Lions Claws of Predation

From: Gryphaleosnake

Level: Tier 1

Stats Modifier: +1 to melee damage rolls

Skills: None

Cost: The Lion’s Claws of Predation are a rare and powerful set of enchanted claws, making them valuable and sought after. The estimated cost for these forelimbs is 600 gold pieces.

Tags:

• Melee Weapon: The Lion’s Claws of Predation enhance the Gryphaleosnake’s natural slashing attacks.
• Bonus to Damage: Provides a bonus to the creature’s melee damage rolls.
• Extra Attacks: Allows the creature to make an additional action with attack per round without penalty.
• Additional: Predatory, Enchanted, Slashing, Ferocity, Swift Strikes, Combat Mastery, Dominance, Forelimbs, Overpowering, Legendary Weapon, Battle Efficiency, Physical Enhancement, Precision, Devastation, Augmentation

Lore and Use: The Lion’s Claws of Predation are legendary weapons, infused with a predatory aura that amplifies the Gryphaleosnake’s natural slashing attacks. Crafted from the claws of a lion and enhanced through powerful enchantments, these forelimbs are both fearsome and deadly.

When the Gryphaleosnake unleashes its attacks with these enchanted claws, its strikes become even more devastating. The claws provide a bonus to the creature’s melee damage rolls, inflicting more harm upon its foes. This additional damage can make a significant difference in combat, allowing the Gryphaleosnake to overpower its adversaries.

Moreover, the Lion’s Claws of Predation grant the Gryphaleosnake the ability to make an additional action with attack per round without penalty. This advantage increases the creature’s offensive potential, allowing it to unleash a flurry of strikes on its opponents, overwhelming them with its swift and precise assaults.

These claws are not only a symbol of the Gryphaleosnake’s predatory nature but also a testament to its ferocity and strength. They serve as a mark of its dominance and are highly coveted by those who seek to harness their power in the world.

On the (forelimbs only) of the Gryphaleosnake or other creatures, the Lion’s Claws of Predation become formidable weapons, enabling the creature to leave a trail of devastation in its wake. They are a key component in the creature’s arsenal, providing it with the means to become a fearsome predator and a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield.

In the world of Saṃsāra, the Lion’s Claws of Predation, due to their rarity, would be sold and traded in exclusive, specialized markets that cater to adventurers, warriors, and creatures of legend. These shops are often hidden or protected by powerful enchantments, making them accessible only to those with the means and knowledge to find them. The price of the Lion’s Claws of Predation may vary depending on the region, the shop’s prestige, and the rarity of the item.

• Arcane Weaponry Emporiums
  • Location: Found in bustling magical cities or near powerful magical nexuses, these emporiums specialize in enchanted and legendary weaponry. Their clientele includes adventurers, mercenaries, and royalty.
  • Shop Description: Lavish, with glass displays encased in shimmering wards to prevent theft or tampering. Each item radiates its own unique aura, and arcane lights illuminate the shop. The emporium often smells of rare herbs and burning incense, enhancing the mystical atmosphere.
  • Cost: 900 gold pieces. The arcane nature of the claws and the shop’s elite reputation drive the price higher, reflecting the prestige of owning such a powerful and rare item.
  • Sales Method: A magical auction or private sale. Buyers may need to demonstrate their worth by passing certain tests or showing proof of past heroic deeds.
• Beastmaster’s Market
  • Location: Located in remote wilderness towns or near regions where dangerous creatures roam, Beastmaster’s Markets attract those who specialize in exotic animal products, magical beasts, and creature-specific equipment.
  • Shop Description: More rugged and wild, these markets consist of open-air stalls where rare pelts, claws, and enchanted gear made from beasts are sold. There is often a constant presence of beast trainers or handlers bargaining loudly.
  • Cost: 650 gold pieces. Since this is a hub for Gryphaleosnake hunters and handlers, the claws are easier to find, making them slightly less expensive compared to arcane shops.
  • Sales Method: Haggling is common. Trades might also involve other rare components from magical beasts or the exchange of favors, such as hunting dangerous prey in exchange for a discount.
• Black Market Outlets
  • Location: Hidden in the shadowy corners of Saṃsāra’s larger cities, such as subterranean districts or underworld trading posts, where illegal or restricted items are sold.
  • Shop Description: Dimly lit, with secret passageways leading to dark rooms filled with contraband and rare, often illicit items. Guards watch over the shop discreetly, ensuring buyers with questionable morals can do business without disturbance.
  • Cost: 450 gold pieces. Items here are often sold at a reduced price due to the lack of regulation, though the risks of betrayal or counterfeit goods are high.
  • Sales Method: Deals are made swiftly and quietly. Buyers are expected to move quickly and efficiently, often with no returns or guarantees offered.
• Warrior’s Guild Shop
  • Location: Found in larger cities where seasoned adventurers and mercenaries gather, the guild’s shop supplies rare weapons and equipment specifically tailored for skilled combatants.
  • Shop Description: Practical, no-nonsense, with walls adorned by legendary weapons and armor. The shop is staffed by experienced guild members who provide advice on the gear’s combat effectiveness.
  • Cost: 700 gold pieces. As a guild member, customers might receive a slight discount, with a higher price for non-members. The quality and functionality are well-vetted, ensuring the claws are combat-ready.
  • Sales Method: Straightforward purchase with potential discounts for providing rare materials or proving combat prowess. Members may trade high-tier trophies or rare components to reduce the price further.
• Nomadic Merchant Caravan
  • Location: These traveling traders roam the wilder regions of Saṃsāra, visiting remote villages, battlefields, or wandering near monster-infested territories.
  • Shop Description: Colorful and vibrant, with tents pitched in ever-changing locations. The merchants deal in a wide range of goods, from enchanted relics to rare magical beast components, often acquired through trade or adventure.
  • Cost: 800 gold pieces. The scarcity of items in remote areas and the difficulty of transportation justify the higher price.
  • Sales Method: Trading is common in these caravans, especially in exchange for other rare items or information. A barter system might reduce the gold cost if the buyer offers something valuable in return.

Across these markets and shops, the Lion’s Claws of Predation remain highly sought after, reflecting the danger, power, and prestige associated with owning such enchanted weaponry.

The Lion’s Claws of Predation serve as a versatile weapon, offering a wide range of roleplaying opportunities for both offense and defense in various environments. Their predatory nature, enchantments, and physical form allow for unique interactions in combat, reflecting the wielder’s ferocity and tactical prowess.

• Dense Forest or Jungle Environment
  • Offense: In dense forested regions, the claws become an extension of the wielder’s natural instincts. Roleplaying offensive actions here might involve using the claws to slash through underbrush and ambush prey from cover. The wielder could scale trees swiftly to pounce on unsuspecting targets, using the claws to execute swift, deadly strikes from above, mirroring the behavior of predatory animals that hunt in similar terrains.
    • Example: The Gryphaleosnake stalks silently through the trees, its claws glinting in the dappled sunlight. With a quick movement, it lunges from the canopy, slashing its claws downwards in a devastating ambush, leaving its enemy no time to react.
  • Defense: Defensively, the claws can be used to climb trees or other vertical surfaces rapidly, allowing the wielder to escape ground-based threats or reposition to a vantage point. They could also be used to deflect or counter the attacks of forest-dwelling creatures or entangled foes in undergrowth.
    • Example: As the forest creatures close in, the Gryphaleosnake scrambles up a thick tree with alarming speed, using the claws to secure its hold, then waits above, ready to strike down from a defensible position.
• Urban or City Environment
  • Offense: In crowded or confined urban spaces, the claws can be employed in quick, lethal strikes during narrow alleyway fights or rooftop chases. The wielder could roleplay quick, precise attacks, darting between opponents or using the environment—like walls or rooftops—to outmaneuver enemies and unleash devastating strikes from unexpected angles. The claws’ swiftness allows for fluid motion and rapid assaults, ideal for close-quarters combat.
    • Example: In the tight alleyways, the Gryphaleosnake moves like a shadow, striking swiftly with the claws. It leaps from one rooftop to another, slashing at its foes below, then disappearing into the night.
  • Defense: The claws can be roleplayed as a defensive tool by enabling quick escapes up walls, scaling buildings to avoid capture, or using the claws to block or parry incoming weapon strikes in tight spaces. Their sharpness could even help break through weak wooden barriers or climb metallic structures.
    • Example: Cornered by city guards, the Gryphaleosnake leaps up the stone walls of the narrow alley, using the claws to gain traction as it scurries up the side of a building, vanishing onto the roof and out of sight.
• Mountainous or Cliffside Terrain
  • Offense: On steep, rocky terrain, the claws shine in offensive roleplay by granting the wielder unparalleled mobility. The wielder could leap between rock formations, using the claws to stabilize and deliver powerful slashing attacks as they maintain balance on precarious ledges. Attacks could incorporate the environment, knocking foes off cliffs or into ravines, using the claws to hold steady in high-altitude skirmishes.
    • Example: Atop the treacherous cliffs, the Gryphaleosnake clings to a rocky outcrop with its claws, then springs forward, its claws slashing across its opponent, sending the foe tumbling down the mountainside.
  • Defense: Defensively, the claws provide superior climbing ability, allowing for swift retreats up cliff faces or the evasion of larger, less mobile enemies in mountainous areas. Roleplay could involve holding a defensible position on a high ledge or using the claws to counterattack when enemies close in on dangerous ground.
    • Example: As rocks fall and the cliff crumbles, the Gryphaleosnake digs its claws into the mountain’s surface, holding firm while its pursuers lose their footing and plummet below.
• Desert or Open Plains
  • Offense: In open plains or desert environments, where agility and precision are key, the claws serve as tools for lightning-fast engagements. Roleplay might focus on the wielder using the claws to quickly dash across open terrain, delivering swift, hit-and-run attacks to enemies, using the desert’s sparse cover for ambush tactics. Their sharpness could also be emphasized in tearing through lighter armors typical in hot climates.
    • Example: The Gryphaleosnake strikes quickly on the open plains, racing across the sand and slashing at its opponent with incredible speed before darting out of range once more, leaving its enemy reeling.
  • Defense: Defensively, the claws might be used to kick up sand and dirt, blinding foes, or digging into the earth to create small barriers or trenches. In a desert, the claws allow the wielder to move efficiently and maintain control even in soft, shifting sands.
    • Example: As the desert wind picks up, the Gryphaleosnake digs its claws into the sand, anchoring itself while its enemies stumble in the blowing sands, losing their balance.
• Swamp or Marshland
  • Offense: In swampy or marshy environments, roleplaying offensive actions with the claws could involve taking advantage of the difficult terrain. The claws may allow the wielder to strike from underwater or submerged positions, catching foes off-guard, and using the bog’s concealment to launch deadly attacks before retreating into the murky waters.
    • Example: Lurking beneath the swamp’s surface, the Gryphaleosnake waits until its enemy wades too close, then emerges in a blur of motion, claws raking across its foe before sinking back into the water.
  • Defense: In swamp environments, where footing is often unsteady, the claws could be used for stabilization in the muck or even to dig into tree roots for secure positions. They might also be employed to climb marshy trees or evade predators that struggle with the difficult terrain.
    • Example: As the marsh pulls at the Gryphaleosnake’s feet, it uses its claws to dig into a nearby tree, pulling itself out of the bog’s grip, then swiftly climbing to a high branch for safety.

Across these varied environments, the Lion’s Claws of Predation enhance the wielder’s tactical options, offering roleplay opportunities that emphasize speed, precision, and the natural instincts of a predator. Whether used to overwhelm enemies with flurries of strikes or to defend by controlling the battlefield’s verticality and terrain, these claws symbolize a creature’s dominance over both opponents and the environment.

Above and below are two images of the Lion’s Claws of Predation, showcasing their sharp and enchanted design, perfect for a fierce predator.

When the Lion’s Claws of Predation are activated, their full power is unleashed, creating a profound experience through all five senses, as well as multiple extra-sensory perceptions.

• Sight
  • Perception: The claws emit a faint, radiant glow, with shimmering lines of energy flowing along their sharp edges. A flicker of golden light, resembling a lion’s eyes, flashes momentarily within the bracers. The environment around the wielder seems to sharpen, with shadows deepening, and their vision narrowing in focus toward potential targets.
  • Description: The visual display signifies the power and heightened awareness that comes with activation, drawing attention to the wielder’s predatory intent.
  • Positives: Increased focus and awareness of the surroundings make the wielder more attuned to enemy movements and weaknesses.
  • Negatives: The bright glow of the claws may make stealth difficult, exposing the wielder’s location in darker environments.
• Sound
  • Perception: A low growl, akin to a lion’s, echoes faintly as the claws activate. There is also a sharp metallic slicing sound when they move through the air, followed by a continuous hum of energy pulsing through the claws.
  • Description: The growl is a warning to those nearby, signifying the impending danger. The slicing sound amplifies the claws’ lethality, while the hum reflects the arcane nature of the enchantment.
  • Positives: The sound reinforces the wielder’s menacing presence, potentially intimidating enemies or causing hesitation before they engage.
  • Negatives: The hum and growl may betray the wielder’s position in moments of silence or stealth.
• Touch
  • Perception: The bracers grow warm, with a slight vibration running along the wearer’s forearms. The claws feel weightless, almost as if they are an extension of the wielder’s own body, yet they pulse with controlled, predatory energy.
  • Description: This sensation gives the impression of strength and precision, allowing the wielder to move with heightened agility and ferocity. The vibrating power gives a sense of readiness for battle.
  • Positives: The sense of lightness and control increases the wielder’s dexterity and reaction time, enhancing combat performance.
  • Negatives: Prolonged exposure to the vibration may lead to discomfort or fatigue in the arms, especially during extended use in combat.
• Taste
  • Perception: There’s a faint metallic taste in the mouth, like the aftertaste of blood or iron, evoking a primal feeling of hunger and dominance.
  • Description: The metallic tang serves as a reminder of the wielder’s role as a predator, symbolizing the ferocity and survival instincts awakened by the claws.
  • Positives: The taste amplifies the wielder’s predatory drive, creating a psychological boost to aggression and focus.
  • Negatives: The metallic taste may be unsettling or nauseating, especially for those not accustomed to combat.
• Smell
  • Perception: A faint smell of earth, blood, and fur fills the air as the claws activate. There’s also a slight whiff of burning ozone, a sign of the arcane energy coursing through the claws.
  • Description: The primal scent further immerses the wielder in the predatory nature of the claws, evoking the hunt and the thrill of battle.
  • Positives: The smell connects the wielder to a more instinctive state of mind, heightening their survival instincts and bloodlust.
  • Negatives: The smell of blood may overwhelm or distract the wielder, particularly in battle, clouding their judgment or focus.
• Extra-Sensory Perceptions
  • Perception: When activated, the wielder experiences a heightened sense of awareness known as Predator’s Insight. The wielder perceives subtle shifts in the air around them, detecting the presence and movement of nearby living creatures. This insight allows the wielder to anticipate attacks, sense fear, and feel the pulse of life in their surroundings. An almost invisible aura of dominance surrounds the wielder, causing lesser creatures or enemies to instinctively fear or hesitate.
  • Description: This extra-sensory perception grants the wielder an intuitive connection to their environment, helping them track enemies, predict their movements, and detect weaknesses with precision.
  • Positives: Predator’s Insight provides invaluable combat advantage, allowing the wielder to strike first or avoid ambushes. It also grants an aura of intimidation, causing foes to question their ability to fight the wielder.
  • Negatives: The heightened senses may lead to overstimulation, causing the wielder to become overwhelmed if surrounded by multiple enemies or conflicting stimuli. The aura of dominance might also provoke stronger enemies into attacking aggressively.
• Energy Feedback
  • Perception: The wielder feels a surge of primal energy flowing through them, connecting them with the essence of the beast from which the claws were made. This energy boosts their physical strength, reflexes, and mental clarity. However, as the energy courses through, it also brings a sense of heightened aggression and bloodlust.
  • Description: This energy reflects the claws’ enchantment, allowing the wielder to tap into the raw, untamed power of a predator.
  • Positives: The surge in power enhances the wielder’s combat abilities, allowing for faster, stronger attacks and quicker reactions.
  • Negatives: The bloodlust caused by the energy may push the wielder toward reckless behavior, causing them to attack impulsively or without regard for safety.

The Lion’s Claws of Predation are designed to fully immerse the wielder in the role of a predator, using sensory and extra-sensory cues to enhance both physical and psychological attributes. However, the aggressive and primal nature of the claws comes with risks, and those who cannot control the power they unleash may find themselves overwhelmed.

Crafting Recipe: Lion’s Claws of Predation (Replica)

• Materials Needed:
  • Lion’s Claws (4)
    • Harvested from a powerful or legendary lion, the claws must be intact and sharpened.
  • Enchanted Leather Bracers (2)
    • Crafted from durable leather, enchanted to bond with magical energies. These serve as the foundation for attaching the claws.
  • Arcane Crystal Shard (1)
    • A small shard of a potent arcane crystal, used to imbue the claws with magical energy.
  • Beast Essence (1 vial)
    • Extracted from a powerful predator (e.g., lion or similar beast). This essence is used to enhance the predatory nature of the claws.
  • Gold Filament (10 feet)
    • Thin gold wire, used to bind the enchantments into the claws and bracers.
  • Binding Resin (1 flask)
    • A strong, magical adhesive that holds the claws to the bracers while maintaining the flow of magic between them.
• Tools Required:
  • Enchanter’s Forge
    • A specialized forge capable of handling both physical crafting and magical imbuement.
  • Carving Knife
    • A precision tool for refining the claws and carving runes.
  • Arcane Hammer and Chisel
    • Used to shape and bond the enchanted materials.
  • Infusion Basin
    • A shallow basin to infuse the Beast Essence into the claws during the crafting process.
  • Needle and Thread (Arcane-infused)
    • Used to sew the enchanted leather bracers for durability and magical conductivity.
• Skill Requirements:
  • Mastery in Weapon Crafting
    • The crafter must be skilled in forging weapons, particularly those involving organic materials like claws or bone.
  • Intermediate Enchanting Skills
    • Enchanting proficiency is required to imbue the claws and bracers with arcane energy.
  • Beast Lore Knowledge
    • Understanding the essence of predatory creatures is vital for properly harnessing the Beast Essence and imbuing the claws with predatory instincts.
  • Runic Inscription
    • The ability to inscribe magical runes that bond the enchantment to the claws and amplify their power.
• Crafting Steps:
  • Prepare the Claws
    • Use the Carving Knife to clean and refine the Lion’s Claws, ensuring they are sharp and intact.
    • Carefully inscribe small predatory runes along the base of each claw using the Arcane Chisel. These runes will help channel the Beast Essence into the claws.
  • Craft and Enchant the Bracers
    • Sew the Enchanted Leather Bracers using arcane-infused needle and thread, ensuring that the bracers can securely hold the claws while allowing for the flow of magic.
    • Place the bracers in the Enchanter’s Forge and activate the enchantment to enhance their durability and magical conductivity.
  • Infuse the Claws with Beast Essence
    • Fill the Infusion Basin with the Beast Essence and submerge the prepared Lion’s Claws for several hours, allowing them to absorb the essence fully.
    • During the infusion process, chant the Predator’s Incantation to bind the essence to the claws and amplify their ferocity.
  • Attach the Claws to the Bracers
    • Use the Binding Resin to attach the claws to the bracers, carefully aligning the claws with the wearer’s forearms. Ensure the runes on the claws and bracers are aligned to allow for the proper flow of arcane energy.
    • Wrap the base of the claws with Gold Filament, ensuring the magical connection between the claws and the bracers is secure. The filament also acts as a conduit for the enchantments.
  • Enchant the Claws and Bracers
    • Place the assembled claws and bracers in the Enchanter’s Forge. Insert the Arcane Crystal Shard into the center of the forge to activate the final enchantment.
    • Heat the forge and use the Arcane Hammer to lightly tap the claws, solidifying the magical bond between the claws, bracers, and the Beast Essence.
  • Final Blessing
    • Once the claws are fully crafted, perform a Beastmaster’s Ritual by reciting a final incantation to awaken the claws’ predatory aura. This step ensures the wielder will benefit from the extra offensive and defensive capabilities the claws provide.
  • Cooling and Testing
    • Allow the claws to cool naturally in a sacred place or next to a magical source, such as a leyline, to preserve their enchantments.
    • Test the claws for responsiveness, ensuring that their magical properties activate upon command and that they align with the wielder’s movement.

Completion: After the final step, the Lion’s Claws of Predation (Replica) will be complete, ready to be used in combat.

Tale of the Beast of the Golden Claws

Long ago, in a time beyond memory, in the shadow of the great mountains where the stars touched the earth, there roamed a creature, half-lion, half-serpent, with wings of a bird and the eyes of fire. This was the Gryphaleosnake, born not from mother nor father but from the wind that carried the whispers of forgotten gods. Its power was vast, and in its claws, the strength of a hundred beasts resided.

The Gryphaleosnake, feared by all things living, ruled the valleys and the skies with iron gaze and sharpened talon. Its claws, known to the ancient ones as the Lion’s Claws of Predation, held the soul of every creature it had hunted, bound to them by a sorcery that had no beginning. From the tallest of trees, it would pounce upon the great beasts below, striking them down with claws of gold, each strike stronger than the earth’s tremors.

It was told, in a time before the counting of days, that the claws were not born from this world but fallen from the stars during the dark times when the heavens warred with shadows. These stars became claws, and the claws found the beast. The Gryphaleosnake, being touched by fate, knew the hunger of the stars and was compelled to take the claws, binding them to its flesh. Thus, its rule was sealed in blood and flame.

All who challenged it fell, for the claws had a hunger of their own. The ancient hunters spoke that these claws, once bright, turned black as they feasted upon the life of the slain. No shield could hold against them, no armor could defend, for the claws knew only hunger and fed until none were left to oppose the beast. Villages perished, and kingdoms crumbled, and in its wake, the Gryphaleosnake left only dust and echoes.

But there was one, a hunter who walked in silence, unknown by the world and forgotten by time. His name was spoken only in sighs, and his steps made no sound on stone or grass. They said he came not from a land of the living but from the place where souls lost their way. He bore no weapon, for his heart was empty of desire for victory. This hunter, whose face none can describe, sought the Gryphaleosnake not for fame or glory, but for the stillness of death.

One moonless night, the hunter came to the high cliffs where the beast slept among the bones of its prey. He approached not as man nor beast but as a shadow on the wind, and there he stood before the Gryphaleosnake. The claws, sensing a new soul to devour, awoke with a hunger so great that the stars trembled. The Gryphaleosnake struck, but the hunter did not move, and the claws passed through him as though he were mist.

It is said that when the dawn came, the Gryphaleosnake was no more. The claws lay on the cold earth, alone, for the hunter was gone as though he had never been. The claws, now severed from the beast, glowed no more, but their hunger remained, waiting for another to take them. And so, the Lion’s Claws of Predation passed from hand to hand, always seeking a new master to feed their endless thirst for power.

Moral of the Story: Beware that which feeds upon strength, for in its hunger it will devour all, even the one who wields it.

Suggested conversions to other systems:

Call of Cthulhu (7th Edition)

• Description: A pair of ancient, enchanted claws believed to have origins tied to a forgotten, alien god. The claws radiate a faint, otherworldly energy and seem to whisper to those who possess them.
• Stats:
  • Damage: 1d6+2 (Slashing)
  • Special Ability: When the wielder makes an attack with the Lion’s Claws of Predation, they gain a bonus die on their Fighting (Brawl) roll due to the claws’ unnatural sharpness and predatory instinct.
  • Sanity Loss: Using the claws for extended periods causes the wielder to lose 1d4 SAN per week, as the claws’ influence grows.
  • Mythos Affiliation: Roll Cthulhu Mythos on a Hard success to identify the claws’ alien origin.
  • Armor Penalty: The claws reduce any armor-based damage reduction by 2, ignoring certain protections.
  • Effect on Mental Health: If the user suffers a major wound, they must roll against their POW or suffer a short-term bout of madness as the claws’ predatory aura overwhelms their mind.

Blades in the Dark

• Description: The Lion’s Claws of Predation are a potent relic, stolen from the crypt of an ancient creature. The claws thirst for violence, and their power grants the wearer predatory prowess.
• Stats:
  • Quality: Fine (provides +1d to rolls involving combat).
• Abilities:
  • Extra Attack: When using the Lion’s Claws, the user may perform a second attack in a skirmish without penalty.
  • Predatory Instinct: Gain potency when hunting or fighting creatures in the dark or tracking prey. The claws seem to guide the wielder to weak points, providing +1 effect in relevant actions.
  • Devouring Hunger: After using the claws in combat, the wielder must indulge in their vice or suffer from stress, as the claws create a compulsion for further violence.
• Stress Cost: If the user critically fails with the claws, they must mark 2 stress as the hunger of the claws overwhelms their senses, making them reckless.

Dungeons & Dragons (5th Edition)

• Weapon (claw), rare (requires attunement by a creature with natural claws)
• Stats:
  • Damage: 1d8 slashing damage (plus an additional +1d4 slashing damage).
  • Bonus to Attack Rolls: +1 to attack and damage rolls made with these claws.
  • Extra Attack: Once per turn, when you take the Attack action using these claws, you may make one additional attack as part of that action.
  • Predatory Senses: While attuned to the Lion’s Claws of Predation, you have advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing or smell.
  • Savage Instincts: If you reduce a creature to 0 hit points with an attack using these claws, you may immediately take the Dash action as a bonus action, moving toward another hostile creature.
  • Curse: Each time you reduce a creature to 0 hit points with these claws, roll a Wisdom saving throw (DC 15). On a failure, you must attack the nearest creature (friend or foe) on your next turn.

Knave

Weapon (claw), Rare

• Stats:
  • Damage: d8 slashing
  • Effect: Once per combat, the wielder can make an additional attack with the Lion’s Claws of Predation without suffering a penalty.
  • Special Trait – Predator’s Prowess: The wielder gains +1 to their STR and DEX when using the claws in combat situations.
  • Beastial Hunger: If you deal the killing blow to a creature with the Lion’s Claws, roll a d6. On a 1, the wielder becomes overtaken by bloodlust, attacking the nearest creature for 1d6 rounds, unable to distinguish friend from foe.
  • Drawback: After combat, the wielder must rest for at least 10 minutes or suffer -1 to all attack rolls in the next encounter due to the fatigue caused by the claws’ magical hunger.

Fate Core

• Description: The Lion’s Claws of Predation are a relic of ancient power, channeling the ferocity of a beast with every strike.
• Aspects:
  • High Concept: Enchanted Claws of a Forgotten Beast
  • Trouble: Thirsts for Blood and Violence
• Stunts:
  • Predatory Strikes: Gain +2 to Fight when attacking a target in melee with the Lion’s Claws.
  • Extra Attack: Once per conflict, after successfully attacking an enemy, you may make an additional attack against a nearby target without a penalty.
  • Beast’s Senses: You can invoke the claws to gain +2 on Notice rolls related to hearing or scent.
• Consequences:
  • If the claws are overused in combat, the wielder may suffer a mental consequence like “Bloodlust Overwhelms” or “Beast Within Takes Control.”

Numenera & Cypher System

• Description: The Lion’s Claws of Predation are an ancient artifact, merging the physical might of a predator with dark, arcane energy.
• Level: 5
• Effect:
  • Damage: 6 points (slashing) per attack.
  • Special Effect: When using the Lion’s Claws of Predation, the user gains an asset on tasks related to hunting, tracking, or ambushing prey.
  • Extra Attack: Once per encounter, the wielder may make an additional attack without expending an action.
  • Predatory Instincts: Grants the user an enhanced ability to track enemies, gaining an asset to perception or survival-based tasks.
  • Depletion: Roll d100. On a roll of 1-5, the claws lose their enchantment for 1d6 hours, requiring the wielder to calm their own bloodlust before they reactivate.

Pathfinder (2nd Edition)

• Weapon (Claw), Rare (requires attunement by a creature with claws or unarmed strikes)
• Weapon Type: Light Weapon
• Category: Magical, Melee, Slashing
• Damage: 1d8 slashing
• Critical Hit: +1d6 bleeding damage on a successful critical hit.
• Traits: Agile, Finesse, Magical, Versatile (Piercing or Slashing)
• Effect:
  • Bonus: +1 item bonus to attack and damage rolls.
  • Extra Attack: You can make a second attack with the Lion’s Claws of Predation during your turn without incurring a multiple attack penalty, but only once per round.
  • Predatory Insight: While wearing these claws, gain a +2 circumstance bonus to Perception checks involving scent and hearing.
  • Curse: Each time you drop a creature to 0 hit points, make a Will save (DC 19). On a failure, you must spend your next action attacking the nearest creature (friend or foe).

Savage Worlds (Adventure Edition)

• Description: The Lion’s Claws of Predation are legendary weapons once worn by a fearsome beast, granting unparalleled lethality and enhanced predatory senses.
• Damage: Str+d6 (slashing damage)
• AP: 2 (ignores 2 points of armor)
• Weight: 1
• Requirements: Requires attunement by someone with claws or a beastly form.
• Special Abilities:
  • Extra Attack: Once per turn, when making an attack with the claws, you may make a second attack without penalty.
  • Predatory Instincts: Grants a +2 bonus to Notice rolls related to hearing or scent while the claws are equipped.
  • Savage Hunger: Whenever the wielder inflicts a wound with these claws, they must roll Spirit. On a failure, they succumb to bloodlust, gaining a +2 bonus to Fighting rolls but suffering -2 to Parry for 1d6 rounds.
• Curse: The claws slowly increase the wielder’s aggression. After each combat in which the claws are used, the character must make a Spirit roll. Failure results in a growing addiction to their use, imposing a -1 penalty to Spirit checks until the claws are used again in battle.

Shadowrun (6th Edition)

• Description: The Lion’s Claws of Predation are an ancient magical artifact, believed to have been forged through a forgotten metaplanar ritual. They enhance the wearer’s physical combat abilities and predatory instincts.
• Stats:
  • Damage: (STR+2)P (Physical damage)
  • Accuracy: 6
  • Reach: 1
  • Special Ability – Predatory Instinct: The claws grant the user a +2 dice pool bonus to Perception tests involving hearing or smell.
  • Extra Attack: The wielder can make a second unarmed attack each turn with no penalty, but this attack may not benefit from edge.
  • Drain: The claws’ magical nature feeds on violence. After every 3 attacks, the wielder must resist Drain (Stun damage) equal to their Willpower divided by 2 (rounded down).
  • Essence Cost: 0.5 Essence if installed as cyberware.
• Notes: The claws can be worn as an external weapon or integrated into cyberware (for those willing to sacrifice Essence).

Starfinder

• Description: The Lion’s Claws of Predation are legendary weapons, revered as relics by beast-like creatures across the galaxy. These claws grant powerful melee attacks and increase the wielder’s primal senses.
• Item Level: 8
• Price: 9,000 credits
• Damage: 1d8 slashing
• Critical: 1d6 bleed
• Bulk: L
• Special: Operative (can be used in melee attacks with Operative class abilities), Bleed
• Traits:
  • Extra Attack: Once per round, the user can make a second melee attack with no penalty.
  • Predatory Senses: Grants a +2 insight bonus to Perception checks involving sound or scent while equipped.
  • Savage Instincts: After reducing an enemy to 0 hit points, the wielder gains a +10 bonus to movement speed until the end of their next turn.
• Drawback:
  • Bloodthirst: After a successful kill, the user must succeed in a Will save (DC 16) or be forced to move towards the nearest enemy on their next turn, even if tactically unwise.

Traveller (Mongoose, 2nd Edition)

• Description: The Lion’s Claws of Predation are an ancient relic weapon, crafted by an unknown race. These claws enhance physical combat while bestowing predatory senses on the wearer.
• TL: 14
• Cost: 50,000 Credits
• Damage: 3D (slash/piercing)
• Traits: Concealable, Lightweight
• Special Abilities:
  • Enhanced Reflexes: The wearer gains a +2 DM to any Recon skill checks when using the Lion’s Claws of Predation to track or hunt.
  • Second Strike: Once per combat round, the wearer can attack twice without incurring the usual multi-action penalty.
  • Primal Awareness: Gain a +1 DM to Initiative rolls when using the claws in combat.
• Drawbacks:
  • Mental Fatigue: After every combat where the claws are used, the wielder must pass an END check (8+) or suffer -1 DM to all actions for the next hour, as the claws drain mental energy to fuel their predatory instincts.

Warhammer (4th Edition, Fantasy Roleplay)

• Description: These enchanted claws were once worn by a savage beast of legend. They grant the user deadly slashing attacks and the heightened senses of a predator, but they come with a terrible curse.
• Weapon Type: Melee (Slashing)
• Damage: SB+4
• Qualities: Fast, Armor Piercing, Magical
• Special Abilities:
  • Predator’s Fury: The wielder can make an additional attack each round without penalty, but this attack cannot generate any extra successes (i.e., no Ulric’s Fury).
  • Enhanced Perception: Gain +20 to Perception tests involving smell or hearing while wearing the claws.
  • Savage Charge: When the wielder charges into combat using the Lion’s Claws of Predation, they deal an extra d10 damage on their first attack.
• Curse:
  • Bloodlust: After each successful combat, the wielder must pass a Willpower test (average difficulty) or be consumed by bloodlust, attacking the nearest creature, friend or foe, for 1d4 rounds.