From: Soulsteel
Lore: Soulfire Arrows are a rare and potent ammunition crafted by skilled archers and alchemists who sought to harness the power of the ethereal realm and the destructive properties of Soulsteel. The origins of this recipe can be traced back to ancient civilizations that delved into the secrets of necromancy and mastered the manipulation of restless spirits. By infusing arrows with soul-infused oil and the essence of Soulsteel, they created a deadly weapon capable of dealing both physical and ethereal damage.
Legends speak of brave hunters and warriors who faced ethereal threats and powerful undead creatures. In their quest for an edge in battle, they discovered that Soulsteel, with its connection to the ethereal plane, could be combined with arrows to create a devastating and versatile projectile. These Soulfire Arrows became highly sought after by those who faced supernatural adversaries or sought to strike fear into the hearts of their enemies.
Use: Soulfire Arrows are primarily used by archers, rangers, and any character proficient in ranged combat. They offer a unique advantage in battling ethereal entities, undead creatures, or foes with resistance to physical damage. Here are the details regarding their level one stats, skills, preparation, cost, process, and tags:
Level One Stats and Skills:
- Stats:
- Damage: Moderate to High (Physical and Ethereal)
- Range: Medium to Long
- Special Effect: Chance to inflict ethereal damage and bypass ethereal resistances
- Skills:
- Archery Proficiency: Novice to Intermediate level proficiency in using ranged weapons.
- Alchemical Knowledge: Basic understanding of alchemical mixtures and the extraction of essences from supernatural sources.
Preparation, Cost, and Process:
- Preparation: The character must gather the necessary ingredients and possess the appropriate skills to craft Soulfire Arrows.
- Cost: The cost of creating Soulfire Arrows can vary depending on the availability and rarity of Soulsteel, the acquisition of soul-infused oil, and the alchemical fire. Soulsteel may be obtained through specific quests, exploration of ancient sites, or by interacting with knowledgeable individuals. Soul-infused oil requires the extraction of essences from restless spirits or participation in necromantic rituals. Alchemical fire can be procured through alchemists or rare alchemical ingredients.
- Process:
- Soul-infused Oil: Prepare soul-infused oil by extracting essences from restless spirits or by participating in necromantic rituals. This process requires specific knowledge and might involve interacting with ethereal beings or confronting necromantic forces.
- Arrowhead Dipping: Dip the arrowheads into the soul-infused oil, allowing them to absorb the ethereal essence and gain the ability to deal ethereal damage upon impact.
- Soulsteel Wire Wrapping: Wrap the arrows with thin strands of Soulsteel wire. This process imbues the arrows with a touch of the metal’s properties, enhancing their effectiveness against ethereal entities and granting them the ability to bypass ethereal resistances.
- Alchemical Fire Coating: Coat the arrowheads with alchemical fire, which adds an additional layer of destructive power. The fire intensifies upon impact, causing both physical and ethereal damage to the target.
Tags:
- Ethereal: The arrows have the ability to inflict ethereal damage and bypass ethereal resistances.
- Soul-infused: The arrows are infused with the essence of restless spirits, granting them a connection to the ethereal realm.
- Alchemical: The use of alchemical fire enhances the destructive capabilities of the arrows.
- Additional: Dual-Damage, Spirit-Hunting, Ethereal Penetration, Necromantic Ammunition, Flame-Forged, Anti-Undead, Alchemical Precision, Soulbound Projectile, Arcane Crafted, Fear-Inducing
The recipe for crafting Soulfire Arrows is not typically sold in regular marketplaces or common shops. The knowledge and expertise required to create these potent arrows are often found in specialized establishments or acquired through specific means. Here’s more information on where and how the recipe for Soulfire Arrows can be obtained, as well as their usage and the environments in which they are employed:
- Alchemical Workshops: Specialized alchemical workshops, operated by skilled alchemists and craftsmen, may possess the knowledge and resources to create Soulfire Arrows. These workshops can be found in bustling cities, hidden guilds, or secluded enclaves of alchemical practitioners. Characters seeking the recipe may need to gain the trust of the alchemists, complete tasks or quests, or offer valuable services or ingredients to gain access to the recipe and materials.
- Arcane Libraries or Tomes: Ancient and esoteric texts stored in arcane libraries or hidden chambers might contain the recipe for crafting Soulfire Arrows. Characters may need to venture into forgotten or forbidden sections of libraries, decipher cryptic texts, or seek out knowledgeable scholars to obtain the recipe. These environments can be found within magical academies, grand libraries in major cities, or hidden within ancient ruins.
- Ethereal Realms or Spirit Sanctuaries: Journeys into the ethereal realms or spirit sanctuaries can unveil the secrets of crafting Soulfire Arrows. Characters may encounter ethereal beings, spirits, or guardians who possess the knowledge and offer the recipe as a reward or exchange for completing specific quests or tasks. Gaining access to these realms usually requires performing rituals, finding ethereal gateways, or seeking the aid of spiritual guides.
Perception of Activation: Soulfire Arrows
- User’s Perspective
- Sight: The arrowhead ignites with an intense, ethereal glow, shifting between green and blue flames. Wisps of spectral energy spiral around the shaft, as if pulled from another realm.
- Sound: A low, resonant hum emanates from the arrow, accompanied by faint whispers in an ancient tongue. When nocked, the whispers grow louder, synchronizing with the user’s heartbeat.
- Touch: A cool yet tingling sensation runs through the user’s fingers, as if the energy of the arrows is bonding with their intent. The shaft vibrates faintly when aimed at a target.
- Smell: The air around the arrow carries a faint scent of burnt metal and something sweetly ethereal, like dew on a cold morning.
- Taste: The user might perceive a metallic tang in the air, sharp yet invigorating, when close to the arrow.
- Extra-Sensory:
- Spiritual Resonance: The user feels a connection to the arrow, sensing its pull toward ethereal and undead targets, almost as though it “seeks” its mark.
- Temporal Awareness: Time feels slightly slowed, allowing greater focus when aiming.
- Positives:
- Heightened focus and precision when targeting ethereal or undead foes.
- A sense of power and confidence derived from the arrow’s connection to another realm.
- Negatives:
- The spectral whispers may become distracting or unnerving during prolonged use.
- A faint sense of loss or unease after firing, as though a part of the user’s spirit briefly lingers with the arrow.
- Observer’s Perspective
- Sight: The arrow glows brightly, its flames casting ghostly shadows around the user. The spectral energy creates faint trails as the arrow moves, emphasizing its otherworldly nature.
- Sound: Observers hear a faint, melodic hum and occasional, almost imperceptible whispers emanating from the arrow. The sound intensifies upon release.
- Extra-Sensory:
- Aura Perception: Magic-sensitive observers perceive the arrow surrounded by a shifting aura of light and dark energy, pulsing with the power of trapped souls.
- Ethereal Pull: Observers feel a subtle tug, as though the arrow is drawing energy from the environment or nearby ethereal presences.
- Positives: Observers are often awestruck by the arrow’s beauty and power, creating a psychological advantage.
- Negatives: The arrow’s activation can alert nearby magical or ethereal entities to its presence, potentially drawing unwanted attention.
The activation of Soulfire Arrows is a visceral and otherworldly experience, blending beauty, fear, and power. While their effects inspire confidence and awe, they come with the lingering unease of wielding something born of both the physical and ethereal planes.
Usage of Soulfire Arrows: Once crafted, Soulfire Arrows find utility in various situations and environments:
- Battle against Ethereal and Undead Foes:
Soulfire Arrows are especially effective against ethereal entities and undead creatures. Their dual nature, combining physical and ethereal damage, allows the archer to bypass ethereal resistances and inflict substantial harm on these types of enemies. They are particularly valuable when venturing into haunted places, ethereal realms, or engaging in battles against necromancers and their minions. - Defense against Ethereal or Supernatural Threats:
The arrows provide a means of defense against ethereal or supernatural adversaries. Their ethereal properties enable them to harm creatures that are otherwise impervious to regular physical attacks. By striking ethereal foes, characters can disrupt their essence and weaken their presence in the material plane. - Exploration and Research:
Soulfire Arrows can be used as a tool for exploration and research in environments where ethereal phenomena, spiritual energies, or undead activity are prevalent. Shooting these arrows into specific areas or using them as a means of investigation can reveal hidden ethereal passages, unveil hidden spirits, or disrupt ethereal barriers. - Fear and Intimidation:
The visual effect of the arrows, with their ethereal glow and the threat of both physical and ethereal damage, can instill fear and intimidation in enemies. This psychological impact can create an advantage in negotiations, dissuade foes from engaging in combat, or provide a strategic edge when facing powerful adversaries.
Considering their potent nature and specialized ingredients, Soulfire Arrows may be considered rare and valuable. Their availability for purchase may be limited, and characters may need to undertake quests, forge alliances with skilled craftsmen or alchemists, or invest resources into acquiring the necessary materials and instructions. The end results, once in possession of Soulfire Arrows, allow characters to wield a formidable weapon capable of turning the tide against ethereal and undead foes, protecting themselves against supernatural threats, and exploring the realms of the arcane and spiritual.
Legend of the Ghostflame Hunters
In days when the skies wept ash and the rivers sang dirges of the dead, there was a forest where the living dared not tread. In its depths, spirits danced upon blackened soil, and the undead prowled as silent sentinels of despair. Among the villagers who lived on its edges, there were whispers of a hunter named Deyva, a figure both feared and revered.
It is said that Deyva, weary of the spirits’ endless torment, sought counsel from an ancient alchemist who dwelt in a cavern where no light entered. The alchemist spoke of arrows forged from Soulsteel, a metal said to carry the echoes of countless souls. “With these arrows,” the alchemist rasped, “you may wound not only the flesh but also the essence that lies beyond it.”
For seven nights, Deyva worked, dipping arrowheads into oils steeped with the tears of the grieving and wrapping them in strands of Soulsteel drawn from the veins of cursed mountains. Each arrow was anointed with alchemical fire, its flames said to hunger for both life and death. When the final arrow was forged, it burned not with heat, but with a cold, ghostly light.
Deyva returned to the haunted forest, her quiver filled with Soulfire Arrows. With each shot, the flames leapt toward their mark, not just striking but consuming the spirits entirely. The undead fell silent, their dark masters recoiling in fear. The forest began to breathe again, and its soil turned green with life.
But the arrows exacted a cost. With each pull of the bowstring, Deyva felt a piece of her own soul drawn into the flames. When the forest was finally free, Deyva vanished, her footprints leading only to the darkest corner of the woods. There, beneath a hollow tree, her bow was found resting beside a single, glowing arrow.
The villagers whispered that Deyva had become one with the arrows, her spirit bound to protect the forest for all eternity. And so, the Soulfire Arrows passed into legend, sought by those brave—or desperate—enough to wield them.
Moral of the Story: To wield the power to destroy darkness, one must risk becoming its equal. True courage lies not in the strength of the weapon, but in the sacrifice of the wielder.
Suggested conversions to other systems:
Call of Cthulhu (7th Edition)
- Description: Arrows imbued with Soulsteel and ethereal fire, designed to strike both physical and spiritual foes.
- Item Type: Mythos Ammunition
- Effects:
- Dual Damage: Deals 1d6 physical damage and 1d4 ethereal damage (bypasses incorporeal resistances).
- Undead Slayer: Grants a +20% bonus to attacks against undead or ethereal entities.
- Drawbacks: Each use requires a POW roll (Hard difficulty). Failure results in 1d3 Sanity loss as the wielder senses the pull of the spirit realm.
- Availability: Rare, found only in occult collections or as rewards from Mythos encounters.
Blades in the Dark
- Description: Rare arrows infused with ethereal energy, perfect for hunting spirits or supernatural creatures.
- Item Type: Fine Ammunition
- Mechanics:
- Spirit Slayer: Grants +1d to Hunt rolls when targeting ghosts or undead.
- Ethereal Burn: On a critical success, the arrow burns the target’s essence, dealing +1 Harm to ethereal entities.
- Drawbacks: The arrows’ activation creates an eerie glow, potentially increasing the risk of detection (GM discretion).
- Load: 1 (per bundle of 5 arrows).
Dungeons & Dragons (5th Edition)
Soulfire Arrows
- Weapon (Ammunition), Rare
- Effects:
- Dual Damage: Each arrow deals an additional 1d6 necrotic damage to undead or ethereal creatures.
- Ethereal Strike: When targeting incorporeal creatures, the arrows bypass resistance to nonmagical damage.
- Ignition: On a critical hit, the target takes an extra 1d8 fire damage.
- Drawbacks: After firing a bundle of Soulfire Arrows (typically 10), the user must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or gain one level of exhaustion.
- Cost: 1,000 gp per bundle of 10 arrows.
Knave
Soulfire Arrows
- Type: Magical Ammunition (1 slot for a bundle of 10 arrows).
- Effects:
- Enhanced Damage: Grants +2 damage to undead and incorporeal creatures.
- Flame Burst: On a critical hit, the arrows explode in ethereal fire, dealing an additional 1d6 damage to the target and creatures within 5 feet.
- Drawbacks: Each shot reduces the wielder’s Wisdom by 1 for 24 hours as the arrows drain their spirit.
- Use in Game: Found in ancient ruins or as rare gifts from master alchemists and necromancers.
Fate Core
- Description: Ethereal-infused arrows designed to pierce physical and spiritual defenses.
- Item Type: Ammunition (Magical)
- Mechanics:
- Aspect: “Wreathed in Ethereal Flame”
- Grants +2 to Shoot rolls when targeting undead or incorporeal entities.
- Stunt: Once per scene, the user can invoke the arrows to bypass magical defenses or deal an additional stress point to a supernatural foe.
- Drawbacks: The GM may compel the aspect to attract unwanted attention from spirits or magical wards sensitive to ethereal energy.
- Availability: Rare, typically created or found in places steeped in necromantic lore.
Numenera & Cypher System
Soulfire Arrows
- Item Type: Artifact
- Level: 6
- Effects:
- Dual Damage: The arrows deal an additional 4 points of damage, half physical and half ethereal, bypassing incorporeal defenses.
- Ignition: On a natural roll of 19 or 20, the arrows deal an additional 3 fire damage to the target and ignite nearby flammable materials.
- Depletion: Roll 1d20 after every 10 shots. On a result of 1–3, the arrows lose their ethereal properties permanently.
- Source: Found in ancient crypts or gifted by ethereal beings.
Pathfinder (2nd Edition)
Soulfire Arrows
- Item Type: Magical Ammunition, Rare
- Usage: Requires a bow or similar weapon to fire.
- Effects:
- Dual Damage: The arrows deal an extra 1d6 necrotic damage to undead or incorporeal creatures.
- Ethereal Strike: Bypasses resistance to nonmagical damage and deals half damage to creatures with immunity to physical damage.
- Flaming Impact: On a critical hit, the arrows ignite the target, dealing 1d6 persistent fire damage.
- Drawbacks: Each use increases the wielder’s Fatigue by 1 if more than five arrows are fired in a single encounter.
- Price: 500 gp per bundle of 10 arrows.
Savage Worlds (Adventure Edition)
Soulfire Arrows
- Item Type: Magical Ammunition
- Mechanics:
- Enhanced Damage: Grants +2 damage to undead and incorporeal creatures.
- Ethereal Fire: On a successful raise, the arrows deal an additional 1d6 fire damage.
- Undead Piercing: The arrows ignore the Incorporeal Edge of supernatural creatures.
- Drawbacks: On a roll of Snake Eyes while shooting, the wielder gains a level of Fatigue due to the strain of channeling ethereal energy.
- Cost: 100 gold per bundle of 5 arrows.
Shadowrun (6th Edition)
Soulfire Arrows
- Item Type: Magical Ammunition
- Effects:
- Dual Damage: The arrows deal +2 Physical Damage and an additional +2 Damage against astral entities or incorporeal foes.
- Ethereal Burn: On a critical hit, the arrows ignite the target, dealing 1 Stun damage over the next two rounds.
- Drawbacks: After each combat encounter using Soulfire Arrows, the user must make a Willpower + Intuition test (Threshold 3). Failure results in 1 Stun damage due to spiritual strain.
- Availability: 12R
- Cost: 500¥ per bundle of 5 arrows.
Starfinder
Soulfire Arrows
- Item Type: Magic Ammunition (Level 9)
- Effects:
- Ethereal Penetration: The arrows bypass incorporeal resistances and deal an additional 1d6 damage to undead or ethereal creatures.
- Flame Strike: On a critical hit, the arrows deal 1d8 fire damage to the target and ignite flammable materials.
- Drawbacks: After firing a bundle of arrows, the user must succeed at a DC 15 Fortitude save or take 1d4 temporary Stamina damage from the arrows’ spiritual backlash.
- Bulk: L
- Price: 1,250 credits per bundle of 10 arrows.
Traveller (Mongoose 2nd Edition)
Soulfire Arrows
- Item Type: Exotic Ammunition
- Effects:
- Enhanced Damage: Grants DM+2 to attacks against incorporeal or undead targets.
- Ethereal Flame: On a natural roll of 10+, the arrows ignite, dealing an additional 1d6 damage.
- Drawbacks: Using more than 5 Soulfire Arrows in a single combat encounter imposes DM-1 to all further actions due to psychic strain.
- Availability: Rare, often found in ancient caches or sold by high-level merchants.
- Price: 5,000 credits per bundle of 10 arrows.
Warhammer (4th Edition)
Soulfire Arrows
- Item Type: Magical Ammunition, Rare
- Effects:
- Dual Damage: Grants +10 to Ballistic Skill tests and deals +1 Damage, with an additional +2 Damage against undead or ethereal entities.
- Flaming Impact: On a critical hit, the arrows deal 1d6 fire damage and ignite flammable objects.
- Curse: After each use, the wielder must make an Average (+20) Willpower Test. Failure results in 1 Corruption Point as the Soulfire energy momentarily connects the wielder to the spirit realm.
- Encumbrance: 1 (per bundle of 10 arrows).
- Cost: 30 gold crowns per bundle.