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Coptic 389 of Anguish

—

by

Dale
in

Item Classification and Slot

  • Item Name: Coptic 389 of Anguish
  • Item Rank: Tier 1 (Common)
  • Equip Slot: Neck Slot (Occupies exactly 1 gear slot)
  • Attunement Requirement: Simple Attunement (Requires 1 minute of uninterrupted focus while holding or wearing the talisman)

Lore

  • Forged during the turbulent early decades following the influx of reincarnated souls into the island nation of Badarian, Coptic talismans of this series were crafted to channel raw emotional suffering into protective arcane barriers.
  • The numerical designation “389” refers to the specific liturgical lamentation inscribed in fine Coptic dialect along the outer rim of the iron plate by monastic metalworkers.
  • The magical conduit at the center relies on localized magic crystalline cells extracted from deep-dwelling subterranean fauna that thrive on suffering and dark environments, capturing the essence of profound sorrow and binding it into a defensive focus.

Description

  • The item is a heavy, teardrop-shaped medallion cast from blackened iron, suspended from a dark, worn leather strap.
  • The front surface features deeply etched Coptic prayers of grief radiating outward from a hollowed center, which houses a single, unpolished smoky quartz crystal that glimmers with a dull grey light when the wearer experiences emotional distress.
  • The reverse side is rough and stamped with the numeral “389” alongside small, cross-like warding marks designed to steady magical flow during intense stress.
  • When worn against the skin, the medallion feels uncomfortably cold to the touch, transmitting a faint, weeping vibration that echoes the wearer’s heartbeat.

Detailed Statistics

  • Item Armor Check (AC): +1 AC (Does not exceed the maximum limit of 3 AC per item level for Tier 1 gear).
  • Item Health Points (HP): Maximum Avatar HP + 10 (Calculated using a base Resilience rating of 10 multiplied by Tier 1, added to the wearer’s maximum HP pool).
  • Damage Resilience: 10
  • Weight: 0.5 pounds
  • Tier Restriction: Tier 1 and above. Wearing or attuning to this item does not cause pain to Tier 1 or higher avatars, as it matches their current tier level.
  • Durability State: If reduced to half or fewer health points, the item becomes broken and its magical properties cease to function until fully repaired by an artisan.

Passive Magics

  • Sorrowful Resilience:
    • While worn and attuned, the talisman grants the avatar a +1 bonus on saving throws against effects that attempt to inflict the Frightened, Shaken, or Debilitated conditions.
    • The protective Coptic prayers convert despair into emotional endurance, keeping the avatar’s mind grounded when facing overwhelming terror.
  • Echo of Affliction:
    • Whenever an attacker hits the attuned avatar with a physical melee strike, the smoky quartz absorbs a portion of the agony and reflects it outward.
    • The attacker takes 1 point of physical matrix damage as a cold, oppressive shock wave passes back through their weapon or limb without requiring an action or die roll.

Activable Magics

  • Lamentation’s Burden:
    • Action Cost: 1 Action
    • Casting Type: Somatic / Normal Chant (Less than 6 seconds, spoken aloud with a weeping, despair-filled tone)
    • Effect: The avatar recites an incantation of sorrow targeting a creature within 30 feet. The target must make a Difficulty Check (DC 11) saving throw or suffer 1d4 physical damage from a crushing wave of grief. If cast using Silent casting (no words spoken), the total damage dealt is reduced by 25%. If performed as a Ritual chant (crying out or singing the lament for longer than 6 seconds), the damage increases by up to 25%.
  • Aegis of Torment:
    • Action Cost: 1 Action (Can be prepared as a Reaction)
    • Casting Type: Normal Chant
    • Effect: The wearer touches the medallion and utters the command word of anguish. For 1 round, the avatar gains a temporary protective shield that absorbs damage equal to 1d4 + 2. If an enemy breaks this shield before the start of the avatar’s next turn, the stored suffering bursts outward, forcing all hostile creatures within 5 feet to make a DC 11 saving throw or become Dazed until the end of their next turn.

Roleplay Emphasis: Anguish

  • Temperament Shift:
    • While attuned to Coptic 389 of Anguish, the avatar’s disposition shifts toward melancholy, heavy-heartedness, and lingering sorrow.
    • Everyday tasks feel burdensome, conversations are delivered with a mournful sigh, and the avatar frequently dwells on past losses or the inherent pain of existence.
  • Combat Expression:
    • In combat, the avatar does not fight with fiery aggression, but rather with desperate, sorrow-laden resolve.
    • Attacks and spell chants are accompanied by wailing prayers, choked sob-like incantations, or heavy grimaces as the avatar channels their internal torment into magical output.
  • Social Interactions:
    • During social encounters, the avatar struggles to express joy or optimism, viewing cheerful situations with cynicism or quiet sadness.
    • However, their deep connection to suffering allows them to empathize strongly with the downtrodden, grieving, or injured NPCs they encounter throughout their journey.

Tags

Coptic 389 of Anguish, Neck Slot, Tier 1, Common, Talisman, Physical Damage, Protection, Blessing, Anguish, Divine Focus, Blackened Iron, Smoky Quartz, Somatic, Chant, Medallion, Relic, Badarian, Coptic Magic, Item AC, Reaction, Resilient, Defense Buff, Blackened Iron, Retaliation, Sacred Inscription

Commercial Acquisition and Trade Venues for Coptic 389 of Anguish

Monastic Reliquaries and Sanctified Apothecaries

  • Location and Atmosphere:
    • Situated in the quiet temple districts of major cities across island nations like Badarian, Tasian, or Fayum.
    • These shops operate out of stone catacombs or quiet reliquaries run by ascetic Coptic priests, herbalists, and monastic enchanters.
    • The interior features muted lighting, burning incense, velvet-lined display cases, and shelves lined with potion vials, fluid collectors, and sanctified talismans.
  • Transaction Dynamics:
    • Shopkeepers inspect the item using active concentration with the Mind’s Eye to verify the clarity of the central smoky quartz and the authenticity of the Coptic 389 inscriptions.
    • Merchants selling to full guild or faction members apply a standard 10% discount based on the seller’s tier level.
    • If sold by an adventurer to a monastic vendor, the merchant will haggle down the purchase price by approximately 10% multiplied by the character’s tier level, depositing the funds directly into the character’s World Bank account.
  • Pricing:
    • Buying Price: 10 to 15 Silver coins (or equivalent local coinage such as Nickel or Electrum equivalents). Faction and guild members may purchase it for 9 to 13 Silver coins after applying member discounts.
    • Selling Price: Merchants will purchase the item from a Tier 1 avatar for approximately 8 to 9 Silver coins, depositing the currency straight into their World Bank ledger.

Underworld Fences and Subterranean Smuggling Outlets

  • Location and Atmosphere:
    • Found within the hidden underbellies of coastal port cities, dark cave megacities, or informal tent markets outside municipal boundaries where state guards do not patrol.
    • These operations run out of curtained backrooms, subterranean vaults, or mobile covered wagons moving between state borders to evade state border taxes.
    • Items sold here are largely unsourced, salvaged from dead avatars, or smuggled past state customs to avoid standard 3% to 5% trade tariffs.
  • Transaction Dynamics:
    • Transactions are strictly conducted using physical, hard coinage (Gold, Silver, or Nickel) rather than World Bank account transfers, as traders demand complete anonymity.
    • Fences maintain total secrecy regarding item origins and will not question sellers about previous owners or character marks.
    • No guild or faction discounts are honored at black-market locations under any circumstances.
  • Pricing:
    • Buying Price: 20 to 30 Silver coins (or 2 to 3 Gold coins). Fences mark up the cost significantly due to the untraceable nature of the trade.
    • Selling Price: If the black-market buyer urgently needs defensive Tier 1 gear or grief-infused components, they may pay up to double the standard merchant rate, offering 16 to 18 Silver coins in physical gold or silver cash. Otherwise, they offer a flat rate of 8 Silver coins in physical coin.

Frontier Warlord Garrisons and Wilderness Outposts

  • Location and Atmosphere:
    • Located in small frontier towns, garrison checkpoints, or isolated settlements with populations under five thousand residents near hostile wilderness borders.
    • These exchanges operate under the direct authority of local warlords who double as regional adventuring guild leaders and town law enforcement.
    • The shops are rugged, general-purpose stores stocking travel rations, basic ammunition, fluid collectors, and secondhand equipment turned in by local adventuring parties.
  • Transaction Dynamics:
    • Local town judges or warlord clerks assess municipal entry and transaction taxes on the spot, adding a 1% to 3% local tax fee to all incoming and outgoing goods.
    • Prices fluctuate based on localized supply, proximity to dangerous wilderness areas, and how desperately the local population requires protective wards against aggressive fauna.
  • Pricing:
    • Buying Price: 12 to 18 Silver coins, plus a mandatory 1 Silver gate or seaport passage fee upon entering the city or town jurisdiction.
    • Selling Price: Warlord clerks will offer 7 to 9 Silver coins, deducting local municipal transaction taxes directly from the cash payout.

Environmental Roleplay Dynamics: Offensive and Defensive Tactical Utility

Urban Environments and Dense City Precincts

  • Offensive Tactical Roleplay:
    • In crowded market squares, narrow residential alleys, or bustling central city thoroughfares, the avatar channels their heavy-hearted despair into direct, localized magic.
    • When confronted by corrupt state guards or street thugs, the avatar initiates combat by grasping the cold iron medallion and delivering a weeping incantation via Lamentation’s Burden.
    • The player roleplays the avatar taking a mournful step forward, uttering a choked, sob-like curse that hits the target with a crushing wave of physical grief, staggering the foe before they can close the distance.
  • Defensive Tactical Roleplay:
    • Urban ambushes often occur in tight spaces where quick melee strikes catch travelers off guard.
    • When struck by a hidden dagger or a heavy sap, the Echo of Affliction passive instantly triggers, causing the dark iron talisman to vibrate and send an oppressive, cold shock wave back into the attacker’s arm.
    • If surrounded by multiple adversaries in a narrow alley, the avatar prepares Aegis of Torment as a reaction; when an attacker shatters the protective force barrier, the bursting wave of sorrow leaves surrounding foes Dazed, creating an opening for the party to secure a choke point or retreat.

Dense Wilds, Jungles, and Toxic Botanical Zones

  • Offensive Tactical Roleplay:
    • In untamed wilderness regions dominated by aggressive, magical plant life and predatory beasts, the avatar’s melancholy turns into desperate resolve.
    • The player describes the avatar pushing through thick underbrush while quietly chanting prayers of lamentation.
    • Upon encountering hostile feral beasts, the avatar channels their sorrow into a Ritual chant of Lamentation’s Burden, singing or wailing the Coptic prayer for over six seconds to elevate the spell’s crushing physical damage by 25%, shattering the momentum of charging beasts or clearing hostile vegetation.
  • Defensive Tactical Roleplay:
    • Wilderness travel subjects adventurers to environmental hazards and psychological stresses, such as terrifying beast roars or disorienting botanical vapors.
    • The Sorrowful Resilience passive keeps the avatar grounded; the player roleplays the avatar absorbing terrifying roars not with bravado, but with a weary sigh that converts fear into emotional endurance, shrugging off the Frightened or Shaken conditions.
    • When pounced on by wild predators, the avatar activates Aegis of Torment, absorbing the incoming claws behind a shimmering shield of force while calling out warning to party members in a grim tone.

Subterranean Caverns, Dark Cave Megacities, and Ruins

  • Offensive Tactical Roleplay:
    • In pitch-black subterranean tunnels and cavernous megacities, the smoky quartz of Coptic 389 of Anguish emits a faint, dull grey light whenever the avatar’s sorrow deepens.
    • When ambushed in the dark, the avatar uses this dim glow to pinpoint the location of subterranean foes.
    • The player roleplays the avatar invoking the true name of a target (if revealed through the Mind’s Eye) alongside a Somatic chant of Lamentation’s Burden, causing the spell damage to double as the despairing Coptic lament echoes off the stone cavern walls.
  • Defensive Tactical Roleplay:
    • Underground combat frequently involves defending narrow choke points where damage mitigation is crucial.
    • The avatar positions themselves at the front of the tunnel, taking the brunt of enemy assaults.
    • The tripled Armor Check in safe designated areas (or standard AC in subterranean wilderness) keeps incoming hits manageable, while successful hits land on the avatar’s extra Health Point pool granted by the item’s resilience.
    • When hit in melee, the retaliatory matrix damage from Echo of Affliction provides a steady, reliable counter against swarming, low-health cavern creatures.

Maritime Vessels, Airships, and Cloud City Perches

  • Offensive Tactical Roleplay:
    • Aboard rolling sea vessels, high-altitude zeppelins, or narrow cloud city walkways, the avatar channels the bleak isolation of the open sky or ocean into their magic.
    • During ship-to-ship boardings or aerial skirmishes, the avatar uses their heavy disposition to anchor their movements.
    • The player describes the avatar standing firm on a swaying deck, clutching the cold leather strap, and unleashing a Normal chant against boarding pirates, striking targets on opposing rigging or gangplanks within 30 feet.
  • Defensive Tactical Roleplay:
    • Combat on ships and elevated platforms carries constant risks of knockbacks and disorientation.
    • If an enemy attempts to push or daze the avatar near a ledge, the Sorrowful Resilience passive provides the mental fortitude needed to resist displacement or disorientation effects.
    • When targeted by ranged attacks or melee strikes, the avatar uses a prepared Aegis of Torment action to cushion incoming blows, ensuring their HP pool remains intact while using the explosive burst of stored torment to leave nearby deck attackers Dazed.

Perception of Activation: Coptic 389 of Anguish

Five Senses Perception

  • Sight:
    • User’s Perspective: The central smoky quartz gem shifts from a dull translucent grey to a deep, swirling charcoal hue, pulsating with a slow, ghostly light that casts dim ash-colored shadows across the user’s hands and chest.
    • Observer’s Perspective: Observers watch the teardrop iron medallion absorb ambient light, causing the engraved Coptic script and the stamped numeral “389” to glow faintly with a bleak, misty vapor effect.
    • Positives: Offers a clear visual confirmation of active spell channels without creating a blinding flash that would completely compromise darkvision.
    • Negatives: The eerie grey pulse can still betray the user’s presence in total darkness to sharp-eyed observers.
  • Hearing:
    • User’s Perspective: A quiet, low-frequency hum fills the user’s ears, resembling the muffled sound of distant, echoing weeping or cold wind passing through a hollow cavern.
    • Observer’s Perspective: Those standing near the user hear a faint, metallic vibration akin to a struck tuning fork placed against damp stone.
    • Positives: Provides subtle auditory feedback that the item’s defensive shield or active spell has successfully engaged.
    • Negatives: The mournful tone can be unnerving during stealth operations or quiet recon efforts.
  • Touch:
    • User’s Perspective: The heavy, blackened iron medallion drops precipitously in temperature, delivering a sudden, bone-chilling shock across the sternum that feels like a cold wave of winter water.
    • Observer’s Perspective: Anyone in physical contact with the user feels a localized drop in ambient temperature radiating from the user’s chest slot.
    • Positives: The rapid onset of cold acts as an unmistakable physical indicator that the protective matrix is active.
    • Negatives: The intense, biting cold against bare skin can be jarring and physically uncomfortable during extended engagements.
  • Smell:
    • User’s Perspective: The user inhales a sudden scent reminiscent of damp river clay, old wet stone, and stagnant rain.
    • Observer’s Perspective: Nearby individuals catch a brief whiff of cold, petrichor-like dampness in the air immediately around the user.
    • Positives: Provides an organic, atmospheric queue associated with grounding protective magic.
    • Negatives: The distinct damp earth smell can be picked up by tracking animals or creatures with heightened olfactory senses.
  • Taste:
    • User’s Perspective: A heavy, lingering taste of dry mineral dust and cold ash coats the back of the user’s throat and tongue.
    • Observer’s Perspective: Observers do not taste the effect directly, though those in extreme proximity may feel a slight drying sensation in their mouth.
    • Positives: Functions as an undeniable physiological confirmation that the magic is actively coursing through the avatar’s body.
    • Negatives: The dry ash flavor can induce sudden coughing or make verbal chanting slightly more difficult if unprepared.

Extra-Sensory Perceptions

  • Mind’s Eye Awareness:
    • User’s Perspective: The user’s internal Mind’s Eye perceives a stark overlay of glowing rune lines detailing active absorption values, temporary health buffers, and precise spell duration metrics.
    • Observer’s Perspective: An observer examining the user via active concentration with their Mind’s Eye sees the item’s intrinsic stats flare with structured defensive parameters and active physical damage mitigation values.
    • Positives: Grants the user real-time data on how much damage absorption remains on their active shield.
    • Negatives: Processing sudden data overlays during high-stress combat can briefly distract an inexperienced user.
  • Soul Sight Spectrum:
    • User’s Perspective: The user perceives their own soul halo dim into deep indigo and smoky slate-grey tones that ripple outward in quiet, deliberate waves.
    • Observer’s Perspective: Beings utilizing Soul Sight or True Sight observe a heavy, ultraviolet haze swirling around the user’s neck slot, radiating a solemn, protective aura.
    • Positives: Highlights the boundary of the user’s active warding space clearly to allies attuned to soul vision.
    • Negatives: Makes the user highly visible on ethereal or spiritual planes to otherworldly entities and celestial beings.
  • Emotional Resonance:
    • User’s Perspective: A heavy wave of solemn, mourning calm settles over the user’s mind, muting panic and transforming raw terror into quiet, stubborn endurance.
    • Observer’s Perspective: Nearby individuals with empathic sensitivity detect a sudden surge of somber, sorrow-filled weight emanating from the user.
    • Positives: Instantly dampens fear and panic effects, keeping the avatar focused during dire situations.
    • Negatives: Radiating intense emotional melancholy can complicate delicate social negotiations or cheerful interactions.

Crafting Recipe: Coptic Iron Talisman of Lamentation

Materials Needed

  • Base Metal: 1 pound of unrefined, cold-smelted Blackened Iron.
  • Central Focal Gem: 1 raw, unpolished Smoky Quartz crystal.
  • Catalyst: 1 Tier 1 Magic Crystal (coin-sized and coin-weighted, harvested from a subterranean or grief-attuned creature).
  • Inscribing Medium: 1 Fluid Collector vial of tree sap extracted from an ancient hardwood or deep-forest flora.
  • Suspension Strap: 3 feet of dark, worn leather strap or durable braided cord.
  • Crafting Reagents: Basic quenching oils, etching acid, and abrasive polishing grit.

Tools Required

  • Metalworking Setup: High-temperature furnace or steam-driven forge, heavy iron anvil, tongs, shaping hammers, and a teardrop casting mold.
  • Engraving Equipment: Hardened steel gravers, scribes, and punches for carving fine Coptic script and numerical markings.
  • Gem Setting Tools: Small jeweler’s pliers, setting punches, and burnishers.
  • Testing Focus: A basic conduit of magic or spell focus to verify arcane flow through the completed piece.

Skill Requirements

  • Metalworking / Jewelry Crafting Skill Level: Minimum Level 5 (to properly manage iron casting, bezel setting, and fine rune engraving).
  • Arcane / Alchemical Crafting Skill Level: Minimum Level 1 (required to handle and safely infuse the Tier 1 Magic Crystal during the smelting process).
  • Language / Literacy: Knowledge of ancient Coptic dialects or script patterns to accurately engrave the protective prayers and numerical tags.

Crafting Steps

  • Step 1: Preparing the Crucible and Metal
    • Place the unrefined iron into the forge crucible and bring it to a workable molten temperature.
    • Clear away slag and surface impurities using basic refining reagents to ensure structural integrity for the final casting.
  • Step 2: Infusing the Catalyst
    • Crush the Tier 1 Magic Crystal into a coarse powder using an iron mortar and pestle.
    • Introduce the crystal powder directly into the molten iron along with the extracted tree sap.
    • Stir the molten alloy thoroughly with a tool rod to evenly distribute the magic crystalline cells through the metal matrix.
  • Step 3: Casting the Teardrop Base
    • Pour the infused molten iron into the prepared teardrop-shaped medallion mold.
    • Verify that the mold forms the hollowed central setting, the top strap loop, and the smooth outer bezel.
    • Allow the casting to cool slowly in quenching sand to prevent stress micro-fractures in the iron.
  • Step 4: Engraving and Marking
    • Remove the cooled iron medallion from the mold and clean the surface with abrasive grit.
    • Using hardened steel gravers, deeply etch the Coptic lamentation prayers around the hollowed center on the front face.
    • Stamp the specific series designation “389” clearly on the rough back surface alongside the secondary warding marks.
  • Step 5: Setting the Central Gem
    • Fit the raw, unpolished Smoky Quartz crystal into the hollowed center of the front face.
    • Use setting punches and burnishers to press the inner iron lips firmly against the quartz, locking the gemstone in place.
  • Step 6: Final Assembly and Inspection
    • Thread the dark leather strap through the top loop of the medallion and secure it with a knot for the neck slot.
    • Perform a final evaluation using active concentration with the Mind’s Eye to confirm that the magical pathways flow uninterrupted through the quartz, the iron, and the engraved script.

389 Iron Tear of Great Sorrowing

In the days before the counting of days, when the world was called by names long forgotten by the mouths of men, there lived a holy monk-smith upon the dry hills of the river-lands. His name was Pahom of the Low Valley. Pahom was a man whose skin was dry like old papyrus, and whose heart did not sing with the birds, but instead wept like a leaky bucket in the season of rains.

It was recorded upon the sheep-skins that Pahom lost his favorite goat, his house was burned by a falling star, and his soup was always spilled by the big winds. His heart became very heavy, like a large rock buried in the cold mud. He said to the sky, “Why is the sun so bright when my soul is full of darkness, and why do my feet hurt when I walk upon the soft grass?”

He walked into the dark holes beneath the mountains where the light of Helios does not go. There he found a small beast of many legs that lived in the cold water and made loud crying noises in the night. The beast was very sad because it had lost its shoe, and it did bite Pahom upon the thumb. But Pahom did not slap the beast; instead, he sat upon a stone and wept with the beast for three whole days until the ground was very wet.

Pahom took the magic cell of life—a small grey crystal of the tier one size—from the inside of the weeping beast. He took also a piece of iron that was black like the coal of a dead fire. He put the iron into the hot pot over the flame. When the iron became soft like porridge, he poured the crushed grey crystal and the sap of a very sad tree into the melted iron. The iron did make a sound like a man groaning after a long day of carrying heavy rocks.

He poured the black liquid metal into a hole shaped like a tear-drop. While the metal was becoming hard, he took a small nail of bronze and carved upon the face of the plate many words, which were translated very badly in the old times as: “O woe is upon the world, and my bread is moldy, and the rain falls inside my boots.” On the back of the plate, because he could not stop his tears from falling upon his work, he struck the numbers three, eight, and nine with a heavy stone, for it was the three-hundredth and eighty-ninth time that month he had wept for the world.

He set a grey stone of quartz, which had no shine, into the middle of the tear-shape. He tied the heavy iron plate with a strap of old leather and hung it around his neck. At once, his chest felt cold, as if he were holding a frozen fish against his ribs.

Soon after this day, four robbers of the high roads came out from behind the dry rocks. They had sharp sticks and swords made of bad iron. They shouted at Pahom, saying, “Give to us your leather shoes and your bag of grain, or we shall make you to be dead upon the road!”

Pahom did not run away, nor did he draw a sword. He looked upon them with eyes full of ancient grief. The grey stone upon his chest began to shine with a dim, smoky light like the smoke of damp wood. He spoke the ancient Coptic lamentation with a very weeping voice, which the ancient translator translated as: “My heart is a broken pot, and my milk is spilled, so why do you hit me with your sharp sticks?”

A great wave of cold, heavy sorrow rushed out from the black iron plate. The chief of the robbers, who had struck Pahom upon the shoulder with his wooden club, felt a sudden cold shock go through his arm. His elbow became very sore, as if he had hit a wall of frozen mud, and he took one point of matrix damage in his soul.

Another robber tried to push Pahom into the ditch. But the magic of the three-hundredth eighty-ninth iron tear made a wall of grey coldness around Pahom. When the robber touched the grey wall, it broke with a sound like a wet sack dropping onto stone. The four robbers were filled with a sudden, heavy sorrow; their legs became like lead, and their eyes filled with big tears. They sat down in the dirt and could not stand up, becoming dazed for many moments while they wept for their own grandmothers.

Pahom did not take their gold, nor did he strike them with a stone. He sat beside them on the road and talked to them for three hours about his aching knees and the shortness of life. He then walked slowly away down the mountain path, his head hanging low, while the iron medallion around his neck hummed with the sound of a cold winter wind.

This account was carried to the seventy-three island countries by old men who had lost their hearing. They wrote that whoever wears the Coptic three-hundred eighty-nine shall never be broken by fear or the shouting of angry men, because their own grief shall be a shield that turns away the blows of the world.

Moral of the Story

When the burdens of life press heavily upon your shoulders and sorrow fills your cup, do not cast your grief away in shame; for if you bind your pain with sacred discipline and holy purpose, even your deepest tears can become an unyielding fortress to protect your spirit and disarm those who seek your ruin.

Suggested conversions to other systems:

Call of Cthulhu (7th Edition)

Coptic Relic #389: The Talisman of Sorrowful Endurance

Item Type: Relic / Arcane Artifact

Era / Setting suitability: 1920s / Modern / Pulp Cthulhu

Sanity Cost: 0 (1d4 Sanity to activate deliberate supernatural effects)

Description & Lore

A heavy, teardrop-shaped medallion cast from blackened iron, hung from a dark leather strap. The front is deeply etched with Coptic liturgical lamentations encircling an unpolished smoky quartz gem, while the reverse side is stamped with “389”. The artifact converts its wearer’s deep emotional sorrow and grief into an unyielding mental shield and reactive cold waves.

Artifact Mechanics & Stat Block

  • Attunement / Binding: The wearer must wear the talisman against bare skin for at least 24 hours while dwelling on personal grief, loss, or melancholy.
  • Passive Effect — Sorrowful Resilience (Mind Shield): While worn, the talisman grounds the wearer’s mind against terror. The wearer gains a +10% Bonus to all POW or Sanity rolls made to resist fear, panic, or mind-affecting spells that inflict disorientation or paralysis.
  • Passive Effect — Echo of Affliction: Whenever the wearer takes damage from a hand-to-hand or melee weapon strike, the talisman emits a localized wave of oppressive cold. The attacker takes 1 point of physical damage directly (ignoring non-magical armor).
  • Active Ability — Lamentation’s Burden (Costs 1d4 Sanity & 3 Magic Points):
    • Action: 1 Turn (Somatic & Spoken Incantation).
    • Range: 30 feet.
    • Effect: The wearer directs a mournful, weeping curse at a visible target. The user makes an Opposed POW Roll against the target. On a success, the target suffers 1d4 + 1 Physical/Cold damage and must pass a CON roll or become Dazed until their next turn due to a crushing wave of sorrow. If the user wails or sings the lamentation for a full round prior to casting, they gain a Hard Success threshold on their Opposed POW roll.

Blades in the Dark

Coptic 389: The Sorrow-Bound Talisman

Item Type: Arcane Implement / Relic

Load: 1 Load (Equipped as a trinket or neck slot item)

Description & Lore

Forged in ancient catacombs before the Sun Death, this blackened iron and quartz talisman feeds on the wearer’s melancholy and grief. In the dark streets of Doskvol, Whisperers and bravos wear it to turn deep emotional torment into defensive endurance and crushing cold retribution.

Game Mechanics & Stat Block

  • Passive Ability — Fuel the Grief: When you face terror, horror, or overwhelming fear, you may choose to take +1 Stress to instantly clear the Frightened or Shaken condition by grounding yourself in solemn melancholy.
  • Passive Ability — Retaliatory Cold: Whenever an enemy inflicts physical Harm on you in close quarters, the smoky quartz flashes with dim charcoal light. The attacker suffers minor cold shock (Level 1 Harm: Chilled or Reduced Position on their next action).
  • Active Special Action — Lamentation’s Wave:
    • Cost: 2 Stress | Action Roll: Attune or Command.
    • Effect: You unleash a weeping Coptic incantation as the central gemstone pulses. You target an enemy within close range to hit them with a heavy wave of crushing grief.
      • Critical: Target suffers Level 3 Harm (Crushing Grief) and is rendered Incapacitated.
      • 6 (Full Success): Target suffers Level 2 Harm (Severe Despair) and is momentarily stunned (Dazed).
      • 4/5 (Partial Success): Target takes Level 1 Harm (Mournful Chill), but you face minor fallout (e.g., lingering melancholy causes a delay, or the cold air draws unwanted attention).
      • 1-3 (Bad Outcome): The spell backfires; you take 1 Stress and suffer a harsh complication while dealing no harm.

Dungeons & Dragons (5th Edition)

Coptic 389 of Anguish

Wondrous Item, uncommon (requires attunement)

Description & Lore

This teardrop-shaped blackened iron medallion hangs from a dark leather strap. It features Coptic prayers of lamentation around a raw smoky quartz gem. Stamped into the back is the designation “389”. The item glows with a faint, dim grey aura whenever its wearer experiences deep sorrow or anguish.

Item Traits & Mechanics

  • Item Slot: Neck
  • Armor Class Bonus: While wearing this amulet, you gain a +1 bonus to AC.

Passive Properties

  • Sorrowful Resilience: You have advantage on saving throws against being frightened, shaken, or debilitated by magical effects.
  • Echo of Affliction: Whenever a creature within 5 feet of you hits you with a melee attack, the central gem flashes with cold energy. The attacker takes 1 physical damage.

Active Properties

  • Lamentation’s Burden: As an action, you point at a creature you can see within 30 feet and utter a mournful incantation of grief. The target must make a DC 13 Constitution saving throw, taking 1d4 physical damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
    • Chanting Bonus: If you spend your full turn loudly chanting or singing the lament before casting it, the save DC increases to 15, and the damage increases to 1d4 + 2 physical damage.
  • Aegis of Torment (1/Long Rest): As an action (or as a reaction when you are reduced below half your maximum hit points), you invoke the medallion’s command word. You gain 1d4 + 2 temporary hit points for 1 minute. While these temporary hit points persist, any enemy that breaks through these temporary hit points must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution save or become dazed until the end of its next turn.

Knave (2nd Edition)

Coptic 389 of Anguish

Item Type: Magical Relic

Item Slots: 1 Slot (Worn on neck)

Durability: 3 / 3

Description & Lore

A heavy teardrop iron medallion carved with ancient Coptic symbols and set with a rough smoky quartz crystal. The back is crude and stamped with “389”. It grows uncomfortably cold to the touch when the wearer experiences grief, converting internal sorrow into physical protection and chilling retribution.

Item Mechanics & Stat Block

  • Slot Cost: Takes up 1 Item Slot.
  • Defense Bonus: Counts as +1 Armor (added to Armor Defense).

Passive Effects

  • Grief Fortitude: The wearer gains Advantage on all Wisdom and Charisma saves against fear, confusion, or mind-affecting hazards.
  • Retaliatory Shock: Whenever an enemy successfully hits the wearer with a melee strike, the attacker takes 1 point of direct Physical damage from a cold kinetic pulse.

Active Effects (Direct Use)

  • Lamentation’s Burden (Requires 1 Action / Cast): The wearer points at a target within 30 feet and utters an ancient lament. The target must make a Constitution Save (DC 15) or take 1d4 Physical damage. If the wearer spends an extra turn loudly wailing before casting, the target takes the save with Disadvantage.
  • Aegis of Torment (1 Use per Day): The wearer speaks the medallion’s command word. They gain a temporary shield equal to 1d4 + 2 Hit Points. While this shield lasts, any enemy that breaks the shield must pass a Wisdom Save (DC 15) or be Dazed / Flat-Footed for 1 round.

Fate Core

Coptic 389 of Anguish

Item Type: Magical Extra / Aspect Attachment

Permissions: Requires an Aspect related to grief, sorrow, or ancient relics (e.g., Burdened by Ancient Sorrow or Bearer of Coptic Relics).

Description & Lore

A teardrop-shaped blackened iron medallion etched with ancient Coptic script and stamped on the reverse with “389”. Set with an unpolished smoky quartz, this relic feeds on the wearer’s emotional anguish, converting deep grief into kinetic barriers, cold retaliation, and an unyielding mental shield.

Game Mechanics & Aspect Stat Block

  • Item Aspect: Coptic 389 of Anguish
    • Invokes: Resisting fear, enduring physical hardship, channeling solemn melancholy, cold/physical damage mitigation.
    • Compels: Lingering depression, social detachment, slow reactions due to heavy-heartedness, dim grey light giving away position.
  • Stunts:
    • Echo of Affliction: Whenever an attacker successfully creates a boost or succeeds on an Attack action against you in close quarters (Melee), you may spend a Fate point to inflict a 2-Stress physical hit back on the attacker as a free reaction.
    • Lamentation’s Burden: When you use the Provoke skill to attack a target within zone range by uttering a weeping Coptic curse, you gain a +2 bonus to the roll. If you spend a full exchange loudly chanting/wailing beforehand, you add +2 Weapon Value to the damage dealt on a hit.
    • Sorrowful Resilience: You gain a +2 bonus to defend against mental attacks, fear, or disorientation created by supernatural or magical sources.

Numenera & Cypher System

Coptic 389 of Anguish

Item Type: Artifact

Level: 3 (1d6 + 2)

Form: A heavy, teardrop-shaped blackened iron medallion set with a raw smoky quartz gem and hung on a dark leather strap. The back is stamped with the characters “389”.

Depletion: 1 in 1d20 (checked after invoking active abilities)

Description & Lore

Originating from a forgotten prior world or dimensional rift, this artifact converts the user’s emotional turmoil—specifically anguish and sorrow—into protective force fields and waves of crushing physical grief.

Game Mechanics & Stat Block

  • Passive Properties:
    • Mental Shield: The wearer reduces the difficulty of Intellect defense rolls against fear, confusion, or mind-affecting effects by one step.
    • Retaliatory Shock: Whenever an enemy within immediate range inflicts physical damage on the wearer, the smoky quartz flashes with cold grey light, inflicting 1 point of ambient physical damage back on the attacker (ignores non-magical armor).
  • Active Properties:
    • Lamentation’s Burden (Cost: 2 Intellect points): The user utters an ancient lamentation at a target within short range. The user makes an Intellect roll against the target’s level. On a success, the target takes 3 points of physical damage and is hindered on their next action (difficulty of their next task increased by one step). If the user spends an extra turn loudly chanting, the attack deals 4 points of physical damage instead.
    • Aegis of Torment (Cost: 3 Might points): As an action, the user triggers the artifact’s protective matrix. The user gains +1 Armor for 1 hour. Additionally, the next time an enemy breaks through this armor to deal damage, the medallion erupts in a sorrowful shockwave, causing all targets within immediate range to become hindered on their next turn.

Pathfinder (2nd Edition)

Coptic 389 of Anguish

Item 3

Uncommon, Magical, Abjuration, Investment

Price: 55 gp

Usage: worn (neck slot); Bulk: L

Description & Lore

This teardrop-shaped blackened iron medallion hangs from a dark leather strap. Inscribed with Coptic liturgical lamentations surrounding an unpolished smoky quartz, the amulet holds a dim grey aura whenever its wearer experiences deep distress. The back bears the stamped designation “389”.

Game Mechanics & Stat Block

  • Item AC Bonus: +1 item bonus to AC.
  • Sorrowful Resilience (Passive): You gain a +1 item bonus to saving throws against effects with the fear or emotion traits, or effects that would impart the frightened, shaken, or debilitated conditions.
  • Echo of Affliction (Passive): Whenever a creature within your reach hits you with a melee strike, the smoky quartz flashes. The attacker takes 1 physical damage.

Active Abilities

  • Lamentation’s Burden [two-actions] (concentrate, emotion, magical)
    • Frequency: once per round.
    • Effect: You point at a creature within 30 feet and utter an incantation of grief. The target must attempt a DC 18 Basic Fortitude save. On a failure, the target takes 1d4 physical damage. If you spend 3 actions instead of 2 to perform a vocal ritual lamentation, the save DC increases to DC 20 and the damage increases to 1d4 + 2 physical damage.
  • Aegis of Torment [reaction] (abjuration, magical)
    • Frequency: once per day.
    • Trigger: You take damage from a melee attack while below half your maximum Hit Points.
    • Effect: The medallion generates a temporary barrier. You gain 5 Temporary Hit Points until the end of your next turn. If an enemy breaks through these temporary hit points, all adjacent foes must succeed on a DC 18 Fortitude save or become dazed until the end of their next turn.

Savage Worlds (SWADE)

Coptic 389 of Anguish

Item Type: Arcane Relic / Minor Artifact

Min Str: d4 | Weight: 1 lb.

Description & Lore

A heavy teardrop medallion forged of blackened iron and inscribed with ancient Coptic script, setting a raw smoky quartz crystal at its center. The back is stamped with the designation “389”. It channels the wearer’s anguish into defensive fields and waves of cold retribution.

Game Mechanics & Stat Block

  • Armor Bonus: Grants +1 Armor to the Torso (stacks with mundane armor up to maximum limits).

Passive Effects

  • Sorrowful Resilience: The wearer receives a +2 bonus to Spirit rolls made to resist Fear, Intimidation, or magical Test actions that inflict confusion or disorientation.
  • Echo of Affliction: Whenever an attacker hits the wearer with a Fighting attack in close quarters, the smoky quartz flashes. The attacker takes 1 point of direct Physical damage (bypasses mundane armor).

Active Abilities

  • Lamentation’s Burden:
    • Action: Action.
    • Range: Smarts x 1.
    • Effect: The wearer utters a mournful Coptic curse at a target. Make an Arcane Skill or Intimidation roll opposed by the target’s Spirit.
      • Success: The target takes 1d4 Physical damage and is Shaken.
      • Raise: The target takes 1d4 + 2 Physical damage and suffers a Wound.
      • Chanting Extra: If the user spends a full turn chanting loudly prior to casting, they gain a +2 bonus to the roll.
  • Aegis of Torment:
    • Action: Reaction (when taking damage or entering combat).
    • Frequency: 1/Daily.
    • Effect: The wearer speaks the command word. The wearer gains +2 Toughness until the end of their next turn. If an enemy breaks this boost to inflict a Wound, the shield bursts, forcing all adjacent foes to make a Vigor roll or become Distracted and Dazed until their next turn.

Shadowrun (6th World)

Coptic 389 of Anguish

Item Type: Foci / Magical Focus (Sustained Defense & Warding Focus)

Availability: 4 (R)

Cost: 12,000 Nuyen + 6 Karma (to bond)

Essence Cost: 0 (Requires Bonding)

Description & Lore

Recovered from a flooded catacomb complex near Old Alexandria, this heavy teardrop medallion is forged of cold-smelted blackened iron. The front features deeply hand-engraved Coptic liturgical lamentations encircling an unpolished smoky quartz gem, while the reverse is stamped with “389”. Modern hermetic scholars and street shamans recognize the artifact’s unique aura: it absorbs the Awakened user’s internal grief and despair, converting emotional agony into kinetic forcefields and reactive physical mana discharges.

Game Mechanics & Stat Block

  • Focus Rating: Force 2
  • Bonding Requirement: The character must bond the focus while experiencing intense melancholy, loss, or grief.

Passive Properties

  • Sorrowful Resilience (Mana Shielding): While bonded and worn on the chest, the focus grants a +1 Bonus Dice to all Willpower + Logic (or Intuition) resistance tests against Opposed Spellcasting, Complex Illusions, or Critter powers that cause Fear, Confusion, or Paralysis.
  • Echo of Affliction (Reactive Mana Discharge): Whenever an opponent succeeds on a Close Combat attack against the wearer, the smoky quartz pulses with a cold, oppressive energy. The attacker takes 1 point of Physical Damage (AP -1) as a direct magical feedback, bypassing physical armor unless elemental cold/force protection is present.

Active Properties

  • Lamentation’s Burden (Sorcery Activation):
    • Action: Major Action
    • Pool: Sorcery + Spellcasting (Focus rating adds +2 bonus dice to this specific spell-like activation).
    • Effect: The user points at a target within Line of Sight (up to 30 meters) and utters a weeping Coptic incantation. The activation deals (Net Hits + 3) Physical Damage. If the user spends a full combat turn loudly chanting or wailing the invocation prior to casting, the damage increases to (Net Hits + 5) Physical Damage.
  • Aegis of Torment (Defense Surge):
    • Action: Minor Action (Once per Scene)
    • Effect: The user triggers the stored emotional mana inside the quartz. For 1 Combat Turn, the wearer gains +2 Defense Rating and +2 Armor Rating. If an enemy breaks through this defense to inflict Physical Damage, the shield bursts, inflicting the Dazed Status on all adjacent targets within 2 meters.

Starfinder (2nd Edition)

Coptic 389 of Anguish

Item Level: 3

Price: 1,200 Credits

Bulk: L

Usage: Worn (Neck Slot)

Category: Magic Item / Relic

Description & Lore

Discovered within a subterranean vault on a forgotten desert world, this heavy teardrop pendant is cast from a dense, light-absorbing iron alloy. Inscribed with Coptic lamentation runes and stamped on the back with “389”, the central raw smoky quartz serves as a micro-crystalline focus that translates emotional anguish into protective kinetic barriers and targeted gravimetric force waves.

Game Mechanics & Stat Block

  • Item AC Bonus: Grants a +1 Item Bonus to EAC (Energy Armor Class).

Passive Properties

  • Sorrowful Resilience: You gain a +1 Item Bonus to saving throws against emotion, fear, or mental effects, as well as condition tracks that inflict the Dazed, Shaken, or Frightened states.
  • Echo of Affliction: Whenever a creature hits you with a melee attack while adjacent to you, the quartz gem discharges stored cold energy. The attacker takes 1 Physical Damage (bypasses kinetic resistance).

Active Abilities

  • Lamentation’s Burden [Two Actions] (Concentrate, Emotion, Magical)
    • Frequency: Once per round.
    • Range: 30 feet; Target: 1 creature.
    • Effect: You point at a target and utter a weeping ritual curse. The target must attempt a DC 18 Basic Fortitude Save. On a failure, the target takes 1d4 Physical Damage. If you spend 3 actions instead of 2 to chant or wail the curse loudly, the save DC increases to DC 20 and the damage increases to 1d4 + 2 Physical Damage.
  • Aegis of Torment [Reaction] (Abjuration, Magical)
    • Frequency: Once per day.
    • Trigger: You drop below half your maximum Stamina Points due to a melee attack.
    • Effect: The medallion deploys an energy shield granting you 5 Temporary Stamina Points for 1 minute. If an enemy depletes these Temporary Stamina Points with a melee attack, the shield bursts, forcing all adjacent creatures to make a DC 18 Fortitude Save or become Dazed until the end of their next turn.

Traveller (Mongoose 2nd Edition)

Coptic 389: Ancient Psionic Amulet

Tech Level: TL 15 (Ancient Origin)

Mass: 0.2 kg

Price: Cr 50,000 (Black Market)

Description & Lore

An anomalous teardrop-shaped metallic medallion recovered from an ancient artifact cache. Composed of a dense, cold-to-the-touch iron composite metal with an embedded smoky quartz crystalline focus, the front features unknown liturgical script while the back is stamped with “389”. Imperial Psionic Institutes classify the object as an emotional-resonance bio-interface that channels grief and psychological distress into bio-psionic shield fields and kinetic shockwaves.

Game Mechanics & Stat Block

  • Requirements: Must be worn around the neck against the skin. Operates automatically for characters with or without formal Psionic training by drawing on biological distress and sorrow.

Passive Properties

  • Psionic Fortitude (Mind Shield): The wearer receives +2 DM to all END or SOC checks (and Psionic Resistance checks) made to resist mental attacks, intimidation, terror, or psionic stun effects.
  • Retaliatory Kinetic Surge: Whenever an enemy inflicts damage on the wearer in Melee Combat (Unarmed or Blade), the central gem discharges a sharp cold-kinetic spike. The attacker takes 1 point of direct physical damage (ignoring non-environmental armor).

Active Properties

  • Lamentation’s Wave (Active Strike):
    • Task: Difficulty Average (2+) Psionics or END check (1 Action).
    • Range: Personal (up to 10 meters).
    • Effect: The user utters an ancient Coptic phrase while focusing their grief. On a success, the target suffers 1d6 Physical Damage (Armor Rating applies normally). If the user spends an extra Combat Round vocally wailing or chanting before firing, they gain +2 DM to the Skill Check and add +2 to the total damage.
  • Aegis of Torment (Emergency Field):
    • Usage: 1 Use per day.
    • Effect: When the wearer takes damage that reduces them to half their total END characteristic, the amulet automatically projects a momentary force field. The wearer absorbs up to 4 points of incoming damage from the next hit. In addition, the force wave forces all adjacent combatants to pass an Average (2+) DEX Check or be rendered Dazed / Prone.

Warhammer 40,000 (Rogue Trader / Dark Heresy / Wrath & Glory)

Coptic Relic #389: The Medallion of Solemn Lamentation

Item Tier: 2 (Rare Relic)

Keywords: Imperial, Anathema, Sanctified, Relic

Rarity: Very Rare

Description & Lore

Dating back to ancient Terra prior to the Dark Age of Technology, this teardrop-shaped blackened iron amulet is inscribed with archaic Coptic liturgical lamentations encircling an unpolished smoky quartz gem. Stamped on the reverse side is the High Gothic numeral “389”. Tech-Priests of the Adeptus Mechanicus class it as a sanctified warp-interface focus that absorbs the wearer’s profound grief and mourning over the Imperium’s fallen, converting solemn anguish into protective kine-shields and crushing waves of psychic force.

Game Mechanics & Stat Block (Wrath & Glory Syntax)

  • Armor Bonus: Grants +1 Armor to the Torso (stacks with non-power armor).
  • Corruption / Malignancy: Worn without peril by Imperial loyalists. Psyker usage does not trigger Perils of the Warp for this specific item’s abilities.

Passive Properties

  • Sorrowful Resilience: The wearer receives +1 Bonus Die to all Willpower or Resolve tests made to resist Fear, Pinning, or psychic powers that inflict the Dazed or Restrained conditions.
  • Echo of Affliction: Whenever an enemy strikes the wearer with a Melee Attack, the smoky quartz pulses with cold energy. The attacker suffers 1 Mortal Wound as a direct physical feedback response.

Active Properties

  • Lamentation’s Burden (Ranged Attack):
    • Action: Action
    • Test: Ballistic Skill (or Willpower) vs Target Defense
    • Range: 15 meters
    • Damage: 7 + 1d4 ED (Impact / Physical Damage) | AP: -1
    • Effect: The user utters an ancient incantation of sorrow at a target within range. If the user spends a full turn chanting or wailing the holy litany prior to unleashing the attack, the damage increases by +2 ED and the target gains the Dazed condition on a successful hit.
  • Aegis of Torment (Relic Barrier):
    • Action: Reaction (1/Respite)
    • Trigger: The wearer suffers a Critical Hit or is reduced below half their Maximum Wounds.
    • Effect: The medallion projects a shimmering grey force barrier. The wearer gains +2 Resilience until the start of their next turn. If an enemy attacks and fails to penetrate this increased Resilience, the barrier bursts, forcing all adjacent enemies to pass a DN 3 Strength Test or be rendered Dazed and Stunned.