Item: Dragonfire Halfbow
Crafted by layering bamboo with strips of sliced scales harvested from a fire-breathing dragon, this bow has a significant draw strength. This design is commonly seen in Hongal, as the shorter limb allows for easier maneuvering on horseback. While the wielder of this +2 striking composite shortbow is mounted, they apply the bow's item bonus to Nature checks to Command their mount.
Activate—Dragon's Arrow 2 (concentrate, manipulate)
Frequency once per day
Effect You draw the bow back to its maximum draw length without nocking an arrow, and as you release the string, the dragonfire halfbow casts Fireball (heightened to 5th rank; DC 29 Reflex save), targeted at a point of your choosing within the spell's range. You and your mount are immune to the effects of this fireball.
Trait Effects
Deadly: On a critical hit, the weapon adds a weapon damage die of the listed size. Roll this after doubling the weapon’s damage. This increases to two dice if the weapon has a _greater striking rune_ and three dice if the weapon has a _major striking rune_. For instance, a rapier with a _greater striking rune_ deals 2d8 extra piercing damage on a critical hit. An ability that changes the size of the weapon’s normal damage dice doesn’t change the size of its deadly die.
Fire: Effects with the fire trait deal fire damage or either conjure or manipulate fire. Those that manipulate fire have no effect in an area without fire. Creatures with this trait consist primarily of fire or have a connection to magical fire. Planes with this trait are composed of flames that continually burn with no fuel source. Fire planes are extremely hostile to non-fire creatures. Unprotected wood, paper, cloth, and other flammable materials catch fire almost immediately, and creatures wearing unprotected flammable clothing catch fire, typically taking 1d6 persistent fire damage. Extraplanar creatures take moderate environmental fire damage at the end of each round (sometimes minor environmental damage in safer areas, or major or massive damage in even more fiery areas). Ice creatures are extremely uncomfortable on a fire plane, assuming they don’t outright melt in the heat.
Magical: Something with the magical trait is imbued with magical energies not tied to a specific tradition of magic. Some items or effects are closely tied to a particular tradition of magic. In these cases, the item has the arcane, divine, occult, or primal trait instead of the magical trait. Any of these traits indicate that the item is magical.
Propulsive: You add half your Strength modifier (if positive) to damage rolls with a propulsive ranged weapon. If you have a negative Strength modifier, you add your full Strength modifier instead.
Critical Specialisation Effects
Certain effects can grant you benefits when you make a Strike with certain weapons and get a critical success. This is called a critical specialisation effect. The exact effect depends on which weapon group your weapon belongs to, as listed below. You can always decide not to add the critical specialisation effect of your weapon.
Bow: If the target of the critical hit is adjacent to a surface, it becomes stuck to that surface by the missile. The target is immobilized until it succeeds at an Interact action and a DC 10 Athletics check to pull the missile free. The target doesn't become stuck if it is incorporeal, liquid, or could otherwise escape without effort.
Related Items
| Name | Level | Rarity | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singing Shortbow | 14 | Common | 1d6 |
| Wintershot | 15 | Unique | 1d6 |
| Singing Shortbow (Greater) | 18 | Common | 1d6 |
| Sky-Piercing Bow | 19 | Rare | 1d6 |
| Wintershot (Heroic) | 20 | Unique | 1d6 |
| Godsbreath Bow | 15 | Rare | 1d6 |
| Bow of Sun Slaying | 20 | Unique | 1d6 |
| Composite Shortbow | 1 | Common | 1d6 |
| Mammoth Bow | 12 | Unique | 1d8 |
| Oathbow | 11 | Common | 1d8 |
| Splithead Bow | 7 | Uncommon | 1d8 |
| Horselord's Longbow | 6 | Uncommon | 1d8 |
| Dazzling Shortbow | 5 | Uncommon | 1d6 |
| Hunter's Bow | 3 | Common | 1d6 |
| Composite Longbow | 1 | Common | 1d8 |
| Hunter's Anthem | 11 | Common | 1d8 |
| Gakgung | - | Common | 1d6 |
| Longbow | - | Common | 1d8 |
| Mikazuki | - | Uncommon | 1d6 |
| Shortbow | - | Common | 1d6 |