Items

Arete 3, Quintessence 15, Background Cost 3 pts.

Tick tock. Tick tock. These well-polished metronomes were originally used by concert bands and orchestras, by magi and luminar­ ies alike. Although permanent performing groups are uncommon among the Awakened communities, there are more than a few willworkers who enjoy music and its performance. Of course, musicians can be a contentious lot, and Awakened musicians are much, much worse, meaning that most are reluctant to submit to a conductor. Of course, keeping time is essential to playing in concert with others, hence this gadget.

Clairaudient Metronomes function nearly exactly as their mundane cousins, clicking along at precise intervals, allowing those who hear the clicks to coordinate their movements with their peers. The first major difference between the two is that they produce no noise — instead projecting the sound of the click into the heads of a des­ ignated few. The second major difference is that only a handful of these metronomes are used for their original purpose these days. The rest are used for covert commu­ nication, chiefly among magickal criminals. Changes in tempo and sudden pauses provide coded signals that can be heard for miles, but only by a select few. Even when other magi are able to intercept the clicks, the sounds are meaningless to anyone outside of the group. They can even be used to send Morse code, although those clicks hold meaning more easily deciphered.

System

After activation, this metronome can be instructed to connect to any number of people via a Cor­

respondence 2, Mind 3 Effect. Afterwards, these people — and only these people — hear each click the metronome produces, regardless of physical distance. This elegant Effect provides a +2 bonus to all coordinated actions, such as ambushes, turning keys simultaneously, or playing music. Any of these people touching the metronome can see the other connected people and their immediate surroundings. The pendulum of the metronome can be stopped, slowed, or sped up by physically touching it.