From: Lineage 5298 of Khet Amra Sunveil
Slot: Held (two-handed, auto-attuned when gripped)
Tier: 1
Description: A 7-foot polearm with a crescent blade of sand-forged bronze and a hollow haft housing a miniature steam piston. Once per short rest, vent superheated vapor in a 10-ft cone (1d8 fire + push 10 ft, uses 1 mana boost). Reach 10 ft; deals 1d10 slashing base. Crest-mounted counterweight balances weight at 6 lbs for Zaf-Amra poise.
Lore: Hammered in the roaring heart of Sandhaven’s Sub-Level 4 “Pistonforge” during the 7601st cycle of the Serene Dunes’ “Steam Awakening”—a geothermal surge where subterranean aquifers boiled into perpetual steam vents, fusing sand-forged bronze with Itchme Sate’s pressure-tempered alloys—Steamvent Glaive 7601 symbolizes Amratian’s Renaissance martial pinnacle, blending Sandwhisperer geomancy with River Folk piston engineering for Syrak Sunveil’s frontline dominance. Conceived after the “Tide-Lash Skirmish” where Solwhip’s range faltered against zeppelin boarders, the 7-foot polearm’s crescent blade—cast from 7601 psi-compressed dune silica and quenched in Oasis Fort’s magical springs—was hafted with a hollow reed-bronze tube housing Nyra Sunveil’s miniature steam piston, powered by solar-vein micro-crystals. Talia Oasisborn aligned the crest-mounted counterweight (a Sun-Tear quartz sphere) during a Sandshrine rite, ensuring Zaf-Amra poise despite 6 lbs heft.
The piston’s activation chant, etched in micro-Khet-Line along the haft, draws mana boost to vent 10-ft superheated cones (1d8 fire + 10 ft push), first tested in Raiderspool’s harbor melee—vaporizing a privateer deck, scattering foes. With 10 ft reach and 1d10 slashing base, it cleaved through shadow-cloaks, counterweight spinning like a gyroscope for perfect balance. Sand Folk name it “Ventcleaver,” River Folk “Piston Crescent.” Serial 7601 denotes the forging cycle and pressure. Nyra retains prototype 7602; saga claims the piston “roars” Kharveth’s final gasp on vents, demoralizing foes.
Tier 1 Stats
- Damage: 1d10 slashing (reach 10 ft)
- Weight: 6 lbs
- Attunement: Auto (held, two-handed)
- Durability: 25 HP (piston clogs, blade nicks; functional until 12 lost)
Skills Gained
- Piston Reach (trained): +1 to attack rolls with glaive; advantage on reach maneuvers.
- Vent Balance (expert): +1 to Athletics for balance/poise; ignore heavy weapon penalties.
Passive Magics
- Crescent Reach – 10 ft reach, 1d10 slashing base.
- Counterweight Poise – Balances 6 lbs for Zaf-Amra; +1 Dex saves while wielded.
- Piston Ready – Haft warms, ready for vent (no prep time).
Activatable Magics
- Steam Vent (1/short rest, 1 mana boost): 10-ft cone superheated vapor (1d8 fire + push 10 ft, DC 13 Str save).
- Piston Surge (3/day, no cost): Next attack +1d6 fire.
- Geomantic Spin (1/long rest, 2 mana boost): Sync with polearm gear; 15-ft cone vent, +5 ft push.
Specific Slot
- Held (two-handed weapon, auto-attuned; crest counterweight compatible with headgear).
Tags:
Tier-1 Weapon, Steam-Piston Polearm, Fire Cone Vent, Reach Cleaver, Zaf-Amra Balanced, Renaissance Piston, Sand-Forged Crescent, Mana-Push Synergy, Boarder Bane, Counterweight Poise, Dustveil Roar, Geothermal Surge, Ventcleaver Legacy
Steamvent Glaive 7601 – Acquisition Venues & Pricing in Saṃsāra All transactions use Amratian coinage (10 Copper = 1 Silver; 10 Silver = 1 Gold; etc.). Prices fluctuate ±22% by geothermal surge, piston purity, and zeppelin raids. Haggling via Khet-Zaf vent-chant or Mind’s Eye piston appraisal grants 1d6 × 4% discount. Glaives require Zaf-Amra reach test (free at forges).
1. Sandhaven Sub-Level 4 Pistonforge (Anvil-Vent Plaza) Shop Type: Sandwhisperer Geomantic Armory – “Ventcleaver Forge” How Sold: Geothermal auction in steam-roaring hall; glaive displayed on piston dais, vent demo scalds targets. Bidders offer bronze ingots or steam crystals. Cost:
- Base Bid: 76 Gold (honors 76th level)
- Final Sale Range: 95–125 Gold (includes 14% forge tithe)
- Bundle Option: 160 Gold with matching Scaleweave Bracers 3054
2. Khet-Vara Royal Zeppelin Armory (Berth 76 Apex) Shop Type: Queen’s Reach Outfitter – “Piston Crescent Hall” How Sold: Appointment in pressurized dock; glaive arrives via steam-lift in bronze case. Buyer tests 10 ft reach in zero-gravity; counterweight spin demo. Warranty: free piston re-tune if clogged. Cost:
- Fixed Price: 110 Gold (includes royal certification)
- Trade-In: Any Tier 1 polearm for 30 Gold credit
3. Raiderspool Tide-Dock Armory (Deck 76 Hold) Shop Type: Privateer Vent-Smuggler – “Scald & Slash” How Sold: Invite-only in swaying hold; access via piston tattoo. Glaive in steam-sealed locker; buyer vents 10-ft cone on decoy. Quick reach test or no deal. Cost:
- Cash: 140 Gold (raid-risk premium)
- Favor Trade: 115 Gold + 1 zeppelin boarding manifest OR safe harbor passage
4. Riverbend Sate Reed-Anvil Market (Dock 76 Stall) Shop Type: River Folk Piston Exchange – “Crescent & Coil” How Sold: Bi-weekly barter under reed canvas at River Vent Fair. Glaive on silt-cooled stand; River Folk trade reed, Sand Folk offer bronze. Demo: 10-ft vent in river mist. Cost:
- Cash: 85 Gold
- Barter Equivalents:
- 7601 reed strands OR
- 12 mana-boost steam crystals OR
- 1 barge cargo manifest (piston run)
5. Oasis Fort Steam-Caravan Stop (Mobile Vent-Tent – “Roar of the Piston”) Shop Type: Nomadic Geomancer – “Vent on the Move” How Sold: Pop-up during Oasis Piston Conclave (monthly). Glaive on steam-rotating stand; trader demos 10-ft vent in oasis steam. Includes piston-polishing kit. Cost:
- Cash: 95 Gold
- Desert Barter: 75 Gold + 3 days caravan escort OR 1 geothermal vent map
Resale & Reforging
- Damaged/Used Units: 35–50 Gold at any forge (piston sold separately: 20 Gold).
- Reforging Fee: 35 Gold + 1 mana boost steam crystal to re-forge crescent and re-sync piston (Sandhaven exclusive).
Steamvent Glaive 7601 – Roleplay in Defense & Offense Across Environments
1. Serene Dunes (Unsafe Area – AC halved) Defense Roleplay: Syrak plants glaive; Counterweight Poise +1 Dex save dodges worm strike. Piston Ready hums—Steam Vent (1 mana) 10-ft cone vapor scalds worm, pushes 10 ft. Crescent Reach 10 ft keeps distance. Offense Roleplay: Raider charge. Syrak spins; Piston Surge (no cost) +1d6 fire slash. Geomantic Spin (2 mana) 15-ft cone +5 ft push—foes scatter.
2. Great Khet River Valley (Somewhat Safe – AC doubled) Defense Roleplay: Barge ambush. Arrows—Vent Balance +1 Athletics vaults rail. Steam Vent vents over water—pirates pushed overboard. Piston Reach +1 parries. Offense Roleplay: Boarding. Syrak sweeps 10 ft; Piston Surge +1d6 fire. Geomantic Spin clears deck.
3. Khet-Vara Sky-Dock (Designated Safe – AC tripled) Defense Roleplay: Zeppelin duel. Assassin lunges—Counterweight Poise spins glaive. Steam Vent pushes foe off edge. Crescent Reach keeps safe. Offense Roleplay: Royal challenge. Syrak thrusts 10 ft; Piston Surge +1d6 fire. Geomantic Spin vents crowd back.
4. Subterranean Sandhome (Designated Safe – AC tripled) Defense Roleplay: Cave collapse. Syrak braces; Vent Balance +1 Athletics. Steam Vent clears debris path. Piston Reach +1 blocks. Offense Roleplay: Rival duel. Crescent Reach 10 ft; Piston Surge +1d6 fire. Geomantic Spin vents foe into wall.
5. Raiderspool Black-Market Sky-Alley (Unsafe – AC halved) Defense Roleplay: Zero-gravity ambush. Syrak spins; Counterweight Poise stabilizes. Steam Vent pushes assassin into void. Piston Reach +1 parries. Offense Roleplay: Shard theft. Piston Surge +1d6 fire slash; Geomantic Spin vents guards—escapes.
Universal Combo (Any Environment)
- Defense: Pair with Scaleweave Bracers 3054—Piston Reach + bracers = +2 parry, 15-ft Steam Vent.
- Offense: Sync with Crestcrown 8139—Geomantic Spin + Daylight Flare = 25-ft blind cone.
Roleplay Note: Syrak narrates glaive’s roar as Kharveth’s gasp; piston hisses on vent, prompting Khet-Zaf chants for +1 to next attack.
Perception of Activation:
User’s Perspective (Syrak Sunveil): The instant grip tightens, a thrum vibrates through palms—haft warms like sun-baked bronze, piston hisses in sync with heartbeat. Crescent blade gleams; steam pressure builds as mana sip drains 1 point, felt as cool river pull. Steam Vent erupts—10-ft cone of superheated vapor roars forward, 1d8 fire searing air, push 10 ft like dune wind. Scent: scalding metal and wet clay. Extra-sensory: ley lines pulse along haft; foes’ positions echo in piston rhythm. Counterweight Poise +1 Dex save—glaive spins effortless.
Positives:
- Instant 10-ft cone; Piston Reach +1 attack felt as perfect extension.
- Vent Balance +1 Athletics—poise unshaken.
- Push sensed as geomantic shove—foes stagger.
Negatives:
- Overuse (2+ vents/short rest) risks piston clog—roll 2d4 pain interval/HP loss.
- In cold, steam condenses—cone halves to 5 ft.
Observer’s Perspective (Ally or Foe): A deep thrum as Syrak plants glaive. Haft hisses; piston ignites—10-ft cone of vapor erupts, roaring like forge bellows. Air scorches with heat; foes pushed 10 ft, stumbling. To allies: warmth radiates 5 ft. To foes: eyes water, skin blisters. Scent: hot bronze and steam. Extra-sensory (Mind’s Eye users): observer feels pressure wave—ley lines ripple in vent path.
Positives:
- Allies within 10 ft gain +1 to resist push (shared poise).
- Geomantic Spin visible as golden thread linking glaive to synced gear.
Negatives:
- Foes gain +1 to target haft (piston glow).
- In deathly areas, vent sputters—damage halves to 1d4.
Recipe: Steamvent Glaive 7601 – Piston Crescent Reach
Materials Needed
- Sand-Forged Bronze Crescent: 1 blade – 7601 psi dune silica (76 Gold).
- Hollow Reed-Bronze Haft: 7 ft – steam-tempered (50 Gold).
- Miniature Steam Piston: 1 – Nyra’s micro-crystal design (60 Gold).
- Sun-Tear Quartz Counterweight: 1 sphere – crest-mount (55 Gold).
- Zaf-Amra Scale Imprint: 1 shed scale (post-shedding, poise-grade) for haft grip.
Tools Required
- Piston-Forge Hammer – 7601 Hz steam-calibrated (Sandhaven rental: 15 Gold/day).
- Crescent Mold Press – bronze-silt, geothermal (8 Gold/day).
- Counterweight Spinner – quartz-balance, steam-rotating (6 Gold).
- Vent Alignment Crucible – piston-tuned (5 Gold).
Skill Requirements
- Alchemical Forging: Expert (DC 19) – for blade compression and piston sync.
- Steamcraft Calibration: Trained (DC 17) – for vent pressure alignment.
- Zaf-Khet Rune Mastery: Trained (DC 16) – for counterweight poise etching.
- Mind’s Eye (Passive): +1 bonus from solar lineage (Syrak auto-passes).
Crafting Steps (Total Time: 76 minutes – sacred to geothermal surge)
- Minute 1–25: Blade Forging
- Compress bronze crescent in mold press at 7601 psi (steam-heated).
- Quench in oasis springs for 25 minutes—blade rings with reach resonance.
- Minute 26–48: Haft & Piston
- Hollow 7 ft reed-bronze haft on piston-forge; embed miniature piston.
- Steam-cure at 320 °F for 18 minutes—haft hums with vent readiness.
- Minute 49–65: Counterweight Mount
- Spin quartz sphere on counterweight spinner; etch poise Khet-Glyph.
- Mount at crest junction—glaive balances at 6 lbs.
- Minute 66–76: Final Bind
- Wearer grips glaive in vent crucible under noon sun.
- Chant Khet-Zaf “Zephara Vent-Khet” (6-second ritual) – 10-ft steam cone roars.
- 10 ft reach test slash; piston hisses in sync. Final thrum seals attunement.
Success: Glaive gains all Steamvent 7601 properties. Failure (DC fail by 5+): Piston misaligns—roll 1d4 lost; retry after 1 long rest. Cost Summary: 241 Gold (materials) + 30 Gold (tool rental) = 271 Gold total (or 76 Gold with surge salvage + guild labor).
Crescent That Breathed Fire of Earth
In the time when the earth had lungs and the sky had teeth, when the blade had no crescent and the steam had no name, there came a forger whose name is lost, though some say Khet-Vent, others Sul-Pis, and still others whisper Roar-That-Was-Not-Yet.
He walked the places where the sand boiled into the river, where the bronze grew hot as blood and the piston grew loud as thunder. His arms were young, his grip dull, for the First Shedding had not come, and his heart was heavy with the quarrel of two peoples. The River Folk cursed the fire that steamed their water. The Sand Folk cursed the water that cooled their fire. And the forger walked between, carrying nothing but a lump of bronze from the dune’s heart and a hollow of reed from the river’s breath.
The bronze was thick as a tear, hot as the moment before burning. When the forger held it to the steam, the bronze did not cool—it remembered. It curled inside the reed like breath, waiting. The forger saw this and did not understand, but he kept the bronze in a pouch of reed, and he walked.
He walked until the river vanished and the dune swallowed the horizon. There, at the place where the two heats fought, he set his forge. Not of iron, not of stone. He set his will. He shaped the bronze into a crescent, each curve a word in a tongue older than the quarrel, older than the vent, older than the earth that had not yet learned to roar. He sang as he shaped, and the song had no words, only hisses—seventy-six hisses, rising, falling, venting, pushing, level—like the breath of the world before it learned to burn.
When the glaive was done, it was long as the silence between heartbeats, sharp as the earth’s own roar. The forger took the reed and hollowed the haft. He pressed it with his palm, and the reed melted—not with heat, but with path. It became a piston, small as a tear, loud as the sun’s scream. He etched the crescent with vents that were not vents, but questions.
He gripped the glaive.
And the earth roared.
The blade did not fall upon the sand—it cut through it. It did not touch the river—it pushed it. Ten feet of superheated vapor, fire as the earth’s blood, push as the dune’s wind. The blade touched the River Folk, and their water boiled. It touched the Sand Folk, and their fire spread. The people looked up from their quarrel. They saw the roar. And for the first time, the earth breathed.
The forger walked between the breathing places. He did not speak. He did not need to. The glaive spoke. The piston spoke. It showed the River Folk the push beneath the river’s flow. It showed the Sand Folk the fire beneath the dune’s silence. And the quarrel ended—not with peace, not with silence, but with roaring.
But the glaive was not done.
In the night, when the earth slept and the sky dreamed, the forger dreamed. In the dream, the glaive breathed the fire of the earth. The piston turned gold, and the vent became a roar that walked beside him. He woke, and the glaive was heavy. Not with weight, but with time. It remembered the river. It remembered the sand. It remembered the quarrel. And it remembered the price.
The forger grew old. His arms withered. His roar slowed. But the glaive did not. It breathed stronger with each shedding, as if it fed on the fire he could no longer hold. On the day of his final shedding, he walked to the place where the earth met the sky. He planted the glaive. He laid his hand upon the ground. And he died.
The glaive did not fade. It stood there, venting, waiting.
Centuries passed. The River Folk forgot. The Sand Folk forgot. But the glaive remembered. It remembered the forger. It remembered the fire. It remembered the silence. And it remembered the question etched in its crescent:
What is the price of breathing the fire of the earth?
Then came the Renaissance. The zeppelins rose. The privateers sailed. And a hatchling named Syrak Sunveil found the glaive in the ruins of the Pistonforge. He did not know its name. He did not know its roar. But when he gripped it, the piston hissed—and the earth breathed.
And the quarrel began again.
The Moral of the Story: The roar that ends the quarrel is the same roar that begins it. To wield the glaive is to carry the breath, not the silence.
Suggested conversions to other systems:
Call of Cthulhu (7th Edition)
Steamvent Glaive of Piston Roar
Artifact Description: A 7-foot polearm with a crescent blade of sand-forged bronze and a hollow haft housing a miniature steam piston. Attunement requires a successful POW roll (normal difficulty).
Powers:
- Grants +10% to Fighting (Polearm) rolls; 1D10 slashing damage, 10-foot reach.
- Passive: Counterweight balances for poise (+10% DEX rolls); piston ready for vent.
- Activate (1 MP, once per short rest): 10-foot cone superheated vapor (1D8 fire + push, Opposed STR roll).
- Activate (2 MP, 3/day): Piston surge for +20% to next attack roll.
Sanity Loss: 0/1D4 (piston roar); prolonged wear risks 1D6 Sanity loss per week (earth’s breath). Study Time: 1 week (Craft roll to comprehend; failure inflicts 1D6 Sanity loss). Value: Priceless (geothermal relic); black market 1,000-2,000 USD (1920s equivalent).
Blades in the Dark Piston Glaive
[Special Item, 2 Load]
Effect: Fine (+1 Quality) two-handed polearm with steam piston.
- Improves effect level when using reach or pushing foes (e.g., Skirmish or Wreck).
- Activate (Flashback or Devil’s Bargain): 10-pace vapor cone (Risky → Desperate for foes, push + fire) or +1 effect to melee.
- Drawback: Volatile—overuse risks stress (1d) from piston clog; heavy in tight spaces.
Dungeons & Dragons (2024 PHB / 5e)
Steamvent Glaive
Weapon (glaive), uncommon (requires attunement)
A 7-foot polearm with a crescent blade of sand-forged bronze and a hollow haft housing a miniature steam piston.
- Damage: 1d10 slashing.
- Properties: Heavy, Reach, Two-Handed.
Steam Vent (1/Short Rest). As an action, vent superheated vapor in a 10-foot cone. Creatures in the cone must succeed on a DC 13 Strength saving throw or take 2d6 fire damage and be pushed 10 feet.
Weight 6 lbs.
Knave (2e)
steamvent glaive
(2 slots, weapon) 7 ft polearm with steam piston (2 slots). Passive: 1d10 slashing, 10 ft reach; +1 poise saves. Vent (1/short rest): 10 ft cone 2d6 fire (save half), push 10 ft. Quality 2: +1 attacks; ignore heavy encumbrance.
Fate Condensed
Steamvent Glaive
Extra
Description: A 7-foot polearm with a crescent blade of sand-forged bronze and a hollow haft housing a miniature steam piston for venting superheated vapor. Skills: None. Aspects:
- Piston Roar of the Earth
- Crescent Reach of Ventcleaver Stunts:
- Crescent Reach: +2 to Fight when using reach maneuvers or attacks within 10 feet.
- Steam Vent: Once per scene, spend a fate point to create the aspect Scalded and Pushed (with 2 free invokes) in a 10-foot cone.
- Piston Surge: Gain a +2 to Fight attacks, adding 1d6 fire damage.
Numenera & Cypher System (Discovery and Destiny)
Steamvent Glaive
Level: 3d6 Form: Heavy weapon (two-handed polearm) Effect: Deals 4 slashing damage with 10-foot reach. Once per short rest, vent superheated vapor in a 10-foot cone (3 fire damage + push 10 feet, Might defense task). Counterweight provides asset to Speed defense tasks while wielded. Activation: 1 action (Might task for vent) Depletion: 1 in 1d6 (surge: +2 damage next attack)
Pathfinder (2nd Edition)
steamvent glaive
Item 6 WEAPON, RARE Price 225 gp Damage 1d8 S; Bulk 2
Melee [one-action] glaive (deadly d8, forceful, reach, sweep); Hands 2 This polearm has a crescent blade of sand-forged bronze and a hollow haft with a miniature steam piston. While wielding the glaive: You gain a +1 item bonus to Athletics checks to Shove or Trip.
Activate [two-actions] Interact (evocation, fire, magical, poison); Frequency once per 10 minutes; Effect Vent superheated vapor in a 10-foot cone. Creatures in the cone must attempt a DC 22 Reflex save. Critical Success The creature is unaffected. Success The creature takes 2d6 fire damage. Failure The creature takes 4d6 fire damage and is pushed 10 feet. Critical Failure The creature takes 4d6 fire damage, is pushed 10 feet, and is knocked prone.
Craft Requirements Supply one casting of burning hands.
Savage Worlds (Adventure Edition)
Steamvent Glaive
Arcane Item
7-foot polearm (Str+d10 slashing, reach 2). Powers (Trappings: Steam Piston, Crescent Blade):
- Smite: +1d8 fire.
- Burst: 10-yard cone vapor (Agility -2 or 2d6 fire + push 5 yards; Raise: 3d6 + prone).
- Boost/Lower Trait: +1 to Fighting or Athletics with polearms. Cost: 3 PPE to activate powers (recharges as Arcane Background). Note: Counterweight grants +1 to balance maneuvers; 1/short rest free vent.
Shadowrun (6th Edition)
Piston Glaive
Exotic Weapon (Polearm) 10 | Reach 2 | Avail 14(R) | Cost 25,000¥
Sand-forged bronze crescent on steam-piston haft.
- Damage 8P (slashing, AP –); Reach 10 ft.
- Custom Fit: +2 dice to Exotic Weapon (Polearm) tests; counterweight poise.
- Active Program (Simple Action): 10 m vapor cone (attack rating 10, DV 6S fire, AP –; resist with Body).
- Passive: +1 Athletics for balance; 1/short rest free vent.
- Overload Risk: After 2 activations, roll Device Rating (5); glitch causes 3S feedback.
Starfinder (Core Rulebook)
Steamvent Glaive
Level 7 | Price 6,000 | Damage 1d10 S | Bulk 2
Melee (advanced) 7-foot polearm with steam piston.
- Critical: Burn 1d6.
- Special: Reach 10 ft; 1/short rest vent 10-ft cone (DC 16 Reflex save or 3d6 fire + push 10 ft).
- Capacity: 20 (10/hour recharge in heat)
- Activate (Standard Action, 2 charges): Add 1d6 fire to next attack.
Traveller (Mongoose 2nd Edition)
Piston Glaive
TL 12 | Mass 3 kg | Cost Cr 28,000
Damage 2d6+2 (reach 10 ft).
- Power Cell: 5 vents continuous (recharges 1 hour in steam).
- Effect: +1 DM to Melee (Polearm); +1 Athletics balance.
- Vent (1 cell): 10 m cone; targets roll 8+ or take 2d6 fire + pushed 3 m.
- Skill Bonus: +1 to Survival in heat/steam environments.
Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (4th Edition)
Steamvent Glaive
Damage +SB+6 | Qualities: Reach, Impact, Steam | Price 40 GC (very rare)
7-foot polearm with steam piston.
- Passive: +10 to WS tests with polearm; +10 to Athletics for poise.
- Steam Vent (1 Round, Channelling Test CN 11): 10-yard cone; creatures must pass Toughness Test or take 3d10 fire damage and be pushed 10 yards.
- Drawback: In cold, piston jams; –10 to WS tests (frozen steam).