Brief Summary: These would be a new type of treasure pirates can find amidst their adventures, but each one is uniquely present to where you'll never see two of the same artifact at the same time on a server. Carrying them on your ship will bless you and your crew with fantastic powers or curse you with equally negative ones; the reward for turning them in, however, will be great.
How they would work initially: When someone discovers an artifact, its properties are initially unknown until they pick it up. They can be randomly found on potentially any island, often appearing in the more hidden areas. They'll give an angelic humming sound of sorts, calling out to any pirate and possibly adding to the temptation effect by giving off a radiant glow. Once a player picks it up, its true form/name is revealed, being either a Blessed or Cursed artifact. Its power won't take effect upon your crew until you place it on your ship, so you do have a choice of whether you wish to bring it aboard or not. Once you have brought it on your ship, however, its blessing/curse will activate, and you will have effectively cursed or blessed your crew until it's removed from your boat once more.
Blessed Artifacts: These would naturally bestow a beneficial effect to you, your crew, and/or your ship. Example ideas could be:
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Mermaid's Blessed Artifact: The crew is blessed by the mermaids, increasing swim speed and granting underwater breathing.
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Windcaller's Blessed Artifact: The power of wind is at your beck and call. Your ship will now sail at full speed regardless of which direction the wind is normally blowing.
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Shipwright's Blessed Artifact: Your ship will slowly repair itself. Your crew will naturally repair damage faster.
Cursed Artifacts: These always have some significant negative effects placed upon the crew of whichever ship it is placed upon. Example ideas could include:
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Stormchaser's Cursed Artifact: You've invoked the wrath of nature itself. The storm will now always move in the direction of your ship for as long as the artifact is on it.
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Sharkbait's Cursed Artifact: Your ship seems to be leaking quite a bit of chum in the waters... Sharks and Megalodons are naturally attracted to your ship.
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Grogwater's Cursed Artifact: Water on your ship turns into grog, steadily intoxicating anyone who tries to repair ship damage or bail water.
Risk vs Reward Elements: Naturally blessed artifacts give some handy bonuses, while cursed artifacts will purposely inhibit your crew. So why bother with cursed artifacts, and why ever give up blessed artifacts? Because they'll sell handsomely to whichever Company will take them (possibly even a new one dedicated to these things?). Also your ship will get a mark on the map that makes it clear to everyone that you're carrying at least one artifact. So be prepared for the weight you're bringing upon your ship, as even blessings could be curses in disguise if it attracts too much undesired attention from other pirates.
