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Pincer 739 of Accounting

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by

Dale
in

Lore

In the vast, aquatic trade routes between the seventy-three island nations of Saṃsāra, the Crustacean Avatars—sentient crabs, lobsters, and shelled gestalts—dominate the underwater salvage and shipping industries. However, a significant physiological barrier existed for these species regarding high-finance and bureaucracy: their massive, crushing pincers were ill-suited for handling delicate parchment, quills, or counting small coins without destroying them.

To solve this, the Deep-Sea Guild of Notaries commissioned the creation of the Accounting Pincer attachments. Pincer 739 is a standard-issue model from the “Fiscal Claw” line, manufactured in the steam-forges of the Iron Archipelago. These items are distinct from battle-claws; they are tools of civilization, designed to convert a weapon of war into an instrument of commerce. This specific unit, Number 739, has likely served a dozen different avatars, from dockside cargo inspectors to underwater tax collectors. It bears the scuffs of coin friction and ink stains of a thousand ledgers, carrying with it the residual psychic weight of balanced books and paid debts.

Visual Description

Pincer 739 appears as a segmented, articulated casing made of polished brass and matte-green oxidized copper. It is designed to slide over and clamp onto a standard biological pincer. Along the outer ridge of the brass casing runs a small rail containing sliding beads of electrum and jade, functioning as a built-in abacus. The tips of the pincer attachment are tipped with soft, enchanted velvet pads that can retract to reveal fine-point styluses. When the avatar moves their claw, the abacus beads click softly, and the brass plating gleams with a dull, serious light. Etched into the side is the universal symbol for “Currency Exchange.”

Tier 1 Stats and Properties

  • Item Name: Pincer 739 of Accounting
  • Tier: 1
  • Slot: Pincers (Occupies one pincer slot; if the avatar has two pincers, they may wear two, but this entry describes a single item).
  • Rarity: Common
  • Attunement: Required (Takes 1 minute of performing precise opening and closing motions to calibrate the grip).
  • Worn Count: Counts as 1 towards the maximum of 10 worn attuned items.
  • Value: 45 Silver (Standard market price for precision tools).

Skills Gained

  • Dexterous Manipulation: The wearer negates the natural clumsiness associated with pincer anatomy. They can handle items as small as a single grain of rice or a thin sheet of paper without tearing or crushing it.
  • Financial Literacy: The wearer gains an instinctual understanding of double-entry bookkeeping. When holding a ledger or scroll, they can spot mathematical errors or erasures simply by the texture of the paper.

Color

Polished Brass (Gold-Yellow) and Ledger Green (Verdigris).

Passive Magic

  • The Feather-Touch Protocol:
    • The primary function of the item is a gravity-dampening field focused solely on the grip strength of the pincer. No matter how strong the avatar is, or how much force they instinctively apply, the pincer will not crush an object identified as “fragile” or “valuable” by the Mind’s Eye.
    • This allows a Tier 1 crab-avatar to hold a raw egg or a soap bubble without breaking it, provided they are trying to “audit” it.
  • Tactile Valuation:
    • When the avatar picks up a coin, gem, or trade good with the pincer, the item weighs the object with supernatural precision.
    • The exact weight (down to the milligram) and material density are instantly projected into the avatar’s Mind’s Eye. This makes it impossible for the avatar to be fooled by shaved coins, hollow gold bars, or counterfeit gems made of glass.
  • Ink Reservoir:
    • The brass casing contains a small, magical reservoir of black ink. By channeling a thought, the avatar can cause ink to flow to the tip of the pincer, effectively turning their claw into a giant, high-quality quill pen. This allows for writing directly on crates, walls, or parchment without needing a separate tool.

Active Magic

  • The Notary Stamp (Action):
    • The avatar creates a magical seal of authenticity on a document or object they are gripping.
    • By squeezing the pincer and expelling a burst of steam from the vents, a glowing, magical watermark is pressed into the material. This mark is unique to the avatar (their “signature”) and cannot be forged. It fades after 30 days unless renewed.
    • This is used to mark crates as “Inspected,” “Taxed,” or “Seized.”
  • Coin Flick (Combat Action):
    • While pincers are usually melee weapons, Pincer 739 allows for a unique ranged attack. The avatar can hold a coin (Copper, Silver, or Gold) in the pincer and snap it shut with magical velocity.
    • The coin is launched like a bullet. It deals 1d4 bludgeoning damage plus the avatar’s standard modifier.
    • Special: If a Gold coin is used, the damage is treated as magical for the purpose of overcoming resistances, and the coin flashes with bright light upon impact, potentially distracting the target. The coin is destroyed in the process (the cost of doing business).
  • Grip of the Debt Collector (Combat Grapple):
    • When the avatar successfully grapples an opponent using this pincer, they can activate this ability.
    • The brass casing heats up, and the abacus beads rattle violently. The target feels a psychic sensation of crushing debt and anxiety.
    • The grapple does not deal physical damage in this mode; instead, it saps the target’s will. For every round the grapple is maintained, the target loses 1 point of temporary morale or gains a cumulative -1 penalty to their next attack roll, symbolizing the weight of financial burden.

Tags

Industrial, Lawful, Precision, Merchant, Aquatic (Safe), Tool, Steam-Powered, Metallic, Bureaucracy, Appraisal, Prosthetic, Guild, Clockwork, Salvage, Administrative, Focus, Economic, Civilized, Notary

Additional Information

  • Conduit Function: This item serves as a valid magic conduit. Mages who use this pincer tend to cast spells that manifest as chains, cages, or metallic geometric shapes. A “Hold Person” spell cast through this pincer often looks like the target is being wrapped in red tape or golden chains.
  • Maintenance: The brass gears must be oiled weekly to prevent seizing, especially if used in saltwater environments. If the abacus beads become jammed with sand, the passive “Tactile Valuation” ability may give slightly inaccurate readings until cleaned.
  • Social Status: Among crustacean races, wearing Pincer 739 is a sign of education and class. It separates the “savage” wild crabs from the “civilized” citizens of Saṃsāra. It effectively communicates, “I am not food; I am the one who calculates the bill.”
  • Pain Penalty: If a character below Tier 1 attempts to wear this (e.g., a non-sentient giant crab), the pincer will clamp shut and lock in place, rendering the claw useless until removed. The pain caused by the conflicting magic will cause the beast to try and tear the item off, likely damaging itself.
  • Synergy: If worn alongside the “Orb of Accounting,” the pincer can automatically write down the numbers that the Orb scans, allowing for hands-free (or rather, mind-free) bookkeeping.

Methods of Acquisition

The Pincer 739 of Accounting is a specialized prosthetic tool designed for the specific biological needs of crustacean and chitinous avatars. Unlike general magical items like rings or cloaks, this item requires a specific anatomical structure to function. Therefore, its acquisition is often tied to the maritime and sub-aquatic cultures of Saṃsāra. Adventurers and avatars may obtain this item through the following means:

  • Maritime Salvage and Wreck Diving: The oceans of Saṃsāra are littered with the remains of trade ships and floating cities that succumbed to storms or monster attacks. Many of the crew members on these vessels were aquatic avatars employed as pursers or cargo masters. Explorers diving into the wreckage of a sunken merchant cog or searching the debris field of a crashed airship that fell into the sea may find these pincers still attached to the skeletal remains of their former owners. They are often found locked inside watertight strongboxes or drifting in the sediment of the ocean floor, their brass casings resistant to corrosion due to the protective enchantments.
  • Guild Promotion or Requisition: For avatars who join the Merchant Marines, the Dockworkers’ Union, or the Abyssal Tax Collectors, the Pincer of Accounting is often issued as standard kit upon reaching a certain rank. A character starting their journey as a scribe for a shipping company might be “loaned” the item, with the expectation that they will pay off the cost through their labor. Alternatively, an adventurer might receive one as a reward for recovering lost ledgers or exposing a smuggling ring that was defrauding the local guild.
  • Seizure from Corrupt Officials: In the coastal cities and underwater metropolises, corruption is a constant threat. A common narrative arc involves confronting a corrupt harbor master or a greedy toll collector who is extorting travelers. These antagonists often wear high-quality versions of the Pincer 739 to facilitate their illicit bookkeeping. Upon defeating or exposing such a foe, the avatar may claim the pincer as the spoils of victory, though they may need to scrub off the previous owner’s “Notary Stamp” signature before it can be legally used.

Retail Establishments and Commercial Availability

The sale of Pincer 739 is concentrated in port cities, underwater markets, and industrial zones where aquatic races congregate. You will rarely find this item in a landlocked mountain village or a desert bazaar unless it is being sold as a curiosity or scrap metal.

  • Amphibious Artificers and Shell-Smiths: Located on the humid docks or in the half-submerged districts of major ports, these shops cater to avatars who live both on land and in water. The workshops are often noisy, filled with the sound of steam hammers and the smell of ozone and brine. The floor is usually grated to allow water to drain, and the shopkeeper might be a giant crab or a multi-limbed gestalt entity. Here, the Pincer of Accounting is sold alongside hull patches, waterproof ink, and shell polish. The atmosphere is utilitarian; these are tools for working avatars, not jewelry for nobles.
  • The Deep-Sea Exchange: In the underwater population centers or the benthic mega-cities located in dark cave systems, there are vast markets illuminated by bioluminescent fungi and magical crystals. The Deep-Sea Exchange allows for three-dimensional shopping, where customers swim between floating displays. In these high-pressure environments, the Pincer 739 is a status symbol. Shops here are quieter, more refined, and the items are displayed on velvet cushions inside air-filled bubbles to prevent water damage to the internal abacus beads before sale.
  • Surplus Auctions and Salvage Yards: Near the major shipyards, one can find sprawling salvage yards where stripped parts from decommissioned vessels and deceased avatars are sold by the pound. Here, a Pincer of Accounting might be found in a bin of “Assorted Brass Hydraulics.” The condition is likely poor—dented casing, stuck beads, or a faint smell of rot—but the price will be significantly lower. The buyer will need to perform their own repairs and attunement rituals to restore functionality.

The Transaction Process

Purchasing a Pincer 739 involves more than just handing over coin; it requires a physical fitting and a demonstration of competence.

  • The Fitting: Because pincers vary wildly in size and shape between different species (crabs, lobsters, scorpions, insectoids), the shopkeeper must measure the avatar’s natural claw. This involves using calipers and a sizing gauge. If the fit is not perfect, the shopkeeper must heat the brass casing and reshape it on an anvil or use a magic resizing ritual. This service usually costs an extra 10 to 15 percent of the item’s value.
  • The “Feather-Touch” Test: To verify that the delicate enchantment of the “Feather-Touch Protocol” is functioning, the shopkeeper will place a fragile object—usually a raw egg, a glass vial, or a soap bubble—on the counter. The buyer must equip the pincer and attempt to pick up the object without breaking it. If the object shatters, the item is considered defective or the avatar is too low-tier to control it, and the sale may be refused or the price renegotiated as “for parts only.”

Cost and Valuation

As with all items in Saṃsāra, the price is dictated by the local economy, availability, and the specific “seller’s market.” However, for a Tier 1 Common item, the following values are typical:

  • Standard Market Value: In a bustling port city with a high population of aquatic races, a new or refurbished Pincer 739 typically sells for 40 to 60 Silver. This reflects the cost of materials (brass, copper, gold dust) and the skilled labor required to enchant the abacus mechanism.
  • Remote Location Markups: In inland cities or areas where aquatic races are rare, the price can vary drastically. It might be sold for as little as 20 Silver by a merchant who doesn’t know what it is and thinks it’s just a fancy piece of scrap brass. Conversely, a specialist collector might charge 100 Silver or more if they know a specific adventurer needs it and there are no other suppliers for hundreds of miles.
  • Currency Exchange Considerations:
    • Silver: The most common currency for this transaction. A price of 45 Silver is standard.
    • Nickel: In poorer districts or salvage yards, payment might be made in Nickel. 45 Silver equals 90 Nickel.
    • Copper: While possible, paying 450 Copper coins is generally frowned upon due to the bulk, unless the shopkeeper is a metalworker who needs the raw copper for smelting.
    • Gold/Electrum: A payment of 4 Gold and 5 Silver (or 9 Electrum) is acceptable and often preferred by guild merchants who appreciate the consolidated value.
    • Barter: In the underwater cities, trade is often conducted in pearls or refined coral. A Pincer of Accounting might be traded for a small sack of Black Pearls or a specific rare deep-sea sponge used in alchemy.

Tactical Applications of the Fiscal Appendage

The utilization of Pincer 739 of Accounting in combat and hazardous situations requires a shift in mindset for the crustacean avatar. Where a natural claw is a bludgeon designed to crush and tear, Pincer 739 is a precision instrument. The roleplay of this item revolves around the concept of “aggressive administration.” The avatar does not fight like a berserker; they fight like a repo man. Every movement is calculated, every strike is an assessment, and every defense is a denial of assets. The brass casing and steam-venting mechanisms provide a distinct industrial aesthetic that contrasts with the organic carapace of the user.

Offensive Roleplay: The Foreclosure of Life

  • The Ballistic Bribe (Ranged Combat):
    • The “Coin Flick” ability transforms the avatar into a mid-range skirmisher. In an urban environment, such as the bustling docks of a floating city, this is roleplayed not as a frantic attack but as a disdainful transaction. The avatar reaches into a pouch, retrieves a copper or silver coin with the delicate “Feather-Touch” grip, and loads it into the firing mechanism of the pincer.
    • When the pincer snaps shut, it does not merely click; it produces a sharp, pneumatic crack as magical steam propels the coin. On a hit, the player describes the coin embedding itself in the enemy’s armor or flesh. If using a gold coin, the flash of light is described as the “glare of avarice,” momentarily stunning the target with the realization of the wealth that just struck them.
    • In an underwater environment, the physics change. The coin flick creates a cavitation bubble—a streak of vacuum in the water that collapses with a sonic boom. The coin travels slower but hits with a shockwave. The roleplay emphasizes the distortion of water and the muffled thump of impact that reverberates through the pressure of the deep.
  • The Grip of Insolvency (Melee Grappling):
    • When the avatar engages in close quarters, they utilize the “Grip of the Debt Collector.” This is not a contest of brute strength but of will. As the pincer clamps onto an opponent’s limb, the abacus beads on the rail slide violently back and forth, creating a rattling noise that grates on the nerves.
    • The player describes the heat rising from the brass casing. The enemy does not feel their bones breaking (thanks to the dampeners), but they feel their spirit sagging. They are overcome with a sudden, irrational worry about their failures, their debts, and their lack of worth. The avatar might chitter things like, “Your assets are frozen,” or “Payment is due,” while the green verdigris glow of the pincer pulses in time with the enemy’s fading morale.
    • The “Notary Stamp” can be weaponized in the clinch. If the avatar has a hold on an enemy’s face or chest plate, they can trigger the steam seal. This leaves a glowing, burning mark of the avatar’s sigil on the enemy. In roleplay, this marks the enemy as “Property of the Guild” or “Slated for Liquidation,” adding a layer of psychological horror to the brawl.

Defensive Roleplay: The Shield of Bureaucracy

  • The Calculated Parry:
    • Pincer 739 is armored in brass and copper, making it tougher than the natural chitin. When using the pincer for defense, the avatar does not frantically swat away attacks. Instead, they position the claw in the exact geometric path of the incoming weapon.
    • The player describes the sound of a sword striking the “abacus rail” not as a clang of war, but as the ringing of a cash register. The beads spin from the impact, dissipating the kinetic energy. The avatar might roleplay this as “calculating the force” and finding it insufficient to balance the equation of the attack.
    • In a dungeon setting involving traps, the “Feather-Touch Protocol” becomes a defensive asset. If a tripwire or pressure plate needs to be manipulated, the avatar uses the pincer. The magic prevents them from applying too much pressure, allowing them to disable delicate mechanisms that would snap a normal crab’s claw.
  • Environmental Adaptation:
    • In Dark Caves and Ruins: The verdigris glow of the pincer provides a dim, sickly green light. This is not enough to illuminate a room but enough to see the immediate area. When ambushed, the avatar can flare the steam vents to create a momentary smoke screen (steam screen), smelling of ink and old copper, to obscure their retreat or confuse the enemy.
    • In High Magic Zones: The orderly nature of the item resists wild magic. If a spell targets the avatar’s hands or weapons (like “Heat Metal”), the Pincer of Accounting attempts to regulate the temperature, venting excess heat as steam to protect the biological claw underneath. The player describes the item shaking and clicking as it fights to maintain a “standard operating temperature” against the chaotic magic.

Roleplay in Social and Non-Combat Scenarios

  • Intimidation via Audit:
    • Defense is not always physical. In a social confrontation, such as being stopped by corrupt guards, the avatar uses the pincer to dominate the interaction. They might snap the claw repeatedly, making the abacus beads click aggressively.
    • The avatar can grab the guard’s spear or badge with the “Feather-Touch” grip—firm enough to hold, but gentle enough not to crush—while the “Tactile Valuation” ability allows them to instantly announce, “This badge is a forgery; the gold content is only 12 percent. You have no authority here.” This turns the table on the aggressor, using facts and bureaucracy as a shield against harassment.
  • The “Repo” Aesthetic:
    • When recovering loot or quest items, the avatar uses the pincer to catalog the items as they are picked up. The ink reservoir allows them to write inventory numbers directly onto the objects.
    • This creates a defensive perimeter of “official business.” Bystanders or rival adventurers are less likely to interfere with a pile of loot that has been stamped, numbered, and cataloged by a giant crab with a steaming brass claw, as it implies a powerful guild or legal force is backing the avatar.

Perception of Activation:

When the avatar slides their natural claw into the Pincer 739 of Accounting and performs the calibration movements, the activation is visceral and mechanical. It begins with the sensation of the brass casing contracting, locking onto the chitin with a series of pneumatic hisses. The connection is not just physical; the magic of the item rewires the avatar’s proprioception—the sense of where their limb is in space and how much force it is applying. The chaotic, instinctual urge to crush and tear is suppressed, replaced by a cool, industrial precision.

Visual Perception: The Appraiser’s Lens

  • Description: Upon activation, the avatar’s peripheral vision is tinted with the matte-green hue of oxidized copper. The “Mind’s Eye” interface projects a grid over the area immediately in front of the pincer. When the claw moves over an object, a holographic “bounding box” appears, instantly measuring the object’s dimensions (height, width, depth) in glowing verdigris lines.
  • Positives:
    • Structural Clarity: The avatar can instantly see stress points in objects. A crate isn’t just a wooden box; it is a collection of planks held together by 12 rusted nails, and the Mind’s Eye highlights exactly which nail to pull to open it without damage.
    • Value Highlight: Precious metals (gold, silver, platinum) glow with a distinct, pulsing aura, making them impossible to miss in a pile of refuse or sand.
  • Negatives:
    • Visual Clutter: The constant measurement data can be overwhelming. Trying to look at a friend’s face might result in the pincer attempting to measure the distance between their eyes or the curvature of their chin, which is distracting during social interactions.
    • Night Blindness: The internal glow of the steam vents and the holographic grid can ruin the avatar’s natural night vision, creating a “blind spot” directly in front of the claw where shadows are too deep to penetrate.

Tactile Perception: The Dampened Grip

  • Description: This is the most jarring change for a crustacean avatar. The natural sensation of the shell—the hardness, the ability to feel pressure—is intercepted by the item. Instead of feeling the roughness of a stone, the avatar feels a buzzing vibration that indicates “texture: coarse.” When squeezing, the avatar hits a “soft wall” of magical resistance that prevents them from applying crushing force unless the safety is mentally disengaged.
  • Positives:
    • Impossible Delicacy: The avatar feels a euphoric sense of control. They can feel the heartbeat of a small creature held in the claw without hurting it. They can turn a single page of a book without tearing it, a feat previously impossible for their anatomy.
    • Thermal Protection: The brass casing insulates the natural claw. The avatar can reach into boiling water or pick up a freezing cold object without feeling pain, only a “temperature warning” vibration.
  • Negatives:
    • Sensory Numbness: The raw joy of tactile connection is lost. The avatar cannot feel the warmth of a handshake or the texture of food; everything feels like “data.”
    • Phantom Weight: Even though the item is balanced, the avatar constantly feels the “ghost weight” of the brass mechanism, leading to a sensation that their arm is heavier than it actually is.

Auditory Perception: The Steam-Powered Metronome

  • Description: The item is never silent. The avatar hears a constant, rhythmic chug-hiss-click from the pincer’s mechanism. The abacus beads on the rail slide with a sound like rain hitting a tin roof whenever the arm moves. When the claw opens and closes, it produces a distinct pneumatic thump.
  • Positives:
    • Rhythmic Focus: The sound acts as a focusing tool. The rhythm helps the avatar pace their breathing and casting, providing a steady beat that blocks out the chaotic noise of battle or a busy market.
    • Mechanical Feedback: The avatar learns to interpret the sounds. A high-pitched hiss means the ink reservoir is low; a rattling bead means the grip is slipping.
  • Negatives:
    • The Deafening Click: In quiet environments, the sound of the pincer seems deafening to the avatar. It breeds paranoia that everyone can hear them (which they usually can), making stealth feel impossible and inducing anxiety in libraries or while sneaking.

Olfactory Perception: The Scent of the Guild

  • Description: A localized smell bubble surrounds the pincer, smelling strongly of ozone (from the magic), hot copper, wet ink, and saline steam.
  • Positives:
    • Masking Agent: The chemical scent is strong enough to mask the smell of rot or decay, which is useful when inspecting spoiled cargo or navigating sewers.
  • Negatives:
    • Olfactory Fatigue: The avatar eventually becomes “nose blind” to metallic scents. This means they might fail to smell a real fire or a gas leak because their nose is already saturated with the smell of hot metal and steam.

Extra-Sensory Perception: The Bureaucratic Conscience

  • Description: The “Mind’s Eye” is influenced by the item’s “Lawful” tag. The avatar feels a subconscious pull towards order. Chaos feels physically uncomfortable, like an itch under the shell that cannot be scratched.
  • Positives:
    • Instinctual Organization: The avatar naturally categorizes everything they see. A messy room isn’t just messy; it’s a “puzzle to be solved.” This grants clarity in chaotic situations, allowing the avatar to prioritize targets or tasks instantly.
    • The Truth of Ink: When looking at written words, the avatar gets a “gut feeling” about their veracity. A lie written in ink feels “slimy” to the psychic touch, while a truth feels “solid.”
  • Negatives:
    • Compulsive Counting: The avatar may feel a nagging urge to count things—stairs, coins, enemies. If interrupted, they feel a spike of irrational anger.
    • Empathy Dampening: The item filters out emotional “noise.” A crying widow pleading for a discount doesn’t feel like a tragedy; she feels like a “negotiation tactic.” The avatar must fight against the item to maintain their empathy.

Schematic Authorization: Pincer Attachment Model 739 (Accounting Variant)

Materials Needed

  • Marine-Grade Brass Sheets (3 lbs): High-zinc alloy treated to resist saltwater corrosion. The metal must be cold-rolled to ensure a consistent grain structure for the casing.
  • Oxidized Copper Tubing (1 coil): Flexible micro-tubing used to channel the magical steam for the “Notary Stamp” and “Coin Flick” mechanisms.
  • Abacus Beads (12 Count): Six beads carved from green jade (representing credit) and six beads cast from electrum (representing debt). These must be perfectly spherical and balanced to slide effortlessly on the rail.
  • Giant Squid Ink Sac (Preserved): One intact ink sac from a deep-sea cephalopod, treated with alchemical preservatives to prevent coagulation. This serves as the infinite ink reservoir.
  • Enchanted Velvet Scraps: Fabric harvested from the robes of a retired judge or a wealthy merchant. This material retains the “memory” of gentle handling and is used for the “Feather-Touch” pads.
  • Steam Essence Crystal: A small shard of crystallized water and fire mana, used to power the pneumatic pistons without a boiler.
  • Lawful Binding Dust: Powdered iron mixed with the ashes of a burned contract.

Tools Required

  • Steam-Powered Soldering Iron: A precision tool capable of joining fine copper tubes without melting the surrounding brass.
  • Jeweler’s Loupe and Calipers: For measuring tolerances down to the millimeter.
  • Chitinous Mold (Standard Size): A wooden or metal form shaped like a generic crustacean claw to hammer the brass casing around.
  • Enchanter’s Burin: A stylus used to etch the magical circuitry and the “Currency Exchange” symbol onto the casing.
  • Polishing Wheel: To finish the brass and ensure the abacus rail is frictionless.

Skill Requirements

  • Smithing (Armorsmithing or Tinsmithing): Proficiency is required to shape the brass sheets into an articulated shell that fits over a biological limb.
  • Engineering (Clockwork/Steam): Knowledge of pneumatics is necessary to install the steam vents and the coin-launching mechanism.
  • Arcana (Enchanting): The crafter must understand how to bind the concept of “value” to the physical materials.
  • Tier Requirement: The crafter must be at least Tier 1 to stabilize the Steam Essence Crystal.

Crafting Steps

Phase 1: The Articulated Shell Begin by heating the Marine-Grade Brass Sheets until pliable. Hammer them over the Chitinous Mold, creating two distinct halves (upper and lower pincer) connected by a hinge joint. The brass must be thin enough not to weigh down the avatar but strong enough to withstand the pressure of the “Coin Flick.” Drill ventilation ports along the side for the steam exhaust.

Phase 2: The Logic Rail Construct the abacus rail along the dorsal ridge of the upper brass shell. Slide the Jade and Electrum beads onto a polished steel wire. Before sealing the wire, dip each bead into the Lawful Binding Dust. This aligns the beads with the magical concept of mathematics. Secure the rail to the casing using rivets, ensuring that the beads make a distinct click when moved.

Phase 3: The Pneumatic Heart Install the Oxidized Copper Tubing inside the casing. Connect the tubes to the Steam Essence Crystal, which is housed in a small protected chamber near the wrist. This creates the “hydraulic” pressure. Route one tube to the “Notary Stamp” vent at the palm of the claw and another to the “Coin Flick” piston at the base of the thumb. Test the seal by applying gentle pressure; if steam leaks, the pincer will lack the force to launch coins.

Phase 4: The Velvet Interface Cut the Enchanted Velvet Scraps into small pads. Glue these to the inner tips of the brass pincer. Beneath the velvet, install the nibs connected to the Giant Squid Ink Sac. The ink flow must be calibrated so that it only releases when the avatar consciously wills it, preventing accidental stains.

Phase 5: The Calibration of Grip The final step requires the crafter to attune the item to the concept of “restraint.” Place a raw egg inside the pincer. Slowly tighten the tension screw on the hinge while chanting the “Litany of the Fair Trade.” The goal is to set the grip strength so that the pincer automatically stops closing the moment it detects resistance equal to the eggshell’s crush depth. Once this balance is achieved, etch the “Currency Exchange” symbol onto the side of the casing to seal the enchantment. The pincer is now ready for use.

Walker-Sideways and Brass Hand of No-Crush

Part the First: The Wet Chaos of the Before-Times

It is spoken by the bubbles that rise from the deep mud, in the time when the water was young and tasted only of salt and fear. In the Big Wet, there was no law. There was only the Big Eat and the Small Eat. If you were big, you ate. If you were small, you were lunch. This was the way of the water-breathers.

But there lived a Shell-Man, a Walker-Sideways of the Mud-Tribes. His name-sound was Krr-Click-Snap. We shall call him The-Crab-Who-Thinks. The-Crab-Who-Thinks was sick in his head-meat. He did not want to eat the soft-flesh of the worm. He wanted to keep the shiny-stones that the sky-people dropped from their wood-swimmers.

He gathered the shiny-discs of gold. He gathered the round-stones of pearl. But alas! His claws were made for the killing. They were the crush-hammers of the gods. When he tried to hold the shiny-disc, SNAP! The disc became dust. When he tried to hold the pearl, CRACK! The pearl became sand.

The-Crab-Who-Thinks wept bubbles of sorrow. “Why have I the strength of the tides,” he clicked to the currents, “but the touch of the falling mountain? I possess the wealth, but I cannot hold the wealth. I am a king of dust.”

Part the Second: The Bargain with the Hot-Air-Spirit

The-Crab-Who-Thinks walked sideways until the water ended and the air began. He climbed the mountain of iron that floated on the water. This was the ship of the Steam-Men. The Steam-Men did not have shells of bone; they had shells of brass. They breathed the fire-cloud.

The-Crab-Who-Thinks spoke to the Great Boiler, the god of the Steam-Men. “O Hot-Air-Spirit,” he clicked. “Take my strength. Give me the soft-touch. I wish to count the shiny-discs, not break them.”

The Great Boiler hissed like a thousand snakes. It saw the heart-meat of the crab was greedy, but lawful. It liked this. The Spirit took the brass of the ship-skin. It took the green blood of the copper. It took the beads of the abacus-tree. It hammered them with the noise of thunder. Bang-Clang-Hiss.

It made the False-Shell. The Pincer-That-Counts.

“Take this,” the Spirit hissed in the language of the burn. “Put your kill-claw inside. It will sleep. The Math-Claw will wake. But beware, Shell-Man. To count is to know, and to know is to never sleep.”

Part the Third: The Return of the Accountant

The-Crab-Who-Thinks put on the False-Shell. It bit his arm with love. It locked tight. Suddenly, the world was not meat. The world was Number.

He went back to the Mud-Tribes. He saw a worm. Before, he saw “food.” Now, the False-Shell clicked tik-tik-tik and he saw “Nutritional Value: Low. Market Cost: One Pebble.” He did not eat. It was bad business.

He found his pile of shiny-discs. He picked one up. The Claw did not crush! It held the gold like a mother holds the egg. The beads on the rail slid shhh-click. The Crab knew the gold was heavy. He knew it was real. He felt the joy of the Hoard-Keeper.

Then came the Great-Tooth-Fish, the Shark-King. The Shark-King laughed a bubbly laugh. “Little Walker-Sideways,” the Shark-King roared. “You look crunchy. I shall eat you and spit out the brass.”

The-Crab-Who-Thinks did not run. He raised the Pincer 739. He pointed at the Shark-King. The Claw hissed steam.

“Stop,” said the Crab. “I have audited your life. You have eaten four thousand fish. You have paid zero tax. You are in Debt.”

Part the Fourth: The Battle of the Ledger

The Shark-King did not know “Debt.” He bit. But the Crab was fast with the math. The Crab grabbed the nose of the Shark-King.

Usually, the claw would cut the nose. Blood would flow. But the False-Shell had the Feather-Touch. It squeezed only enough to hold. It did not break. It was the Grip of Law. The Shark-King thrashed. The Shark-King rolled. But the Crab held on.

“You owe!” the Crab clicked. The beads on his arm rattled like the bones of the dead. Click-clack-click. The sound went into the Shark-King’s brain. The Shark-King felt heavy. He felt the weight of all the fish he ate. He felt sad. He felt poor.

“I submit!” cried the Shark-King. “I will pay! Do not audit me again!”

The Crab released the nose. He took a gold coin from his pouch. He loaded it into the Claw. Pop! He shot the coin at the Shark-King. It hit the Shark’s fin. It burned a mark. The mark said: Property of the Guild.

“Go,” said the Crab. “Bring me shiny-discs. Or I shall foreclose on your gills.”

Part the Fifth: The Transformation of the Shell

For many tides, The-Crab-Who-Thinks ruled the Big Wet. He did not kill. He charged rent. The ocean became quiet. The fish swam in lines. The coral grew in squares. It was boring, but it was profitable.

But the False-Shell was hungry for numbers. It counted the days of the Crab. It counted the beats of his heart-meat. One day, the number reached Zero.

The Crab tried to take off the False-Shell. “I am tired,” he said. “I want to be just a crab again. I want to pinch a worm and not know its cost.”

The False-Shell said, “No. The audit is not finished.”

The brass grew into the flesh. The copper veins drank the crab-blood. The-Crab-Who-Thinks faded away. His shell turned to dust. His eyes turned to water. But the Pincer remained. It lay on the ocean floor, shiny and green. The beads still clicked, counting the sand grains. Tik-tik-tik.

It waits now for a new arm. It waits for a new Walker-Sideways to hunger for the gold. It waits to teach the Big Wet that even the water must pay the tax.

The Moral of the Story: He who replaces his hand with a tool of gold will soon find he can no longer feel the touch of a friend, only the weight of what they owe him.

Suggested conversions to other systems:

Call of Cthulhu (7th Edition)

Name: The Claw of the Golden Tithe

Description A heavy, articulated gauntlet of greenish brass and oxidized copper, clearly manufactured with non-human anatomy in mind. The interior is lined with a strange, velvety substance that feels like dried moss but is as strong as leather. Along the dorsal ridge, a series of jade and electrum beads slide on a wire rail, clicking incessantly. It is rumored to be a device used by the Deep One colonies to interact with human banking institutions, allowing their agents to handle fragile paper money without tearing it with their natural claws.

Stats and Mechanics

  • Skill Requirements: Utilizing the “Coin Flick” mechanism requires the Firearms (Handgun) or Throw skill. Utilizing the appraisal features uses Accounting or Appraise.
  • Sanity Cost: 0/1D3 Sanity points to equip. The user must surgically alter their hand or possess a hand malformed enough (Deep One Hybrid characteristic) to fit inside the mechanism.
  • Combat Profile:
    • Crushing Grip (Brawl): Damage 1D6 + db. The pincer can lock onto a limb. If a maneuver is successful to “Hold,” the target suffers a penalty die to all physical actions due to the crushing pain.
    • Coin Shot (Ranged): Damage 1D4. Range 10 yards. Malfunction 98-00. Requires a gold, silver, or copper coin as ammunition. A gold coin counts as an enchanted weapon against mythos entities vulnerable to such things.
  • Special Powers:
    • The Auditor’s Eye: By spending 1 Magic Point, the user can instantly estimate the value of any object held in the claw to within 5% of its auction value. This grants a Bonus Die to Appraise rolls.
    • Feather-Touch: Despite its bulk, the claw grants a Bonus Die to Sleight of Hand checks involving fine manipulation, such as picking locks or handling documents, provided the user passes a POW roll to suppress their natural instinct to crush.

Blades in the Dark

Name: The Ledger-Keeper’s Rig

Description A Tier III spark-craft prosthetic designed for the discerning scoundrel who values profit over bloodshed. It replaces a lost hand or forearm with a magnificent assembly of brass pneumatics and a pincer-style gripper. A small abacus is built into the wrist, and a reservoir of ink allows the claw tip to serve as a pen.

Stats and Mechanics

  • Load: 1 (Light). Counts as a weapon and a tool.
  • Type: Spark-craft Item.
  • Effect:
    • Fine Manipulation: You gain Potency when performing delicate tasks involving documents, locks, or coin counting. The rig stabilizes your hand perfectly.
    • Ballistic Bribe: You can expend a Coin from your stash (or a loose coin found in the score) to make a ranged attack. This functions as a pistol with the Quiet tag (it makes a pneumatic thump rather than a bang). It is excellent for “sending a message” or distracted guards.
    • The Shakedown: When you use the Command action to extort money or demand payment, the threatening click-clack of the abacus beads grants you +1d to the roll.
  • Drawback: The item is loud in a quiet room. The ticking of the internal clockwork and the sliding beads reduces your effectiveness at Prowess actions involving silence (1 reduced effect) unless you take time to lock the mechanism (which disables the active abilities).

Dungeons & Dragons (5th Edition)

Name: Pincer of the Clerk

Description Wondrous item, common (requires attunement) This brass and copper prosthetic is designed to fit over the claw of a tortle, simic hybrid, or thri-kreen, though it can be modified for a humanoid hand. It features a sliding abacus rail and a built-in ink reservoir. It pulses with a faint, orderly magic.

Stats and Mechanics

  • Propriety of Grip: While wearing this item, you have advantage on Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) checks to pick pockets, handle fragile items, or perform tasks requiring fine motor skills. You can write with the tip of the pincer as if using a calligraphy pen.
  • Appraisal: You can use an action to grasp an object with the pincer. You instantly learn its weight, material composition, and approximate market value in gold pieces.
  • Coin Flick: As an action, you can load a coin into the pincer’s firing mechanism and make a ranged weapon attack.
    • Range: 20/60 ft.
    • Damage: 1d4 bludgeoning damage + your Dexterity modifier.
    • Ammunition: The coin is destroyed upon impact. If you use a gold coin, the attack deals an additional 1 radiant damage and the hit creates a flash of light audible out to 100 feet.
  • Grapple of Debt: When you successfully grapple a creature with this pincer, you can use a bonus action to “Audited” them. The target must succeed on a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened of you until the grapple ends. They perceive you as a looming debt collector.

Knave (2nd Edition)

Name: The Bailiff’s Iron Hand

Description A brass claw utilizing steam pressure. Contains a sliding abacus and an ink nib.

Stats and Mechanics

  • Slots: 1
  • Quality: 3
  • Hands: 1 (Must be worn on a hand/limb).
  • Trait: Bureaucratic.
  • Abilities:
    • Perfect Grip: The user cannot drop items held in this hand, even if stunned or panicked, unless they choose to.
    • Coin Gun: The user can shoot a coin as a weapon. Damage: d4. Range: Short. If the user shoots a Platinum coin, the damage is d8, but the coin is lost.
    • Valuation: The user automatically succeeds on Intelligence checks to guess the value of loot.
  • Durability: If the user uses the hand to parry a blow (using it as a shield), roll a d6. On a 1, the pneumatic tubes burst, spraying hot steam. The user takes 1 damage, and the item becomes useless until repaired by a smith.

Fate Core

Name: The Brass Auditor’s Claw

Description A steam-powered, brass casing designed to fit over a natural pincer or a missing limb. It features a rail of jade and electrum beads that click rhythmically, acting as an abacus. It smells of ozone and ink.

Aspects

  • Main Aspect: Steam-Powered Bureaucratic Prosthetic
  • Trouble: Incessant Clicking of the Abacus

Stunts

  • Feather-Touch Protocol: Because you have the Brass Auditor’s Claw, you gain +2 to Crafts or Burglary when performing tasks that require fine motor manipulation, delicate touch, or handling fragile items.
  • Coin Ballistics: You can use Resources to make a physical Attack at a zone range. You must mark off a box of stress on your Resources track (or spend a Fate Point if you don’t track Resources stress) to represent the expenditure of valuable ammunition (gold or silver coins).
  • The Notary’s Seal: Once per session, when you succeed with style on a Contacts or Rapport roll to seal a deal, you can create the situation aspect Legally Binding Contract with two free invokes instead of a boost.

Extras

  • Appraisal Interface: The user can instantly assess the value of any trade good they touch. This justifies the use of Notice or Investigate to determine the wealth of an NPC or the worth of a treasure hoard.

Numenera & Cypher System

Name: Fiscal Automaton Hand

Level: 3

Form A segmented brass and synth shell that fits over a hand or claw, equipped with pneumatic tubing and a row of sliding crystal beads.

Effect

  • Passive: The user gains an asset to any task involving mathematics, accounting, identifying forgeries, or assessing the value of numenera and trade goods.
  • Fine Manipulation: The device stabilizes the user’s grip. The user gains an asset to Speed-based tasks involving lockpicking, repair, or handling dangerous fluids.
  • Coin Projection: The user can use an action to fire a small metal disk (or coin) from the device. This is a short-range attack that deals 3 points of damage. If a gold shin (or equivalent valuable coin) is used, the attack deals 4 points of damage and the target is Dazed for one round due to the flash of the impact.

Depletion 1 in 1d20 (Check each time the Coin Projection is used).

Pathfinder (Second Edition)

Name: Pincer of the Golden Ledger

Item Level: 2 Price: 35 gp Usage: worn (attached to a claw or hand); Bulk: L

Description This brass prosthetic is etched with symbols of commerce and features a small abacus rail. It allows creatures with clumsy claws to perform delicate tasks and appraise goods instantly.

Weapon Stats: The pincer functions as a Gauntlet. It is an Attached weapon. Damage: 1d4 Bludgeoning; Group: Brawling; Traits: Agile, Free-Hand (for holding items only).

Activation Interact (Single Action); Effect: You touch an object. You instantly learn its market price and material composition. You gain a +1 item bonus to Mercantile Lore and Society checks to bargain.

Activity: Coin Shot (Two Actions) Requirements: You are holding a coin in the pincer. Effect: You fire the coin using pneumatic pressure. Make a ranged Strike with a range increment of 20 feet.

  • Damage: 1d6 Bludgeoning.
  • Critical Hit: If the coin was gold, the target is Dazzled for 1 round.

Passive Benefit: While wearing the pincer, you do not suffer penalties for using a clawed hand to perform actions requiring fine manipulation (such as Thievery checks to Pick Locks).

Savage Worlds (SWADE)

Name: Claw of Commerce

Type: Mundane / Weird Science Gear Weight: 2 lbs Cost: $400

Description A brass-plated claw attachment with a steam-piston trigger and an abacus. It turns a brute’s hand into a scholar’s tool.

Mechanics

  • Delicate Work: A character wearing this negates the “All Thumbs” Hindrance for tasks involving the hands. If they do not have All Thumbs, they gain a +1 bonus to Thievery and Repair rolls involving small parts.
  • Appraiser: The user gains a +2 bonus to Common Knowledge rolls regarding the value of goods and currency.
  • Coin Gun: The claw can fire coins as a weapon.
    • Range: 5/10/20
    • Damage: 2d4
    • RoF: 1
    • Shots: 1 (Must be reloaded with a coin as a Free Action).
    • Notes: If a Gold coin is used, the attack has AP 1 due to the density of the gold.
  • Grapple Bonus: When used to Grapple, the steam pistons lock into place. The user gains +1 to Athletics (Grapple) rolls, but cannot deal damage while maintaining the hold (unless they release the safety, which takes an action).

Shadowrun (Sixth World / 6e)

Name: Shiawase “Numismatist” Cyber-Claw Attachment

Description Designed originally for SURGE changelings and metavariants with natural claws, this external cyber-sleeve fits over a biological pincer or hand. It is constructed of gold-anodized titanium with a sliding abacus rail built into the forearm. It is a favorite of corporate extractors and forensic accountants who need to physically seize assets without damaging them.

Stats and Mechanics

  • Type: Augmentation (Cyberlimb Accessory) or Gear (Exotic)
  • Availability: 4 (Legal)
  • Cost: 2,500 Nuyen
  • Essence: 0.2 (if implanted) / 0 (if worn as gear)

Game Effects:

  • Precision Grip: The user gains a +2 dice pool bonus to Palming and Locksmith tests due to the fine-motor haptics.
  • Calculator: Contains a Rating 4 Agent software dedicated to Accounting and Forgery (limit equal to device rating).
  • Coin Caster: The claw features a spring-loaded kinetic release. The user can flick a coin (nuyen credstick or physical gold) as a silent projectile.
    • Damage: 2S (Stun)
    • Attack Rating: 8/6/2/-
    • Range: Short
    • Mode: SS
    • Ammo: 1 (Must be reloaded manually).
  • Wireless Bonus: The user can instantly appraise an item by touching it, utilizing the matrix to check real-time auction values. This grants a +1 Edge on Con or Negotiation tests when haggling over the value of the item.

Starfinder (1st Edition)

Name: AbadarCorp Ledger-Claw

Description Technological Item (Hybrid), Level 2 A brass and ceramic sheath that fits over a pincer or three-fingered hand. It hums with the lawful energy of the Master of the First Vault. It is standard issue for AbadarCorp repo-units.

Stats and Mechanics

  • Price: 750 Credits
  • Bulk: L
  • Capacity: 20 (Uses 1 charge per hour of active appraisal mode, or 1 charge per Coin Shot).
  • Hands: 1

Game Effects:

  • Appraisal Algorithms: While powered, you gain a +2 insight bonus to Profession (Accountant) and Culture checks to recall information about trade laws.
  • Integrated Weapon (Coin Shot): You can use the claw to fire a standard credit chit or coin as a projectile.
    • Type: Small Arm (Projectile)
    • Damage: 1d4 P
    • Range: 30 ft.
    • Critical: Dazzled (Target is blinded by the flash of wealth for 1 round).
  • Soft-Touch Servo: You can disable the crushing strength of your natural attacks. When making a grapple attempt, you can choose to deal no damage to the target while maintaining the pin, granting you a +2 bonus to the grapple check to Pin (but not damage).

Traveller (Mongoose 2nd Edition)

Name: TL12 Bureaucrat’s Manipulator Gauntlet

Description A powered exoskeleton glove designed for the Vargr or Aslan races, or anyone with clawed appendages. It utilizes advanced feedback sensors to allow the wearer to handle fragile crystal data wafers or ancient paper documents without risking damage.

Stats and Mechanics

  • Tech Level: 12
  • Mass: 0.5 kg
  • Cost: Cr 2,000

Game Effects:

  • Wafer Jack: The gauntlet contains a specialized Computer/1 running Admin-1 and Broker-1 Expert software.
  • Micro-Scale: The user suffers no DM penalty for fine manipulation tasks (such as repairing electronics or surgery) even if they have the “Claws” trait which would normally impose a penalty.
  • Coin Launcher: In emergencies, the servo-motors can flick a small metal disc with the velocity of a snub pistol bullet.
    • Range: 5 meters.
    • Damage: 1d6-2.
    • Traits: Silent, Improvised.
  • Scanner: Includes a densitometer. By touching an object, the user instantly knows if it is hollow or solid, granting DM+1 to Investigate checks when searching for hidden compartments.

Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (4th Edition)

Name: The Marienburg Merchant’s Claw

Description A masterpiece of engineering commissioned by the High Guilds. It is a brass pincer attachment fitted with pneumatic pumps and a small boiler. It slides over a mutant’s claw or a prosthetic limb. It is looked upon with suspicion by Witch Hunters but envy by burghers.

Stats and Mechanics

  • Availability: Scarce
  • Cost: 15 Gold Crowns
  • Encumbrance: 1

Game Effects:

  • Quality (Fine Manipulation): The user can perform Dexterity based tests (like Pick Lock or Sleight of Hand) without the penalty usually associated with having a mutation or hook hand.
  • The Golden Shot: The user can use an Action to fire a crown or shilling from the claw. This counts as a Ranged (Throwing) weapon with a range of 10 yards. Damage is SB+2. If a Gold Crown is used, the attack ignores 1 AP of armor (due to the density of gold).
  • Skill Bonus: The ticking of the abacus beads is soothing to the mathematically inclined. The user gains +10 to Evaluate and Haggle Tests.
  • Flaw (Noisy): The item clicks constantly. The user suffers -20 to Stealth Tests.