ARTIFACTS INDEX

INTRODUCTION

ARTIFURNACE! This item unknown to many.

The artifurnace is a spelljamming helm that draws its power from an artifact, a rare and powerful magical item that has unique and mysterious properties. The artifurnace is the ultimate development of the furnace, a type of helm that uses fuel to propel a spelljamming ship through wildspace, the space between the crystal spheres that contain different worlds. The artifurnace was invented by a diabolical mage named Icarus Straves, who wanted to create a helm that could provide unlimited power and access to some of the artifact’s abilities. However, creating an artifurnace requires a terrible sacrifice: the life essence of an intelligent being, whose soul is used to connect the artifact to the helm. This makes the artifurnace a dark and dangerous device, sought after by many but possessed by few. In this story, you will learn more about the history, description, and powers of the artifurnace, one of the most fascinating and controversial devices in the Spelljammer setting.

The Artifurnace: A Spelljamming Device Powered by an Artifact

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to power a spelljamming ship with an artifact? An artifact is a rare and powerful magical item that has unique and mysterious properties. Some artifacts can grant wishes, create worlds, or even destroy them. But what if you could use an artifact to explore the wonders of wildspace, the space between the crystal spheres that contain different worlds?

Well, in the Spelljammer setting, there is a device that can do just that: the artifurnace. The artifurnace is a rare and mysterious spelljamming helm that draws its energy from an artifact, providing the ship with almost unlimited power and access to some of the artifact’s abilities. Sounds amazing, right? But there is a catch: creating an artifurnace requires the sacrifice of an intelligent being, whose life essence is used to connect the artifact to the helm. This makes the artifurnace a dark and dangerous device, sought after by many but possessed by few.

In this blog post, I will tell you more about the history, description, powers, and risks of the artifurnace, one of the most fascinating and controversial devices in the Spelljammer setting.

History

The artifurnace was invented by a diabolical mage named Icarus Straves, who wanted to create a helm that could provide unlimited power and access to some of the artifact’s abilities. He was obsessed with finding and studying artifacts, and he had amassed a large collection of them in his secret laboratory. He experimented with different ways of harnessing their power, until he came up with the idea of using a furnace, a type of helm that uses fuel to propel a spelljamming ship through wildspace.

He modified a furnace to accept an artifact as its fuel source, and he used his own apprentice as the sacrificial link between the artifact and the helm. He called his invention the artifurnace, and he was amazed by its performance. The artifurnace gave his ship a speed rating of 5, which means it could travel faster than most other ships in wildspace. It also allowed him to use some of the artifact’s abilities, such as creating illusions, teleporting, or casting spells.

He was so proud of his creation that he decided to share it with the world. He wrote a book called “The Art of the Artifurnace”, where he explained how to make and use an artifurnace. He also claimed that he had found a way to create an artifurnace without sacrificing an intelligent being, but he did not reveal his method in the book. He said he would reveal it only to those who could prove themselves worthy of his knowledge.

The book caused a sensation among spelljamming enthusiasts, who were eager to get their hands on an artifurnace. Many tried to replicate Straves’ experiments, using different artifacts and different sacrificial links. Some succeeded, but many failed, resulting in explosions, accidents, or worse. Some also tried to find Straves himself, hoping to learn his secret method of creating an artifurnace without sacrifice. However, Straves had disappeared without a trace, leaving behind only his book and his legacy.

Description

An artifurnace looks like a large metal box with pipes and wires attached to it. It has a slot where an artifact can be inserted, and a seat where the sacrificial link can sit. The sacrificial link must be an intelligent being who is willing or coerced to give up their life essence for the artifurnace. The link must wear a metal helmet that connects their brain to the helm. Once the link is in place, the artifact is activated and the artifurnace starts working.

The artifurnace can power any spelljamming ship that has enough space for it. The size of the artifurnace depends on the size of the artifact it uses. Some artifacts are small enough to fit in a pocket, while others are as big as a house. The bigger the artifact, the more powerful the artifurnace.

The artifurnace can provide almost unlimited power for the ship, as long as the artifact remains intact and functional. The artifact can be destroyed only by specific means that are related to its nature and origin. For example, an artifact that was created by a god can be destroyed only by another god or by something that opposes its alignment or domain.

The artifurnace can also grant some of the artifact’s abilities to the ship or its crew. The type and extent of these abilities depend on the nature and power level of the artifact. For example, an artifact that can create illusions can make the ship or its crew invisible, while an artifact that can cast spells can allow the ship or its crew to cast the same spells.

Powers

The artifurnace is a powerful device that can give a spelljamming ship a great advantage in wildspace. Here are some of the benefits of using an artifurnace:

• The artifurnace can provide a speed rating of 5, which means it can travel faster than most other ships in wildspace. This can help the ship to escape from enemies, explore new worlds, or reach distant destinations.
• The artifurnace can grant some of the artifact’s abilities to the ship or its crew, depending on the nature and power level of the artifact. These abilities can range from creating illusions, teleporting, casting spells, controlling minds, manipulating time, or even altering reality. These abilities can be used for offense, defense, exploration, or entertainment.
• The artifurnace can use the artifact as a weapon, by channeling its energy into a beam or a blast that can damage or destroy other ships or objects. The damage and range of the weapon depend on the power and type of the artifact. For example, an artifact that can create fire can shoot a fiery blast, while an artifact that can create lightning can shoot a lightning bolt.
• The artifurnace can use the artifact as a shield, by creating a protective barrier around the ship that can absorb or deflect attacks from other ships or hazards. The strength and duration of the shield depend on the power and type of the artifact. For example, an artifact that can create force can create a force field, while an artifact that can create magic can create a magic shield.

Risks

The artifurnace is not without its drawbacks and dangers. Here are some of the risks of using an artifurnace:

• The artifurnace requires the sacrifice of an intelligent being, whose life essence is used to connect the artifact to the helm. This is a cruel and immoral act that can have serious consequences for the user and the sacrificed being. The user may suffer from guilt, remorse, or madness, while the sacrificed being may haunt, curse, or seek revenge on the user.
• The artifurnace is unstable and unpredictable, as it depends on the artifact’s nature and condition. The artifact may malfunction, deactivate, or explode at any time, causing damage or disaster to the ship or its surroundings. The artifact may also have hidden or unknown effects that may harm or hinder the user or the crew. For example, an artifact that can create illusions may also create nightmares, while an artifact that can cast spells may also cast curses.
• The artifurnace is coveted and contested by many who seek its power and secrets. The user may face competition, conflict, or danger from other spelljamming factions, such as pirates, merchants, explorers, or governments. The user may also face opposition, hostility, or wrath from other forces, such as gods, demons, dragons, or aliens. The user may have to fight or flee from these enemies to protect their artifurnace and their ship.

Conclusion

The artifurnace is a spelljamming device that powers a ship with an artifact. It is a rare and mysterious device that can provide almost unlimited power and access to some of the artifact’s abilities. However, it also requires the sacrifice of an intelligent being and has many drawbacks and dangers. It is a device that can bring glory or doom to its user and their ship.

ADVENTURE IDEAS

Here are some examples:

• The party is hired by a mysterious patron to find and retrieve an artifurnace from a derelict spelljamming ship that is drifting in wildspace. The patron promises a generous reward, but does not reveal their identity or motives. The party must deal with the dangers and mysteries of the ship, such as traps, puzzles, enemies, and secrets. They must also decide whether to trust their patron or keep the artifurnace for themselves.
• The party is part of a spelljamming crew that uses an artifurnace to power their ship. The artifurnace is powered by an artifact that belongs to a powerful god, who is not happy about it. The god sends their agents and followers to reclaim the artifact and punish the thieves. The party must defend their ship and their artifurnace from the divine wrath, while also dealing with the side effects of using the artifact’s abilities.
• The party is contacted by a former apprentice of Icarus Straves, the inventor of the artifurnace. The apprentice claims to have discovered Straves’ secret method of creating an artifurnace without sacrifice, and asks the party to help them test it. The party agrees, hoping to gain access to a powerful device. However, they soon realize that the apprentice’s method is flawed and dangerous, and that they have unwittingly become part of a sinister experiment.
• The party is exploring a new world in wildspace, when they encounter a strange civilization that uses artifurnaces as their main source of energy and technology. The civilization is advanced and prosperous, but also ruthless and oppressive. The party learns that the civilization is planning to use their artifurnaces to conquer other worlds, and that they have captured and enslaved many intelligent beings to power their devices. The party must decide whether to ally with or oppose the civilization, and how to deal with their artifurnaces.
• The party is invited to a spelljamming auction, where one of the items for sale is an artifurnace. The artifurnace is said to be powered by a legendary artifact that has incredible powers and secrets. The party decides to bid for the artifurnace, hoping to acquire a valuable treasure. However, they soon discover that they are not the only ones interested in the device, and that some of their rivals are willing to use any means necessary to get it.

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