Here's a combat log from the fight where I (finally!) got Unlocked Chain.
You drop a charm. It skitters up to the chained figure, biting him for 18 damage.
The chained figure dangles an eyeball by the stringy nerve. It turns to look up at you, peering into you for 12 damage.
You throw a tiny silver skull at the chained figure. It unfolds into a shadowy form that claws him for 17 damage, but the light shows him your attack coming soon enough to avoid all but 13 damage.
The chained figure releases a flittering charm, casting strange green shadows over you.
You toss a humming key at the chained figure. It twists space as it tumbles, warping him for 28 damage.
The chained figure strains against his bindings. As the key tumbles close, the chains fall away.
The chained figure punches you with a chain-wrapped fist for 14 damage.
You release a twitching charm, following its erratic movements.
The chained figure uses his chain to pull away from you.
You dangle an eye-shaped charm before the chained figure. Its unliving gaze peers into him for 35 damage.
The chained figure snaps his chain at you for 6 damage.
You drop a charm. It skitters up to the chained figure, biting him for 26 damage.
The chained figure punches you with a chain-wrapped fist for 9 damage.
You throw a tiny silver skull at the chained figure. It unfolds into a shadowy form that claws him for 39 damage.
You toss a humming key at the chained figure. It twists space as it tumbles, warping him for 47 damage.
You've won the battle!
You've learned a new Skill: Unlocked Chain
After the combat, you patch yourself up, healing 3 hit points.
You're feeling pretty lucky. It might just be that crazy toad statue.
You've gained 20 duration of Smiling Sneak.
You've earned 4 XP in Reflexes
You've earned 4 XP in Strength
You've earned 2 XP in Will
My power & defense:
Power
4 Bonus Power when the Defender has no Technique
14 Etheric Power
4 Evasion Power
2 Melee Power
2 Stealth Power
Defense
11 Etheric Defense
6 Melee Defense
1 Ranged Defense
3 Stealth Defense
I don't have rigorous data, but I have a vague suspicion that taking (sufficient amounts of) Eclipse makes it show up sometime in the next couple of turns. When I was taking smoking Eclipse I'd go a long time between encounters, maybe because I was getting a ton of duration from one dose and thus not taking more very often. I don't think a single Eclipse tablet is enough, though, even with a bunch of +Eclipse Duration.
I also got the skill by opposing that tech with the key, so that seems good. However, even taking tons of liquified eclipse and getting hundreds of energy doesn't seem to help me find him. Anecdotal experience for me is to try moving around and fighting a bunch of different enemies without getting new charms so that I still have it to fight him with.
I think about that scene in Brazil where the garbage/papers blow on to Harry Tuttle and turn him into a paper golem, and then replace papers with chains.
My completely anecdotal evidence (which seems to be working) is that you need to tangle a bunch of opponents with wrapping chain vs. Evasion for the form to show up.
Anyway, a loss and then a win to get the skill (thanks for Mag loaning me his key charm) - this was my first win vs. form of chains in a couple weeks.
4 Bonus Power when the Defender has no Technique
8 Etheric Power
5 Evasion Power
2 Fire Power
4 Melee Power
3 Ranged Power
2 Power to Techniques Using Will
-2 Stealth Power
Defense
16 Etheric Defense
5 Fire Defense
6 Melee Defense
7 Ranged Defense
You toss a tiny key at the chained figure. It seems to twist space at it tumbles, warping him for 6 damage, but the charm drags him away from all of the damage.
The chained figure releases a twitching charm, following its erratic movements.
The chained figure strains against his bindings, lashing you with heavy chains for 10 damage.
-
You stab the chained figure with a metal fang. It digs into him like a starving beast for 6 damage.
The chained figure dangles an eyeball by the stringy nerve. It turns to look up at you, peering into you for 8 damage.
You release a twitching charm, following its erratic movements.
The chained figure releases a flittering charm, casting strange green shadows over you.
The chained figure strains against his bindings, lashing you with heavy chains for 7 damage.
-
You throw a tiny silver skull at the chained figure. It unfolds into a shadowy form that claws him for 6 damage.
The chained figure dangles an eyeball by the stringy nerve. It turns to look up at you, peering into you for 7 damage.
You toss a crackling key at the chained figure. It twists space as it tumbles, warping him for 27 damage.
The chained figure uses his chain to pull away from you.
The chained figure strains against his bindings, lashing you with heavy chains for 12 damage.
-
You stab the chained figure with a metal fang. It digs into him like a starving beast for 10 damage.
The chained figure dangles an eyeball by the stringy nerve. It turns to look up at you, peering into you for 5 damage.
You release a flittering charm, casting strange green shadows over the chained figure.
The chained figure uses his chain to pull away from you.
The chained figure strains against his bindings, lashing you with heavy chains for 9 damage.
The chained figure punches you with a chain-wrapped fist for 5 damage.
You've been beaten to hell!
-
4 Bonus Power when the Defender has no Technique
16 Etheric Power
5 Evasion Power
2 Fire Power
2 Melee Power
2 Ranged Power
2 Power to Techniques Using Will
-2 Stealth Power
Defense
15 Etheric Defense
5 Fire Defense
6 Melee Defense
7 Ranged Defense
-
You throw a tiny silver skull at the chained figure. It unfolds into a shadowy form that claws him for 21 damage.
The chained figure uses his chain to pull away from you.
You toss a crackling key at the chained figure. It twists space as it tumbles, warping him for 42 damage.
The chained figure strains against his bindings. As the key tumbles close, the chains fall away.
-
You dangle an eye-shaped charm before the chained figure. Its unliving gaze peers into him for 40 damage.
The chained figure uses his chain to pull away from you.
You release a flittering charm, casting strange green shadows over the chained figure.
The chained figure tangles you with his chain for 7 damage.
You stab the chained figure with a metal fang. It digs into him like a starving beast for 14 damage.
The chained figure punches you with a chain-wrapped fist for 6 damage.
-
You throw a tiny silver skull at the chained figure. It unfolds into a shadowy form that claws him for 30 damage.
The chained figure uses his chain to pull away from you.
You toss a crackling key at the chained figure. It twists space as it tumbles, warping him for 39 damage.
You've won the battle!
You've learned a new Skill: Unlocked Chain
You've earned 2 XP in Perception
You've earned 5 XP in Reflexes
You've earned 1 XP in Strength
You've earned 2 XP in Will
—
4 Bonus Power when the Defender has no Technique
5 Etheric Power
5 Evasion Power
2 Fire Power
2 Melee Power
2 Ranged Power
2 Power to Techniques Using Will
-2 Stealth Power
Defense
13 Etheric Defense
5 Fire Defense
6 Melee Defense
7 Ranged Defense
-
You punch the chained figure with a chain-wrapped fist for 2 damage.
The chained figure dangles an eyeball by the stringy nerve. It turns to look up at you, peering into you for 11 damage.
You stab the chained figure with a metal fang for 1 damage.
The chained figure releases a flittering charm, casting strange green shadows over you.
You use your chain to pull away from the chained figure.
The chained figure strains against his bindings, lashing you with heavy chains for 2 damage, but you pull away from all of the damage.
-
You punch the chained figure with a chain-wrapped fist for 1 damage.
The chained figure releases a flittering charm, casting strange green shadows over you.
You stab the chained figure with a metal fang. It digs into him like a starving beast for 5 damage.
The chained figure strains against his bindings, lashing you with heavy chains for 3 damage.
You use your chain to pull away from the chained figure.
-
You punch the chained figure with a chain-wrapped fist for 1 damage, but the charm drags him away from all of the damage.
The chained figure releases a twitching charm, following its erratic movements.
You wrap your chain around the chained figure and pull it tight for 2 damage.
The chained figure strains against his bindings, lashing you with heavy chains for 2 damage.
-
You punch the chained figure with a chain-wrapped fist for 2 damage.
The chained figure dangles an eyeball by the stringy nerve. It turns to look up at you, peering into you for 8 damage.
You stab the chained figure with a metal fang for 2 damage, but he pulls away from all of the damage.
The chained figure uses his chain to pull away from you.
The chained figure strains against his bindings, lashing you with heavy chains for 9 damage.
-
You wrap your chain around the chained figure and pull it tight for 1 damage.
The chained figure dangles an eyeball by the stringy nerve. It turns to look up at you, peering into you for 9 damage.
You use your chain to pull away from the chained figure.
The chained figure uses his chain to pull away from you.
The chained figure strains against his bindings, lashing you with heavy chains for 9 damage.
You've been beaten to hell!
-
Power
4 Bonus Power when the Defender has no Technique
11 Etheric Power
5 Evasion Power
11 Melee Power
-2 Ranged Power
1 Stealth Power
Defense
5 Fire Defense
4 Melee Defense
4 Ranged Defense
2 Etheric Defense
You punch the chained figure with a chain-wrapped fist for 5 damage.
The chained figure dangles an eyeball by the stringy nerve. It turns to look up at you, peering into you for 21 damage.
You tangle the chained figure with your chain for 7 damage.
The chained figure releases a flittering charm, casting strange green shadows over you.
The chained figure strains against his bindings, lashing you with heavy chains for 16 damage.
-
You use your chain to pull away from the chained figure.
The chained figure dangles an eyeball by the stringy nerve. It turns to look up at you, peering into you for 18 damage.
The chained figure uses his chain to pull away from you.
The chained figure strains against his bindings, lashing you with heavy chains for 14 damage.
I try my best to avoid unearthly spoilers, and Al tries to draw me in with Brazil references. Curse you, Al, how could you possibly know a lover of Metroplexity is interested in dystopian films?!
In the beginning, men were mortal.
Heh, I think it was Mag actually that first recommended Brazil to me some years back.
Anyway, the form of chains showed up for me underwater (kind of surprising), but the swimming charm worked as expected. Presumably the fae charm works differently in caverns too.
You tangle the chained figure with your chain for 7 damage, but his path avoids all of the damage.
The chained figure releases a twitching charm, following its elegant path through the water.
4 Bonus Power when the Defender has no Technique
8 Etheric Power
2 Evasion Power
11 Melee Power
2 Ranged Power
1 Stealth Power
Defense
8 Etheric Defense
3 Fire Defense
3 Melee Defense
3 Ranged Defense
You punch the chained figure with a chain-wrapped fist for 6 damage.
The chained figure dangles an eyeball by the stringy nerve. It turns to look up at you, peering into you for 12 damage.You tangle the chained figure with your chain for 7 damage, but his path avoids all of the damage.
The chained figure releases a twitching charm, following its elegant path through the water.You use your chain to pull away from the chained figure.
The chained figure strains against his bindings, lashing you with heavy chains for 10 damage, but you pull away from all of the damage.
—
You punch the chained figure with a chain-wrapped fist for 7 damage.
The chained figure dangles an eyeball by the stringy nerve. It turns to look up at you, peering into you for 13 damage.
You tangle the chained figure with your chain for 6 damage.
The chained figure releases a flittering charm, casting strange green shadows over you.
You use your chain to pull away from the chained figure.
The chained figure strains against his bindings, lashing you with heavy chains for 10 damage, but you pull away from all of the damage.
—
You use your chain to pull away from the chained figure.
The chained figure dangles an eyeball by the stringy nerve. It turns to look up at you, peering into you for 16 damage.
You tangle the chained figure with your chain for 8 damage, but he pulls away from all but 6 damage.
The chained figure uses his chain to pull away from you.
You punch the chained figure with a chain-wrapped fist for 5 damage.
The chained figure strains against his bindings, lashing you with heavy chains for 5 damage.
Edit more data from 2021:
4 Bonus Power when the Defender has no Technique
4 Etheric Power
4 Evasion Power
2 Ranged Power
Defense
10 Etheric Defense
6 Melee Defense
5 Ranged Defense
-
You throw a tiny silver skull at the chained figure. It unfolds into a shadowy form that claws him for 2 etheric damage.
The chained figure punches you with a chain-wrapped fist for 2 melee damage.
You toss a crackling key at the chained figure. It twists space as it tumbles, warping him for 18 etheric damage.
The chained figure strains against his bindings. As the key tumbles close, the chains fall away.
-
You punch the chained figure with a chain-wrapped fist for 2 melee damage, but he pulls away from all of the damage.
The chained figure uses his chain to pull away from you.
You stab the chained figure with a metal fang. It digs into him like a starving beast for 16 melee damage.
The chained figure tangles you with his chain for 8 melee damage.
You release a twitching charm, following its erratic movements.
-
You throw a tiny silver skull at the chained figure. It unfolds into a shadowy form that claws him for 12 etheric damage.
The chained figure uses his chain to pull away from you.
You toss a crackling key at the chained figure. It twists space as it tumbles, warping him for 29 etheric damage.
The chained figure snaps his chain at you for 9 stealth damage.
The chained figure punches you with a chain-wrapped fist for 13 melee damage.
-
4 Bonus Power when the Defender has no Technique
4 Etheric Power
4 Evasion Power
2 Ranged Power
Defense
5 Etheric Defense
9 Melee Defense
3 Ranged Defense
3 Stealth Defense
-
You throw a tiny silver skull at the chained figure. It unfolds into a shadowy form that claws him for 1 etheric damage.
The chained figure dangles an eyeball by the stringy nerve. It turns to look up at you, peering into you for 19 etheric damage.
You toss a crackling key at the chained figure. It twists space as it tumbles, warping him for 15 etheric damage.
The chained figure uses his chain to pull away from you.
The chained figure strains against his bindings, lashing you with heavy chains for 5 melee damage.
The chained figure punches you with a chain-wrapped fist for 2 melee damage.
-
You stab the chained figure with a metal fang. It digs into him like a starving beast for 3 melee damage.
The chained figure dangles an eyeball by the stringy nerve. It turns to look up at you, peering into you for 18 etheric damage.
The chained figure releases a twitching charm, following its erratic movements.
The chained figure strains against his bindings, lashing you with heavy chains for 6 melee damage.
-
