Dueling Pistols

By Wade "Oorag" Sands (wesands157@hotmail.com)

Description

These pistols look like antique dueling blackpowder pistols. They are perfectly identical in every way. Auspex of at least 7 (or a similar power of equal degree) is needed to differentiate between the two. They come in a fabulous, velvet-lined case and appear to be every gun collector's dream come true.

Should someone pick up one of the pistols and touch the trigger, he will immediately become obsessed with the gun. He will keep it close by, and often become suspicious that others are plotting to steal his priceless antique. However, should someone else pick up the second gun and touch its trigger, the curse changes. Both gun holders, regardless of distance between, will become consumed by an obsession to acquire the other gun and complete the pair. They will search high and low, at any cost and by any means, to find and acquire the sister pistol, and will part more willingly with their lives than their own gun.

Once both guns have been acquired and have been replaced in their box, the enchantment fades. The survivor must then come to terms with the crimes he committed during his pursuit, and confront the shambles to which his life has most likely been reduced.

Any attempt to "read" either gun with less power than Auspex 7 (or, again, its equivalent) will yield no information and activate the obsession. Lesser attempts to read the box will never yield information. It is impossible to prevent the the curse from taking hold, though the most powerful individuals will most likely be aware of their enchantment and be able to ignore the drive. The only way to remove the annoying pangs would be to complete the curse or somehow remove the enchantment of the guns.

History

The original owner and history of these guns is a mystery, though many tragic tales of the pistols' victims circulate amongst the most learned. The most popular belief is that the two pistols are inhabited by the souls of twins who killed each other over a triviality, and the box is inhabited by the daemon that orchestrated their corruption. Some even say the box is the daemon himself disguised.