Stormfeather Pauldrons

From: Aquilscalyfinfur 837

Shoulder armor made from the hardened feathers of mystical birds, granting additional resistance against aerial attacks and buffeting winds. They also serve to intimidate opponents with their imposing appearance.

Stormfeather Pauldrons: Lore
In the heart of the tempestuous skies of Saṃsāra, where the winds roar with the voices of ancient spirits and birds of unimaginable power soar, the Stormfeather Pauldrons were born. Crafted from the feathers of the legendary Stormbirds, creatures that dance among lightning and thunder, these pauldrons are not only a testament to the wearer’s strength but also a sacred emblem of harmony with the forces of the sky.

The Stormbirds, revered by many as the guardians of the upper realms, shed their feathers only during the most ferocious storms, each plume infused with the essence of the tempest. It is said that only those who brave the heart of a storm may claim such treasures. Thus, the creation of these pauldrons is as much a rite of passage as it is a feat of craftsmanship, symbolizing the wearer’s dominion over the skies and their favor with the tempest’s spirit.

Stormfeather Pauldrons: Use
Worn by sky warriors, elemental mages, and those who seek to command the respect of both allies and enemies in the field of battle, the Stormfeather Pauldrons offer protection not just against physical harm but also against the elements themselves. Their unique make allows the wearer to stand unflinching against gales that would fell lesser beings and to shrug off the strikes of airborne adversaries with ease.

Moreover, the imposing visage of the pauldrons, mirroring the untamed majesty of the Stormbirds, serves to intimidate foes, often turning the tide of conflict before a blow is even struck. Tales speak of battles won by the sheer presence of a warrior adorned with these celestial armaments, the storm’s fury embodied.

Stormfeather Pauldrons: Specifications

• Tier One Stats:
  • Strength: +2 (Enhances the wearer’s physical prowess, allowing them to wield the power of the storm.)
  • Constitution: +3 (Provides exceptional resilience against environmental hazards and attacks from above.)
• Skills:
  • Intimidation: Grants a significant bonus to intimidation checks, reflecting the imposing nature of the armor.
  • Weather Resistance: Offers enhanced resistance against weather-based effects, including wind and lightning.
• Cost:
  • Due to their mythical origin and the danger involved in acquiring the necessary materials, Stormfeather Pauldrons are valued at 800 gold coins, a price that reflects their rarity and power.
• Requirements:
  • Level Requirement: Suitable for wearers of Level 5 and above, signifying their readiness to bear the storm’s might.
  • Affinity for the Sky: Best suited for those who have shown a deep connection with the skies, whether through heritage, deed, or magic.
• Tags:
  • Magical Armor: Embued with the magic of the storm and the sky.
  • Elemental Resistance: Specifically designed to offer protection against elemental forces.
  • Intimidation: The appearance and essence of the pauldrons inspire fear and respect in equal measure.

The Stormfeather Pauldrons are not merely armor but a legacy of the sky’s indomitable spirit, worn by those destined to rise above the mundane, to command the respect of the heavens and the earth alike.

In the mystical world of Saṃsāra, the Stormfeather Pauldrons are items of great power and reverence, not commonly found in the typical marketplace or armorer’s forge. The sale and acquisition of such items are as unique as the pauldrons themselves, enveloped in tradition, ceremony, and the very essence of the skies.

Where and How It’s Sold

• Temple of the Stormbirds: The most revered place where the Stormfeather Pauldrons can be obtained is at the Temple of the Stormbirds, located atop the highest peak of the Stormreach Mountains. Here, priests and artisans who serve the Stormbirds directly craft and bless each set of pauldrons. Warriors seeking to don the pauldrons must first prove their worth through a series of trials designed to test their courage, strength, and affinity with the storm.
• Aerie Gatherings: Periodically, the sky warriors who wear these pauldrons gather in secret locations known only as Aerie Gatherings. In these sacred assemblies, amidst stories of the sky and shared wisdom, a warrior may pass their pauldrons to a worthy successor, chosen not by wealth but by spirit and valor.
• Market of the Ascended: In rare instances, the Stormfeather Pauldrons find their way to the Market of the Ascended, a clandestine bazaar that appears only during the most powerful of storms. Here, items of great magic and mystery are traded, bartered, or sold, with the pauldrons among the most coveted treasures. Only those who can hear the call of the storm may find their way to the Market.

Environment for Sale: The environments in which the Stormfeather Pauldrons are sold or passed on are steeped in the elemental power of the air and the ethereal beauty of the storm. They are places where the boundary between the earthly and the divine thins, allowing for a profound connection with the forces that govern the skies.

Usage and End Results

• In Battle: On the battlefield, the Stormfeather Pauldrons are not merely protective gear but a symbol of the wearer’s mastery over the storm. They provide an edge against aerial foes and environmental hazards, allowing the wearer to stand firm where others might falter.
• As a Symbol: Beyond their practical use, the pauldrons serve as a potent symbol of authority and respect, particularly among communities that revere the power of the storm and the creatures that dwell within it. To wear the pauldrons is to carry the storm’s mantle, to command awe and respect from allies and enemies alike.
• In Ritual and Ceremony: The pauldrons also play a significant role in ceremonies and rituals related to the sky, the weather, and the Stormbirds themselves. They may be worn by ceremonial leaders to signify their connection to the storm’s power, acting as conduits for divine energies during sacred rites.

In essence, the Stormfeather Pauldrons are not simply items of armor but artifacts imbued with the essence of Saṃsāra’s tempestuous skies, revered and sought after by those who dream of commanding the storm’s unbridled power.

Stormfeather Pauldrons: Activation Perception

• Sight
  • What is Perceived: The pauldrons emit a subtle, pulsating glow, reminiscent of distant lightning, enhancing the wearer’s majestic and intimidating presence.
  • Description: This visual effect not only signifies the activation of the pauldrons’ protective magic but also serves to disorient opponents and bolster allies’ morale.
  • Positives: Enhances the visual impact of the wearer, potentially demoralizing enemies before a conflict begins.
  • Negatives: The glow may make stealth approaches difficult, attracting attention in scenarios where discretion is preferred.
• Touch
  • What is Perceived: A tingling sensation spreads across the wearer’s shoulders and down their arms, a sign that the pauldrons’ elemental protections are active.
  • Description: This sensation is akin to the feeling of static electricity, a direct connection to the storm’s power.
  • Positives: Reinforces the wearer’s confidence in their protection against aerial and elemental attacks.
  • Negatives: The constant sensation of energy can be distracting or uncomfortable during prolonged use.
• Hearing
  • What is Perceived: A soft, whispering wind seems to encircle the wearer, carrying with it the promise of protection and the threat to enemies.
  • Description: This auditory effect enhances the wearer’s awareness of their surroundings, especially changes in air movement.
  • Positives: Provides an auditory cue for the activation of the pauldrons’ enchantments, heightening alertness.
  • Negatives: The continuous sound of whispering winds might mask other important environmental sounds, potentially hindering perception.
• Smell
  • What is Perceived: The air around the wearer becomes charged with the fresh, clean scent of rain on stone, evoking the purity of a storm cleansed atmosphere.
  • Description: This olfactory change serves as a subtle marker of the pauldrons’ active state, refreshing and invigorating the wearer.
  • Positives: The smell of rain can have a calming effect, helping to maintain focus and clarity in stressful situations.
  • Negatives: In environments where such a scent is out of place, it may inadvertently alert observant foes to the wearer’s presence or magical protections.
• Taste
  • What is Perceived: A metallic tang, similar to the taste of rain in the air before a storm, fills the wearer’s mouth when the pauldrons are activated.
  • Description: This taste is a visceral reminder of the elemental power at the wearer’s command, grounding them in the moment.
  • Positives: Acts as a psychological boost, reinforcing the wearer’s connection to the forces of nature.
  • Negatives: The unusual taste can be distracting or unpleasant, especially if unexpected or in conflict with other sensory experiences.
• Extra-Sensory Perceptions
  • Electromagnetic Awareness:
    • Perceived: An enhanced sensitivity to electrical and magnetic fields, allowing the wearer to sense impending storms or magical energies.
    • Description: This ESP grants an intuitive understanding of the environment’s elemental state, providing tactical advantages.
    • Positives: Useful for anticipating changes in weather or detecting the use of certain magics.
    • Negatives: Overwhelming in areas with strong magical or elemental disturbances, leading to sensory overload.
  • Empathic Resonance with the Sky:
    • Perceived: A deep, emotional connection to the sky and storms, feeling shifts in mood and intention as if they were the wearer’s own.
    • Description: This connection can manifest as mood swings that correspond to the changing skies, from the calm before the storm to the rage of the tempest.
    • Positives: Provides insights into weather patterns and elemental forces, allowing for strategic planning.
    • Negatives: Emotional turbulence can affect decision-making and interpersonal interactions, particularly in unstable weather conditions.

Crafting Recipe: Stormfeather Pauldrons

• Materials Needed:
  • Stormbird Feathers: 12 large feathers from the legendary Stormbirds, known for their affinity with tempests and lightning.
  • Tempest Steel: A rare metal alloy, forged only during the fiercest thunderstorms, enough to form the base of the pauldrons.
  • Lightning Quartz: 3 shards, each imbued with the essence of a lightning strike, to channel and control the elemental energies.
  • Wind Essence: Captured from the highest peaks during a gale, contained within a sealed vial.
• Tools Required:
  • Arcane Anvil: A magical anvil that has been struck by lightning at least once, to imbue the crafted item with storm energies.
  • Elemental Hammer: A smithing hammer that has been enchanted to work with elemental materials without damaging them.
  • Featherweave Loom: A specialized loom designed for weaving magical feathers into wearable forms.
• Skill Requirements:
  • Master Blacksmithing: Expertise in working with mythical materials and forging them into armor.
  • Elemental Enchantment: Advanced knowledge in the enchantment of items with elemental powers, specifically storm and wind magics.
  • Weatherworking: A unique ability to call and work within the heart of storms, essential for the crafting process.
• Crafting Steps:
  • Prepare the Base: Forge the Tempest Steel into the shape of the pauldrons using the Arcane Anvil and Elemental Hammer, working during a storm to infuse the metal with elemental power.
  • Weave the Feathers: Utilize the Featherweave Loom to create a fabric of Stormbird feathers. This fabric should then be carefully attached to the Tempest Steel base, ensuring that the feathers are aligned to channel the storm’s power effectively.
  • Imbue with Elemental Essence: Place the Lightning Quartz shards strategically within the pauldrons’ design. Use the Wind Essence by opening the vial and allowing the contained gale to sweep over the pauldrons, binding the quartz and feathers to the steel base.
  • Enchantment Ritual: Conduct a ritual during a thunderstorm, calling upon the spirits of the sky to bless the pauldrons. The ritual involves reciting incantations and offering the Stormbird feathers’ remnants to the storm, asking for protection and power.
  • Final Forging: As the storm reaches its peak, strike the pauldrons with the Elemental Hammer on the Arcane Anvil one final time to seal the enchantments and complete the crafting process.
  • Cooling Phase: Let the pauldrons cool naturally under the night sky following the storm, allowing the elemental energies to settle and fully integrate.

The crafting of the Stormfeather Pauldrons is an intricate process that not only requires skill and the right materials but also a profound connection with the forces of nature. The result is a pair of pauldrons that not only offer protection but also embody the fury and majesty of the storm itself.

Saga of the Sky’s Embrace
The Stormfeather Pauldrons

In epochs vanished, beneath the eternal dance of storm and silence, there birthed an armor, the likes of which the realms of Saṃsāra had never whispered. These were the Stormfeather Pauldrons, born from the tempest’s heart and the sky’s boundless sorrow. It was said, in tongues older than the wind, that these pauldrons harbored the essence of the storm itself, a gift from the sky to those daring to walk the storm’s path.

The tale unfurls in the era of shadowed suns, where a lone wanderer, heart entwined with the storm’s song, sought to claim the sky’s might. To the highest peaks and through the fiercest gales they trekked, where Stormbirds, creatures of lightning and thunder, soared. In communion with the tempest, the wanderer beseeched the Stormbirds for their blessing, offering their own spirit as a vessel for the storm’s fury.

Moved by the wanderer’s plea and their unyielding spirit, the Stormbirds bequeathed their most precious feathers, each a shard of the storm’s soul. With these gifts and the essence of tempests captured in quartz, the wanderer, under the canopy of raging skies, forged the pauldrons. As lightning danced and thunder sang, the sky itself descended, imbuing the armor with its untamed dominion.

Donned in the Stormfeather Pauldrons, the wanderer became one with the storm, a sentinel of the skies’ will. Where they roamed, the storm’s whisper followed, and the land knew peace from the tempest’s wrath. Yet, in their heart, a tempest of their own brewed — a longing for the calm beyond the storm, for the silence that follows the thunder’s roar.

The Moral of the Story: Thus, the saga of the Stormfeather Pauldrons teaches us that to wield the storm’s might, one must also embrace the calm. For in the harmony of fury and tranquility, of tempest and peace, lies the true essence of power. The sky’s greatest gift is not the strength to conquer but the wisdom to know when the storm should rage and when it should whisper.

Suggested conversions to other systems:

Call of Cthulhu (7th Edition)

Stormfeather Pauldrons

• Artifact
• Effect: Provides a +20% bonus to Dodge rolls against attacks from aerial creatures or environmental hazards. Additionally, grants a +10% bonus to Intimidate checks.
• Special: Once per session, the wearer can invoke the power of the pauldrons to automatically succeed on any one physical test involving resistance to natural forces (e.g., standing firm against a powerful storm).

Blades in the Dark

Stormfeather Pauldrons

• Fine Armor
• Effect: The wearer gains +1d to resistance rolls against environmental effects and physical harm from supernatural creatures. Additionally, their Intimidate actions gain potency.
• Usage: Can be activated to negate one instance of harm from an environmental source or aerial attack per score, reflecting the pauldrons’ protective magic.

Dungeons & Dragons (5th Edition)

Stormfeather Pauldrons

• Wondrous item, rare (requires attunement)
• Benefit: Grants resistance to lightning and thunder damage. Additionally, grants advantage on saving throws against effects that would push, pull, or knock the wearer prone due to wind or storm-related magic.
• Special Ability: Once per long rest, the wearer can activate the pauldrons to emit a fearsome aura, giving them advantage on Intimidation checks for 1 hour.
• Flavor: The pauldrons occasionally crackle with contained storm energy, especially during storms, which has no effect on gameplay but enhances the item’s thematic presence.

Knave

Stormfeather Pauldrons

• Magical Armor
• Defense Bonus: Counts as +1 armor. Does not stack with other armor but can be worn in conjunction for its magical properties.
• Effect: The wearer gains resistance to damage from air-based spells and effects. Additionally, when making saves against being moved or knocked down by wind or storm effects, they treat their roll as being 2 points higher.
• Special Use: Once per day, can be activated to give the wearer an intimidating presence, providing advantage (or equivalent bonus in systems without advantage) on all Charisma-based checks against creatures susceptible to fear for a short period.

Fate Core System

Stormfeather Pauldrons

• Aspect: Cloaked in the Storm’s Fury
• Effect: When defending against attacks that could logically be lessened or redirected by storm-like forces (such as projectiles or energy attacks), the wearer can invoke this aspect to gain a +2 on their defense roll without spending a Fate point.
• Special Use: Once per session, the wearer may fully invoke the storm’s fury to automatically succeed at a defense or intimidation action, reflecting the pauldrons’ imposing and protective nature.

Numenera & Cypher System

Stormfeather Pauldrons

• Artifact, Level 5
• Effect: Provides an asset to speed defense rolls against attacks from above or that involve moving air or electricity. Adds +1 to Armor against such attacks.
• Depletion: 1 in 1d20 (Roll each day of use).
• Special Ability: Once per day, the wearer can activate the pauldrons to create a localized storm around themselves for 10 minutes, granting intimidation and defense bonuses against nearby enemies.

Pathfinder (2nd Edition)

Stormfeather Pauldrons

• Wondrous Item, Uncommon
• Aura: Moderate evocation
• Effect: Grants the wearer resistance 5 to electricity and cold damage, and a +2 bonus on saving throws against being knocked down or moved by wind effects.
• Special Ability: As a standard action, the wearer can activate the pauldrons to gain a +2 circumstance bonus to Intimidate checks and to Fortitude and Reflex saves against environmental effects for 1 hour. Usable once per day.
• Cost: Equivalent to a 4th-level wondrous item.

Savage Worlds

Stormfeather Pauldrons

• Gear, Magical Armor
• Effect: Counts as +2 Armor against ranged attacks and +4 Armor against elemental attacks (fire, ice, lightning). Additionally, the wearer gains resistance to being shaken or knocked down by wind or storm effects.
• Special Ability: Once per session, the wearer can activate the pauldrons to intimidate opponents, giving them a -2 penalty to their Guts rolls when within sight for the duration of the encounter.
• Notes: While active, any electrical attacks made by the wearer gain +2 to damage.

Shadowrun (5th Edition)

Stormfeather Pauldrons

• Type: Magical Armor
• Rating: 3
• Availability: Rare, 12F
• Effect: Provides +3 Armor rating, specifically against attacks from aerial sources or electricity-based attacks.
• Special Ability: Once per run, the wearer can activate the pauldrons to gain immunity to one electrical attack or to dramatically increase intimidation for a single encounter, adding +2 to the Intimidation skill.
• Note: Use of the pauldrons’ special ability draws noticeable attention in the astral plane.

Starfinder

Stormfeather Pauldrons

• Item Level: 6
• Type: Light Armor Upgrade
• Effect: Grants the wearer +2 EAC against ranged attacks and immunity to being knocked prone by wind-related environmental conditions.
• Special Ability: As a reaction, the wearer can activate the pauldrons to negate electricity damage from a single source once per day.
• Usage: Must be installed on light or heavy armor but does not occupy an upgrade slot.

Traveller (Mongoose 2nd Edition)

Stormfeather Pauldrons

• Type: Armor Accessory
• Protection: 2
• Tech Level: 12
• Effect: Adds +2 to the wearer’s Armor protection, specifically against energy weapons. Provides resistance to environmental effects like high winds or storms.
• Special Ability: Grants the wearer a bonus to Leadership or Persuade checks when trying to intimidate others, treating the skill check as 1 difficulty level lower. Usable once per game session.
• Note: Compatible with any form of armor but requires an equipped power source.

Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (4th Edition)

Stormfeather Pauldrons

• Classification: Talismanic Armor
• Encumbrance: Light
• Effect: Provides 1 additional Armour Point on top of existing armor without increasing Encumbrance. Gives resistance to lightning-based magic and attacks, reducing damage by half (round down).
• Special Ability: Once per session, the wearer can invoke the pauldrons to either automatically succeed at an Intimidate test or gain a temporary boost to resist being moved or knocked down by physical or magical means for one encounter.
• Flavor: The pauldrons crackle with contained energy when storm clouds gather, and they are said to whisper the secrets of the storm to their wearer.