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Tikanga 732 of the Bound Blood Fury

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by

Dale
in

The Tikanga 732 of the Bound Blood-Fury is a heavy, rectangular pendant carved from dark, volcanic basalt and bound with braided fibers of human hair and harakeke. The surface is etched with shifting pōwhiri patterns that glow with a dull, bruised purple light when the wearer’s pulse quickens. Lore tells of the First Berserker who, unable to control the red mist of his mind, sought the elders to bind his rage within a framework of sacred law. This item does not quell the feral spirit; instead, it imposes a tapu (sacred restriction) upon the violence, transforming a mindless slaughter into a ritualized, sanctioned fury. It is a common sight among the frontline guardians of the island gestalts, who must balance their animalistic power with the strict protocols of their tribe.

  • Slot: Neck (Pendant)
  • Weight: 1.5 lbs
  • Material: Volcanic Basalt, Braided Hair, Harakeke Fiber
  • Tier: 1
  • Rarity: Common
  • Skills Gained while Openly Worn: The avatar gains proficiency in Intimidation and Knowledge (Cultural Protocol). The wearer can instinctively identify which areas or objects are considered tapu (restricted) within a ritualized environment.

Passive Magic

  • Sanctioned Slaughter: While the avatar is in a state of Feral Rage, they cannot be forced to attack an ally or an innocent bystander. The tikanga of the pendant redirects the animalistic instinct toward designated “enemies of the protocol,” providing a spiritual compass to the mindless fury.
  • Ancestral Weight: The basalt pendant grows significantly heavier as the wearer’s anger rises. This physical weight provides a +1 bonus to resistance checks against being shoved or knocked prone while raging, as the ancestors “anchor” the warrior to the earth.

Activable Magic

  • Declaration of Tapu (Active): The user can touch a specific weapon or their own claws as a bonus action, declaring them tapu. For the next minute, the chosen object deals an additional 1d4 necrotic damage to any foe who has violated a social or tactical protocol (such as fleeing from a duel or attacking from behind).
  • The Ritual Challenge (Active): Once per long rest, the wearer can perform a brief, terrifying grimace or pukana. This forces an enemy within 30 feet to make a willpower save. On a failure, the enemy is compelled to engage only the wearer in combat, as the pendant establishes a sacred “circle of engagement” between the two combatants.

Tags Tikanga, Tapu, Feral-Rage, Ritual, Protection, Basalt, Neck-item, Tier-1, Berserker, Law, Ancestral, Social-Order, Mana, Intimidation, Volcanic, Polished-Stone, Binding, Warrior-Code, Necrotic, Pukana, Martial-Law, Spirit-Binding

The Tikanga 732 of the Bound Blood-Fury is obtained primarily through rites of passage, ancestral inheritance, or by proving one’s spiritual discipline to the guardians of the island gestalts. Because it is a tier 1 item of common rarity, it is the standard “bridle” given to young warriors who exhibit the volatile gift of feral rage.

  • Acquisition through Trial: Most avatars receive this item after completing a Ritual of the First Blood, where they must enter a rage state within a sacred circle without breaking a single ceremonial vessel. Successful candidates are gifted the pendant by a Tohunga (priest-expert) as a sign that their rage is now “clothed” in protocol.
  • Acquisition through Ancestral Discovery: In the volcanic regions of Saṃsāra, these pendants are sometimes found in burial caves or ancient battle-sites. Because the basalt is tapu, it does not erode. A scavenger using their Mind’s Eye will see the basalt pulsing with a dark purple “heartbeat” beneath the ash, signaling that the warrior-spirit within is waiting for a new host.
  • Acquisition through Tribal Commission: A warrior can provide volcanic stone from their own homeland to a master carver. The carver weaves the hair of the warrior’s lineage into the binding, imprinting the specific tikanga of their family into the stone.

The venues for buying and selling such a sacred object are strictly governed by the spiritual laws of Saṃsāra, as selling a tapu item in a mundane shop is often considered an invitation for bad luck.

  • The Marae (Communal Ritual Centers): These are not “shops” in the traditional sense, but central hubs of island life. Here, the Tikanga 732 is exchanged for Koha (reciprocal gifts). A warrior might offer rare feathers, high-quality whalebone, or 15 Silver to the community chest in exchange for the pendant. The “transaction” is accompanied by a formal speech acknowledging the weight of the rage being bound.
  • Tohunga’s Workshops: Located on the outskirts of metropolises or tucked away in volcanic valleys, these workshops are filled with the scent of burning herbs and the sound of stone-tapping. A Tohunga sells these items to those they deem worthy of the “burden of law.” The cost is generally 20 Silver or a trade of “Mana-infused” materials, such as the tooth of a great beast.
  • Curio Shacks in Warrior Quarters: In large megacities with standing armies, specialized merchants deal in “Disciplined Violence” gear. These shops are often guarded by silent, scarred veterans. Here, a Tikanga 732 can be bought for 25 Silver. The merchant will usually require the buyer to perform a brief pukana to prove they have the feral spirit required to activate the stone.
  • Underground Reliquaries: In the darker, lawless sectors of Saṃsāra, these pendants are sold by “Spirit-Breakers” who strip the items from fallen warriors. Because the tapu is often “angry” in these stolen items, the price is lower—around 10 Silver—but the buyer risks a spiritual backlash if they do not perform a cleansing ritual immediately.

When selling the item, the buyer will use their Mind’s Eye to look for “Cracks in the Law.” If the basalt has become jagged or the purple light has turned a sickly green, it indicates the previous owner used their rage for dishonorable slaughter, significantly lowering the value. A clean, well-honored pendant can be sold back to a Tohunga or a Marae for 10 to 12 Silver, as they are eager to return sacred items to the proper lineage.

In the world of Saṃsāra, the Tikanga 732 of the Bound Blood-Fury is not merely an ornament; it is a spiritual contract. Roleplaying with this item involves balancing the chaotic, animalistic “Feral Rage” with the rigid, cold structure of “Tikanga.” The transition between a wild beast and a disciplined judge is the core of its use in combat and social interaction.

  • In a defensive capacity within a Designated Safe Area, such as a temple or a diplomatic hall, the pendant acts as a psychic anchor. While others might be provoked into brawling, the wearer uses the Ancestral Weight to remain unmoved—literally and figuratively. Roleplaying this involves the avatar standing perfectly still, the basalt pendant glowing a deep, warning purple. If an intruder violates the tapu of the hall, the wearer doesn’t just “fight”; they “correct” the trespasser. The defense is focused on maintaining the sanctity of the space, using Intimidation to force peace before a single blow is landed.
  • In an offensive role within Normal Areas, like a trade route or a village square, the Ritual Challenge is used to isolate high-value targets. Instead of a chaotic charge, the avatar performs a pukana, locking eyes with the enemy leader. Offensively, this creates a “Duel of Law.” While the avatar’s body is a blur of feral violence, the pendant ensures their strikes are surgical and focused solely on the challenged foe. This prevents the “red mist” from wasting energy on footmen, allowing the avatar to dismantle the enemy’s command structure through a sanctioned, singular hunt.
  • Within an Unsafe Area, such as a haunted volcanic ridge or a ruin where Armor Class is halved, the Ancestral Weight provides a vital defensive foundation. In these unstable environments, the pendant grows heavy, lowering the avatar’s center of gravity. Roleplay often focuses on the avatar moving like a “sliding mountain”—unshakeable and grounded even when the terrain is crumbling. This weight prevents the feral rage from causing the avatar to leap into dangerous, overextended positions, keeping them anchored to their tactical line.
  • Offensively, in a Metropolis or a Floating City, the Declaration of Tapu is used to punish those who hide behind social status. If a corrupt official or a traitorous guard is identified, the avatar can declare the target’s armor or position tapu (restricted). Roleplaying this involves a vocal proclamation of the target’s dishonor. The extra necrotic damage represents the ancestors’ disapproval; every claw or weapon strike feels like the weight of a thousand years of tribal law crashing down on the offender, bypassing the “safe” feeling of a city’s legal protection.
  • In Deathly Areas, where every attack hits and the environment is pure hostility, the Sanctioned Slaughter passive is the ultimate defensive fail-safe. In these high-stress zones, the feral mind often wants to lash out at anything that moves. Roleplay here is characterized by the avatar “seeing” through the pendant’s purple light—allies appear as shielded spirits that must be protected, while enemies are highlighted as targets for ritual execution. It prevents the tragedy of friendly fire in the darkness, ensuring the group’s survival through directed, focused aggression.
  • In social negotiations within a somewhat safe area, the item is used for “Offensive Diplomacy.” By openly wearing the basalt and displaying the tikanga patterns, the avatar signals that their rage is a tool of the law, not a lapse in judgment. This grants a defensive layer against social manipulation; it is difficult to lie to or charm someone whose very necklace is a constant reminder of ancestral truth and sacred restriction.

Perception of Activation:

  • User’s Perspective: When the Tikanga 732 is activated, the wearer feels a sudden, heavy pressure against their chest, as if a large, invisible hand is pressing the basalt pendant into their sternum. The “red mist” of their feral rage does not vanish, but it is suddenly partitioned; the user feels as though they are looking through a grid of purple light that categorizes the battlefield into “Sacred” (allies/innocents) and “Profane” (enemies). A low, rhythmic chanting, like a thousand distant voices performing a haka, vibrates in the user’s inner ear, syncing with their pounding heartbeat.
  • Observer’s Perspective: To a bystander, the dark basalt of the pendant suddenly begins to “bleed” a thick, bruised-purple vapor that clings to the user’s skin like a layer of translucent war paint. The user’s eyes may glow with a similar hue, and their movements—previously wild and erratic—suddenly become unnervingly rhythmic and deliberate. Those standing nearby feel a localized increase in gravity and a sense of “spiritual heavy air” that makes it difficult to breathe or speak flippantly, as if they have entered a courtroom or a temple.
  • Extra-Sensory Perceptions: Through the Mind’s Eye, the avatar perceives the “Mana-Lines” of the environment. Honorable combatants appear with a steady, golden aura, while those who have violated protocols (the dishonorable) appear wrapped in jagged, shadowy thorns. To a telepath, the user’s mind no longer sounds like a screaming animal; it sounds like a thunderous, repeating law, an endless loop of ancestral decrees that drowns out all other psychic noise. The scent of hot volcanic ash and dried sea salt fills the air, regardless of the actual environment.
  • Positives: The primary benefit is the total conversion of “Mindless Rage” into “Directed Fury.” It removes the risk of the avatar accidentally harming their own gestalt during a feral episode. The Ritual Challenge ensures that the most dangerous foe is pinned down by spiritual law, preventing them from escaping or targeting weaker allies. Furthermore, the Ancestral Weight provides a level of physical stability that makes the user nearly impossible to displace, allowing them to act as a living, unshakeable anchor for their team.
  • Negatives: The rigid nature of the tapu can be a hindrance; if the user’s “Protocol” dictates they cannot strike from behind, they may find themselves unable to take a tactically advantageous but “dishonorable” opening. The physical weight of the pendant can cause significant neck and back fatigue after the rage ends, leading to a temporary penalty in Agility. Additionally, the Declaration of Tapu is a two-way street; by declaring a foe restricted, the user also restricts themselves to only engaging that foe, potentially leaving them vulnerable to other enemies while the “Sacred Duel” is in effect.

Ritual of the Bound Volcanic Heart

  • Materials Needed:
    • 1 slab of Raw Volcanic Basalt (must be cooled naturally by the sea)
    • 3 strands of Ancestral Hair (donated by three generations of a single lineage)
    • 5 feet of Harakeke (New Zealand Flax) fiber, hand-scraped
    • 1 vial of Hematite-infused Pigment (for the pōwhiri etchings)
    • 1 pinch of Volcanic Ash from an active vent (to act as the “spirit-seed”)
    • A small quantity of Whale Oil (to polish the stone and seal the tapu)
  • Tools Required:
    • Chisel of Hardened Nephrite (Greenstone) for precision carving
    • Bone Needle (for braiding the hair and harakeke tethers)
    • Ritual Fire (fed by driftwood from a sacred shore)
    • Basalt Grinding Stone (to smooth the pendant’s surface)
    • Mind’s Eye Resonator (to ensure the purple light-channels are etched correctly)
  • Skill Requirements:
    • Tier 1 Cultural Artistry: Knowledge of pōwhiri patterns and their specific spiritual meanings.
    • Basic Spirit-Binding: The ability to invite ancestral presence into an object without causing possession.
    • Stone-Carving Proficiency: Experience in working with dense, volcanic rock without fracturing the core.
    • Mental Discipline: The crafter must maintain a state of “Calm Fury” throughout the entire carving process to properly prime the stone.
  • Crafting Steps:
    • Begin by shaping the raw basalt into a rectangular form using the grinding stone. The stone must be kept wet with seawater during this process to maintain its “ocean-cooled” temperament.
    • Inscribe the primary tapu runes into the face of the stone using the nephrite chisel. You must visualize the specific laws you wish the rage to follow while carving each line.
    • Mix the hematite pigment with a drop of your own blood and the volcanic ash. Carefully fill the etchings with this mixture; this creates the “Bruised-Purple” conduit that will glow during activation.
    • Braid the ancestral hair and the harakeke fiber together. This is a slow, rhythmic process that requires chanting the lineage of the warrior who will wear it. The braid must be strong enough to support the pendant’s shifting weight.
    • Pass the pendant through the smoke of the ritual fire three times. On the third pass, command the “Feral Spirit” of the volcanic ash to enter the stone and accept the bonds of the etchings.
    • Rub the entire piece with whale oil. This seals the magic and ensures that the tapu remains “slick”—meaning it can slide between the physical and spiritual worlds without breaking.
    • Perform the “First Challenge” by shouting a haka at the finished item. If the etchings pulse with purple light and the pendant grows heavy, the binding is complete.
    • If the stone cracks during the final shout, it indicates the basalt was “spirit-hollow” or the crafter’s intent was not pure; the materials must be returned to the earth and the process restarted.

Law-Biter who Walked Fire-Path

Long ago, before the sun was a round coin and when the islands were still the teeth of the Great Shark, there lived the One-Who-Eats-Clouds. His spirit was not a man’s spirit, but the Red-Dog-of-the-Storm. When the anger-wind blew in his chest, he forgot the names of his brothers and the face of the mother-water. He would bite the trees and break the stars, for his rage was a river without banks.

The One-Who-Eats-Clouds wept when the red-mist left his eyes and he saw the broken things. He climbed the mountain that spits fire and spoke to the First-Grandfather-Stone. “Grandfather,” he cried, “give me a cage for my dog, so I may walk in the village without the blood-shadow.” The Stone did not speak, for it was busy being heavy, but it dropped a piece of its own cold heart into the warrior’s hand.

The warrior took the hair of his dead fathers and the skin of the green-flax. He bound the Stone-Heart to his throat. He told the Stone: “When the Dog wakes, you must be the weight. When the Dog bites, you must be the Law.” He carved the pōwhiri-spirals into the rock, which are the maps of how to be a person.

A Great Enemy came from the dark-water, men who broke the sacred-rules and laughed at the spirit-houses. The One-Who-Eats-Clouds felt the Red-Dog bark. He jumped into the middle of the fire-war. But the Stone-Heart grew heavy like the world! The Dog could not run in circles or bite the friends. The Dog was forced to walk the path of the spirals. He fought with the strength of ten-thousand whales, but his teeth only found the necks of the rule-breakers. Because the Stone-Heart told him: “A warrior who bites the wind is a fool; a warrior who bites the shadow is a hero.”

The old scrolls say: “The purple-light is the eye of the ancestor watching the hand of the angry. If the hand moves for the Law, the light is a sun; if the hand moves for the self, the light is a grave.”

Moral of the Story: Power without a boundary is a flood that drowns the garden, but power with a law is the rain that feeds the tribe.

Suggested conversions to other systems:

Call of Cthulhu (7th Edition)

Unique Name: The Basalt Seal of Ritual Fury

  • Description: A heavy volcanic stone pendant etched with protective runes, designed to anchor a fracturing mind.
  • Skill – Intimidate: While worn, the user receives a +20% bonus to Intimidate checks, especially against those who have offended the user’s personal or cultural code.
  • Special Mechanic – Sanctioned Slaughter: If the user enters a “Bout of Madness” while wearing the pendant, they do not roll for a random result. Instead, they enter a “Ritual Rage” where they may only attack the direct source of the Sanity loss or a designated enemy, sparing allies automatically.
  • Special Mechanic – The Ritual Challenge: Spend 1D4 Sanity and 2 MP. The user performs a pukana, locking eyes with a human or sentient entity. The target must succeed on a Hard POW check or be unable to attack anyone other than the user for 1D4 rounds.
  • Weight: 1.5 lbs.

Blades in the Dark

Unique Name: The Law-Bound Heart (Relic)

  • Item Type: Fine Jewelry/Armor (1 Load)
  • Tier: 1 (Fine Quality)
  • Mechanic – Passive: When you perform a Command or Consort action in a formal or ritualized setting, you gain Potency.
  • Mechanic – Sanctioned Slaughter: When you take Level 2 or 3 Harm or “Push Yourself” to engage in combat, you may ignore the “Faint” or “Terrified” conditions. The pendant keeps your violence focused; you cannot be forced to harm a crewmate or an “Innocent” bystander by any supernatural or mental effect.
  • Mechanic – Ancestral Weight: You may resist a physical consequence (being moved, disarmed, or knocked down) by spending 1 Stress instead of rolling, as the pendant anchors you to the ground.

Dungeons & Dragons (2024 Edition)

Unique Name: Tikanga Pendant of the Bound Fury

  • Item Type: Wondrous Item
  • Rarity: Common
  • Attunement: Required (by a creature with the Rage feature or the Primal Path)
  • Slot: Neck
  • Properties:
    • Sanctioned Slaughter (Passive): While you are Raging, you have Advantage on Saving Throws against being Charmed or Frightened. Additionally, you cannot deal damage to creatures you consider allies.
    • Ancestral Weight (Passive): While Raging, you have Advantage on Saving Throws and Ability Checks against being moved against your will or knocked Prone.
    • Declaration of Tapu: Once per Long Rest, as a Bonus Action, you can imbue your strikes with sacred law. For 1 minute, your first successful melee attack each turn deals an extra 1d4 Necrotic damage.
    • The Ritual Challenge: As an Action, you perform a terrifying pukana. One creature within 30 feet that can see you must make a Wisdom Saving Throw (DC 8 + your Proficiency Bonus + your Strength modifier). On a failure, the creature has Disadvantage on attack rolls against targets other than you until the end of its next turn.

Knave (2nd Edition)

Unique Name: The Law-Giver’s Basalt

  • Item Type: Relic
  • Slots: 1 Slot (Neck)
  • Quality: 3/3
  • Mechanic – Passive: You gain a +2 bonus to all CHA checks involving intimidation or cultural parley.
  • Mechanic – Ancestral Weight: You cannot be knocked back or tripped by creatures of your size or smaller.
  • Mechanic – Active: Once per day, you may cast the following effect:
    • Sacred Duel: You point at a foe. For the next 3 rounds, both you and the foe gain +2 to hit each other, but -4 to hit anyone else. If the foe tries to run away, you gain an immediate free attack with Advantage.
  • Wound Mechanic: If this item is damaged (takes a Wound), the harakeke binding snaps. The user immediately enters a mindless frenzy, attacking the nearest living thing (friend or foe) for 1d6 rounds until the pendant is repaired.

Fate Core / Fate Condensed

Unique Name: The Basalt Anchor of Lawful Rage

  • Type: Extra (Costs 1 Refresh)
  • Aspects: Ritualized Feral Spirit, The Weight of the Ancestors
  • Sanctioned Slaughter: While you have a combat-related Aspect active (like In a Feral Rage), you gain a +2 bonus to Will rolls to resist any mental influence that would force you to harm an ally or break a known social protocol.
  • Ancestral Weight: You may use your Physique skill to defend against any attempt to move you from your zone or knock you down, even if the attack would normally require Athletics.
  • Declaration of Tapu: Once per scene, you may place a Situation Aspect called Tapu Restriction on a single opponent you have engaged. While they have this aspect, any successful attack you make against them deals +1 additional stress.
  • The Ritual Challenge: Spend a Fate Point to force an opponent in your zone to focus entirely on you. Until the end of the next exchange, they cannot target anyone else unless they first overcome a Will obstacle equal to your Provoke.

Numenera & Cypher System

Unique Name: Protocol-Binding Gorget

  • Level: 1d6 (Tier 1)
  • Form: A rectangular basalt pendant bound in textured, braided fiber.
  • Effect:
    • Passive: The user is trained in Intimidation and Social Protocol tasks.
    • Sanctioned Slaughter: When the user is in a high-adrenaline or “Enraged” state, they gain an Asset to all Intellect defense rolls to resist being controlled or manipulated into harming allies.
    • Declaration of Tapu (2 Intellect points): The user designates a target as Tapu. For the next minute, the user’s attacks against that target deal +2 damage, but the user takes a penalty to attack any other creature.
    • Ancestral Weight: The user gains an Asset to any task involving resisting being moved, shoved, or knocked prone.
  • Depletion: 1 in 1d20 (Roll upon using the Declaration of Tapu).

Pathfinder (2nd Edition Remaster)

Unique Name: Basalt Pendant of Sanctioned Fury

  • Item Level: 1
  • Price: 18 gp
  • Usage: worn (pendant); Bulk: L
  • Traits: Magical, Spirit, Transmutation
  • Description: This dark basalt slab is etched with pōwhiri patterns that pulse purple when blood is spilled nearby.
  • Ancestral Weight (Passive): You gain a +1 item bonus to your Fortitude DC against Shove and Trip actions.
  • Sanctioned Slaughter (Passive): If you have the Rage class feature, you gain a +1 status bonus to Will saves against mental effects while raging. Additionally, your strikes never trigger the “Friendly Fire” complications of chaotic environments.
  • Declaration of Tapu [Action] (Envision): Frequency: Once per hour. Effect: You touch your weapon or claws. Until the end of your next turn, your strikes deal an additional 1d4 Spirit damage against a creature that has damaged you or an ally in the last minute.
  • The Ritual Challenge [Action] (Visual, Auditory, Emotion, Fear): Frequency: Once per day. Effect: You perform a pukana. One creature within 30 feet must attempt a Will save against your Intimidate DC. On a failure, the creature is Frightened 1 and is Observed by you regardless of concealment; they feel a spiritual compulsion to move toward you.

Savage Worlds (Adventure Edition)

Unique Name: Tapu-Bound Basalt

  • Type: Magic Item (Relic)
  • Weight: 1.5 lbs
  • Sanctioned Slaughter: If the wielder has the Berserk Edge, they can distinguish friend from foe perfectly and will never attack an ally while Berserk.
  • Ancestral Weight: The wielder gains a +2 bonus to Athletics rolls to resist being Pushed and is immune to being knocked Prone by non-magical means while in a state of Rage or Berserk.
  • Declaration of Tapu: As a Limited Action, the wielder may declare a target Tapu. Their melee attacks against that target gain +2 to damage for the duration of the encounter, but they suffer a -2 penalty to hit any other target.
  • The Ritual Challenge: The wielder may make an Intimidation Test against a target’s Spirit. On a success, the target is Distracted; on a Raise, the target is also Vulnerable and must move toward the wielder on their next turn if possible.
  • Negative (Minor Curse): If the wielder ever strikes a surrendered or helpless foe, the pendant becomes inert and gains the Heavy property (increasing Weight to 10 lbs) until a proper cleansing ritual is performed at a Marae.

Shadowrun (6th World Edition)

Unique Name: The Ancestral Protocol Focus

  • Item Type: Weapon Focus or Qi Focus (Level 1)
  • Object Resistance: 9
  • Mechanic – Sanctioned Slaughter: While the user is under the effects of an “Adrenaline Boost” or is in a “Frenzied” state (mental or magical), they ignore the usual loss of tactical control. The user may spend 1 Edge to automatically exclude all friendly IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) signals from their melee attacks for the remainder of the combat.
  • Mechanic – Ancestral Weight: The user gains a +2 dice pool bonus to resist any “Knockback” or “Forced Movement” effects.
  • Mechanic – The Ritual Challenge (Active): The user performs a pukana (Major Action). Make an Intimidation + Charisma vs. Willpower + Intuition test. For every net hit, the target suffers a -1 dice pool penalty to any attack that does not include the user as a target.
  • Mechanic – Declaration of Tapu: Melee attacks against a target that has violated “Street Code” or “Shadowrunner Ethics” (as determined by the GM) gain +1 Damage Value.

Starfinder (2nd Edition / Playtest)

Unique Name: Basalt Aegis of the Bound Soul

  • Item Level: 1
  • Price: 250 Credits
  • Bulk: L
  • Traits: Magical, Spirit, Infused
  • Sanctioned Slaughter (Passive): If you have a class feature that grants a “Rage” or “Berserk” effect, you are immune to the Confused condition while that effect is active. You automatically succeed at any check required to avoid hitting an ally.
  • Ancestral Weight (Passive): You gain a +2 item bonus to your Fortitude DC against Athletics checks to Shove, Trip, or Disarm you.
  • The Ritual Challenge [Action]: You perform a ritualized challenge against one creature within 30 feet. The target must attempt a Will saving throw (DC based on your Charisma or Strength). On a failure, the target is Taunted by you for 1 round.
  • Declaration of Tapu [Reaction]: Trigger: An enemy within reach deals damage to you. Effect: You mark them as Tapu. Your next melee attack against that enemy deals an additional 1d6 Spirit damage.

Traveller (Mongoose 2nd Edition)

Unique Name: The Guardian’s Volcanic Taboo

  • TL (Tech Level): 0 (Primitive Relic) / 14 (Psionic Interface equivalent)
  • Weight: 0.5 kg
  • Mechanic – Ancestral Weight: The wielder is treated as having +2 Strength for the purposes of resisting “Recoil,” “Knockback,” or “Grappling” maneuvers.
  • Mechanic – Sanctioned Slaughter: When the wielder is under the “Combat Stress” or using “Combat Drugs,” they do not suffer the usual DM-2 penalty to non-combat tasks. Their violence is perfectly channeled; they will never accidentally hit a bystander or ally on a “Effect -1” or worse roll.
  • Mechanic – The Ritual Challenge: By succeeding on an Admin or Diplomacy check (Difficulty: Average 8+) to establish a “Formal Duel,” the wielder and one opponent gain a DM+1 to hit each other, but a DM-3 to hit any other target in the skirmish.
  • Mechanic – Declaration of Tapu: Any melee hit against a foe who has used “Dishonorable Weapons” (e.g., gas, poison, or snipers) deals an extra +2 damage.

Warhammer (Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition)

Unique Name: The Basalt Icon of Sacred Wrath

  • Item Type: Magical Artifact / Talisman
  • Encumbrance: 0
  • Traits: Protective, Ancestral, Tapu
  • Mechanic – Sanctioned Slaughter: If the wielder has the Frenzy Talent, they retain their mental faculties while frenzied. They may choose their targets freely and can use the Dodge skill as normal. They will never attack an ally.
  • Mechanic – Ancestral Weight: The wielder gains the Sturdy Talent. If they already possess it, they ignore the first 2 points of “Penalty” to movement or Agility checks caused by heavy gear or mud.
  • Mechanic – The Ritual Challenge: As an Action, the wielder may make an Intimidate Test. Each SL (Success Level) forces one engaged enemy to focus their next Action solely on the wielder, or suffer a -10 penalty to attack anyone else.
  • Mechanic – Declaration of Tapu: The wielder’s melee attacks gain the Damaging Trait against any foe who has committed a “Sin” against the wielder’s cult or cultural code within the current encounter.
  • Curse: If the wielder flees a challenge, the pendant grows scorching hot, inflicting 1 Ablaze Condition that cannot be extinguished until the wielder turns back to face the foe.