A P E X
H O L D I N G
A C E S
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: Panic Button.
- Image Source: Destiny
- Canon Link: Disruptor Pistol
- Restricted Mission: N/A
- Primary Sources: AY-214 Combat Pistol, Talisman of Calling
- Manufacturer: Darth Metus (via House Verd, Inc.)
- Model: AY-214 Custom
- Affiliation: [member="Srina Talon"]
- Modularity: N/A
- Production: Unique
- Materials: Durasteel, Synthetic Crystal, Power Cell, Talisman of Calling
- Classification: Disruptor Pistol
- Size: Handheld
- Length: 21.7 centimeters
- Weight: 1.16 kilograms
- Ammunition Type: Power Cell
- Ammunition Capacity: 6 rpc (rounds per cell)
- Optimal Range: 3 meters
- Effective Range: 8 meters
- Rate of Fire: Semi-Automatic
- By uttering an incantation, this weapon can be summoned anywhere, at any time.
- Disruptor: A single bolt from this weapon can vaporize armor and combatant alike.
- Endurance: Holding Aces is magickally resilient against wear, tear, and basic malfunctions.
- Discreet: When in ring form, the user is always quietly armed.
- Archaic: The AY-214 line suffers significantly less stopping power compared to the average, modern blaster. In this case, an armored enemy would require three bursts to vaporize as opposed to the standard one-shot, one kill of a Disruptor.
- Time Limit: Holding Aces can only remain in its "weapon" form for a total of two hours.
- Neutral: Ysalamir Fields or Voidstone Proximity will revert Holding Aces back to "ring" form.
- Destruction: Holding Aces' "ring" form is simply a silver ring, destroying it destroys the weapon.
- Ammunition: Each Power Cell only confers six shots before needing replacement.
- Limitations: An item "sacrificed" to the Talisman can only exist in the physical realm for two hours at a time. When returned to the Mist, the item cannot be beckoned again until two hours pass. A Talisman can only be bonded to a single item — choose wisely. Only Force-crafted items can be utilized. Attempts to "sacrifice" mundane items will simply result in their being lost. Ysalamir Fields disrupt the intermediary process, resulting in the item's premature return to the Mist. Destruction of the Talisman results in the item's being lost. Permanently. Likewise, damage to the item is not undone upon returning to the Mist — when it's destroyed, it's destroyed.
Looks can be deceiving.
"Holding Aces" is the name affectionately bestowed upon the gift presented to Darth Metus' pupil. At a glance, the weapon initially appears as nothing more than a thin, silver ring. However, when [member="Srina Talon"] has her back up against the wall, a single word elevates the base trinket into something much more. Uttering the phrase "Draw" will beckon the weapon's true state from the realm of spirits: promptly depositing a custom, AY-214 Combat Pistol in the wearer's hand.
The degree to which the weapon varies from the base model is significant. In fact, the two are only alike in terms of base functionality. Holding Aces is a disruptor born in the image of an archaic, laser-based pistol. This design philosophy allows the weapon to only utilize a single form of ammunition: Power Cells, as opposed to balancing Tibanna Gas cartridges like the conventional blaster pistol. This, of course, comes with drawbacks: as all weapons designed in this manner have noticeably less stopping power when compared to the modern standard. In the case of Holding Aces, it cannot vaporize a target in a single blast. Nor does it fire a continous stream of disruptor energy into a target.
Rather, it fires significantly weaker "bolts" that are capable of quickly disintegrating an opponent one impact at a time. When combating the average, armored combatant, Holding Aces can dispatch the enemy in approximately three shots. The first devours the enemy's armor, the second any underlying coverings, and the third being the bare body itself. This can be achieved at a semi-automatic rate as well, meaning an enemy can be defeated as quickly as the user can pull the trigger. Of course, when compared to the average disruptor, the Holding Aces has a longer time to kill - as it takes more than one shot to vaporize an enemy.
Furthermore, due to the nature of the design, inaccuracy is prone to occur. Put simply, Holding Aces is best used when fan-fired, rapidly, into an enemy who wanders too close. It is not a sniper or accurate beyond glorified shotgun range. For this reason, it excels in close range, but suffers beyond its optimal range quite noticeably. In addition, the Holding Aces is far from invincible. While Dathomiri Magick was utilized in binding the weapon to a Talisman of Calling, it is augmented in only one way. A lightsaber can and will cut it to ribbons, but it has been magickally elevated enough to withstand significant wear and tear. In addition, entering into a Force-neutral zone will banish the weapon back from whence it came - and any damage sustained cannot be repaired by magickal means.
However, as a whole, the Holding Aces is designed for a singular purpose: close quarters domination. And, while a standard disruptor pistol can perform better at this range and all others, it does provide the user a vicious armament that wears sheep's clothing.
