Shatterice
The mysterious ice that gives off a deadly chill, used as explosive weapons of war
Mechanical Benefits
Shatterice is typically only available to Dai-Yukai and a snowy variant of the Dwarves. Consult your GM to potentially discuss its availability to your character.HP/inch: 40 (Weapons and armor normally made of steel that are made of Shatterice have one-third more hit points than normal) Hardness: 15; Weapons or armors fashioned from Shatterice are always masterwork items as well; the masterwork cost is included in the prices given below. Special: Creatures without cold resistance or immunity cannot feasibly wear Shatterice Armor - the armor snap-freezes flesh on contact and will kill any such creature in seconds.
For Armor: Armor fashioned from Shatterice is so cold that it automatically deals some cold and piercing damage(1d6 for light armor, 2d6 for medium, and 4d6 for heavy) to all weapons that strike it ignoring hardness - creatures that hit with a melee attack take this damage as well automatically when they hit the wearer for a nonzero amount of damage. Enhancement bonuses to the armor also apply to the damage dealt automatically to attackers and weaponry. When armor made of Shatterice is in an enclosed, sealed space(Such as the inside of a creature's stomach, an enclosed room, etc(GM Discretion) for an extended period of time(Depending on the size and category of the armor), it will detonate in a hail of explosive frigid shrapnel, dealing damage as a fireball of varying level (CL 5th for Light Armor, CL7th for Medium, and CL 10th for Heavy) that deals both cold and piercing damage instead of fire to all creatures within 20ft excluding the armor's wearer, leaving behind a cloud of Solid Fog as per the spell with the same CL. This damage can be halved with a Fortitude Save(DC 10 + 1/2HD + CONMOD). This destroys the armor.
For Weapons: Weapons made from Shatterice are so cold that they all are treated as having the Frost weapon special quality. Creatures struck by a weapon made from Shatterice take 1 point of bleed for each of the weapons damage dice as their body begins to freeze over. This bleed damage is only resisted if the attacker is immune to both cold and bleed damage. When a weapon(not ammunition) made from Shatterice is in an enclosed, sealed space(Such as the inside of a creature's stomach, an enclosed room, etc(GM Discretion), it will detonate in a hail of explosive frigid shrapnel, dealing damage as a fireball of CL 7 that deals both cold and piercing damage instead of fire to all creatures within 20ft excluding the weapon's wielder, leaving behind a cloud of Solid Fog as per the spell with the same CL. This damage can be halved with a Fortitude Save(DC 10 + 1/2HD + CONMOD). This destroys the weapon.
Special: Shatterice can be used in its raw form as makeshift explosives. These "Shatterice Bombs" are an alchemical creation that, when thrown, have a range of 20 feet and use the Throw Splash Weapon special attack. On a direct hit, a Shatterice bomb inflicts 3d6 points of cold and piercing damage + additional damage equal to the thrower’s Constitution modifier. Splash damage from a Shatterice bomb is always equal to the bomb’s minimum damage (so if the bomb would deal 3d6+4 points of damage on a direct hit, its splash damage would be 7 points of damage). Those caught in the splash damage can attempt a Reflex save for half damage. The DC of this save is equal to 10 + 1/2 HD + CONMOD. On the round following a direct hit, the target takes an additional 2d6 points of damage. If desired, the target can use a full-round action to attempt to thaw the biting cold before taking this additional damage. Thawing the cold requires a DC 15 Reflex save.
Price
Shatterice Bomb: 350gp per bomb Ammunition: 40gp per missile Weapons: 4,000 Light Armor: 4,000 GP Medium Armor: 7,500 GP Heavy Armor: 10,000 GP
Properties
Material Characteristics
To many outward appearances, Shatterice seems to be completely normal ice save for a slightly pale color - its notable characteristics are only revealed as it begins to warm up. As it warms(This term is extremely relative, as Shatterice typically sits around temperatures colder than -140 degrees F) it begins to give off massive amounts of fog, and will rapidly begin to evaporate through an unknown reaction with air and higher temperatures.
Physical & Chemical Properties
Shatterice is extremely frigid - and while not as cold as the legendarily cold Liquid Ice, it remains cold enough to snap-freeze the skin and give intense frostbite upon contact unless one is inured to the cold or protected in some way like the Dai-Yukai, who are naturally immune to cold. It is cold enough to turn skin blue on contact, and emits massive amounts of fog as it begins to evaporate when brought above around -110 degrees F - and through a process yet unknown and unable to be studied thanks to Shatterice's extreme rarity and the fact that its means of creation are only known to the towering Dai-Yukai, it can sometimes detonate with such explosive violence that it can even put dents in adamantine plating.
Because of these properties, it is incredibly useful for refrigeration - it does not melt, and instead evaporates, so it is ideal for keeping heat-sensitive food or other items cool, as it will only slowly evaporate once temperatures begin to rise. And while it is incredibly durable - far in excess of what ice usually is for some unknown reason - it makes excellent armor and weapons only to those who can be protected from its frigid touch.
Geology & Geography
Shatterice is not believed to be a naturally occuring substance - it is found only near the vicinity of Dai-Yukai camps and villages, where they refine it from unknown materials through unknown methods. What is known, however, is that it is only found in extremely frigid temperatures, such that are unsurvivable to normal creatures. Only the frigidly cold-immune Dai-Yukai are believed to be capable of braving the insanely cold temperatures neccesary to either find or produce it.
Origin & Source
Its origin is mostly unknown - the details of its discovery, creation, or origin are a closely guarded secret of the Dai-Yukai, shared only to the frost dwarves who dwell in the frozen north who are believed to help uncover the subtance.
Life & Expiration
Shatterice will evaporate at a rate of five to ten pounds every 24 hours in a typical ice chest or storage area that is 'warm' enough to begin its evaporation.
History & Usage
History
Its history is mostly unknown - it is believed to have been created or discovered by the Dai-Yukai with potential assistance from the frost dwarves who dwell alongside them, though the specifics of this discovery are unknown. What is known, however, is its subsequent introduction into the armaments of the Dai-Yukai camps across the Shenchuan Tundra, more than pentupling their combat effectiveness now that the frigid titanesses wore armor and wielded weapons so cold that they snap-froze other creatures on contact and, in a particularly ingenius display of craftsmanship, serving as simple explosives when formed into a small clump and bound within a small container.
Discovery
It's initial discovery is unknown - the frost dwarves were assumed to have played a part in it, as most assume that the Dai-Yukai could not have made such a discovery or invention on their own - an assumption which is only mildly offensive to the towering titans. Specifics, however, are unknown.
Everyday use
Shatterice is commonly used by the Dai-Yukai of the frigid north in their daily lives - it is used both to refrigerate their kills to keep them stored and safe for consumption for longer, but is also used in a way that only the cold-immune Dai-Yukai could - it is used to provide arms and armor for their most specialized huntresses and warriors, giving them incredibly durable armor and lethal weapons that are so freezing cold that they snap freeze flesh of others on contact. They slice and freeze at the same time, and the armor which would normally be lethal to those who wear it is all but made invulnerable when worn by the Dai-Yukai, giving increased durability and freezing those who attack the armor.
In a similarly inspired design, the Dai-Yukai have formed incredibly lethal bombs with Shatterice through unknown means that, when used and thrown, rapidly evaporate and detonate in thunderous blast of frigid power that can dent even the hardiest metal. It has only made the Dai-Yukai even more unchallengable to the average warrior - a normal titaness is hard enough to defeat, with skin and blood cold enough to freeze others on contact, but when clad in ice armor and wielding ice weapons, they become all but an impregnable threat capable of crushing foes with impunity.
Cultural Significance and Usage
Refinement
If there exists a refinement method, it remains unknown.
Manufacturing & Products
The manufacturing process for Shatterice is unknown.
Byproducts & Sideproducts
When it begins to evaporate, Shatterice gives of a colorless and odorless gass that is what lends itself so well to refrigeration - it emits massive amounts of cold over a long period of time. In enclosed spaces, this gas can be incredibly toxic to breathing lifeforms.
Distribution
Trade & Market
Is is traded off in extremely small quantities by some Dai-Yukai tribes.
Storage
It can only be stored in similarly frigid conditions, else it begins to evaporate.
SI
Type
Organic
Value
Extremely Rare.
Rarity
Extremely Rare.
Odor
Odorless.
Taste
Freezing. Touching one's skin to it will snap-freeze it unless one is resistant or protected against cold.
Color
Colorless.
Boiling / Condensation Point
Shatterice melts at 69.9 F.
Melting / Freezing Point
Shatterice does not 'melt' and instead undergoes an unknown reaction and begins to evaporate and sometimes detonate at -109.3 F and above. Temperatures colder than this will ensure it remains frozen.
Density
Moderately Dense. It will not float in water.
Common State
Solid. When exposed to high enough temperatures, it will vanish and sometimes detonate.
Related Species
Comments