An Arcane Vessel is an object crafted to contain an arcane formula.

The creation of an Arcane Vessel is a multi-disciplinary process combining spell shaping and master crafting.

The physical device acts as a focus, channeling and containing the Arcane Energies. It must be made to mastercraft quality to ensure there are no imperfections that may allow the energy to escape from flawed geometry.

Runes of the Lingua Arcana are etched into the device. This acts as the verbal spell component; the more perfect the inscription, the better the “pronunciation.”

Arcane Vessels can have a built-in fuel source. These are usually rare crystals that act as self-recharging batteries. However, some more nefarious vessels are designed to draw their energy from their wielder, using various methods of draining WP from the owner.

Once these three pieces are put together, the artificer makes a spellcasting roll based on the effects of the vessel.

Ace: The Vessel is complete and has a battery capacity equal to twice the effect's Casting Threshold. For a Vessel without a battery, it can channel the user's WP at a 2:1 ratio.

Success under the Threshold: The Vessel is complete but has a battery capacity equal to one-half the effect's Casting Threshold. For a Vessel without a batter, it channels the user's WP at a 1:2 ratio.

Success: The Vessel is complete. The runes briefly glow with arcane power.

Bullseye: An exquisite specimen of arcane science, activation rolls are made with Favor.

Failure: Some minor flaw allows the energy to drain from the device immediately, leaving it mundane. You may spend a Shift inspecting and repairing it to attempt the creation roll again.

Botch: An unseen flaw in the Vessel shatters the base device, rendering it useless scrap.

A Vessel with a battery naturally recharges its internal store of WP at a rate of 1d6 per Shift without active use.

An Arcane Vessel can have multiple abilities, but they all fall into one of two types.

These are abilities that automatically affect the owner as long as the Vessel is worn or readied. Some examples include:

• A belt that grants an improvement to the wearer's STR
• A crown that shields against mental abilities

These are normally predesigned, single-use, arcane spells. Some more powerful Vessels may have multiple “settings” that change the activated effect.

By rolling against one of your Spellcasting skills (or Wits for non-casters) with a Threshold equal to the effects' Casting Threshold, you can direct the Vessel's Activated Effect. You can use WP from the Vessel's battery to reduce this Threshold. Some examples include:

• A wand that hurls fist-sized balls of fire
• A cloak that makes the wearer invisible for a short time

If a Vessel has no battery or one with a depleted battery can draw on the weilder's WP pool to fuel its activation.

Some cursed Vessels only draw WP from their wielders as part of their activation

Arcane Vessels are just as fragile as their mundane counterparts. Dealing enough damage to break the vessel renders it useless.