[✓] [Magic Invention] Druidic Armaments: The Woadbow and Wild Munitions

[hearth_ 1023]

 

DRUIDIC ARMAMENTS

THE WOADBOW & WILD MUNITIONS

 

 

THE WOADBOW

CREATION & DESCRIPTION

 

Of Druidic Armaments, the Woadbow was once the most cherished by servants of the Aspects. These implements of war are meticulously crafted, each portion grown into place, providing microscopic ‘leylines’ for druidic energy to flow through. Once the bow has been fully formed, it must be Awakened to allow for the conductivity of such energy.

 

Rather than generalize the process of formation, the bow can be broken down into four ‘parts’. At the most basic level, these implements of war are composed of a core, a braided mid-layer, an outer casing and the bowstring. These are grown into the place through the use of Communion & Control, one layer over the last.

 

After the bow is Awakened, it may take on minor aesthetic qualities [ex. ‘leylines’ glow the color of the Druid’s aura, motes of light appear passively around it, etc]. Otherwise, at any point outside of combat Gleaning may be used to create or modify aesthetic patches of life across the weapon’s limbs.

 

CREATION PROCESS   [1] - The druid grows the core shaft of the Woadbow. This must be done with woods traditionally used by bowyers [ex. hickory, maple, oak, yew]. [2] - The core is braided with a porous wood [ex. ash, elm, birch]. These pores and spaces between braids are what allow for Druidic energy to flow more freely through the implement. [3] - The braided core is then encased in a thin layer of hardwood [ex. walnut, cherry, oak]. This effectively completes the ‘body’ of the bow. [4] - While it doesn’t need to be grown into place, the bowstring must be reverse braided from three separate measures of fibrous plant material [ex. vines, brambles, ivies] using growth. Once complete, the string is attached as with any traditional longbow. [5] - With its physical properties manifest, all that’s left is to Awaken the bow in the confines of a Fae-Ring. This process subsequently grafts the flora together to create a single organism.

RED LINES   ➳ Due to Awakening reversing the treatment of Ikurnamon, Ironwood cannot be used in the creation of Woadbows at any stage. For the same reason, Haganeki and Black Ashwood cannot be used at any step in the creation process. ➳ Woadbows may not be the target of other Infusions, including  Awakened Fortitude. ➳ Woadbows may not be the target of enchantment by any other magic.   ➳ Being made from living material, Woadbows can be affected by blight. Over the course of [4] emotes, a woadbow affected by blight would become rotted through, and need to be Cleansed through the use of Blight Healing before it’s usable again.   ➳ Mundane and alchemic fire will cause the bow to catch ablaze and be reduced to ash after [4] emotes of continuous exposure. Azdrazi and Voidal fire will cause the bow to catch ablaze. ➳ Below [T3] in Voidal flame, the bow would take [3] emotes of continuous exposure to be reduced to ash. Above [T3] this count is reduced to [2]. ➳ Azdrazi fire requires [2] emotes of continuous exposure to burn through.   ➳ Any character that CREATED a Woadbow beneath the previous lore is grand-fathered in to having the knowledge to make this new variant. Please act in good faith, as nobody can really verify this. ➳ Woadbows created before the date of this rewrite’s acceptance will be rendered mundane. ➳ ST signature is required on Woadbows, as per the Awakening infusion's red lines.

 

 

USAGE

 

Woadbows act as a ‘primer’ for Wild Munitions used in combination with it. This is done by the Druid casting surge throughout it. The creation process facilitates the rapid and lossless transfer of this energy into the Munition, whose ‘fuse’, for lack of better terms, is lit by the Surge. In Mundane use, the Woadbow functions equivalent to a shortbow, as described in the techlock. However, if the 'Charged' variant of firing is used, the range and penetration capabilities become that of a longbow.

 

MUNDANE [1] Steady the Woadbow. [2] Nock the arrow and draw the bowstring. [3] Aim and release the projectile.

CHARGED [1] Steady the Woadbow. [2] Nock Wild Munition, 'Prime' the Woadbow with Surge. [3] Draw the bowstring & Aim. [4] Release projectile.

RED LINES   ➳ Each Charged shot adds [1] counter to the Druidic Exhaustion table. ➳ A charged munition cannot be ‘held’. If the user were to neglect firing the weapon on emote [4] of the Charged process, the arrow would instead produce a ‘ricochet’ effect, wherein the user becomes the target of its effects in the next round of combat. ➳ If the Munition is Primed but the firing process is interrupted, the Munition would revert back to its idle state. ➳ Only a [T3] Druid capable of casting Surge may make use of the Charged firing variant.   ➳ When using the Mundane firing variant, the bow's range is [40] blocks. Heavy armor will negate shots made against it, medium armor will mitigate the damage. ➳ When using the Charged firing variant, the bow's range increases to [48] blocks. Following the existing Tech Lock for longbows, these may penetrate plate armor at full draw. ➳ The user may choose to use the 'Charged' firing variant with mundane munitions to benefit from the transition to longbow stats. ➳ An Emote count reduction of [1] after firing the first shot still applies as prescribed by the Tech Lock.

 

WILD MUNITIONS

 

The production of Wild Munitions is a long lost, only recently rediscovered branch of Druidic Infusions. From days before the advent of crossbows and cannonry, Wild Munitions are produced strictly in the form of an arrow.

 

In order to function, these Infusions utilize a technique to delay their effects post-activation. Similarly to other infusions, this is done through intention, in combination with rigorous expenditure of one’s natural energies.

 

CREATION PROCESS   [1] - The Druid is to take the constructed Munition to a Fae-Ring. Sitting with the Munition in its center, communion is established. [2] - Gather Natural Energies and begin to direct them toward the Munition. [3] -Direct the Energies into the Munition, continuing to pour until the Munition begins to glow. [4] - Infusion process reaches its peak, before the energy settles into place.

➳ Creating Wild Munitions requires the Druid to be [T5] in Communion and Control and capable of creating Infusions. ➳ A Druid may only make one batch of a single type of Wild Munition per [1] OOC day.  ➳ Creating an Infusion will leave the Druid unable to cast anything, other than passive communion, for [1] OOC day. ➳ Wild Munitions may not be enchanted by any other magic, made from Story Team approved materials, or treated by alchemy. ➳ Wild Munitions may only take the form of an arrow. If used without a Woadbow/being primed, they function as a traditional arrow. ➳ If a munition misses its target, it may not be recollected. On firing, you must /use the Wild Munition regardless of outcome.

 

FATHER’S FEROCITY [BATCHES OF THREE]

In the pursuit of threats to the Balance, Ancient Druii developed the means to bind them at a distance. Once primed, the munition splits mid-flight, binding around an opponent's ankles like manacles and rendering them immobile. This restraint may be broken in [1] emote focusing solely on escape.

 

➳ The munition is non-discriminant, meaning if an ally steps between the user and their target, it cannot be cancelled.  ➳ The munition is not tipped by an arrowhead, therefore being incapable of puncturing opponents.   ➳ This can only bind the ankles together. No choking people out with this. ➳ If an opponent has more than one set of legs, the munition may only target one pair of ankles.   ➳ Over the course of [1] emote, the target may break these apart.   ➳ Batches of Father's Ferocity are ST signed.

 

MOTHER’S MISERY [BATCHES OF TWO]

Zealotry and wrath were paramount in the creation of this Munition. Meant to wound an opponent beyond the means of mundane treatment, if this Munition finds its target, over the course of [4] emotes it will take root in their flesh. The victim may expend [1] emote focusing solely on removing the arrow before this time elapses to remove it.

 

➳ For the [4] emote duration of the Munition’s growth, any process requiring concentration is impeded. This is an agonizing experience and should be roleplayed as such.   ➳ The victim may choose to expend [1] emote focusing solely on removing the arrow to prevent it from rooting fully in their flesh. This may be attempted at any time over the [4] emote duration of the Munition's Growth. However, if this period elapses unimpeded, the arrow may only be removed through surgical means. ➳ After [4] emotes of the Munition's growth have passed, it no longer prevents the casting of concentration-based magics capable of reconnecting after being struck. ➳ The Munition may not be removed through the use of Ungrowth. ➳ The wound left behind is significant, but while the arrow is rooted, bleeding is limited. This is not meant to be a one shot hemorrhage.   ➳ Batches of Mother's Misery are ST signed.

 

CRONE’S CACKLE [BATCHES OF ONE | REQUIRES HERBLORE]

This Munition is a peculiar one, requiring the crafting Druid to have experience in the alteration of herbs and reagents through Herblore. A Druid is to grow a spore-spreading plant over the Munition’s rounded head. Throughout the Infusion process, the spores are modified to produce a noxious effect. After being fired, and upon making contact with a solid surface, the ‘arrowhead’ bursts to produce a smoke-like cloud causing the symptoms of tear gas in a [2] meter radius sphere which lasts for [2] turns.

 

➳ The Munition cannot detonate on any liquid surface. ➳ As with previous munitions, if it’s not first ‘Primed’ by the Woadbow, it acts entirely mundane. If the ‘arrowhead’ is broken, the spores become mundane, and do not release in any notable radius. ➳ Living creatures exposed to the Spores will suffer symptoms similar to tear gas. Severe irritation of the eyes and airways leads to the inability to focus on casting and the accurate aiming of ranged or melee attacks. If a victim leaves the [2] meter radius, they may resume any of these unhindered. ➳ The cloud presents itself as a thin haze, victims inside quickly suffering from heavily obscured vision. This may be circumvented through the use of goggles. ➳ The respiratory effects of the spores may be blocked by any magic, item, or method that removes/filters mundane, toxic particulate from the air. ➳ Under no circumstances are the effects of the cloud produced by Crone's Cackle lethal.   ➳ After [2] turns elapses, the spores settle into a mundane state and become harmless. ➳ The Druid must possess a valid Herblore FA and know Alter Flora in order to create this munition. ➳ The munition is not tipped by an arrowhead, therefore being incapable of puncturing opponents.   ➳ Batches of Crone's Cackle are ST signed.

PURPOSE

Spoiler

 

The purpose of this piece evolved rapidly as the creation process went on. Initially the project started as a simple means to fix a minor issue in the Woadbow lore, wherein because of the C&C rewrite, Druids can no longer cast Surge on dead plant material.   My solution was to simply throw Awakening in as a requirement, but I had a few people express that the cost-benefit of such would be far, far too low. So, I decided instead to rework it entirely to make this worth everyone’s time.   There’s something I want to get out of the way now, before you get into the replies. If your insistence is that Druids should be relegated to support, while simultaneously only having ‘control’ spells, this proposal isn’t for you. I fundamentally disagree with the idea that any one magic should be locked with such absolution to one concept.    Through our lore, it’s been established that most, if not all, Dark/Voidal CA/MA’s are enemies to the Aspects.     You can’t expect us to be able to faithfully follow the piece (combating these threats), when the gap in offensive power is nearly insurmountable.   That aside, this proposal does try to meet the existing expectations for Druidism by leaning into the Infusions concept offered by communion and control. Rather than adding an outright combative spell, I wanted to try finding ways to motivate activity inside of the Druid community.    One of the major differences in that respect is to the restrictions surrounding the creation of these. Previously, any Druid with Blight Healing was capable of creating a Woadbow. Under this rework, it is something that may only be taught, much like Ironwood. My motivation behind this is to lean harder into the “teacher/student” trope Druidism seems to go for and make this a sort of specialized, generational skill. This also makes it more of a symbol of accomplishment, as they’re only able to be created when a Druid reaches T5 in C&C.   There also exists a small, dying artisan niche in Druidism that could stand to benefit from this change.   A good example of this are the Tree Singers in Iryalen, who are supposed to be a Druidic Guild focused on crafting, but considering a good chunk of Infusions are rarely necessary, that niche has died.   Even if nothing comes of this rewrite, I hope that it may motivate others to try to bring some new life to outdated lore. I love the Druid community and want to see it have more opportunities to thrive. If this piece does receive approval or becomes accepted, I intend on making ‘Druidic Armaments’ a series.   You are loved. hearth.

 

 

CITATIONS

Spoiler

Previous Woadbow lore.
Communion & Control

A Home, a Hearth, a Hollow. Writing: @Harvest Brainstorming/Feedback: @NightcastorKitty @Chuuwys, @A_Cosmosss V.02

 

[Kudos 188]

YUHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH +1

[__Hergh 785]

Druid Lore

[Evonpire 2014]

Omg I love hearth lore

[A_Cosmosss 27]

DRUID UP!! o- ooor somethin' like that...

+1

[hatter 51]

im going to eat this post

[Spellblades 749]

+1

[RaiderBlue 1064]

Pack it up Druids… This guys trying to pass Woadbow that actually does something. 
 

Those above will not like this.

[wowj 9747]

1 minute ago, RaiderBlue said:

Pack it up Druids… This guys trying to pass Woadbow that actually does something. 
 

Those above will not like this.

Those above here, I've not read this lorepiece but don't Woadbows act as a bow that can also release a charged shot equal to a crossbow? That's something. Heh.

[hearth_ 1023]

Just now, wowj said:

Those above here, I've not read this lorepiece but don't Woadbows act as a bow that can also release a charged shot equal to a crossbow? That's something. Heh.

 

it lets us turn a shortbow into a longbow. absolutely stunning.

[Spoopy_Duck 3217]

First thought looking over this is that for wild munitions and the bow in general there is no specification on if it needs to be ST or player signed. 

[hearth_ 1023]

4 minutes ago, Spoopy_Duck said:

First thought looking over this is that for wild munitions and the bow in general there is no specification on if it needs to be ST or player signed. 

Massive oversight on my part. Did some last minute editing to redlines that dropped it.

 

To be clear:

Woadbows require ST signature.

Wild Munitions do not.

 

Edited to reflect ST requirements.

[StingyParrot 1595]

hate druids but hell yeah

[wowj 9747]

20 minutes ago, Harvest said:

 

it lets us turn a shortbow into a longbow. absolutely stunning.

thats awesome

[Wonderland_Boy 1081]

Approved