Chapter Two: Bones of Steel
Miscellaneous Devices The non-intrinsic chaositech devices presented here are as varied in appearance as they are in function. Attack Sphere: This device appears to be a steel sphere about 10 inches across. When activated, it rises up into the air, floating under its own power. As it does, tiny slits open in its surface, producing blades, sharp points, and hooks. For the next 10 rounds, any creature the activator attacks in melee receives an attack immediately afterward from the sphere as well, as it moves in close and slashes with its blades. The sphere has an attack bonus of +10 and inflicts 2d6 points of piercing/slashing damage. It has AC 24 (+2 size, +4 Dexterity, +8 armor), a hardness of 20, and 60 hit points. Because of its size, it must move into an opponent’s space to attack, thus drawing an attack of opportunity each time. It cannot grapple or make any other special maneuvers. While activated, it moves with the activator, never straying more than 10 feet. If the activator makes no attacks, the sphere makes no attacks and hovers nearby. After 10 rounds are over, the sphere returns to the activator. Lever activation; Craft DC 40; Price 45,000 gp; Weight 10 lbs. Chaos Storage Cube: This is the grey power battery for all chaositech devices, discussed on pages 19–20. It has a hardness of 10, 50 hp, and break DC 30. No activation; Craft DC 50; Price 20,000 gp; Weight 100 lbs. Chaosomaton Cockpit: This large device has no function of its own. It must be affixed or integrated into a chaosomaton† (see page 86) in order to have any use. These cockpits come in different sizes, each intended to encompass a single creature within a chaosomaton. A creature can ride only within chaosomatons that are at least one size larger than it. If the chaosomaton is two sizes or more larger than the creature (and its cockpit), the cockpit can be placed inside the chaosomaton without any outward change in its appearance. Otherwise, the cockpit extends out of the chaosomaton like a hump on its back, an extended belly, or similar protrubance. Placing a cockpit within a chaosomaton requires a Craft (chaositech)† check (DC 35). To place one on the outside of a chaosomaton requires a Craft (chaositech) check (DC 30).
From within the cockpit, the creature can control all the chaosomaton’s actions and cannot be harmed by physical attacks until the chaosomaton is destroyed. (Mind-affecting attacks or spells without physical effects—generally those requiring a Will save rather than a Fortitude or Reflex save— can still affect the controller. However, there is no direct line of sight from a foe outside the chaosomaton to the creature inside.) Controlling the actions of the chaosomaton requires all of the concentration and effort the creature in the cockpit possesses. If the controller attempts any other action, the chaosomaton does nothing. Special activation; Craft DC 45; Price 50,000 gp (size Small or smaller), 75,000 gp (size Medium), or 100,000 gp (size Large or larger); Weight 100 lbs. Clarity Goggles: These hard, dark goggles protect the wearer’s eyes from dust and dirt and provide perfect visual clarity. The wearer gains a +4 competence bonus to all Spot and Search checks, and to saving throws against illusions. Clarity goggles check for chaotic failure once each week at most. Use activation; Craft DC 25; Price 1,500 gp; Weight 1/2 lb. Cleaver Harness: This harness fits around virtually any creature of size Small to Large. Attached to the harness on the sides (toward the back) are four long, articulated arms not unlike insect legs. Each arm ends in a wicked, serrated cleaver. Once the harness is secured around the wearer’s torso, he attaches a cable that runs from the harness to his jaw. The wearer controls the cleaver-arms with subtle jaw movements and can use them to make slashing attacks at an adjacent foe. The wearer makes four attacks per round, using his normal base attack bonus, modified by Dexterity rather than Strength. The wearer can attack multiple opponents. How-ever, he can take no other actions in a round in which he uses the harness—not even take a 5-foot step—and cannot make other attacks even if he has weapons in his normal hands. The cleavers inflict 1d8 points of damage each (critical hit on a 19–20/×2), with no bonus for Strength. Lever activation; Craft DC 33; Price 11,000 gp; Weight 15 lbs. Darkness Imbiber: This device looks like an oblong box of smooth metal topped with a narrow cylinder that ends in a wide, mouthlike funnel. When activated, it absorbs
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