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Aetheric Resonator

—

by

Dale
in

From: Forsaken Alchemists Abode

Lore: In the heyday of Arion’s experiments, the Aetheric Resonator stood as the centerpiece of his laboratory, an awe-inspiring feat of arcane engineering. Inspired by ancient knowledge and guided by his fascination with the ethereal plane, Arion dedicated years to perfecting the design of this contraption. The Aetheric Resonator was intended to unlock the mysteries of the ethereal realm, allowing Arion to harness its energies for his own purposes.

The resonator’s structure resembled a harmonious fusion of a telescope and a harp. It featured numerous crystal lenses, each carefully tuned to interact with the ethereal plane’s vibrations. Strings stretched across the frame, representing the harmony that the ethereal energies resonated with. By plucking the strings in precise patterns while manipulating the lenses, Arion could detect, amplify, and even influence aetheric currents.

In its prime, the Aetheric Resonator had the potential to create temporary gateways to other planes of existence, opening portals to realms unknown and exploring the mysteries of the cosmos. Additionally, when properly attuned, the resonator could enhance magical effects, making spells more potent and far-reaching.

However, as Arion’s experiments grew increasingly dangerous and uncontrollable, the Aetheric Resonator suffered neglect and disrepair. Cracked lenses and broken strings resulted in unstable fluctuations in its operation, rendering it unpredictable and hazardous. Now, it stands as a partially functional relic, a symbol of both great potential and the consequences of unchecked ambition.

Specific Tier One Stats for the Aetheric Resonator:

  • Condition: Partially Functional (10% chance of random magical effects when used)
  • Cost: Varies based on condition and rarity, but could be worth several hundred to a few thousand gold pieces.
  • Size: Large (about 8 feet in height)
  • Requirements: Requires a skilled arcanist or engineer to properly operate and attune the crystal lenses and strings.
  • Tags: Arcane, Unstable, Relic, Ethereal, Portal, Magic, Arion, Crystals, Strings, Ruins, Hazard

How it Might Be Sold: The Aetheric Resonator, being a rare and esoteric artifact, is not a typical item found in conventional marketplaces. Its sale and acquisition are often carried out in more secretive and specialized circles. It might be found in auctions or gatherings attended by collectors, scholars, and powerful individuals interested in the arcane and the ethereal.

Powerful mages, collectors of rare artifacts, or scholars seeking to delve into the secrets of the planes may be the primary buyers. However, due to its unstable condition, not all interested parties would be willing to take the risk of acquiring it, fearing its potential to cause unintended magical effects or even catastrophic disasters if misused.

Environment and Usage: The Aetheric Resonator is often found in places of ancient magic or arcane significance, where powerful spellcasters once resided or conducted their experiments. Such places could include long-abandoned wizards’ towers, hidden vaults, or ruins steeped in mystical history.

In the hands of a skilled and knowledgeable arcanist, the Aetheric Resonator could be attuned to focus and amplify magical energies, providing an advantage during intense spellcasting or rituals. However, the unpredictable nature of the device makes it a double-edged sword, as it might unleash uncontrollable magical surges or tear open unexpected portals to other planes, introducing chaos and danger to the surroundings.

Adventurers might encounter the Aetheric Resonator while exploring ancient ruins or forgotten laboratories. They could choose to repair and harness its power, potentially gaining significant benefits, but they must be wary of the inherent risks and consequences that come with wielding such a volatile and powerful artifact.

Song of Arion’s Folly

In the shadowed epochs of yore, when the earth was yet a tapestry of untamed magics and the heavens sang in tongues no mortal could fathom, there was woven a tale of Arion the Unbound, a sage whose name was etched in the whispers of the aether. From a language older than the stars, its glyphs long crumbled into the dust of forgotten realms, this story was passed through the trembling hands of ancient scribes, translated with reverence into the dialects of old. It tells of the Aetheric Resonator, an arcane marvel born of Arion’s ambition to touch the ethereal plane, a device that sings with the harmony of the cosmos but echoes with the perils of hubris, a relic that haunts the Forsaken Alchemist’s Abode with its fractured song.

Arion was no mere alchemist, but a seer whose heart burned with the fire of discovery. In an age when the lands of Saṃsāra were yet wild, their skies alight with the dance of auroras and their forests whispering secrets to the wind, Arion dwelt in the Forsaken Alchemist’s Abode, a sanctum carved from the bones of a fallen star. Its halls glowed with the breath of the aether, a place where the veils between planes grew thin, and the winds of magic danced unchecked. Arion, with his mind as sharp as the dawn, sought to craft a device that could pierce the ethereal veil, to harness its energies and unlock the mysteries of the cosmos, to sing with the harmony of realms unseen.

With hands guided by ancient knowledge, Arion forged the Aetheric Resonator. He shaped it as a fusion of telescope and harp, its frame a towering edifice eight spans tall, wrought from gleaming metal and shimmering crystal. Lenses of purest crystal, each tuned to the vibrations of the ethereal plane, adorned its structure, their facets catching the light of realms beyond mortal ken. Strings of aetheric thread stretched across its frame, their taut lengths a hymn to the harmony of the cosmos. When Arion plucked the strings in precise patterns, the lenses hummed with a resonance that wove through the abode, detecting, amplifying, and influencing the aetheric currents that flowed between worlds. The Resonator became his greatest creation, a conduit of ethereal power that could open gateways to planes unknown, enhance the potency of his spells, and sing with the music of the stars.

In its prime, the Resonator was a marvel of arcane engineering. Arion stood before it, his fingers dancing across the strings, his eyes fixed on the lenses as they glowed with the light of other worlds. With each note, he opened temporary portals to realms of wonder—planes where spirits danced in rivers of light, where gods whispered in tongues of flame, where the fabric of reality shimmered like a dream. He wove spells of unprecedented power, their effects reaching across planes, their potency magnified by the Resonator’s song. The Forsaken Alchemist’s Abode became a beacon of discovery, a place where the mysteries of the cosmos were laid bare, and Arion’s name was sung in awe by those who dared to dream of the ethereal.

But the aether is no tame force, and Arion’s ambition bore a hidden cost. His experiments grew ever more daring, his hunger for knowledge a flame that consumed caution. He sought to open a gateway to a plane of pure aether, a realm where the essence of magic flowed unbound, to harness its power and ascend to godhood. On a night when the heavens wept fire and the aether sang in fury, Arion stood before the Resonator, his hands trembling as he plucked its strings in a pattern forbidden even by the ancient texts. The lenses flared with a light that blinded the stars, the strings vibrating with a song that shook the abode to its roots. A portal yawned open, a vortex of raw aether that tore through the fabric of reality, its energies a storm that no mortal could contain.

The backlash was cataclysmic. The Resonator’s lenses cracked, their light fracturing into shards of chaos, and its strings snapped, their song a scream that echoed through the planes. The aetheric currents spiraled beyond Arion’s control, the portal spilling entities of nightmare into the abode—beings of shadow and flame, their eyes burning with hunger. The Forsaken Alchemist’s Abode trembled, its walls cracking as the aether lashed out, and Arion, caught in the storm’s heart, was consumed by the very power he had sought to master. His body dissolved into the aether, his essence scattered across the planes, leaving only the Resonator behind, its once-glorious form now a broken relic, its song a fractured whisper of what it had been.

The Forsaken Alchemist’s Abode fell into ruin, its halls darkened by the storm’s aftermath, but the Aetheric Resonator endured, standing as a partially functional relic in a chamber where the aether still lingered. The tale of the Resonator spread through the ages, carried by scribes who translated it from tongues older than memory, a story of ambition and ruin that became the most known legend of the abode. Adventurers who sought the ruins spoke Arion’s name with caution, for the Resonator was both a treasure and a trap, a tool that could sing with the aether but could also unleash chaos with its fractured notes.

Those who found the Resonator and dared to use it faced its unstable power. With careful tuning, they could pluck its strings and align its lenses, opening fleeting portals to planes unknown, enhancing their spells with the aether’s might. But its cracked lenses and broken strings made each use a gamble—random magical effects surged forth, portals opened to realms of danger, and the Resonator’s song could turn to a scream that tore reality asunder. The Song of Arion’s Folly became a cautionary hymn, sung in the halls of mages and the firesides of villages, a reminder that the aether’s song is a melody of wonder and peril, and those who sing with it must do so with hearts as steady as their hands.

Moral of the Story: Seek not to sing with the stars without knowing their melody, for the aether’s song is a dance of harmony and chaos, and those who overreach risk being consumed by its refrain. True mastery lies in humility, and the greatest power is that which respects the bounds of the cosmos.

Suggested conversions to other systems:

Call of Cthulhu (7th Edition)

  • Overview: In Call of Cthulhu, the Aetheric Resonator is an occult artifact within the Forsaken Alchemist’s Abode, a derelict site steeped in eldritch energies. Once a masterpiece of Arion the Unbound, it now lies in disrepair, capable of interacting with the ethereal plane but prone to chaotic surges. Investigators might use it to access otherworldly knowledge or power, but its instability risks unleashing cosmic horrors, fitting the game’s theme of forbidden knowledge and existential dread.
  • Stat Block and Mechanics:
    • Aetheric Resonator
    • Description: A large, 8-foot-tall device resembling a fusion of a telescope and harp, with cracked crystal lenses and broken strings, emitting an erratic hum.
    • Sanity Cost: Activating the Resonator costs 1D6/1D10 Sanity points due to its otherworldly resonance. A failed use (see below) causes an additional 1D4/1D8 Sanity loss.
    • Magic Points (MP) Cost: Activating the Resonator requires 10 MP per use. Each additional use within 24 hours costs 5 MP (cumulative).
    • Skills Required: Occult (60% or higher) or Science (Physics) (50% or higher) to operate; failure results in an unstable surge (see below).
    • Effects:
      • Ethereal Attunement: The user can detect aetheric currents within 50 feet (Occult roll, 70%), revealing invisible entities or magical effects (e.g., astral beings, hidden portals). On a success, gain +20% to the next spellcasting roll within 1 hour.
      • Planar Gateway: The user can attempt to open a temporary portal to another plane (Occult roll, 60%). On a success, a portal opens for 1D6 rounds, allowing interaction with a random plane (GM discretion, e.g., the Astral Plane). On a failure, trigger an unstable surge.
      • Aetheric Amplification: Spells cast within 30 feet of the Resonator gain +20% to their success chance for 1 minute. On a failure, trigger an unstable surge.
      • Unstable Surge (10% Chance or on Failed Roll): Roll 1D100:
        • 01-50: A minor surge deals 1D6 damage to all within 30 feet (bypass armor) and causes 1/1D4 Sanity loss.
        • 51-90: A major surge opens an unstable portal, summoning a minor Mythos entity (e.g., a Dimensional Shambler, STR 75, CON 50, SIZ 80, DEX 60, INT 40, POW 60, HP 13, Damage 1D8+2).
        • 91-00: A catastrophic surge rends reality, costing 1D10/1D20 Sanity points to all present and summoning a greater entity (e.g., a Star-Spawn of Cthulhu, GM discretion).
    • Drawback: Each use has a cumulative 10% chance per day of attracting a Mythos entity (e.g., a Hound of Tindalos), which hunts the user.
  • Repair: Restoring the Resonator requires a Mechanical Repair roll (80%) and rare materials (worth 1,000 gold pieces), reducing the unstable surge chance to 5%.

Blades in the Dark

  • Overview: In Blades in the Dark, the Aetheric Resonator is a volatile artifact hidden within the Forsaken Alchemist’s Abode, a crumbling arcane site in Duskwall’s underbelly. It can interact with the ethereal plane but is prone to chaotic surges, fitting the game’s supernatural heist theme. A crew might use it to gain an edge during a score, but its instability could unleash spectral threats, adding tension to the narrative.
  • Stat Block and Mechanics:
    • Aetheric Resonator
    • Description: A large, 8-foot-tall device resembling a telescope and harp fusion, with cracked crystal lenses and broken strings, emitting an erratic hum.
    • Tier: IV (a high-risk, high-reward artifact).
    • Load: 6 (too large to carry; requires a secure location to operate).
    • Usage: Activating the Resonator requires an Attune roll (Risky position, Standard effect). On a 1-3, trigger an unstable surge (see below), unless mitigated by a resistance roll (Resolve).
    • Effects:
      • Ethereal Attunement: The user can detect aetheric currents within 10 yards (Attune roll, Controlled position, Standard effect). On a success, create an advantage like Aetheric Insight with two free invokes, usable for Attune rolls against ethereal entities.
      • Planar Gateway: The user can open a temporary portal to another plane (Attune roll, Desperate position, Standard effect). On a success, a portal opens for 1 turn, allowing interaction with a random plane (GM discretion). On a failure, trigger an unstable surge.
      • Aetheric Amplification: For 1 turn, arcane actions within 10 yards gain +1d and +1 effect (Attune roll, Risky position, Standard effect). On a failure, trigger an unstable surge.
      • Unstable Surge (10% Chance or on Failed Roll): Roll a d6:
        • 1-3: A minor surge deals Level 1 Harm: “Aetheric Shock” to all within 10 yards and adds 1 Heat.
        • 4-5: A major surge opens an unstable portal, summoning a Tier III ghost (e.g., a vengeful spirit, 3d attack).
        • 6: A catastrophic surge rends reality, summoning a Tier IV horror (e.g., an aetheric abomination) and adding 2 Heat.
    • Drawback: Each use adds 2 Heat due to its aetheric signature, risking attention from the Spirit Wardens or rival factions.
  • Repair: Restoring the Resonator requires a Tinker roll (Desperate position, Standard effect) and rare materials (4 Coin), reducing the unstable surge chance to 5%.
  • Narrative Impact: The Resonator offers powerful abilities but can escalate the score with its chaotic surges (e.g., a portal summons a hostile entity, complicating the crew’s escape).

Dungeons & Dragons (5th Edition)

  • Overview: In Dungeons & Dragons, the Aetheric Resonator is a legendary artifact within the Forsaken Alchemist’s Abode, a ruined arcane site where ethereal energies linger. It can interact with the ethereal plane but is prone to chaotic surges, fitting D&D’s high-fantasy tone. Adventurers might use it to access otherworldly power, but its instability risks unleashing planar threats.
  • Stat Block and Mechanics:
    • Aetheric Resonator
    • Wondrous Item, Legendary (requires attunement by a spellcaster)
    • This 8-foot-tall device resembles a fusion of a telescope and harp, with cracked crystal lenses and broken strings, emitting an erratic hum.
    • Properties:
      • Ethereal Attunement: As an action, you can detect aetheric currents within 60 feet, revealing invisible creatures or magical effects (as if using See Invisibility and Detect Magic). Make a DC 18 Intelligence (Arcana) check: on a failure, trigger an unstable surge (see below).
      • Planar Gateway: As an action, you can open a temporary portal to another plane (e.g., the Ethereal Plane) within 10 feet, lasting for 1 minute. Make a DC 18 Intelligence (Arcana) check: on a success, the portal allows travel or interaction with the plane (GM discretion). On a failure, trigger an unstable surge.
      • Aetheric Amplification: For 1 minute, spells cast within 30 feet gain a +2 bonus to their spell attack rolls and save DCs. Make a DC 18 Intelligence (Arcana) check: on a failure, trigger an unstable surge.
      • Unstable Surge (10% Chance or on Failed Roll): Roll a d20:
        • 1-10: A minor surge deals 4d10 force damage to all within 30 feet (DC 18 Dexterity save for half).
        • 11-17: A major surge opens an unstable portal, summoning a hostile creature (e.g., a CR 5 Ethereal Wraith, 3d8 necrotic damage).
        • 18-20: A catastrophic surge rends reality, casting Plane Shift (DC 18 Wisdom save to resist) on all within 30 feet, sending them to a random plane.
      • Charges: The Resonator has 3 charges. Each use expends 1 charge. It regains 1d3 charges daily at dawn. If you expend the last charge, roll a d20: on a 1, the Resonator shatters, causing a catastrophic surge (as above).
    • Drawback: Each use has a cumulative 10% chance (resetting at dawn) of attracting a planar entity (e.g., a CR 7 Inevitable), which appears within 1d4 hours to investigate.
  • Repair: Restoring the Resonator requires a DC 20 Intelligence (Arcana) check and rare materials (worth 2,000 gp), reducing the unstable surge chance to 5%.

Knave (2nd Edition)

  • Overview: In Knave, the Aetheric Resonator is a rare magical artifact found in the Forsaken Alchemist’s Abode, a ruined dungeon brimming with arcane dangers. It can interact with the ethereal plane but is prone to chaotic surges, fitting Knave’s minimalist, old-school vibe where items are central to character power. Adventurers might use it to gain otherworldly power, but its instability adds a survival challenge.
  • Stat Block and Mechanics:
    • Aetheric Resonator
    • Magic Item, 6 Slots (large and immobile, 8 feet tall)
    • A large device resembling a telescope and harp fusion, with cracked crystal lenses and broken strings, emitting an erratic hum.
    • Usage: Activating the Resonator requires a successful Intelligence check (DC 14) to attune its lenses and strings. On a failure, the user takes 2d6 psychic damage from feedback.
    • Effects:
      • Ethereal Attunement: The user can detect aetheric currents within 30 feet (no roll needed), revealing invisible creatures or magical effects (e.g., an ethereal wraith becomes visible).
      • Planar Gateway: The user can open a temporary portal to another plane (Intelligence check, DC 16). On a success, a portal opens for 1 turn, allowing interaction with a random plane (GM discretion). On a failure, trigger an unstable surge (see below).
      • Aetheric Amplification: For 1 turn, spells within 30 feet deal +1d6 damage or gain +1 to their save DC (if using an optional spell system). On a failure, trigger an unstable surge.
      • Unstable Surge (10% Chance or on Failed Roll): Roll a d6:
        • 1-3: A minor surge deals 1d6 force damage to all within 30 feet (no save).
        • 4-5: A major surge opens an unstable portal, summoning a hostile creature (e.g., a 3 HD ethereal wraith, 1d6 damage).
        • 6: A catastrophic surge rends reality, teleporting all within 30 feet to a random plane (GM discretion).
      • Charges: The Resonator has 3 uses. It regains 1 use each dawn. If the last use is expended, roll a d6: on a 1, it shatters, causing a catastrophic surge (as above).
    • Value: 1,000 coins (if sold to a collector or mage, though its size and instability make it a hard sell).
  • Repair: Restoring the Resonator requires a DC 12 Intelligence check and rare materials (worth 500 coins), reducing the unstable surge chance to 5%.
  • Drawback: Each use has a 1-in-6 chance (roll a d6) of attracting a wandering monster (e.g., a 4 HD shadow) drawn by its aetheric signature.

Fate Core System

  • Overview: In Fate Core, the Aetheric Resonator is a volatile artifact within the Forsaken Alchemist’s Abode, a crumbling arcane site steeped in ethereal energies. It can interact with the ethereal plane but risks chaotic surges, fitting Fate’s narrative-driven system where aspects and stunts drive the story. Players might use it to gain otherworldly power or knowledge, but its instability introduces complications, adding to the game’s dramatic tension.
  • Stat Block and Mechanics:
    • Aetheric Resonator
    • Description: A large, 8-foot-tall device resembling a fusion of a telescope and harp, with cracked crystal lenses and broken strings, emitting an erratic hum.
    • Aspects:
      • Arcane Relic of Arion’s Ambition
      • Conduit to the Ethereal Plane
      • Fractured and Unstable
    • Stunt:
      • Ethereal Attunement: Once per scene, you can invoke the Resonator’s Conduit to the Ethereal Plane aspect for free to gain +2 to an Attune or Investigate roll to detect ethereal entities or magical effects within 30 feet, creating an advantage like Aetheric Sight with two free invokes.
    • Stunt:
      • Planar Gateway: You can spend a Fate Point to open a temporary portal to another plane (e.g., the Ethereal Plane) within 10 feet, lasting for 1 turn (Attune roll, Difficulty: Great, +4). On a success, create an advantage like Planar Breach with two free invokes, allowing interaction with the plane. On a failure, the GM gains a free invoke on Fractured and Unstable to introduce a complication (e.g., a hostile entity emerges).
    • Stunt:
      • Aetheric Amplification: You can use the Resonator to enhance a magical effect (e.g., a spell or ritual) within 30 feet, granting +2 to the roll or doubling the effect’s duration (Attune roll, Difficulty: Good, +3). On a failure, the GM can compel Fractured and Unstable to impose a -2 penalty to your next action or create a situational aspect like Aetheric Surge.
    • Unstable Surge (10% Chance or on Failed Roll): When the GM compels Fractured and Unstable, they can create a situational aspect like Chaotic Aetheric Burst (dealing 2 stress to all nearby characters) or Unstable Portal (introducing a Minor enemy, such as an ethereal wraith with +2 to physical attacks). Alternatively, the GM can compel a character’s aspect to reflect the psychological toll of the Resonator’s power, offering a Fate Point for accepting the complication (e.g., a mage’s Thirst for Knowledge leads to reckless use).
    • Usage Requirements: Activating the Resonator requires a Lore or Arcana roll (Difficulty: Great, +4) to attune its lenses and strings. On a failure, the user takes 2 stress from feedback.
  • Repair: Restoring the Resonator requires a Crafts roll (Difficulty: Superb, +5) and rare materials (equivalent to 3 resources), reducing the unstable surge chance to 5%.
  • Narrative Impact: The Resonator offers powerful abilities but can escalate scenes with its chaotic surges (e.g., a portal summons a hostile entity, complicating the party’s plans).

Numenera (Cypher System)

  • Overview: In Numenera, the Aetheric Resonator is a numenera artifact within the Forsaken Alchemist’s Abode, a Ninth World ruin where ethereal energies linger. It can interact with the ethereal plane but is prone to chaotic surges, fitting the Cypher System’s focus on discovery and the weird. Characters might use it to access otherworldly power or knowledge, but its instability adds significant risk to its use.
  • Stat Block and Mechanics:
    • Aetheric Resonator
    • Level: 7
    • Description: A large, 8-foot-tall device resembling a fusion of a telescope and harp, with cracked crystal lenses and broken strings, emitting an erratic hum.
    • Form: Artifact (stationary, 100 lbs).
    • Effect:
      • Ethereal Attunement: The user can detect aetheric currents within short range (30 feet) without a roll, revealing invisible entities or magical effects (e.g., an ethereal wraith becomes visible).
      • Planar Gateway: The user can open a temporary portal to another plane (Intellect task, difficulty 5). On a success, a portal opens for 1d6 rounds, allowing interaction with a random plane (GM discretion). On a failure, trigger an unstable surge (see below).
      • Aetheric Amplification: For 1 minute, esoteries and abilities within short range gain a +1 asset to their rolls and deal +2 damage (Intellect task, difficulty 4). On a failure, trigger an unstable surge.
      • Depletion: 1 in 1d10 (roll after each use). On depletion, the Resonator triggers a catastrophic surge and becomes unusable until repaired (difficulty 7 Intellect task, 1d6 hours).
      • Unstable Surge (10% Chance or on Failed Roll): Roll a d10:
        • 1-4: A minor surge deals 5 points of ambient damage (ignores Armor) to all within short range.
        • 5-7: A major surge opens an unstable portal, summoning a Level 5 creature (e.g., an ethereal wraith, Might 15, Intellect 10, attacks with energy tendrils for 5 damage).
        • 8-10: A catastrophic surge rends reality, teleporting all within short range to a random plane (GM discretion).
    • Usage Requirements: Activating the Resonator requires a difficulty 5 Intellect task to attune its lenses and strings. Failure results in 5 points of Intellect damage from feedback.
  • GM Intrusion Suggestion: The Resonator’s surge summons a hostile entity that targets the user, forcing them to flee or fight (e.g., a Level 4 aetheric construct).
  • Repair: Restoring the Resonator requires a difficulty 6 Intellect task and rare materials (worth 500 shin), reducing the unstable surge chance to 5%.
  • Loot: If destroyed, the Resonator leaves behind a cypher (e.g., a Level 4 Aetheric Shard: grants +1 asset to a single esotery or ability roll).

Pathfinder (2nd Edition)

  • Overview: In Pathfinder 2E, the Aetheric Resonator is a legendary artifact within the Forsaken Alchemist’s Abode, a ruined arcane site where ethereal energies linger. It can interact with the ethereal plane but is prone to chaotic surges, fitting Pathfinder’s crunchy mechanics and high-magic setting. Adventurers might use it to access otherworldly power, but its instability poses a significant challenge.
  • Stat Block and Mechanics:
    • Aetheric Resonator
    • Item 15
    • Unique, Magical, Artifact
    • Bulk: 10 (8 feet tall, stationary).
    • Description: A large device resembling a fusion of a telescope and harp, with cracked crystal lenses and broken strings, emitting an erratic hum.
    • Activate: [three-actions] Interact (attune the lenses and strings); Requirements: You have the Arcana skill at Master proficiency or higher.
    • Effect: Choose one of the following effects (lasts for 1 minute):
      • Ethereal Attunement: Detect aetheric currents within 60 feet, revealing invisible creatures or magical effects (as if using See Invisibility and Detect Magic, heightened to 4th level).
      • Planar Gateway: Open a temporary portal to another plane (e.g., the Ethereal Plane) within 10 feet, lasting for 1 minute. Make a DC 35 Arcana check: on a success, the portal allows travel or interaction with the plane (GM discretion). On a failure, trigger an unstable surge (see below).
      • Aetheric Amplification: Spells cast within 30 feet gain a +2 status bonus to their spell attack rolls and save DCs. Make a DC 35 Arcana check: on a failure, trigger an unstable surge.
      • Unstable Surge (10% Chance or on Failed Roll): Roll a d20:
        • 1-10: A minor surge deals 8d6 force damage to all within 30 feet (DC 35 Reflex save for half) and imposes the flat-footed condition for 1 minute.
        • 11-17: A major surge opens an unstable portal, summoning a hostile creature (e.g., a Level 10 Ethereal Wraith, 8d8 necrotic damage).
        • 18-20: A catastrophic surge rends reality, casting Plane Shift (DC 35 Will save to resist) on all within 30 feet, sending them to a random plane.
      • Usage Limit: The Resonator can be used 3 times per day. Additional uses automatically trigger an unstable surge (roll on the table above).
    • Drawback: Each use has a cumulative 10% chance (resetting daily) of attracting a planar entity (e.g., a Level 8 Inevitable), which appears within 1d4 hours to investigate.
  • Repair: Restoring the Resonator requires a DC 35 Crafting check and rare materials (worth 2,000 gp), reducing the unstable surge chance to 5%.
  • Destruction: The Resonator can be destroyed by casting a 9th-level Dispel Magic spell on it while it’s active, causing it to implode (12d6 force damage in a 30-foot emanation, DC 35 Reflex save for half).

Savage Worlds (Adventure Edition)

  • Overview: In Savage Worlds, the Aetheric Resonator is a legendary artifact within the Forsaken Alchemist’s Abode, a ruined arcane site in a high-magic setting. It can interact with the ethereal plane but is prone to chaotic surges, fitting Savage Worlds’ fast-paced, pulpy tone. Heroes might use it to access otherworldly power, but its instability adds a high-stakes challenge.
  • Stat Block and Mechanics:
    • Aetheric Resonator
    • Arcane Device, Legendary
    • Weight: 50 lbs. (8 feet tall, requires a secure location or heavy transport).
    • Description: A large device resembling a fusion of a telescope and harp, with cracked crystal lenses and broken strings, emitting an erratic hum.
    • Powers:
      • Ethereal Attunement: As an action, a character with Arcane Background (any) can activate the Resonator (Occult roll, Target Number 4). On a success, detect ethereal entities or magical effects within 12” (24 yards) for 3 rounds, revealing invisible creatures or effects (e.g., an ethereal wraith becomes visible). On a failure, trigger an unstable surge (see below).
      • Planar Gateway: As an action, the user can open a temporary portal to another plane (Occult roll, -2 penalty). On a success, a portal opens for 3 rounds, allowing interaction with a random plane (GM discretion). On a failure, trigger an unstable surge.
      • Aetheric Amplification: For 3 rounds, powers within 12” gain +2 to their casting roll and deal +2 damage (Occult roll, Target Number 4). On a failure, trigger an unstable surge.
      • Unstable Surge (10% Chance or on Failed Roll): Roll a d6:
        • 1-3: A minor surge deals 2d6 damage (ignores Armor) in a Medium Blast Template (6” diameter).
        • 4-5: A major surge opens an unstable portal, summoning a hostile creature (e.g., a Toughness 6 Ethereal Wraith, 2d6 damage).
        • 6: A catastrophic surge rends reality, teleporting all within 12” to a random plane (GM discretion).
      • Usage Limit: The Resonator has 3 Power Points (PP). Each use costs 1 PP. It regains 1 PP each dawn. If the last PP is expended, roll a d6: on a 1, it shatters, causing a catastrophic surge (as above).
    • Repair: Restoring the Resonator requires a Repair roll (Target Number 6) and rare materials (worth 500 credits), reducing the unstable surge chance to 5%.
  • Drawback: Each use has a 1-in-6 chance (roll a d6) of attracting a supernatural threat (e.g., a Toughness 8 spectral entity) drawn by its aetheric signature.
  • Bennies: The GM gains a Benny each time the Resonator triggers an unstable surge, reflecting its narrative impact.

Shadowrun (6th Edition)

  • Overview: In Shadowrun, the Aetheric Resonator is a volatile magical artifact uncovered in the Forsaken Alchemist’s Abode, a mana-rich site in the Sixth World. It can interact with the astral plane (akin to the ethereal plane) but is prone to chaotic surges, fitting Shadowrun’s blend of magic and tech. Runners might use it to access astral power or knowledge, but its instability risks summoning astral threats or disrupting their mission.
  • Stat Block and Mechanics:
    • Aetheric Resonator
    • Type: Magical Artifact (Fetish)
    • Availability: 18R (Restricted, rare and dangerous)
    • Cost: 150,000¥ (black market value; not typically sold legally)
    • Description: A large, 8-foot-tall device resembling a fusion of a telescope and harp, with cracked crystal lenses and broken strings, emitting an erratic hum.
    • Essence/Magic Requirements: Requires a Magic rating of 3+ to use. Non-awakened characters cannot activate it.
    • Activation: Using the Resonator requires an Assensing + Intuition test (Threshold 4). On a glitch, trigger an unstable surge (see below). On a critical glitch, the user takes 2D6 Stun damage and the Resonator is unusable for 1 hour.
    • Effects:
      • Astral Attunement: For the next 3 combat turns, the user gains +2 dice to Assensing tests to detect astral entities or magical effects within 20 meters (e.g., revealing an astral wraith). On a failure, trigger an unstable surge.
      • Astral Gateway: The user can open a temporary portal to the astral plane within 10 meters, lasting for 3 combat turns (Assensing + Intuition test, Threshold 5). On a success, the portal allows interaction with the astral plane (e.g., summoning a Force 4 spirit). On a failure, trigger an unstable surge.
      • Astral Amplification: For 3 combat turns, spells cast within 10 meters gain +2 dice to their Sorcery test and +2 DV (Damage Value). Drain is increased by +2 due to the intensified mana flow. On a failure, trigger an unstable surge.
      • Unstable Surge (10% Chance or on Failed Roll): Roll 1d6:
        • 1-3: A minor surge deals 6S (Stun) damage (Resist with Body + Willpower, AP -2) to all within 10 meters.
        • 4-5: A major surge opens an unstable portal, summoning a hostile spirit (Force 5, e.g., a Spirit of Air, with 10 dice to attack).
        • 6: A catastrophic surge rends reality, teleporting all within 10 meters to the astral plane (GM discretion, typically a hazardous metaplanar realm).
      • Astral Signature: Each use increases Background Count by +1 (to a maximum of 5) for 1 hour, attracting spirits or corp mages.
    • Drawback: Each use has a 1-in-6 chance (roll 1d6) of alerting a megacorp or magical faction (e.g., the Draco Foundation), who send a team to seize the device (GM discretion, typically 6-8 professional runners).
  • Repair: Restoring the Resonator requires a Mechanics + Logic test (Threshold 5) and rare materials (worth 5,000¥), reducing the unstable surge chance to 5%.

Starfinder (1st Edition, 2024 Updates)

  • Overview: In Starfinder, the Aetheric Resonator is a hybrid tech-magic artifact discovered in the Forsaken Alchemist’s Abode, a derelict station in the Drift where planar energies converge. It can interact with the Ethereal Plane but is prone to chaotic surges, fitting Starfinder’s sci-fi fantasy blend. A party might use it to access otherworldly power, but its instability risks summoning extraplanar threats.
  • Stat Block and Mechanics:
    • Aetheric Resonator
    • Level: 15
    • Price: 250,000 credits
    • Bulk: 10 (8 feet tall, requires a secure location or grav-lift to transport)
    • Category: Hybrid (Magic/Tech)
    • Usage: 1 charge/use (holds 3 charges; recharges 1 charge per day in a mana-rich environment)
    • Activation: Activating the Resonator requires a successful DC 30 Mysticism or Engineering check (1 minute). On a failure, trigger an unstable surge (see below).
    • Effects:
      • Ethereal Attunement: For 1 minute, detect ethereal entities or magical effects within 60 feet (as if using See Invisibility and Detect Magic, heightened to 4th level).
      • Planar Gateway: Open a temporary portal to the Ethereal Plane within 10 feet, lasting for 1 minute (Mysticism DC 30). On a success, the portal allows travel or interaction with the plane (GM discretion). On a failure, trigger an unstable surge.
      • Aetheric Amplification: For 1 minute, spells and spell-like abilities within 30 feet gain a +2 bonus to their caster level checks and DCs, and deal +1d6 damage of their energy type (if applicable). Make a DC 30 Mysticism check: on a failure, trigger an unstable surge.
      • Unstable Surge (10% Chance or on Failed Roll): Roll a d6:
        • 1-3: A minor surge deals 6d6 force damage to all within 30 feet (DC 20 Reflex save for half).
        • 4-5: A major surge opens an unstable portal, summoning a hostile creature (e.g., a CR 10 Ethereal Wraith, 8d8 necrotic damage).
        • 6: A catastrophic surge rends reality, casting Plane Shift (DC 20 Will save to resist) on all within 30 feet, sending them to a random plane.
      • Drawback: Each use has a 20% chance (roll percentile dice) of attracting a Drift entity (e.g., a CR 8 Akata Voidstalker), which arrives within 1d4 hours to investigate.
    • Repair: Restoring the Resonator requires a DC 30 Engineering check and rare materials (worth 10,000 credits), reducing the unstable surge chance to 5%.
  • Destruction: The Resonator can be destroyed by overloading it with a 6th-level Energy Ray (force damage), causing it to implode (10d6 force damage in a 30-foot radius, DC 20 Reflex save for half).

Traveller (2nd Edition, Mongoose Publishing 2022 Update)

  • Overview: In Traveller, the Aetheric Resonator is reimagined as an ancient psionic artifact found in the Forsaken Alchemist’s Abode, a derelict station in a mana-rich nebula. It can interact with a psionic “aether” (akin to the ethereal plane) but is prone to chaotic surges, fitting Traveller’s sci-fi exploration theme where psionics are treated as magic. Travellers might use it to access otherworldly power, but its instability adds significant risk to its use.
  • Stat Block and Mechanics:
    • Aetheric Resonator
    • Tech Level: 15 (Ancient, beyond modern understanding)
    • Weight: 50 kg (8 feet tall, requires a grav-lift or team to move)
    • Cost: 1,000,000 Cr (black market estimate; not legally sold)
    • Description: A large device resembling a fusion of a telescope and harp, with cracked crystal lenses and broken strings, emitting an erratic hum.
    • Activation: Using the Resonator requires a Psionics skill check (8+, 1 minute). On a failure, trigger an unstable surge (see below). On an Effect of -4 or worse, the Resonator is unusable for 1 hour.
    • Effects:
      • Aetheric Attunement: For 1 minute, the user gains DM +2 to Recon checks to detect psionic entities or effects within 20 meters (e.g., revealing a psionic wraith). On a failure, trigger an unstable surge.
      • Aetheric Gateway: The user can open a temporary portal to a psionic “aether” within 10 meters, lasting for 1 minute (Psionics check, 9+). On a success, the portal allows interaction with the aether (e.g., summoning a PSI 6 entity). On a failure, trigger an unstable surge.
      • Aetheric Amplification: For 1 minute, psionic powers within 10 meters gain DM +2 to their Psionics skill check and deal +2 damage (if applicable). On a failure, trigger an unstable surge.
      • Unstable Surge (10% Chance or on Failed Roll): Roll 2d6:
        • 2-5: A minor surge deals 2d6 damage (ignores Armor) to all within 10 meters.
        • 6-9: A major surge opens an unstable portal, summoning a hostile psionic entity (e.g., a PSI 8 wraith, 2d6 psionic attack).
        • 10-12: A catastrophic surge rends reality, teleporting all within 10 meters to a random psionic plane (GM discretion).
      • Drawback: Each use has a 1-in-6 chance (roll 1d6) of emitting a psionic signature detectable by Imperial sensors or hostile psionic entities, drawing a response (e.g., a Zhodani psi-team arrives in 1d6 days).
    • Repair: Restoring the Resonator requires a Mechanics check (10+) and rare materials (worth 5,000 Cr), reducing the unstable surge chance to 5%.
  • Destruction: The Resonator can be destroyed by dealing 20 points of damage (Armor 6), but doing so causes an explosion: 4d6 damage in a 10-meter radius (INT 8+ to halve).

Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (4th Edition)

  • Overview: In Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, the Aetheric Resonator is a Chaos-tainted artifact within the Forsaken Alchemist’s Abode, a ruined elven structure corrupted by warpstone energies. It can interact with the aethyr (akin to the ethereal plane) but is prone to chaotic surges, fitting WFRP’s grim and perilous tone. Adventurers might use it to access otherworldly power, but its instability and warpstone influence pose significant risks.
  • Stat Block and Mechanics:
    • Aetheric Resonator
    • Type: Artefact (Chaos-Tainted)
    • Encumbrance: 50 (8 feet tall, requires a cart or magic to move)
    • Price: Priceless (coveted by wizards and Chaos cults alike)
    • Availability: Unique
    • Description: A large device resembling a fusion of a telescope and harp, with cracked crystal lenses and broken strings, emitting an erratic hum.
    • Traits: Chaos (Tzeentch), Magical, Unstable
    • Activation: Using the Resonator requires a Lore (Magic) test (DN 7). On a failure, trigger an unstable surge (see below). On a Critical Failure, the user gains 2 Corruption points.
    • Effects:
      • Aetheric Attunement: For 1 minute, the user gains +20 to Perception tests to detect aethyric entities or magical effects within 20 yards (e.g., revealing an aethyric wraith). On a failure, trigger an unstable surge.
      • Aetheric Gateway: The user can open a temporary portal to the aethyr within 10 yards, lasting for 1 minute (Lore (Magic) test, DN 8). On a success, the portal allows interaction with the aethyr (e.g., summoning a Lesser Daemon of Tzeentch). On a failure, trigger an unstable surge.
      • Aetheric Amplification: For 1 minute, spells within 10 yards gain +20 to their Casting roll and deal +2 damage per Success Level. On a failure, trigger an unstable surge.
      • Unstable Surge (10% Chance or on Failed Roll): Roll a d10:
        • 1-4: A minor surge deals 1d10 damage (ignores Armor) to all within 10 yards and imposes -20 to all tests for 1d10 minutes.
        • 5-7: A major surge opens an unstable portal, summoning a Lesser Daemon of Tzeentch (e.g., a Horror of Tzeentch, WS 40, S 30, T 30, I 40, W 12, 2 Attacks, 1d10+3 damage).
        • 8-10: A catastrophic surge rends reality, teleporting all within 10 yards to a random Chaos realm (GM discretion). All present gain 2 Corruption points.
      • Corruption Risk: Each use requires a Challenging (+0) Cool test. On a failure, the user gains 2 Corruption points due to its warpstone influence.
    • Drawback: Each use has a 10% chance (roll percentile dice) of attracting a Chaos cult or daemonic entity, who arrive within 1d10 days to claim the device.
  • Repair: Restoring the Resonator requires a Trade (Engineering) test (DN 8) and rare materials (worth 500 gc), reducing the unstable surge chance to 5%.
  • Destruction: The Resonator can be destroyed by a Dispel Magic spell (DN 8) while active, causing it to implode (2d10 damage in a 10-yard radius, no save, all present gain 2 Corruption points).