Greaves of Vaka

"Sometimes one must break the rules in order to serve the greater good." -Unknown

Thick leather greaves front-plated with intricately engraved runes covering the brilliant gold metal. Created by the creator goddess Vaka on the eve of her demise and gifted to Stevanas Hareth, The Mad Oracle of Lore. Used by Stevanas until his soul was inextricably bound to the Greaves themselves during the creation of the Oracle of Metal. Wielded by Yarmin Smalltooth, Second Oracle of Lore, these boots hum with potential energy. One of the legendary Artifacts of Vaka.

Dormant

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Pussy Foot Maneuver

While wielding this item, you gain the following benefits.

• Your walking speed doubles.
• You may cast the Levitate spell on yourself at will.
• Your steps make no sound, regardless of the surface you are moving across. You also have advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks that rely on moving silently.

Way of the Shinsengumi

This item has two charges. As a reaction, expend a charge to move with superhuman speed, causing one attack that would hit you to miss. Regain all expended charges after a long rest.

Awakened

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Pussy Foot Maneuver

While wielding this item, you gain the following benefits.

• Your base walking speed doubles, and any creature that makes an opportunity attack against you has disadvantage on the attack roll.
• You have a flying speed equal to your walking speed.
• Your steps make no sound, regardless of the surface you are moving across. You also have advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks that rely on moving silently.
• You are unaffected by difficult terrain.

Way of the Shinsengumi

This item has three charges. As a reaction, expend a charge to move with superhuman speed, causing one attack that would hit you to miss. Regain all expended charges after a long rest.

Madman's Knowledge

While wielding this item, your Intelligence score increases to 25.

Exalted

Pussy Foot Maneuver

While wielding this item, you gain the following benefits.

• Your base walking speed triples.
• You have a flying speed equal to your walking speed.
• Your steps make no sound, regardless of the surface you are moving across. You also have advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks that rely on moving silently.
• You are unaffected by difficult terrain.
• You are unable to be targeted by opportunity attacks.
• You leave no tracks in your wake, physical or magical.

Way of the Shinsengumi

This item has three charges. As a reaction, expend a charge to move with superhuman speed, causing one attack that would hit you to miss. Regain all expended charges after a long rest.

Madman's Knowledge

While wielding this item, your Intelligence score increases to 30, and you gain advantage on any Intellegence based skill checks.

Boots of Greed

Once per long rest, you may grant yourself one extra action on your turn.

Combat Insight

While wielding this item, the user gains one Legendary Resistance to use at will. Expended resistances regenerate after finishing a long rest.

Weave Expansion

Enables casting of spells greater than 9th level.

History

Created for Stevanas Hareth, The Mad Oracle of Lore by Vaka, God of Wild Magic on the eve of her demise. Wielded by Stevanas for just over one thousand years, they were the first of the Artifacts to become Exalted. The Mad Oracle used them through the years to achieve incredible magical feats. He and Threaven Wranris, The Oracle of Life harnessed the power of their two Artifacts to create the Great Bridge of Xemelgor, channelling a Wild Magic Event into a pure Aether structure. Stevanas was also responsible for creating both the Oracle of Bones, Ragnar Darkshield, The Oracle of Bones, Strahdsbane; and the Oracle of Metal, 2B0RN072B, The Oracle of Metal, although the latter would cause his untimely demise. An odd power surge, and a bad roll of the dice caused Stevanas' body to be disintegrated. In an act of incredibly quick thinking (and incredible hubris), Stevanas cast a spell upon his death that bound his soul within the Greaves, allowing him to continue existing as a spectre haunting the boots.
As the explosion that resulted from Stevanas' mistake rocked the so-called Broken Quarter of Newbiggin, the Osmium Tower, Stevanas' home, was ruined, and sealed. Accessible only to the next Oracle of Lore, whoever that would be. Around 12 years later, a young Loxodon man was brought to Newbiggin. Shortly after awakening his powers, Yarmin Smalltooth, Second Oracle of Lore was drawn towards the Broken Quarter, feeling a tugging deep in his soul. As he approached the Osmium Tower, it rejuvenated itself before his eyes, cracked stone reforming, glass unshattering. As he entered, he found an abandoned, yet sparklingly clean, laboratory. In the center of the room, he found the Greaves sitting there, patiently waiting for him. As he put them on, the disassociated spirit of Stevanas was brought into existance again. From then on, he trained the young Oracle in the ways of Lore, so that he may be his proper successor.
Now, nearly another thousand years later, the two have been using their powers to seek a way forward for the world, all while absorbing as much knowledge as possible in the name of Vaka. That is, until Penelope came around. A young orphan rescued by Molina Montarelli, Eighth Oracle of Peace after an attack by Sif, The Abysswalker, Penelope was raised by Molina to become the next Oracle of Peace, just as Stevanas had done to the young Yarmin. Molina, Threaven, Yarmin, and Stevanas, the Newbiggin Oracles, raised the young half-harengon to the best of their abilities, with quite a few challenges along the way.
As Penelope Rose, The Final Oracle of Peace turned 18 and became the Oracle of Peace, she left to face down the one who had destroyed her home all those years ago: Sif. As the two clashed, Penelope was swiftly beaten, with Sif ultimately convincing her to join the side of the Betrayers through her actions. Making quick friends with the legendary Ergeaux Lyon, The Oracle of Illusion, Penelope spent the next three decades searching for a way to end the suffering of mortals under the Gods, alongside the Betrayers. Then, in 1990, she met a very interesting group of people. A group who seemed to be fate touched. A group in possession of three Artifacts of Vaka - the Staff, the Crown, and the Key. Penelope, seizing the opportunity, joined The Team of Many Things, and played the role of Paladin in order to gain their trust. Everything changed, however, when the Team was sent to the Dark Future. They were granted an unparalleled view of how the world would end if the Gods were allowed to continue to run amok. When they returned, Penelope put her plan into motion.
First, she travelled to Newbiggin, where she emotionally manipulated Yarmin into giving her the Greaves. She, along with Ergeaux and Sif, took the Amulet of Vaka from Strahd von Zarovich, The Dread Lord, and placed him under and illusion to have him stall the Team of Many Things. Then, using the power of three Artifacts and three Oracles; Ergeaux, wielding the Exalted Sword of Vaka; Kaleena Starseeker, Twentieth Oracle of the Moons, wielding the Awakened Amulet; and Penelope, wielding the Awakened Greaves; Penelope siphoned the Godhood from Freyr, Paramour of Valakadyn, making him mortal, and causing her to Ascend. Finally, she, and the rest of the Betrayers, staged a heist of the Shroud of Vaka from within the core of Aetheria, destroying the city, and betraying the Team in the process.
In the wake of her betrayal, Penelope grappled with her own morals. Was it right to betray the Team? Are the Betrayers really in the right? After founding her own city, Los Rosa Amor, she slowly began to make herself a way out. As the Betrayers planned an attack on Newbiggin, Penelope and Ergeaux busied themselves preparing to save as many mortals as possible, while distracting the rest of the Oracular Order in order to prevent them from fighting the Betrayers. As La Primavera went on, the Betrayers attacked, and as the Team of Many Things came to stop them, Penelope and Ergeaux betrayed the Betrayers, and attempted to kill them. Ultimately failing as Mystra unsuccessfully tried to steal the Artifacts from their wielders, Penelope was sent via explosion back towards Los Rosa Amor. Now, nine years later, she seeks redemption, at any cost. Can she fix the world? Can she find her friends? What is the meaning of Peace?

Known Wielders

Stevanas Hareth, The Mad Oracle of Lore
Yarmin Smalltooth, Second Oracle of Lore
Penelope Octavia Marcella Emiline Rose, The Final Oracle of Peace

Item type

Magical