Silver Scarab[]
Artifact Rating: 3
Artifact Type: Moonsilver Scarab
Attune: 9 Motes
This beautiful silver scarab -- a little under an inch across -- seems sparkling and free of corrosion, despite being thousands of years old. With claws tipped with gold and eyes of rock crystal, it is a fetching sight, though not particularly gaudy by artifact standards. At times, when one can see it only in the corner of their vision, its wings seem to flutter, and even a thaumaturge cursory inspection will lead them to conclude that it is magic -- but they would be unlikely to guess its true purpose. A subtle hint -- and warning -- is offered in the form of the writing on the bottom, the Old Realm text there reading, "Ours is the insects lot -- much toil, much blame, manifold motions making little speed, to deform that on which we feed."
As soon as a poor, unfortunate soul attunes this artifact, it promptly comes to life and attacks him. He can no longer un-commit his motes voluntarily. By committing essence to the artifact and wearing it as a piece of jewelery, he has almost certainly voided any defense (if unusual circumstances apply, the angry insect attacks with 15 Acc), enabling the insect to burrow into his flesh, tearing directly into his heart. When the insect tears it's way out of his torso and returns to its perch upon his forehead, it has consumed his soul.
The scarab contains its users soul. As long as it remains attuned, they cannot die. When they would die, their body is disabled as normal, but their soul cannot be cleaved from the mortal plane, and so they will eventually recover. Their body can even regenerate from being completely disintegrated, although doing so takes years. They can control the scarab body simultaneously with their regular body over any distance(as an artifact, it is indestructable, but otherwise treat it as an insect with STR 1, DEX 4, STA 5, and a 1L damage bite attack), however, if their body and soul are ever on different planes, their body promptly falls over dead.
This artifact carries with it a terrible downside, however, and a terrible cost. The Primordials learned the hard way the dangers of keeping one's soul outside their body. The scarab is an arcane connection to its owners body, and far worse, the social attacks of anyone who controls the scarab against the subject are all Perfect, and they may not attack the person who controls the scarab or forceably try to take it back -- though the scarab can try to simply fly away. Furthermore, such seperation of body and soul weakens the will -- the subject may not channel virtues unless the scarab is on their person.
Unlike most attuned artifacts, the scarab can be pickpocketed.