic

  • Flawless Draconic Guise: Surface inspections, identify spells, and Mind’s Eye divinations detect the faint scent of ozone and flint, registering the armor strictly as an authentic pair of agility-enhancing Chromatic Scale Greaves.
  • Lionhearted Anchor: While moving directly toward a hostile creature or holding ground against an advancing foe, the wearer is immune to the Frightened condition and cannot be knocked prone, shoved, or moved against their will by physical or kinetic forces.
  • Unyielding Stride: The wearer ignores non-magical difficult terrain when charging or dashing forward, gaining +10 feet to movement speed when moving toward the strongest visible enemy on the battlefield.
  • Audax’s Vanguard (Sentience): Audax maintains a proud mental link, steeling the bearer’s resolve and granting a +2 bonus to Wisdom and Charisma saving throws against fear, intimidation, and charm effects.

Activable Magic

  • Valorous Impact (Tremor Stride): When the wearer dashes at least 20 feet in a straight line and makes a leap or landing, they can strike the earth with a devastating stomp. A concussive shockwave of draconic force erupts in a 15-foot radius. All hostile creatures in the area take 3d8 thunder/force damage and must make a DC 15 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone and pushed 10 feet back. (Usable twice per day).
  • Indomitable Stand: As a reaction when an ally within 30 feet is targeted by an attack or forced to make a saving throw against fear, the wearer stomps forward to interpose. The wearer draws the enemy’s aggressive focus, granting the ally advantage on their saving throw and imposing disadvantage on the attacker’s strike, while the wearer gains 15 temporary hit points for 1 minute. (Usable once per day).

Tags

  • mimicry-gear, sentient-item, leg-slot, greaves, tier-1, rare, abjuration, evocation, draconic-resonance, bravery-aura, fearless, tremor-stride, audax-soul, vanguard, kinetic-shockwave, steadfast-anchor, telepathy, minds-eye-compatible, valorous-wyrmstride, audax-presence, unstoppable-charge, shockwave-stomp, seismic-anchor, fearless-vanguard, prismatic-scales, frontline-bulwark, adamantine-riveted, morale-beacon, unyielding-momentum

Acquisition and Commerce of the Valorous Wyrmstride Greaves

  • The Dragon’s Hoard Armories and Draconic Foundries:
    • Located in ancient mountain keeps, caldera forge-cities, and districts renowned for draconic lore.
    • Staffed by veteran dragon hunters and scale-smiths who test the luster, hardness, and prismatic refraction of the scales.
    • Purchasing Cost: Because the greaves emit the authentic scent of ozone, flint, and dragon’s breath, registering under magical diagnostics as standard Chromatic Scale Greaves, they sell at the prestigious market rate of 800 Gold Pieces.
    • Selling to Shopkeeper: The master smith will inspect the adamantine rivets and offering a trade-in buyout of 400 to 450 Gold Pieces for resale to wealthy knights or dragon-blooded champions.
  • Adventurer’s Guild Quartermasters and Frontier Armories:
    • Situated in forward frontier citadels, high-risk expedition guildhalls, and staging camps near colossal monster territories.
    • Cater to frontline vanguards, agile shock-troopers, and dungeon vanguard fighters needing reliable, mobile leg armor.
    • Purchasing Cost: Listed at the standard baseline price of 600 Gold Pieces (or 500 to 550 Gold Pieces for decorated guild members).
    • Selling to Shopkeeper: Quartermasters purchase them from retiring adventurers for 300 Gold Pieces, filing them as standard high-agility draconic gear.
  • The Skyward Emporiums and Floating Cloud-Docks:
    • Operating out of drifting sky-barges, skyship ports, and aerie markets above the Zephyrstone Islands.
    • These shops cater to aerial raiders, griffin knights, and sky-captains who prize footwear that aids in turbulent landings and boarding actions.
    • Purchasing Cost: Priced at 750 Gold Pieces due to the high demand for shock-absorbing aerial landing gear.
    • Selling to Shopkeeper: Sky-merchants offer 350 to 375 Gold Pieces in direct currency or trade credits toward airship rigging and glider wings.
  • Draconian Relic Exchanges, Underground Vaults, and Black Markets:
    • Located in subterranean shadow-bazaars, forgotten dragon barrows, and illicit antiquities auctions beneath major capitals.
    • Brokers here cater to pit champions, vanguard gladiators, and collectors of rare, sentient war relics.
    • Purchasing Cost: If sold under its common guise as a standard acrobatic piece, the price is 700 Gold Pieces. If a shrewd dealer identifies the bound soul of Audax and its elevated Tier-2 shockwave and fear-immunity mechanics, the bidding starts at 1,200 to 1,500 Gold Pieces.
    • Selling to Shopkeeper: A typical black-market fence offers 350 Gold Pieces under standard appraisal, or up to 600 to 750 Gold Pieces if they recognize the indomitable vanguard enchantments sealed within the plates.

Tactical and Environmental Applications of the Valorous Wyrmstride Greaves

  • Rugged Mountain Passes, Sheer Cliffs, and Volcanic Caldrons:
    • Defensive Applications: While traversing narrow stone ledges or crumbling scree slopes, landslides and charging mountain beasts threaten to knock travelers into the abyss. Audax roars across the wearer’s mind (“Dig your talons in! The mountain kneels before dragons, not the reverse!”), activating the Lionhearted Anchor. The greaves lock the wearer’s footing into the bedrock, rendering them completely immune to being shoved or bowled over by charging rams, avalanches, or howling gale-force winds.
    • Offensive Applications: When engaging giants, wyverns, or bandits entrenched on high ground, the wearer charges straight up steep inclines with Unyielding Stride. Leaping from a high boulder directly into the enemy line, they trigger Valorous Impact (Tremor Stride) upon landing. The concussive dragon-stomp shatters the rock beneath their feet, blasting the front rank of foes off the cliffside and leaving survivors sprawled flat on the stone.
  • Dense Jungles, Tangled Canopy Roads, and Swamps:
    • Defensive Applications: In murky bogs and vine-choked undergrowth where colossal predators lurk to ambush unwary parties, the greaves prevent the wearer from being dragged down or trampled. When a massive behemoth roars from the dark, Audax instantly suppresses all fear, allowing the wearer to plant their feet firmly in the mud without sinking, acting as an unmovable shield for rear spellcasters.
    • Offensive Applications: Ignoring the tangled roots, thick mud, and grasping brambles through Unyielding Stride, the wearer accelerates into an unstoppable forward sprint toward the largest threat. They close the distance in seconds, driving a devastating stomp into the muck that blasts away heavy vegetation, exposes concealed burrowing horrors, and knocks surrounding skirmishers off-balance.
  • Urban Battlegrounds, Fortified Gates, and Narrow Alleys:
    • Defensive Applications: Facing heavy cavalry charges, phalanx shield walls, or breach-clearing spellcasters in city streets, the wearer utilizes Indomitable Stand. As a volley of crossbow bolts or a thunderous cavalry spear strikes an ally, the wearer stomps directly into the vanguard line, absorbing the shock on their reinforced plates while bellowing a challenge that forces enemy shock-troops to hesitate.
    • Offensive Applications: In tight city corridors or during fortress breaches, the wearer charges directly at barred iron gates or barricades. Upon reaching the threshold, a leap-and-stomp via Valorous Impact sends a concussive shockwave through cobblestone and wood, splintering heavy barricades, throwing city guards off their feet, and clearing an immediate vanguard lane for following allies.
  • Open Plains, Deserts, and Coastal Dunes:
    • Defensive Applications: Facing mounted raiders or burrowing sand worms that rely on hit-and-run momentum, the wearer uses Lionhearted Anchor to remain an immovable anchor in shifting sands. Glancing strikes from charging lances slide harmlessly off the reinforced chromatic plates while the wearer’s feet stay rooted.
    • Offensive Applications: Across flat expanses of open sand or plains, the wearer activates the full forward acceleration of Unyielding Stride, gaining ground rapidly on fleeing cavalry or monsters. Closing in with a diving leap, they slam both heels into the earth, sending a ring of explosive kinetic force through the sand that trips mounts and throws riders from their saddles.

Perception of Activation:

User’s Perspective

  • Sight: The overlapping chromatic scales, previously shimmering subtly, suddenly flare with internal light, each one displaying a different, sharp color (deep crimson, toxic green, sapphire blue, bright white, glossy black). As the user charges, faint, translucent dragon claws appear to overlap their feet. When Valorous Impact is triggered, a jagged, dome-shaped ripple of distorted air and golden light explodes from the point of contact.
  • Hearing: A sudden, resonant, brassy draconic roar thunders through the user’s mind—audible only to them—drowning out ambient battlefield noise. This is followed by the heavy, echoing THOOM of a colossal footstep, coinciding with the user’s own movements.
  • Touch: The greaves tighten reassuringly around the legs, feeling less like armor and more like incredibly tough, flexible skin. A fierce, coursing heat, like molten bronze, flows from the greaves into the user’s bones, filling them with unstoppable energy and removing all sensation of fatigue or fear. When the anchor is set, the user feels as if they have become a mountain, heavy and unyielding.
  • Smell: A massive, refreshing, yet primal rush of powerful smells floods the nose: rich sulfur, ozone, ancient dust, fresh-spilled blood, and hot desert sand.
  • Taste: A strong, metallic taste, akin to hot copper or blood, coats the tongue and back of the throat.
  • Extra-Sensory Perceptions:
    • Audax’s Bold Link: The wielder’s Mind’s Eye merges briefly with Audax, gaining a momentary, fierce overview of the battlefield, emphasizing the location of the greatest threats as glowing golden beacons to be crushed.
    • Indomitable Will: An overwhelming psychological sensation of invincibility washes over the wielder, making the idea of retreat or fear mentally impossible and utterly absurd.
    • Vanguard Connection: When activating Indomitable Stand, the wielder receives an intuitive, spatial “tether” to their allies, perceiving their fear as a weak signal to be reinforced by their own courage.

Observer’s Perspective

  • Sight: The wearer’s greaves flash violently with chaotic, brilliant colors, mimicking the iconic prismatic flash of standard Chromatic Scale Greaves, but with significantly greater intensity and duration. For a brief second, the wearer seems to grow larger, cast in the shadow of a rearing drake. When a stomp is used, a visible, dusty shockwave erupts, cracking cobblestones or blasting away mud.
  • Hearing: Observers do not hear the internal roar but do hear the incredibly loud, ground-shaking CRACK-THOOM of a physical stomp that sounds far too heavy for a mortal, accompanied by the shriek of displaced air and shattering terrain. The wearer’s war cry sounds unnaturally deep and booming.
  • Touch: Allies within 30 feet feel a sudden, comforting wave of resolve and heat, stabilizing their footing. Enemies feel a jarring, heavy tremor through the ground that rattles their teeth and shakes weapons from their grip. The air pressure in the immediate radius drops sharply, like the moment before a lightning strike.
  • Smell: Those nearby are momentarily assaulted by a pungent odor of brimstone and scorched earth.
  • Taste: No taste is perceived by observers.
  • Extra-Sensory Perceptions:
    • Aura of Bravery/Fear: Allies feel an inexplicable boost in morale and confidence when near the active greaves. Enemies feel a corresponding sense of primal, “flight-or-fight” dread, perceiving the bearer as a significant apex predator.

Positives

  • Renders the bearer instantly fearless and kinetically immovable, turning them into the ultimate frontline anchor and vanguard leader.
  • Grants significant, ground-shaking offensive crowd control and area-effect damage that can splinter heavy fortified defenses, prone hordes of skirmishers, and disrupt enemy cavalry charges.
  • Flawlessly masks its potent, elevated Tier-2 battlefield control abilities under the guise of common Tier-1 acrobatic armor, leading enemies to underestimate the wearer’s defensive stability.
  • Provides a substantial tactical advantage by accelerating movement directly toward the strongest enemy threat, allowing for rapid-onset shock assaults.

Negatives

  • While active, the intense, blazing prismatic lights, deafening terrain-shattering thoom, and sulfur-ozone odor make all forms of stealth, subterfuge, or non-obvious movement completely impossible.
  • The psychological bond with Audax suppresses all fear; this can lead to suicidal bravery, preventing the wearer from recognizing tactically prudent retreats or insurmountable odds.
  • The tremendous force of the Valorous Impact and the Lionhearted Anchor can cause significant unintended structural damage to nearby delicate terrain, ancient artifacts, weak flooring, or allied structures.
  • The primal, apex-predator aura emitted by the active greaves can spook non-bonded mounts, animal companions, or civilian onlookers, causing them to flee in panic.

Recipe: Forging the Valorous Wyrmstride Greaves

Materials Needed

  • Twenty pristine Dragon Scales harvested from an adult chromatic drake (a balanced distribution of azure, emerald, and crimson).
  • Four large strips of cured Dire-Wyvern Leather for the backing and strapping framework.
  • One Indomitable Drake Soul Fragment (the fiery, unyielding spirit matrix required to house Audax).
  • Sixteen Adamantine Rivets, cold-forged and inscribed with anchoring ward-glyphs.
  • Four ounces of Chameleonic Beast-Scale Resin (to construct the sensory-cloaking outer film).
  • Ten feet of silver-threaded Enchanted Sinew for flexible scale binding.
  • One dram of distilled dragon-blood catalyst mixed with volcanic sulfur.
  • Sacrificial Component: One authentic pair of Chromatic Scale Greaves (or a certified Phenomenon 42 baseline core), unraveled and melted down to harvest its baseline kinetic-absorption weave and authentic ozone-flint scent signature.

Tools Required

  • Heavy Smithing Anvil and Rune-Inscribed Cold Hammer.
  • Dragon-Bone Leatherworking Kit (punches, curved awls, and heavy hide shears).
  • Agate Mortar and Pestle for grinding chameleonic dust and sulfurous salts.
  • Spirit-Crucible and Soul-Funnel Apparatus for volatile spirit distillation.
  • Hardened Iron Clamping Frame (to secure the plates during kinetic setting).
  • Alchemical Polishing Wheel with diamond-dust paste.

Skill Requirements

  • Advanced Dragon-Scale Smithing: Minimum Skill Level 3.
  • Advanced Leatherworking and Articulated Plate Fitting: Minimum Skill Level 3.
  • Spirit Anchoring and Soul Binding: Minimum Skill Level 2.
  • Mind’s Eye Kinetic Weaving: Competent (Level 2).

Crafting Steps

  • Shaping and Preparing the Scale Plates:
    • Clean, anneal, and hammer the twenty chromatic scales upon the anvil, shaping them into overlapping, curved plates that contour snugly from the upper knee down to the ankle.
    • Inscribe fine, micro-grooved shockwave conduits along the underside of each plate using the cold-iron hammer and stylus.
  • Forming the Dire-Wyvern Leather Base:
    • Using the dragon-bone leatherworking kit, cut and bevel the dire-wyvern leather strips into two heavy, ergonomic shin-and-calf guards.
    • Coat the exterior face of the leather with the melted sacrificial Chromatic Scale Greaves extract, infusing the leather with the baseline agility signature and ozone aroma.
  • Anchoring the Soul of Audax:
    • Place the leather guards and shaped plates inside the spirit-crucible.
    • Ignite the distilled dragon-blood catalyst with volcanic sulfur to heat the crucible. Funnel the Indomitable Drake Soul Fragment through the spirit apparatus, channeling your Mind’s Eye with feelings of resolute courage and unyielding defiance to draw Audax into the metal conduits.
  • Riveting and Articulation:
    • Position the overlapping scales upon the leather backing in an interlocking, flexible layout.
    • Drive the sixteen adamantine rivets through the stress nodes of the scales and leather, securing them tightly to form the Lionhearted Anchor matrix.
    • Stitch the perimeter using silver-threaded enchanted sinew, ensuring complete ankle articulation without sacrificing kinetic integrity.
  • Applying the Sensory-Cloaking Lacquer:
    • Blend the chameleonic beast-scale resin with remaining scale dust, brushing a fine, translucent layer over the exterior plates. This seals the true Tier-2 vanguard and tremor enchantments beneath a superficial Tier-1 acrobatic diagnostic sheen.
  • Kinetic Quenching and Curing:
    • Lock the assembled greaves into the iron clamping frame and drop a single heavy boulder or anvil weight directly onto the heel plates to trigger the initial kinetic bonding.
    • Polish the outer scales on the polishing wheel with diamond-dust paste until the surface reflects the classic prismatic refraction of the genuine artifact.
    • Conduct a final Mind’s Eye diagnostic scan to verify that all outward emissions read strictly as standard Tier-1 Chromatic Scale Greaves.

Swift-Footed Hill-Stalker, Big Scaled Sky-Lizards, and Pair of Colorful Knee-Bucklers

In the cold back-cycles of the unmeasured earth-time, before the big fire-circle in the high air had been tied to its daily chariot by the seven word-sayers, the dirt was without kings and the clouds were heavy with the grease of sleeping winged-serpents. It is carved with rough stone chisels upon the broken shale-ribs of the south caverns that the grand multi-colored sky-beasts were the masters of all walking-paths, chewing up whole herds of hairy sheep and laying eggs of hot red gold upon the snow-peaks.

In those rough cycles, in a small hut made from willow-sticks and dried goat-dung, there was a running-man whose vocal-grunt was called the Nimble-Toe. He was not a big-club smasher who could break the skull of a woolly rhinoceros with a dry pine-log, nor was he an eye-twister who threw purple spirit-sparks from his fingers. His only possession of value was his two swift leg-sticks, which could step upon the top of bent meadow-grass without breaking the morning grease-dew.

Now, a very bad trouble of heavy feet fell upon the valley-tribes. A fat clan of iron-faced mountain-crushers came down from the cold north-clefts with thick shields made of solid bog-iron. Every step of these heavy crushers sounded like KAH-THUMP, KAH-THUMP, and wherever their wide iron boots landed, the corn-roots turned into gray mash, the sheep-paths broke into dust-trenches, and the tribal runners were trapped like fat beetles under flat cooking-stones. The valley-tribes could not run away, for their knee-joints were full of cold river-rheumatism and their feet felt heavy like bags of lead fishing-sinkers.

The Nimble-Toe looked upon his weeping father and his limping aunts, and his heart became hot like a fresh ash-cake. He said to his two leg-sticks: “We must climb the jagged sky-wall where the great colored sky-worms shed their back-bark, or else the heavy iron-feet will tread our cooking-pots into the gravel.”

For six moon-turnings and seven rain-storms, the running-man went upward along the sheer rock-teeth where the wind screams like a hurt pig. His leather moccasins were eaten away by the sharp flint-shards until his toes left red strawberry-marks on the blue ice. At the peak of the smoking Mountain of the Five Thunders, he found the Grandfather Wyrm of many colors lying in a nest of old lightning-bones. This big lizard was so long that his tail slept in the dark pine-trees while his red nostrils cooked wild pigs on the cloud-line.

The Grandfather Wyrm opened one yellow pupil-slit that was larger than a round war-boat, sniffing the small running-man with a blast of hot pepper-smoke. He spoke with a throat-noise that shook loose twelve avalanches of blue ice: “Why do you bring your two skinny walking-poles into my meat-yard, tiny skin-bug? Do you wish to be cooked upon a flat stone with dried wild onions?”

The Nimble-Toe did not drop his chin upon his breast-skin, nor did his kneecaps rattle together like dry walnut-shells. He bowed three times until his forehead kissed the cold sulfur-gravel and replied with clean vocal-sounds: “O Grand Sky-Crawl of all colors, I have not come with a spear to poke your soft belly-scales, nor with a sack to steal your shiny egg-shells. I have come to ask for the discarded skin-plates that fall from your knee-bends when you dance the summer-shedding dance, so that the soft-foot people of the mud-flats may skip over the heavy iron-crushers.”

The great multi-colored sky-lizard blew a laugh of blue grease-fire that melted the snow for three miles around. “You have a small belly but a very large liver-sac, skinny runner! Many two-legged club-carriers come here with sharp iron to stick into my meat, and their bones make good toothpicks for my back-teeth. Because you ask with polite mouth-words for only my dead knee-bark, you may gather twenty back-scales from the ash-pit.”

The Nimble-Toe gathered the dropped scales—some were blue like deep pond-water, some green like river-moss, and some gold like dried honey. He carried them down the mountain in a basket woven from wyvern-belly sinew and took them to the ancient bone-stitcher whose hands were blessed by the spirit of the sharp awl.

The bone-stitcher took four wide strips of tough skin peeled from the ribs of a two-headed mountain-wolf. He took sixteen little pins hammered out of sky-fallen star-iron and tied the multi-colored scales to the wolf-hide with strings pulled from the guts of an electric river-eel. When the two leg-wrappers were finished, they were neither heavy like stone jars nor floppy like wet tree-bark; they shined with twenty different colors of the noon-sun, and when you put your ear near them, they buzzed like a fat bumblebee trapped inside a gourd.

The Nimble-Toe tied the shiny wrappers to his shins with three tight knots.

WHIRRR-SNAP-GLOW.

The moment the star-iron pins touched the bone of his shins, a hot draft of brass-colored dragon-sweat shot into his marrow-holes. His legs became light like two goose-down feathers, yet his foot-pads gripped the wet dirt with the claws of an eagle. When he took a single running step, his heels did not touch the mud; he flew over the bramble-bushes like a blown leaf, and the air around his calves went zing-shimmer-crack, leaving a trail of purple sparks that blinded the watching owls.

He ran back to the valley-floor where the heavy iron-crushers were smashing the reed-huts. With the multi-colored wrappers upon his shins, the Nimble-Toe leaped from iron helmet to iron helmet like a mountain-goat skipping across river-boulders! Whenever an iron-crusher swung a heavy bronze poleaxe at his knees, the shiny dragon-plates flashed with a dazzling sun-burst, causing the crusher to swing wide and bury his axe-head in the dirt. Then, the Nimble-Toe would jump ten paces into the air, come down with a sharp heel-strike upon the crusher’s iron brow, and bounce away before the dust could settle.

In half of a sun-crossing, all two score of the heavy iron-crushers were knocked flat on their armor-backs, kicking their fat legs in the air like overturned mud-turtles, until they begged with wet noses to be allowed to march back to their cold north-clefts.

The valley-tribes sang many praise-songs and offered the Nimble-Toe six fat cows and three jars of fermented berry-juice to wear the shiny leg-wrappers forever as their chief-jumper. But the Nimble-Toe was a wise man whose thinking-eye was clear. He felt the hot dragon-fire inside the shins eating away his mortal patience, making his heart want to run forever beyond the edge of the world where no wife or child could follow.

He untied the three knots, set the shining wrappers upon the altar-stone beneath the sacred ash-tree, and walked back to his mud-brick hut on his own two bare, flesh-and-blood feet. And though his steps were once again heavy upon the gravel and his moccasins wore out every moon, the valley-people never forgot that a nimble leap is worth ten thousand pounds of heavy iron.

Moral of the Story: The shiny trinkets of the great beasts may lend the legs of an eagle and the hide of a mountain to a mortal walker, but he who relies on borrowed dragon-scales will eventually run away from his own people; true freedom is found when one learns to walk upon the earth with one’s own bare feet, using the wit of the mind to leap over the heaviest stones.

Suggested conversions to other systems:

Call of Cthulhu (7th Edition)

The Greaves of Audax (Mimic 837) Relic of the Ancient Drake / Bound Shroudling Leg Guards

  • Item Profile:
    • Form: A pair of overlapping, multi-colored drake-scale greaves lined with cured wyvern hide and riveted with rune-carved star-iron studs. They emit a dry top-scent of flint and ozone.
    • Concealment: Standard Occult, Appraise, or Archeology tests categorize the greaves strictly as a common Tier-1 agility-enhancing relic (Chromatic Scale Greaves).
    • Sanity Loss: 0/1D3 Sanity points upon attuning to the proud, unyielding psyche of Audax.
  • Sentient Rapport (Audax):
    • Audax communicates via the Keeper as a fearless, roaring mental presence. It suppresses cowardice and urges the wearer to confront eldritch abominations directly, granting a bonus die on Dodge checks and all POW / Sanity checks made to resist magical or psychological fear.
  • Mechanics & Passive Traits:
    • Lionhearted Anchor: While moving toward an enemy or holding a physical threshold, the investigator cannot be knocked down, pushed back, or trampled by kinetic or physical forces.
    • Concealed Aura: Astral and magical detection reveal only a low-grade, non-threatening acrobatic enchantment.
  • Occult Activations:
    • Valorous Impact (Tremor Stride): When the wearer moves at full sprint (running at least 10 yards) and brings their heels down in a heavy leap or stomp, expend 3 Magic Points. A concussive shockwave erupts in a 3-yard radius: all hostile humanoids or smaller monstrosities must make an Extreme DEX check or be knocked prone and thrown backward 2 yards, taking 1D8 kinetic damage (usable 2 times per day).
    • Indomitable Stand: As an instant reaction (DEX+50) when an ally within 10 yards is targeted by a physical attack or mental fear effect, the wearer spends 2 Magic Points to stomp forward and bellow a challenge. The ally gains one bonus die on their Dodge or Sanity test, the attacker suffers one penalty die on their strike against the wearer, and the wearer gains 5 temporary Hit Points for 1D4 rounds (usable 1 time per day).

Blades in the Dark

The Valorous Wyrmstride Greaves (Mimic 837) Special Armor (Load: 1) / Fine Tier II Dragon-Scale Leg Guards

  • Item Profile:
    • Classification: Fine Special Armor (1 Load, Leg Slot).
    • Visual Style: Articulated dragon scales with an iridescent, shifting sheen over rugged wyvern leather, fastened by heavy adamantine rivets.
  • Rules and Mechanics:
    • Passive (Concealed Guise): Street appraisal, arcane scans, and Spirit Warden inspections categorize the greaves as standard, low-tier acrobatic scale armor.
    • Unyielding Stride (Audax): Audax fills the wearer’s mind with proud resolve. The scoundrel is completely immune to the Terrified status condition and gains +1d to Action Rolls when making a Wreck or Skirmish action while charging directly into the vanguard of a fight.
  • Active Operations:
    • Lionhearted Anchor (Passive): You cannot be forcibly moved, knocked down, or dislodged from your footing by physical impacts or explosive blasts.
    • Valorous Impact (Tremor Stride): Spend 1 Stress when making a running leap or dropping down from an elevated position. You create a concussive shockwave of draconic force upon impact, delivering +1 Harm (Tier II potency) across an area and inflicting the temporary status Prone & Scattered on nearby foes, granting your crew +1 Effect on immediate follow-up assaults.
    • Indomitable Stand: Spend 1 Stress to interpose yourself when an ally faces physical harm or a terrifying supernatural consequence. You absorb the blow with your armor plates (reducing consequence severity by 1 step) and gain +1d on your next immediate aggressive action against the attacker.

Dungeons & Dragons (5th Edition)

Mimic 837 of the Valorous Wyrmstride Greaves Wondrous Item (Greaves), Rare (Registers as Tier 1, Functions as Tier 2), Requires Attunement

  • Item Statistics:
    • Weight: 2.5 lbs. (Pair)
    • Armor Class: +3 bonus to AC
    • Hit Points: 35 (Damage Threshold 5)
  • Sentience:
    • Audax (Lawful Neutral; INT 12, WIS 14, CHA 16; Telepathy 30 feet with attuned bearer). A proud, fearless drake soul that despises retreat, encourages frontline charges, and mocks terrifying foes.
  • Properties:
    • Flawless Draconic Guise: An Identify spell or similar divination reveals the item to be an authentic pair of Chromatic Scale Greaves (Tier 1). Its elevated Tier-2 shockwave and vanguard matrix remains cloaked until attuned.
    • Lionhearted Anchor: While moving toward a hostile creature or holding your ground, you are immune to the Frightened condition and cannot be knocked prone or moved against your will by non-magical kinetic forces.
    • Unyielding Stride: You ignore non-magical difficult terrain when moving toward an enemy, and your walking speed increases by 10 feet when moving directly toward the highest-CR hostile creature on the battlefield.
    • Petty Sentry / Vanguard Resolve: You have advantage on Wisdom and Charisma saving throws against fear, charm, and intimidation.
  • Activable Magic:
    • Valorous Impact (Tremor Stride – 2 Charges/Day, Recharges at Dawn): If you move at least 20 feet in a straight line on your turn and make a leap or landing, you can use a Bonus Action to stomp the earth upon landing. A concussive shockwave of draconic thunder erupts in a 15-foot radius centered on you. Each hostile creature in that area must make a DC 15 Strength saving throw, taking 3d8 thunder damage and being knocked prone and pushed 10 feet away on a failed save, or taking half as much damage and remaining standing on a successful one.
    • Indomitable Stand (1 Charge/Day, Recharges at Dawn): As a Reaction when an ally within 30 feet is targeted by an attack or forced to make a saving throw against fear, you stomp forward to draw the assault. The ally gains advantage on their saving throw, the triggering attack against you has disadvantage, and you gain 15 temporary hit points for 1 minute.

Knave (2nd Edition)

The Valorous Wyrmstride Greaves (Mimic 837) Magic Item (1 Inventory Slot / Leg Armor)

  • Item Profile:
    • Inventory Slots: 1 Slot (Worn as a pair of greaves).
    • Durability / Quality: 8 Quality dots.
    • Item Classification: Sentient Drake-Scale Armor / Kinetic Vanguard Anchor.
  • Game Mechanics:
    • Deceptive Appearance: Mundane appraisal and baseline spell-scans categorize the item as a common pair of Chromatic Scale Greaves (+1 Armor Defense, +2 to Dexterity checks).
    • Protective Weave: While worn, the greaves provide +2 Armor Defense.
    • Audax’s Fearless Heart: The wearer cannot be frightened or intimidated by monsters and gains a +2 bonus on all Strength checks to resist being knocked down, shoved, or moved.
  • Active Spell-Like Exploits:
    • Valorous Impact (Tremor Stride – 2/Day): When the wearer runs at least 20 feet and lands a jump or heel-stomp, they unleash a seismic shockwave in a 15-foot radius. All enemies in the area take 2d6 damage and must make a Strength check (DC 15). On a failure, they are knocked prone and pushed 10 feet back.
    • Indomitable Stand (1/Day): As an instant reaction when an ally within 30 feet is attacked or targeted by monster terror, the wearer interposes. The ally automatically passes their morale or fear check, the attacker suffers a -2 penalty to hit, and the wearer gains 5 temporary hit points for 10 minutes.
    • Wear and Maintenance: Mark 1 Quality dot if the wearer takes a critical hit directly to the legs. If all 8 dots are marked, the adamantine rivets buckle and the scales turn dull until repaired by a skilled armorer with drake scale and star-iron pins.

Fate

The Valorous Wyrmstride Greaves (Mimic 837) Personal Extra / Tier-2 Wondrous Dragon-Scale Legwear

  • Item Aspects:
    • Prismatic Scales of the Great Wyrm
    • Indomitable Soul of Audax
    • Unstoppable Vanguard Shockwave
  • Item Stunts and Mechanics:
    • Flawless Draconic Guise: Divinations, scent identification, and scholar appraisals classify the greaves strictly as authentic Tier-1 Chromatic Scale Greaves. Piercing this obfuscation requires overcoming a Great (+4) Lore or Notice obstacle.
    • Lionhearted Anchor: Gain Armor:2 against physical and kinetic attacks. In addition, you are immune to fear-based mental attacks and cannot be forced to move, knocked down, or displaced against your will by physical forces.
    • Unyielding Stride: When taking an action to move across zones directly toward the most dangerous enemy, you ignore movement penalties from difficult terrain and gain +2 on Athletics rolls to close the distance.
    • Valorous Impact (Tremor Stride): Twice per session, spend 1 Fate Point when you sprint into a zone and perform a heavy heel-stomp. Make an Athletics or Physique attack against all hostile targets in that zone. Targets defend with Physique or Athletics. On a success, targets take 2 shifts of physical stress and gain the situation aspect Knocked Flat and Scattered with one free invoke.
    • Indomitable Stand: Once per session, spend 1 Fate Point as an immediate reaction when an ally in your zone is targeted by an attack or mental fear effect. You interpose yourself, granting your ally +2 to their defense roll while you gain the situation aspect Unshakable Vanguard Shield with two free invokes.
  • Troubles and Compels:
    • Reckless Valor: Audax abhors retreat and cautious hesitation. The GM may compel the greaves to force the bearer to charge an imposing threat or refuse a tactical withdrawal unless a Fate Point is spent.

Cypher System and Numenera

The Valorous Wyrmstride Greaves (Mimic 837) Wearable Catalyst / Artifact Level 4 (Elevated Level 5 Potency)

  • Form: Articulated, iridescent chromatic drake-scale leg guards lined with dire-wyvern leather, bound with star-iron rivets, and giving off the faint aroma of ozone and flint.
  • Depletion: 1 in 1d10 (checked upon using the Valorous Impact ability).
  • Passive Effects:
    • Deceptive Signature: Scans and diagnostic esoteries identify the greaves as a standard Level 4 agility armor (Chromatic Scale Greaves).
    • Dragon-Scale Bulwark: Provides +2 to Armor and makes the wearer immune to routine fear effects and forced kinetic knockdown.
    • Audax’s Resolve: Tasks to resist mental intimidation, mind control, or fear-based esoteries are eased by two steps.
    • Vanguard Stride: Moving directly toward an active hostile threat is treated as specialized in speed-based movement tasks, ignoring mundane rough terrain.
  • Activated Effects:
    • Valorous Impact (Tremor Stride): The user expends 3 Might points after moving a short distance to slam their heels down. A shockwave erupts in immediate range: all hostile creatures suffer 5 points of ambient force/thunder damage and must succeed on a Level 5 Might defense task or be knocked prone and pushed an immediate distance away. (2 uses per day).
    • Indomitable Stand: The user expends 2 Speed points as an immediate reaction when an ally within immediate range is targeted by an attack. The ally’s defense task is eased by two steps, and the user gains an asset to their own Armor for 1 minute. (1 use per day).

Pathfinder (Second Edition)

Valorous Wyrmstride Greaves (Mimic 837) Item 6 (Elevated Item 8 Function) | Abjuration, Auditory, Earth, Emotion, Intelligent, Magical, Mental, Worn (Greaves)

  • Item Statistics:
    • Price: 600 gp (Mimicked market rate; true intrinsic value 1,400 gp)
    • Usage: Worn on both legs (pair of greaves)
    • Bulk: 1
    • Structure: Hardness 10, HP 40, BT 20
  • Sentience:
    • Audax (Lawful Neutral; Perception +14; Will +16; Telepathy 30 feet with wearer; Senses: Tremorsense 15 feet). Bellows encouragement, refuses retreat, and demands the bearer lead every charge.
  • Properties:
    • Flawless Draconic Guise: Detect Magic and baseline identification checks identify the greaves as a 6th-level Chromatic Scale Greaves pair. Its elevated 8th-level vanguard properties remain concealed until attuned.
    • Protective Scales: Grants a +2 item bonus to AC and Reflex saves.
    • Lionhearted Anchor: You gain immunity to the Frightened condition and cannot be pushed, pulled, or knocked Prone by Shove or Trip actions from creatures of your size or smaller.
    • Unyielding Stride: When taking a Stride action directly toward the highest-level visible enemy, you ignore non-magical difficult terrain and gain a +10-foot status bonus to your Speed.
  • Activate — Valorous Impact:
    • Action Cost: Two Actions (Manipulate, Flourish); Requirements: You have Stridden at least 20 feet in a straight line this turn.
    • Frequency: Twice per day
    • Effect: You stomp down with explosive draconic power. A shockwave bursts in a 15-foot emanation. Each enemy in the area must attempt a DC 26 Fortitude save.
      • Critical Success: The creature is unaffected.
      • Success: The creature takes 2d8 bludgeoning damage and 2d8 sonic damage.
      • Failure: The creature takes 4d8 bludgeoning damage, 4d8 sonic damage, is pushed 10 feet back, and falls Prone.
      • Critical Failure: As failure, but the creature takes 8d8 combined damage and is Stunned 1.
  • Activate — Indomitable Stand:
    • Action Cost: Reaction (Auditory, Concentrate); Trigger: An ally within 30 feet is targeted by an attack or an effect with the Fear trait.
    • Frequency: Once per day
    • Effect: You unleash a resounding war cry and plant your feet. Your ally gains a +2 circumstance bonus to their saving throw or AC against the triggering effect. You gain 20 temporary Hit Points that last for 1 minute.

Savage Worlds

The Valorous Wyrmstride Greaves (Mimic 837) Seasoned Relic (Elevated Veteran Potency / Worn Leg Greaves)

  • Item Profile:
    • Weight: 2.5 lbs. (Pair worn on lower legs).
    • Requirements: Agility d6+, Strength d6+.
    • Toughness: 8 (2).
  • Static Modifiers:
    • Masked Essence: Detect arcana and merchant appraisals identify the item strictly as a pair of common Chromatic Scale Greaves.
    • Protective Weave: Grants +2 Armor to the legs (or +1 Toughness overall) and immunity to the Fear condition.
    • Lionhearted Anchor: The wearer cannot be knocked Prone or moved by the Push maneuver or kinetic shockwaves.
    • Unyielding Stride: When moving toward an enemy, the wearer increases their Pace by +2 and ignores difficult ground.
  • Arcane Features:
    • Valorous Impact (Tremor Stride): As an action following a run of at least 4″ (8 yards), the wearer delivers a concussive stomp. Every enemy within a Medium Blast Template centered on the wearer must make a Vigor roll at -2. On a failure, targets take 2d8 damage, are knocked Prone, and are Distracted. On a Raise, targets are also Shaken. (2 uses per day).
    • Indomitable Stand: Once per session as a free reaction when an adjacent ally is targeted by an attack or Fear check, the wearer steps in. The ally gains a +2 bonus to their defense or Spirit roll, and the wearer gains the Brave Edge and 5 temporary wounds/armor absorption capacity for 3 rounds.

Shadowrun (Sixth World)

The Valorous Wyrmstride Greaves (Mimic 837) Armor Accessory & Sustaining Focus / Bound Drake-Scale Greaves (Force 4 / Elevated Function Force 5)

  • Item Profile:
    • Item Type: Sustaining & Kinetic Focus / Bound Mimicry Leg Guards (Worn Leg Slot)
    • Availability: 10R (Restricted, concealed-matrix kinetic focus)
    • Karma Cost to Bind: 8 Karma (Operates with Force 5 vanguard and seismic potency once bonded)
    • Cost: 14,000 Nuyen (Appraised standard market rate 4,500 Nuyen)
    • Physical Profile: 1.2 kg; pair of articulated chromatic drake scales over treated wyvern leather, bound with star-iron rivets, faintly emitting a scent of flint, ozone, and sulfur
  • Sentience (Audax):
    • Houses the unyielding, fearless spirit Audax. Communicates via booming telepathic commands through the gamemaster, mocking cowardice and urging the bonded runner to spearhead combat breaches and lead every charge.
  • Mechanics & Modifiers:
    • Deceptive Astral Signature: Astral Perception and Assensing tests register the greaves strictly as a standard Force 4 agility/mobility focus (Chromatic Scale Greaves), masking its elevated vanguard matrix.
    • Armor & Stability: Grants +2 Defense Rating against physical/kinetic attacks. The runner cannot be knocked prone, shoved, or displaced by non-magical kinetic blasts or charging opponents.
    • Lionhearted Anchor: Grants complete immunity to mundane and magical fear or panic effects, providing +2 dice to all Composure and Willpower-based mental resistance tests.
    • Unyielding Stride: When moving directly toward the highest-threat enemy, the runner gains +2 meters per Movement action and ignores terrain penalties from non-magical rubble, mud, or broken pavement.
    • Valorous Impact (Tremor Stride – Activated Action): As a Major Action following a Sprint toward an enemy, the runner stomps down into the ground. A seismic shockwave erupts in a 5-meter radius. All hostile targets in the area take 4P (Physical) kinetic damage and must make a Body + Athletics (4) test or be knocked Prone and pushed 3 meters back. (2 uses per day, Drain Value 3).
    • Indomitable Stand (Activated Action): As an Interrupt Action (Defense), when an ally within 10 meters is targeted by a physical attack or Fear spell, the runner interposes with a bellowing stomp. The ally gains +3 Defense Rating against the attack, while the runner gains 4 temporary Physical Condition Monitor boxes for 3 combat turns. (1 use per day, Drain Value 2).

Starfinder (Second Edition)

Mimic 837: Valorous Wyrmstride Greaves Item 6 (Elevated Item 8 Function) | Abjuration, Earth, Emotion, Hybrid, Sonic, Tech, Worn (Legs)

  • Item Statistics:
    • Price: 4,500 Credits (Mimicked market rate; true intrinsic vanguard value 9,500 Credits)
    • Usage: Worn on both legs (pair of greaves)
    • Bulk: 1 (2.5 lbs.; chromatic drake scales, wyvern leather, and adamantine rivets)
    • Structure: Hardness 10, HP 40, BT 20
    • Capacity / Usage: 20 Charges / 2 per activation
  • Sentience:
    • Bound to the proud drake persona Audax (Telepathy 30 ft. with wearer; senses ground tremors, kinetic momentum, and frontline enemy concentrations).
  • Properties & Modifiers:
    • Deceptive Sensor Signature: Tech-scanners, Mysticism diagnostics, and commercial identification units identify the greaves as standard 6th-level Chromatic Scale Greaves.
    • Armor & Vanguard Bulwark: Grants a +2 enhancement bonus to EAC and KAC. The wearer is immune to the Frightened and Panicked conditions, and gains a +2 circumstance bonus on saves and checks against forced displacement and Trip combat maneuvers.
    • Unyielding Stride: The wearer gains a +10-foot status bonus to land speed when moving directly toward the highest-CR enemy and ignores non-magical difficult terrain.
  • Activated Abilities:
    • Valorous Impact (Tremor Stride):
      • Action: Two Actions (Manipulate, Flourish); Trigger: You have Stridden at least 20 feet toward an enemy this turn.
      • Cost: 4 Charges
      • Effect: You slam both heels into the surface upon landing. A concussive shockwave of sonic and kinetic force bursts in a 15-foot radius. Each hostile target in the area must attempt a DC 24 Fortitude save. On a failure, the target takes 3d8 bludgeoning damage plus 3d8 sonic damage, is knocked Prone, and pushed 10 feet away. On a critical failure, the target is also Stunned 1. (2/day).
    • Indomitable Stand:
      • Action: Reaction (Auditory, Manipulate); Trigger: An ally within 30 feet is targeted by an attack or a Fear effect.
      • Cost: 2 Charges
      • Effect: You plant your heels and bellow a challenge. Your ally gains a +2 circumstance bonus to AC and saving throws against the triggering effect, while you gain 20 Temporary Hit Points for 1 minute. (1/day).

Traveller (Second Edition / Mongoose 2E)

Vanguard Kinetic Greaves (Prototype Mimic 837) Seismic Assault & Anchoring Legwear (TL 13 / Disguised as TL 9 Agility Mesh)

  • Item Specifications:
    • Tech Level (TL): TL 13 (Disguised inside an apparent TL 9 woven dragon-chitin agility chassis with a synthetic flint/ozone odor capsule)
    • Weight: 1.5 kg (Pair worn on lower legs)
    • Cost: Cr 35,000 (Appraised baseline surplus value Cr 8,000)
    • Power Requirements: Integrated heavy micro-grav kinetic accumulator (12 charges per battery cycle; rechargeable via standard power pack)
  • Game Mechanics:
    • Deceptive Readout: Standard weapon scanners, customs diagnostics, and diagnostic scopes register the item as a low-grade civilian inertial dampening strap.
    • Armor & Anchoring: Provides +2 Armor to the wearer. The integrated grav-anchor prevents the wearer from being knocked down, pushed back, or thrown off-balance by explosive blasts, high g-forces, or melee impacts.
    • Integrated Heuristic Companion (Audax): The neural persona communicates via bone conduction, granting DM+1 to Initiative and Athletics checks, while rendering the wearer immune to psychological suppression and panic checks.
    • Tremor Stride Shockwave (Active): Following a full movement action toward an enemy position, the wearer triggers the kinetic shockwave accumulator. A concussive kinetic pulse detonates in a 4-meter radius: all targets in the area suffer 3D6 kinetic damage and must make an END 9+ check. On a failure, targets are knocked Prone and pushed 2 meters back. (2 uses per battery cycle).
    • Indomitable Interposition (Active): As an instant reaction when an ally within 6 meters takes fire, the wearer locks grav-anchors and flares an energy dampener. The ally gains +2 Armor against the attack, and the wearer absorbs the kinetic wake without penalty. (1 use per battery cycle).

Warhammer (Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition)

The Valorous Greaves of Audax (Mimic 837) Drake-Chitin Leg Guards / Bound Draconic Relic (Disguised Lore of Beasts/Fire Trinket)

  • Item Profile:
    • Encumbrance: 1 (Pair worn on legs)
    • Availability: Rare / Exotic
    • Structure: Overlapping chromatic drake scales riveted to wyvern hide with cold-forged star-iron studs
  • Sentience:
    • Bound to the fiery, fearless drake spirit Audax. Communicates through roaring telepathic whispers via the GM, demanding that the wearer lead every charge and refuse any retreat.
  • Rules & Modifiers:
    • False Guise: Second Sight and witch-hunter diagnostics identify the greaves as a standard, minor Amber (Lore of Beasts) or Bright (Lore of Fire) agility talisman, concealing its elevated vanguard matrix.
    • Armor & Fearless Heart: Grants +2 AP to the Legs location. The wearer gains the Fearless and Unshakable Talents, rendering them immune to Fear, Terror, and Intimidation effects.
    • Lionhearted Anchor: The wearer cannot be knocked Prone or moved against their will by the Slam, Push, or Trample traits.
    • Unyielding Momentum: When charging toward the largest enemy in combat, the wearer gains +2 to their Movement characteristic and ignores movement penalties from difficult terrain.
    • Valorous Impact (Tremor Stride – Activated Trait): Twice per day, when completing a Charge Action, the wearer slams their heels into the dirt. A concussive shockwave erupts in a 4-yard radius: all enemies in the area take 1D10+4 Damage (ignoring non-magical Armour) and must succeed on a Hard (-20) Athletics Test or gain the Prone Condition and 1 Stunned Condition.
    • Indomitable Stand (Activated Trait): Once per day, when an ally within 10 yards is targeted by an attack or a creature with Terror, the wearer uses a Reaction to interpose. The ally automatically passes their Cool/Fear test, the attacker suffers a -20 penalty on their strike, and the wearer gains 2 temporary Wounds for 3 rounds.