Royal Orb

Item

Image
Description	This clear crystal was once part of an underwater kingdom's regalia. You won it through force of arms and bloodshed, but it still seems to respond to your call.
Type	Offhand (Quest)
Hidden Flags	Air Recycler, +1 Diving Ability

Sources

Drops from the Ocean King

Uses

You can give this to the King of the Fae to receive Subterranean Rhythm, but only if you have not used it to get Warrior of the Seas. If you'd rather get Warrior of the Seas, follow the guide below:

If you have at least 5 energy of an Etheric effect when using the orb, you lose 5 energy of the effect and receive messages based on your game state. To gain the skill Warrior of the Seas you must use it to receive the visions in the proper order (I through VI), as listed below. You must go through the entire sequence of visions in the same game day to get the skill. However, intervening visions that are not part of the proper sequence will not prevent you from getting the skill.

I
With Bone Scales or Bone Spikes or Calcified Organs active†:

You stare into the orb, watching as it becomes darker and darker. It's like a window into a world that's never seen light.

In the darkness you can feel shapes moving, hunting, patrolling the edges of their lightless void. <And, if you have seen the mysterious drone signature> And, if you focus, you can hear the scratching of pencil on paper.

II and V
With Nest Keeper or Spider Venom active†:

You stare into the orb, watching as floating dust forms a strange image in the depths. You see a pair of scenes, confusingly overlaid.

A set of schematics being unrolled is identical in both scenes, but the rest is hazier. You can't tell quite what they're for. Something electronic, maybe?

In one of the scenes, the schematic is almost complete and the unroller is a young man. In the other, the schematics are completed and the unrollers are three scientists in labcoats and brilliant headlamps.

or, if you know the mysterious drone signature:

You stare into the orb, watching as floating dust forms a strange scene in the depths. You see a pair of scenes, confusingly overlaid.

A set of schematics being unrolled is identical in both scenes, but the rest is hazier. You can tell they're for a drone, but it's hard to decipher what kind through your dusty view.

In one of the scenes, the schematic is almost complete and the unroller is a young man. In the other, the schematics are completed and the unrollers are three scientists in labcoats and brilliant headlamps.

III
In the Mushroom Cavern, Dockside Sewers, or the Abandoned Subway (or with Fae Blessing or Draught of Breath active?), after completing David's Exploration:

You stare into the orb and see darkness dancing in its depths, outlining a moving image. A young man rests in a chair surrounded by some sort of electronic equipment.

You've learned it's David, helping in a test at their old lab before the Incident. Darkness fills the orb, except for a single mote of light where the young man was lying. Dark shapes prowl in the shadows like circling wolves, although you can't make them out clearly.

The mote expands, dissolving darkness into more light… constructs of light flitting around like butterflies.

Or, if you have asked David's question but have not completed David's Exploration?

You stare into the orb, turning over David's request in your mind.

In the depths, darkness swirls like ink in water, outlining a moving image. A young man rests in a chair surrounded by some sort of electronic equipment.

Although he's wearing some sort of visor, it looks strikingly like a younger version of David. A doctor enters the inky view to inject something into his arm.

Darkness fills the orb, except for a single mote of light where the young man was lying. Dark shapes prowl in the shadows like circling wolves, although you can't make them out clearly.

The mote expands, dissolving darkness into more light… constructs of light flitting around like butterflies.

It doesn't make a lot of sense at a glance, but perhaps David might have some input.

Subsequent times?

You stare into the orb and see darkness dancing in its depths, outlining a moving image. A young man rests in a chair surrounded by some sort of electronic equipment.

Darkness fills the orb, except for a single mote of light where the young man was lying. Dark shapes prowl in the shadows like circling wolves, although you can't make them out clearly.

The mote expands, dissolving darkness into more light… constructs of light flitting around like butterflies.

IV
In Lake Metroplex North or Lake Metroplex South:

You stare into the orb and see darkness in its depths, slowly washed away by two great lights. One is quite clearly the moon, the other a distant explosion.

The strange, inky scene shows a woman standing on a rocky beach. It could be a thousand places, but reminds you most of the beach near the Slags, without the toxic sludge clinging to everything.

She spreads her arms as though to embrace the brilliant light racing towards her. Tentacles rip mercilessly from her skin… first dozens, then hundreds.

Eventually the light fades and you can hear a mournful song, like those of the sea people. It's… different somehow, unpracticed.

or, with David's Exploration started but not completed:

You stare into the orb, turning over David's request in your mind.

In the depths, darkness swirls like ink in water, outlining a moving image. A young man rests in a chair surrounded by some sort of electronic equipment.

Although he's wearing some sort of visor, it looks strikingly like a younger version of David. A doctor enters the inky view to inject something into his arm.

Darkness fills the orb, except for a single mote of light where the young man was lying. Dark shapes prowl in the shadows like circling wolves, although you can't make them out clearly.

The mote expands, dissolving darkness into more light… constructs of light flitting around like butterflies.

It doesn't make a lot of sense at a glance, but perhaps David might have some input.

V
(The Nest Keeper or Spider Venom inspired vision of schematics, again)

VI
If you have seen the visions in the proper order (does not consume the orb) :

You stare into the orb and watch as a strange scene plays out, trying to ignore a niggling sense of deja vu.

Three figures in containment suits stand on the blasted rock of the Slags, at the lip of a great crater. Two begin to proceed down the rock wall.

The third figure hurls itself down past its companions, through a wall of inky black mist, and into a maelstrom of brilliant flame.

The containment suit burns away in an instant, followed by the figure. It's consumed in moments by the fire, consumed and carried away before you can even identify its gender.

The orb pulses cold in your hand, beating in time with your heart, as though really acknowledging you for the first time.

You've learned a new Skill: Warrior of the Seas

† To receive the first two visions, you must not be in any of the later three locations.

Other messages

Default while sober:

You stare into the orb and see your own twisted reflection staring back.

While Etheric, but with less than 5 energy of the effect remaining:

You stare into the orb. Strange shapes seem to move within it, at the edge of your perception, but you can't quite grab onto them.

Default while Etheric:

You stare into the orb and feel strangely drained.

This item is not a component for any kind of crafting.

This item cannot be salvaged.

This item cannot be added to a gang stash.