The Starburst Rifle, not to be confused with the similarly named Sunburst Rifle, is a modified piece of Puretek. With mundane origins as a commissioned piece for a Purist-sympathetic family, a gift from the Belliards whom they had patronized for many years, it rose beyond when an unknown Knight fulfilled a bounty for their Goddess and saw it blessed by her hand. Taal’s purging grace laces the weapon with echoes of her sanctity still: and since its blessing, it has appeared many a time in the Lothar Order’s never-ending war against the Occult. The underworld knows to fear the masked one who carries this Puretek, the tool of slaughter used to end the life of many an Afflicted, Cultist, or Rogue Mage who arrogantly picked a fight they would not survive.
Appearance
The Starburst Rifle’s beauty is in its simplicity and ability to blend in. While fine-crafted, it appears like an unremarkable demishot Puretek rifle commissioned for a person of class and wealth. Its wooden stock has a finely carved gothic inlay, dark metal and dark oak interlacing to depict the arches of the Calemberg Dom, Unionism’s largest Temple, swirling up towards the trigger. The barrel’s bone-pale color is not tarnished by inlays, but it is also engraved: concentric rings run down the stone’s length, with Unionist Eyes and various significant symbols carved between them every so often.
Artifact Custom Kit
The Starburst Rifle is a Primal (Unionist God Magic) Artifact. As an artifact, there are several rules associated with Artifact Ownership, see Artifact Page. It also provides the following Specials:
Bonded Weapon: The Starburst Rifle is a weapon bonded to its owner, Erwin Braunschweiger, and therefore cannot be taken from them or destroyed beyond repair. The Starburst Rifle cannot leave emote range of Erwin, and will teleport back to their side if taken out of range. This does not prevent Erwin from being disarmed.
Taal’s Favor: The Rifle’s wielder can optionally choose to have it take on the holy aesthetics of Taal’s purging light. Quicksilver bullets are replaced with beams of scalding energy, allowing the Starburst Rifle to be used for default Firearms attacks and do damage, rather than needing to swap to a regular weapon.
