Hydtithe, Second Skin, was allegedly created by the Body Arken as an experiment with Creation Particles, though not intelligent enough to work on its own nor too magically dependent to be considered its preference for life. It first appeared in the Regalian Sewers around 272 AC, where it would drain the vitality of those who wore it, leaving behind drained cadavers and puppeteered corpses in its wake. It eventually was taken by the Azure Order, which seemed to shift its symbiotic nature from being entirely parasitic to something more mutual, or at least commensal. It eventually resurfaced in Amontaar in 312 AC, where it eventually made its way back to Regalia.
Description
Hydtithe is classified as an Armor Artifact, meaning it cannot be wielded at the same time as other Armor Artifacts by the same owner. Hydtithe manifests as a coiling mass of flesh, bone, and muscle, colored red, white, and gold. When not tethered to a host, it is but a coiling orb of meat with a single spying eye, usually quite thin and small from malnourishment. It clings to its wearer as a set of armor, either just coating an arm or spreading so far as to coat the entire body.
Artifact Mechanics
Artifact Mechanics are split between Permanent Mechanics, Sparked Mechanics, and Sparked Combat Mechanics. Permanent Mechanics are always available to the wielder of the Artifact. Sparked Mechanics and Sparked Combat Mechanics are only available if the Artifact has an Artifactspark. Sparked Combat Mechanics are noted separately, because this makes them easier to find, but they are no different from Sparked Mechanics in general. For more information on Artifactsparks, read the Resources Page. For Rules on Artifact ownership, see the Artifacts Page.
Permanent Mechanics
This Artifact can steal the Artifactspark from other defeated Artifactholders and can hold more than one Artifactspark inside of it. Other Mechanics may derive functions from the number of Artifactsparks. Any change in the number of Artifactsparks must always be reported in a Ticket. If this Artifact has more than one Artifactspark, being defeated and having an Artifactspark stolen will only result in the loss of one, rather than all.
This Artifact's wielder's mind is immune to being read or influenced from the outside. That is to say, the usage of Mechanics like Mind Control do not apply (unless the user wants to), and other Mechanics to do with for example emotion reading and influencing do not work.
Sparked Mechanics
This Artifact grants the wielder the Magical Variant of the Shapeshift Pack for free. However, all Shapeshifting must appear like the second skin, a mass of flesh, bone, and muscle colored red, white, and gold. This Shapeshift does not count as a Disguise (as Artifact ownership is public), but the Artifact can lend this Shapeshift to two additional Characters, who are Disguised during its usage. This form of Shapeshifting does not break unless the Artifact wielder reaches 0 HP.
This Artifact grants the wielder the Magical variant of the Oceanic Pack for free. However, it is not Magical in appearance, but a flesh-like set of lungs that attaches like scuba-gear to the mouth.
Sparked Combat Mechanics
This Artifact's wielder can choose 3 Free Packs from any Category and supplement their Character Application, though these Packs can only be used while the Artifact has an Artifactspark.
If someone other than the user uses a Sinistral Magic Point Buy Ability in Emote Range, the user can choose to gain +2HP. This can only happen once per Combat Scene.
This Artifact grants the wielder +2 Attack Stat (breaking Cap up to 11) while using Attack Emotes only. Additionally, when attacking, the wielder's Attack Dice Roll Minimum is 4. For every additional Artifactspark in the Artifact, this minimum is raised by +1.
Collectible Artifact
Artifacts are very cool, and make a Character super powerful. That being said, due to circumstances of Roleplay, a Character may end up holding onto an Artifact for months on end. This is generally not a problem, but we believe that Artifacts because of their uniqueness, should never be held onto in perpetuity by one Player. After a few months, it is time for the next player to be able to enjoy the artifact, and for this reason, Collectibles exist. After 120 days of non-consecutive Artifact ownership, an Artifact is automatically confiscated, and the Player who lost it is given a Collectible. Collectibles are thematically and aesthetically similar to the Artifact, meaning the loss of an Artifact does not visually detract from a Character's established design. However, they cannot hold Artifactsparks and only inherit the Permanent Mechanics from the Artifact they were generated from (including the rules limiting their use). On the other hand, Collectibles can never be stolen from their owner, a Collectible is owned forever, and there is no upper limit to the amount of Collectibles a Character can have, or wield/use at the same time. Collectibles may be traded away by their owner if they are unable to use the Permanent Mechanic due to the use limitation. To summarize this Artifact's Collectible properties:
When this Artifact is exchanged for a Collectible, this counts as the symbiote moving on, but leaving behind a Wrapping of Bodyflesh.
The Wrapping of Bodyflesh Collectible inherits the second Permanent Mechanic of Hydtithe (not the Artifactspark stealing one) but can be used by anyone. While there are several Wrappings of Bodyflesh, each looks unique, though should be inspired by the appearance of Hydtithe.
