View source for Brutus - The Fall of Tyrants

[[Category:Magic Artifacts]]
This odd-looking rifle is something that probably shouldn't exist, or at least something that shouldn't work like it currently does. Cobbled together from various items over a time period spanning at least 2000 years, what at first glance appears to represent the unconscious Human concept of 'gun' is actually far more intriguing. Instead, Brutus represents a far older concept - that of the alteration of the course of things to come through sudden action, or more commonly put - assassination. Or, for a less blatantly bloody description, the realization of justice regardless of the consequences. 

A closer examination of Brutus by a skilled and well-trained psion capable of psychometry reveals that all those haphazardly-cobbled together objects have rather dark histories. Every fragment is a piece of something that changed the course of history - the lance that Darius the Great used to kill Cambyses II, the dagger that the titular Brutus used to stab Gaius Julius Caesar, the arrow that killed King Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings, John Wilkes Booth's .41 caliber Derringer pistol, and so on. Given that the artifact has been handed down from master to apprentice over the years, how these objects have been obtained is a closely-guarded secret.

The previous user of this artifact was responsible for the object's current form as a marksman's rifle - she was a member of the mythical 'White Tights' group of biathlete snipers who fought against the Russians during the 1980s, 1990s, and throughout the Caspian Conflict. The rifle is engraved with numerous sayings in various languages, supposedly a different one added by each bearer over the centuries, - but all of them boil down to the same general point: 'death is the fate of tyranny.'  Brutus's current wielder is confirmed as the SDA Beastslayer Agent V, more commonly referred to as "The Silent Gun."  Rumor has it that there is an organization which exists to support the wielders of Brutus, known only as "Piso's Legion."

No known fragments of Brutus exist, it is only known by its True Artifact form.  

==Activated - ''Sic Semper Tyrannus''==
Preparing an activation of Brutus requires that the wielder engage in a ritualistic description of the target’s offenses against the common good.  This takes at least 10 minutes and can happen within 10 days of the Activation of the artifact.  Your next attack against the target is unaffected by concealment, and at a range of 6 squares or less ignores any armor bonus the target has.  The attack, if it hits, is considered to be a critical threat, and deals your character level in extra damage.  Multiply this extra damage by the number of increments of 10 minutes you spent listing off the target’s offenses against the common good.  If you miss, the attempt is wasted and you better GTFO because they’re probably on to you.  You can only prepare an activation of Brutus against a single target at once.  Preparing a new activation erases any previous one you had.

==Unique Device Power - ''Fiat Justitia Ruat Caelum''==
While the artifact is Evoked, all attacks made with it are resolved as an Area of Effect attack affecting all squares between you and the target.

==Unique Device Greater Ability - ''Fiat Justitia, Et Pereat Mundus''==
Sometimes, you don’t have the ability to prepare when a target of opportunity presents itself.  Sometimes, you just need that second shot.  You can prepare an activation of Sic Semper Tyrannus by taking half your Max HP as damage as a standard action.  This damage cannot be reduced by damage reduction, does not cause you to drop on the condition track, and can only be healed through natural rest.