Asp’s Bite - Artifact **** Green Jade Razor Claws
	There is little doubt that even before the First Age that the talents of the Dragons were many and varied. Though many continued to pursue martial prowess and strategic cunning, there were others who turned their talents in other directions. For the many who had no preternatural skill or superhuman strength, trickery filled the void.
	Like the fangs of a great snake, Asp’s Bite is a tool of deterrence before a weapon. Easily sequestered in sleeves or along the Exalt’s sides, the razor claws themselves collapse together when not needed and can be disguised as a hairpin, brooch, or other such item with a difficulty 3 Dexterity + Larceny roll.

	Special Attunement Rules

When attuned, the Asp’s Bite enjoys +1 automatic non-charm success on all rolls to be concealed on the user’s person. This does not apply to larceny rolls to disguise it or social influence to convince someone that the claws are not what they appear to be.
Additionally, when making a withering attack that is Unexpected, Asp’s Bite converts one die of pre-soak withering damage to an automatic success.

Touchstones
Wariness, Poison

MAGNANIMOUS WARNING HISS
Cost: 4m; Mins: Essence 1, Larceny 2 OR Stealth 2;
Type: Supplemental
Keywords: Mute
Duration: Scene
Prerequisites: None

Following the inspiration of the great snake, the Exalt binds her aura into an intimidating display to ward off attackers. This charm supplements any social influence performed in combat against a target displaying hostile intentions, adding the lower of her Larceny or Stealth as bonus dice. If successful, the target takes a penalty of the Exalt’s permanent Essence or 4, whichever is lower, to any attacks made against the Exalt for the rest of combat. This penalty may be ignored for 1 action by paying 1 wp, or for the scene by paying 2wp. If the target chooses to ignore the effect for one action twice, they become immune for the scene. No target may be affected by Magnanimous Warning Hiss more than once per combat.

VIPER STRIKE TECHNIQUE
Cost: 4m; Mins: Essence 1, MA 2 OR Brawl 2;
Type: Supplemental
Keywords: Dual
Duration: Instant
Prerequisites: Magnanimous Warning Hiss

When threatened, the viper does not simply roll over. It strikes viciously, to drive back attackers and leave them reeling.

This charm supplements an unexpected attack, or an attack made with the Asp’s Bite still concealed. If Asp’s Bite is concealed and the attack would not otherwise count as an unexpected attack, the attack counts as a Surprise Attack, applying a -2 to the target’s defenses. If the target is affected by Magnanimous Warning Hiss, the Exalt adds a number of non charm dice to the attack equal to the penalty the target is suffering.

If the attack deals any damage, the target must make a reflexive Wits + Integrity (or other applicable) roll against a difficulty of the Exalt’s Essence or 3, whichever is lower. If the attack dealt lethal damage and dealt more damage than the target’s Stamina, the difficulty of this roll increases by an amount equal to the difference. On failure, the target treats the Exalt the way a wise man treats any poisonous serpent and attempts to disengage or attack another target. This may be resisted by paying 1wp.


ASP’S VENOM INFLICTION
Cost: 4m (+1a); Mins: Essence 2, MA 4 OR Brawl 4;
Type: Supplemental
Keywords: Decisive-Only
Duration: Instant
Prerequisites: Viper Strike Technique

When a menacing visage and deft bite fail to push back hateful attackers, the snake uses incredible venom to cripple those who would not leave on their own. Asp’s Venom Infliction supplements a Decisive-Only. If it inflicts any lethal damage, the target is additionally inflicted with a poison with the following profile:
Damage: 3i/Round, (B in Crash), Duration: (Essence +3) Rounds, Penalty: -2.

If the target was is afflicted by Magnanimous Warning Hiss or Viper Strike Technique, the Exalt may additionally pay 1a to add an extra effect to the poison according to their Aspect.
Air: The target’s humors are distorted by invasive essence, giving them a -2 die penalty to all balance checks, including resisting grapples and knockdown.
Earth: The target is knocked prone by the force of the Exalt’s anima, unless they succeed at a difficulty 3 Dex + Dodge roll. This suffers the -2 penalty from the poison.
Fire: The target additionally suffers -1 Resolve as the poison distractingly burns its way through their veins.
Water: The poisonous anima binds with its victim’s blood, increasing difficulty of the roll to resist by two. The maximum duration cannot be increased by this increase.
Wood: The poison grows more deadly as it bathes in the Wood Aspect’s anima, increasing the damage per turn to 5i. The damage remains bashing if the target is in crash.
Celestial: The poison born of a Celestial’s anima carries with it the incredible force of their Exaltation, dealing Lethal damage to crashed opponents instead of bashing.

HELPLESS PREY SWALLOWING METHOD
Cost: 5m, 1wp; Mins: Essence 3, MA 5 OR Brawl 5;
Type: Supplemental
Keywords: Decisive-Only
Duration: Instant
Prerequisites: Asp’s Venom Infliction

When a predator is too arrogant and  ignores the flared crest, the hiss, the bite, and the poison, there is no further recourse but for the serpent to unhinge its jaw and swallow the foolish prey whole.

This attack supplements a decisive attack. If the target of the attack is suffering from the Asp’s venom inflicted by the prerequisite or is under the effect of Magnanimous Warning Hiss, then the attack counts as a surprise attack and may benefit additionally from Viper Strike Technique. If the target is already suffering the penalty of Viper Strike Technique in addition to the previous condition, the attack is treated as an Ambush.

Helpless Prey Swallowing Method converts a number of decisive damage dice to successes equal to the threshold successes on the attack roll, to a maximum of the Exalt’s essence. If the target is poisoned, this attack also triggers the poison’s damage without reducing its duration.

Once per scene, unless reset by killing a poisoned enemy or causing a poisoned enemy to flee the battle.