Dead Man's Tale

"Long, short, they all end the same way."

- Katabasis

Dead Man's Tale is a Exotic Scout Rifle that was first acquired from the completion of the The Voice on the Other Side Quest, and repeatedly afterwards with random rolls from completing the Presage activity weekly. With the beginning of The Witch Queen expansion, and the subsequent vaulting of the Presage mission, players can obtain one roll of the gun each week from Xur by exchanging an exotic cipher with them.

Barrel attachment

 * Fluted Barrel: Ultra-light barrel.
 * – Greatly increases handling speed
 * – Slightly increases stability


 * Arrowhead Brake: Lightly vented barrel.
 * - Greatly controls recoil
 * - Increases handling speed


 * Chambered Compensator: Stable barrel attachment.
 * - Increases stability
 * - Moderately controls recoil
 * - Slightly decreases handling speed


 * Corkscrew Rifling: Balanced barrel.
 * - Slightly increases range and stability
 * - Slightly increases handling speed


 * Extended Barrel: Weighty barrel extension.
 * - Increases range
 * - Decreases handling speed
 * - Moderately controls recoil


 * Full Bore: Barrel optimized for distance.
 * - Greatly increases range
 * - Decreases stability
 * - Slightly decreases handling speed


 * Hammer-Forged Rifling: Durable ranged barrel.
 * - Increases range


 * Polygonal Rifling: Barrel optimized for recoil reduction.
 * - Increases stability


 * Smallbore: Dual strength barrel.
 * - Increases range
 * - Increases stability

Magazine upgrade

 * Accurized Rounds: This weapon can fire longer distances.
 * – Increases range


 * Steady Rounds: This magazine is optimized for recoil control.
 * - Greatly increases stability
 * - Slightly decreases range


 * Flared Magwell: Optimized for fast reloading.
 * - Slightly increases stability
 * - Greatly increases reload speed


 * Armor-Piercing Rounds: Rounds cause extra damage to combatants' shields and overpenetrate targets.
 * - Slightly increases range


 * High-Caliber Rounds: Shots from this weapon knock the target back farther.
 * - Slightly increases range


 * Ricochet Rounds: Rounds ricochet off hard surfaces.
 * - Increases stability
 * - Slightly increases range


 * Light Mag: Improved reload and range.
 * - Increases reload speed
 * - Slightly increases range

Trait

 * Transformative: Future drops of this weapon will have random rolls.
 * Known rolls:
 * Killing Wind: Final blows grant increased mobility, weapon range, and handling for a short duration.
 * Vorpal Weapon: Increased damage against bosses, vehicles, and Guardians with their super active.
 * Outlaw: Precision kills greatly decrease reload time.
 * Snapshot Sights: Faster time to aim down sights.
 * Fourth Time’s the Charm: Rapidly landing precision hits will return two rounds to the magazine.
 * Subsistence: Kills partially reload from the magazine from reserves, but reserve capacity is reduced.
 * Moving Target: Increased movement speed and target acquisition when moving while aiming down sights.

Stock

 * Composite Stock: This weapon has a versatile dual-purpose stock.
 * - Slightly increases stability
 * - Slightly increases handling speed


 * Fitted Stock: This stock makes the weapon stable but heavy
 * - Increases stability
 * - Moderately controls recoil
 * - Slightly decreases handling speed


 * Hand-Laid Stock: This weapon is optimized for recoil control.
 * - Increases stability


 * Short-Action Stock: This weapon is especially easy to grip.
 * - Greatly increases handling speed

Lore
Gaelin-4's war beast leads us through balmy Venusian jungle. Our rifles low, our Ghosts high in the canopy like sentry drones.

"My vehicle is old. Needs maintenance. Been running too long without cutting the engine," I say.

Gaelin sends me a sideways look. "That shipwright still around? She used to make cider in the autumn. I swear, she kept us like a pack of strays."

I sigh. "No, I mean this thing." I run my hand over my body. "Besides, you know I can't go back there." I straighten the leather wrap around my Tex-foundry rifle.

"You know I literally tune myself, right?" asks the Exo Hunter.

"Why? You're immortal."

"And you're not?"

"I know, but I'm… slower. I feel slower."

"Uh huh."

"Just not like what I used to feel like. Not… spry. Not up here either." I tap my helmet.

"Tragedy. I feel for you. Have Gilgamesh tune you then."

I chuckle. "Yeah… he'd love that."

"You two having issues again?"

I shake my head in a stiff, narrow lie. "You think we come back the same every time?"

"I do. Straight from the manufacturer ," Gaelin-4 says.

"Sometimes I get the feeling… something's different."

Gaelin stops and squints at me.

I dip my head and let my hood fall forward. "Nothing I can put my finger on, just little things. Adjustments."

"You think he's changing you?" Gaelin's voice sounds more serious than surprised.

I wait too long to answer. It's not because I don't know my answer, but because I want to feel like I still doubt it. I raise my head. Gaelin meets my eyes and looks up to the canopy.

He leans his shoulder into me and drops his voice to a whisper. "My Clip's a good one, but you need to realize Ghosts don't know anything. Nobody does. They're just like us. They get curious. They question. If you think something's coming unwound, you need to sit down and talk it out."

"Wait… did Clip change yo—"

"Please," Gaelin scoffs. "You're paranoid." He turns to keep walking and calls back, "Life changes you. Same with them. I'm the only one that stays the same."

Gaelin raises a fist and we stop. His war beast sniffs the air and turns us east. We continue walking.

"What'd you name the beast?"

"Castus."

"You've been reading too many of the Spider's books ."

"Some of 'em are good."

I laugh. "Aren't you the man that said anything you got tying you down can be made into a noose?"

"Yeah, some time ago."

"You've been taking a lot of jobs with him ? Those Fallen?"

"You're one to talk, Emperor's lackey . Some of those Eliksni aren't so bad."

List of appearances

 * Destiny 2:
 * Season of the Chosen