Cardinal Amulet (no ontology)
From Mazeworld
A Cardinal Amulet is a holy item forged by the Cardinal Gods. There are four of them in Mazeworld, each named after and representing the Gods themselves. Collecting all four Amulets, then invoking their power is the primary goal of a Contestant in order to reach Endgame (this process is sometimes referred to as "ascending".
Many legends and rumors circulate about the Amulets, the most notable being that they were created by the Gods themselves, and that they can only be truly found by the Contestant. When all four have been found and gathered together by the Contestant, they fuse into one and grant access to the elusive White Area.
In gameplay terms, the Amulets are the player's ticket to the endgame. Collecting the Amulets is the principal objective in MazeWorld, and punctuates the progress of every contestant throughout their journey. Obtaining all four and gaining access to the endgame is required to complete a run.
When a Contestant has obtained all four Amulets, he/she must invoke the Gods in order to be transported to endgame; the process is not automatic. On a gameplay point of view, this is so players can choose to continue their progress instead of leaving immediately.
Overview
Each amulet has similar dimensions and features, with distinctive colors and representations of their associated deity. The Amulet of Genbu is black, the Amulet of Seiryuu is azure, the Amulet of Byakko is white and the Amulet of Suzaku is scarlet.
Effects
Each Amulet, because of the representation of their respective Gods, grant different effects, all of which beneficial to the contestant.
- Amulet of Genbu: Maximum Pain threshold increased by +10%, Maximum Blood counter increased by +2, Cyanide poisoning requires 5 more turns before causing death.
- Amulet of Seiryuu: Strength increase x2, Pain sensitivity decrease x2.
- Amulet of Byakko: +5 maximum HP for all limbs.
- Amulet of Suzaku: Max damage counter +1 on all clothing and armor worn/spared until leaving equipment or backpack of the contestant. (Clothes with less than 1 unit will be destroyed in this case)
When all four amulets have been gathered and the Gods invoked, they fuse into a single Fused Amulet, colored silver and teleport the contestant (and any allies along the way) inside the White Area. The benefits that each individual amulet previously provided will be then provided by the Fused Amulet.
After the endgame period is completed and the contestant chose his/her fate, the fused amulet is destroyed, turning to dust, and the original four Amulets reappear in the Mazes, their effects disappearing along the way.
