Ancestral Vorpadaran Foil
History
While sources dispute whether this artifact originated with one of the founding members who established the Vorpadaran line, or (as seems more historically consistent) it developed sometime within the first five generations as the House accrued sufficient assets, all art historians agree that House Vorpadaran has passed this specific relic from one member to the next. It has consistently had all physical repairs or improvements carefully noted in the record.
In lean times, this artifact has served as collateral for a major investment. In such cases, three House Vorpadaran Armsmen accompany the hilt. They serve heel-and-toe watches over the precious artifact until the House is able to redeem it from the investors.
By custom, the hilt is bequeathed to a younger member of the reigning Count's family. The designated Count's Heir is entitled to the family Vor seal dagger, suitable for one who must often undertake official Household correspondence in their presiding parent's service. A different sibling -- one anticipated not to take the Count's or Countess's Oath, is entrusted with this separate weapon. The family lore explains that this is a vivid symbol of the Vorpadaran honor. All in the family contribute to the good management of the Vorpadaran District; all in the family find their own ways of defending the future of their people.
Because it is a bequeathed item, this particular artifact may remain in one family member's custody for two to four generations of reigning Vorpadaran Countships. The Vorpadaran District body of lore includes some peasant stories of a particular "cadet member of the High Vor family" holding grimly on to life until the current group of Count's immediate children will include a younger member whose personality and inclinations are well-suited to the nature of the Foil.
During the early aftermath of the Mecetti Purge, sufficient documentation was presented to the Tapani Great Council that the Hilt had been incapable of activation for more than a century. It is carried as a physical symbol of the High Vor loyalty to the citizens in their District. In fact, the Great Council heard, it is often kept safely locked up in the family vaults.
Significance
The possessor of this ancestral artifact is a member of the House Vorpadaran presiding family. Official family records on the artifact's provenance include many affirmations from various generations. Five separate custodial Vorpadarans testify that the Ancestral Hilt finds its way into the custody of the Vorpadaran "who can put it to best effect in the District's defense" (two say "House's defense"). Three say that the Ancestral Hilt "presents itself as the Clock of Destiny counts down to the moment of greatest need". This may be typical Tapani cultural Orange Catholic ancestor veneration, or it may be a crossover belief from the Church of the Force.
The mystique of the hilt implies that this wielder will travel where they must, dare greatly, even carry a spotlight into shadowed places, in order to guard the benevolent future of the Vorpadaran District and the greater Tapani culture in which they thrive.
Vorpadaran Ancestral Foil Hilt,
Inactive. Angled view.
by Jarissa
Inactive. Angled view.
by Jarissa
Vorpadaran Ancestral Foil Hilt,
Inactive. Flat view.
by Jarissa
Inactive. Flat view.
by Jarissa
Component Materials
This is no saber rake weapon! It is heavy in comparison to those duellists' fast-working and easily concealed plasma foils.
Note the thicker build to the grip in comparison to a typical lightfoil. Note the knuckle guard, the counter-guards, the loop-guard, the side-ring, none of which would be individual gold metalloid bars on a Makashi-inspired archaic lightfoil, nor on a modern duellist's stature-conscious weapon. Fore quillion and rear quillion, rather than be separate components of a cross-guard, were fashioned from a single beam of black sapphire. A matching chunk of black sapphire was fashioned into the bell-shaped pommel, which must be carefully unfastened to reveal the Vorpadaran crest at the base of the tang.
The grip is the most recent component of this Ancestral Foil. As with any similar grip, no matter how gently treated, the fabric is most subject to the depradations of entropy. Qualified restorers through the centuries have always returned to a gold-tinted amphibian or possibly reptilian creature native to the Vorpadaran District for the leather of the guard wrap.
Shown with its plasma blade activated, this House Vorpadaran ancestral artifact reflects in its design a movement that modern people would find "archaic" at best. The hilt thickness is neither as full as a true plasma sword, nor as slender as a lightfoil or shoto. Its metallic "guard" components could not have deflected a blow from a similar plasma-based weapon. It may have been intended for use against vibro-swords.
The emission assembly for this plasma sword, according to meticulous family records that stretch back more than eight centuries, created a thin "blade" of bottled plasma which most recorded as gold in color.
Vorpadaran Ancestral Foil,
Activated,
daylight
by Jarissa
Activated,
daylight
by Jarissa
Item type
Weapon, Melee
Current Holder
Subtype / Model
Related ethnicities
Owning Organization
Rarity
unique artifact
Weight
23 oz | 650 g
Dimensions
approx 20 cm (inactive)
Base Price
insured for 250,000 Galactic credits
Insurance Policy
Prepaid bounty contract on file with Bounty Hunter Guild, one quarter to be paid upon acceptance of a retrieval bounty on any non-Vorpadaran in possession of genuine ancestral artifact. Remaining three quarters to be paid upon verification by Sieglings, Estalle Island, Procopia of genuine artifact in good condition.
Meta
Type: Lightfoil
Scale: Character
Skill: Lightfoil melee
Availability: Unique item, possibly illegal
Damage: unknown.
Game Notes:
die roll modifications
This weapon's blade is slightly thicker than a modern lightfoil, and the hilt is heavier. It might do slightly more damage in the hands of an experienced wielder. It also may not move as swiftly as a saber rake would expect.
Anyone not a member of House Vorpadaran wielding this takes -3D to their Lightfoil melee when using this sword (minimum of 1D effective skill to roll). Any member of House Vorpadaran takes a -1D against their lightfoil melee skill to use because of size and weight.
Critical Complicatons
( Roll 1 on the Wild Dice )
- The beam flickers once, then fades as the beam emitter breaks down. As a result, the sword needs repair before it can be used again. It requires two game hours and a Moderate Lightsaber Repair roll.
- Containment Field Breach. The magnetic bottle is disrupted as magni-mitter fluctuates. In addition to the desired effect the sword is being used for, roll 1d6.
1-3:
Owner takes a mild 1d6 ion stun charge
4-5:
Owner’s closest metallic piece of equipment takes an ion stun charge and cannot be used until repaired.
6:
Mild ion charge runs the length of the blade.
( Roll 6 on the Wild Dice )
- Ion Discharge. A special enhancement in the blade ignites with an ion charge dispersed into the target on top of the damage. Any electronic gear on the target is reduced in effectiveness by 2d6 ( their weapon loses 2d6 damage, etc ) until repaired. Target takes +2d6 stun ion damage.
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