Focus Type: Special
Bonding Cost: 9 x Rating

Description: This focus is always in the shape of a half-meter long chain forged from a single bar of an orichalcum/ gold alloy. The last link on one end of the chain is forged in the shape of a small viper's head.

On the astral plane, it always has an astral presence that can be seen. This presence cannot be used as a link from the astral plane to the physical plane when the focus is deactivated. It follows the normal rules in this respect. The aura appears as a small snake that appears to sleep when the focus is deactivated, and appears alert and ready to strike when activated.

When actually functioning, the chain and the aura may move and act like a striking snake. It may also shift slightly, but noticably when dormant. The snake appears to strike and eat part of the incoming spell if it is successful in attacking the spell.

Only two Spellbreakers are known to exist in the world. One is in the hand of one Alexis Taltos. The location of the other is unknown at the present time. Last know location was in an undisclosed corporation in the year 2056. It is believed by some to be in the hands of one Jason Sinbad, Director of Astral Security for Meta Securities, Inc. This rumor is unverified at the present time, however, and no party has attempted to recover it to all present knowledge. The Spellbreaker in the hands of Alexis Taltos is a rating 4. The missing one is a rating 2.

Rules: This focus will "devour" part or all of an incoming spell if the focus is active. When it is active, and a spell is being cast on the character, the player roles the rating of the focus plus his character's Intelligence (representing Astral Quickness) in an unopposed test against the Force of the spell. Reduce the Force of the spell by one for every two successes rolled, before the spell is resolved. Then resolve the spell at its reduced Force. The Spellbreaker may only absorb three times its rating in spell Force points before going dormant (keep a running tally of the absorbed Force points). This period of dormancy is a forced de-activation of the focus. During this time, the focus regains the ablility to absorb a Force point every 3 hours. The focus begins to stir when the tally of absorbed Force points reaches one-half of its total. This alerts its owner to its ability to be reactivated. If the tally is not reached, its tally is reduced by one for every three hours that it is de-activated. If its limit is exceeded, it will only absorb as many Force points as it can before deactivating, and immediately de-activates. The Force of the spell is reduced by the total number that can be absorbed.

>>>>>[You have got to be kidding me! A focus that eats spells. I thought the professors said that was impossible!]<<<<<
***** Wiz-kid <02:51:23/1-5-59>

>>>>>[Don't always assume that, just because you don't know that something can happen, it can't happen.]<<<<<
***** Wizer-than-thou<05:21:59/1-5-59>

>>>>>[Who let that geezer in here? Sheesh!]<<<<<
***** Wiz-kid<06:01:03/1-5-59>

>>>>>[Listen kid. I've seen things that your professors would die just from knowing they exist. How about a focus that can drain the life-force of someone to heal injuries. That chill your blood? That's only one of the least that I've seen. Believe me, kid. In the real world, the professors don't know drek about the world outside their stuffy laboratories.]<<<<<
***** Arcanus<11:45:45/1-6-59>