Tuesday Magic Item – Highwayman’s Crossbow

A bolt sped through the air, knocking the heavy crossbow from the hands of the carriage’s guardsman.  The driver reined in the horses as the road was blocked by a felled tree.   “Stand and deliver!” cried the flashily dressed woman holding a loaded crossbow standing astride the toppled tree.

“No one need be hurt,” she cried.  “But you will leave here poorer if you wish to avoid harm.”

Highwayman’s Crossbow

These light crossbows are sturdily made and often decorated with trophies taken.  The names of their owners is usually carved into the stock.

A Highwayman’s Crossbow is a +1 merciful light crossbow that provides a +3 competence bonus to CMB when using trick shots to disarm, sunder or trip.  When a bolt is fired from the Highwayman’s Crossbow, the shooter may choose to make the flight of the bolt highly visible and audible, once it has traveled 20′ from the crossbow.

Aura moderate transmutation; CL 7th
Slot none; Price 11,335; Weight 4 lbs
Construction Requirements
Craft Wondrous Item, cat’s grace, daze monster, false life, ghost sound; Cost 5,500 + 335 for the crossbow

Notes: A weapon for a noble robber, one who does not wish to kill.  On a similar theme, see the Highwayman’s Ice Bow.

Photo by Adam Wiggins and used under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.