Tranq Rounds


*** Life * Prime (for immediate and personal use)
*** Life **** Time * Prime (hanging rote/contingency)

In movies and TV shows, non-combatant protagonists walking the mean streets of "Fill-In-The-Blank-Tropolis" can usually rely on nick-of-time intervention when facing armed antagonists bent on causing humiliation, physical injury, and even painful death. In the real world, where all manner of malevolent beings with misdeeds on their agenda and murder in their hearts show up all too frequently, a person can spend the rest of their life either waiting  for help to arrive and apply a boot to the south side of the north-bound miscreant, or for said miscreant to give up on breaking down the door and search elsewhere for easier prey. Usually, it's a short wait.

The Tranq, a wicked looking CO2 powered semi-automatic paint-ball pistol,  requires no lengthy background check, no firearms permit, and no waiting period to own. The lack of recoil facilitates handling by all but the most gun-shy of individuals. An effective range of 60 feet and penetrating power sufficient to breech a wet paper bag minimize risk of collateral damage to innocent bystanders. And no bloodshed after the confrontation eliminates the post-incident cleanup mopping and scrubbing normally associated with high-speed led poisoning. No bodies to dispose of, no unexpected trips to the police station, and no costly hospital bills and injury suits claimed against homeowner's insurance. Best of all, the quiet report won't disturb the neighbors or attract attention from local law enforcement agencies.

A kinder, gentler world calls for kinder, gentler self defense. So in those moments when diplomacy has failed, after negotiations have proved fruitless, and when the situation has deteriorated to the point of violence, living pacifists recommend Tranq Rounds over plowshares or Holy Swords by a margin of three to one.

Appearing to be a little more than a wicked looking older model 8-shot paintball gun, the Tranq Paintball Pistol draws little more attention from the mundane world than any other paintball gun. Even after hitting a target, in all but the most extreme cases, the chances of associating loss of voluntary motor control and sudden paralysis with a recreational item is remote.

In both forms of this rote, Life blocks the synaptic activity to control voluntary muscles. Prime provides fuel for the reaction. As a hanging rote, Time also determines the trigger event: impact of the paint-ball. A mage can create one hanging rote per point of Arete, and as a hanging rote, the caster may make 1 magazine (8 shots) per point of Arete. As a talisman, standard creation rules apply. However, the paintball gun (instead of the paintballs) becomes the talisman, providing for a more sustainable weapon.

Tranq rounds fired by anyone other than the caster (hanging rote) must hit the target to go off. (Make your normal firearms roll to hit.) If not used within eight days, they revert back to bright green paintballs.

Focus: Paintball Gun
Damage: Paralysis



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