Tuesday Magic Item – Bloodthirsty Sword

“I don’t like the look of this,” said Gollaon, rapidly doubling back into the alley.

“His men?” asked Voddick following, eye scanning for danger.

“Yes, and too many of them.”  He ducked down a side alley.  “Damn!”

Voddick readied his war hammer and drew a short sword with his off hand.  “I knew I shouldn’t  have left my shield behind today,” he grumbled.

Gollaon drew sword and fan.  “Well, at least he respects us enough to have sent his best thugs.”

“I am honored.”

Bloodthirsty Sword

While these weapons are usually of find make, there is something about them that appears disreputable and unwholesome, stains on the blade that never quite come of, a slight chip on the edge that always catches the light, and so on.

Tuesday Magic Item – Minion’s Coin

“His men seem very loyal,” said Voddick watching the rough looking crowd.

“I know, you would not expect it from such ruffians and ne’er-do-wells,” agreed Gollaon sipping at his wine.

“He pays well, I expect,” agreed Voddick, signalling for a refill of his mug of ale.  “But it seems more than that.”

“I agree,” sighed Gollaon.  “It is not that he is without charm but . . .”

“It is not the right sort of charm for these fellows.”

Gollaon’s eye lit up.  “Then it must be another sort of charm!”

Minion’s Coin

These coins are predominantly silver and slightly thinker than the usual coin for the region, they have symbols but no mark of value or place of origin noted on them.

Tuesday Magic Item – Villain’s Cloak

Voddick looked around and then raised his hand experimentally before letting it fall.  He leaned closer to Gollaon, “He has enchanted his cloak to blow dramatically even without wind?”

“Well spotted,” nodded Gollaon.  “It is a nice effect is it not?”

“Yes, I suppose so,” Voddick agreed grudgingly.  “Seems a bit of a cheat though.”

“Yes, entirely, that is the point,” said Voddick.  “It is all about attracting attention to the wearer.”

“Seems dangerous.”

“It has defenses too.”,

“Clever,” said Voddick studying the speaker even more carefully.

Villain’s Cloak

These cloaks are usually dark of color, black and crimson being common, and of a dramatic cut.  The fittings are also striking and often decorated with gems and arcane symbols.

Tuesday Magic Item – Restorative Apple

Gollaon pulled out an apple and tossed it to Voddick.  “I will be sad to see these go.”

“It was the only good thing we gained from visiting that place,” said  Voddick after catching the apple.  “I hope the apple groves survive the coming war.”

“Do you think it will be a civil war or an invasion?” asked Gollaon before taking a bite of his apple.

“Perhaps both?  It will be bad no matter what, no empire falls without fire and blood.”

Restorative Apple

A beautiful apple, it keeps fresh for an entire year from being picked (and is good for cooking another season beyond that).

Tuesday Magic Item – Tyrant’s Timepiece

“The King certainly is a nervous fellow,” whispered Voddick.  “Do you think it is negotiating with his former slaves or something else?”

“All tyrants fear for their position,” answered Gollaon also in a whisper.  “And losing a war against his former slaves can not of helped his standing.  I am glad we will be leaving soon.”

“Civil war?”

“Or bloody repression, either one, I have no wish to be involved in.”

Tyrant’s Timepiece

These time pieces, usually pocket watches, are of the very finest make, fit for a king one might say.  The are often decorated with the coat of arms or other symbols of the person it was made for.

Tuesday Magic Item – Sword of Fiery Ambition

“That noble does lead an impressive charge, what with the flaming sword and all,” said Voddick, patiently recocking his crossbow.

“Truth.  I do not fault our enemy bravery but they have chosen an ill cause to champion,” answered Gollaon lining up a shot with his bow.

“I almost regret that we have to kill him.”

“As do I but such is war,” said Gollaon releasing the arrow.

Sword of Fiery Ambition

These swords are always made for battle, they may be decorated but at their base, they are weapons of war.  The blade are often decorated with a flame pattern either through manufacture or by etching or inlay.  The hilts are usually wrapped with heat resistant material.

It is a +1 flaming sword that provides the wielder a +1 enhancement bonus to Charisma, however, as the wielder leads soldiers and wins victories in battle, they gain additional abilities.

• After winning two battles, the bonuses go up to +2 and the wielder gains 2d6 temporary hit points when leading a charge of at least ten combatants lasting until the end of the battle.
• After winning four battles, the bonuses go up to +3 and all combatants lead by the wielder gain a +1 morale bonus to attack and to saves against Fear.
• After winning eight battles, the bonuses go up to +4, the temporary hit points gained when leading a charge go up to 6d6 and all combatants following them on the charge gain 2d6 temporary hit points for the same duration.
• Lastly, after winning sixteen battles, the bonuses go up to +5 and the wielder gains DR 5/magic during a field battle.

However, all of these bonuses (even the base +1) are lost if the wielder ever abandons their troops or flees the battlefield, a fighting retreat is acceptable but flight is not.  The wielder must win another battle to restore it to its base bonus and start rebuilding victories from there.

A battle for the purpose of this sword requires there to be at least one hundred combatants on either side and a reasonable chance of defeat for either side.

Aura strong abjuration and enchantment; CL 13th
Slot none; Price 75,000 + cost of the sword; Weight by sword
Construction Requirements
Craft Magic Arms and Armor, bestow curse, eagle’s splendor, greater heroism, stoneskin; Cost 37,500 + cost of the sword

For D&D 5E:

Weapon (sword), very rare (requires attunement)

First paragraph as above.

It is a sword that provides the wielder +1 to attack and damage rolls, you can use a bonus action to speak this magic sword’s command word, causing flames to erupt from the blade. These flames shed bright light in a 40-foot radius and dim light for an additional 40 feet. While the sword is ablaze, it deals an extra 1d8 fire damage to any target it hits. The flames last until you use a bonus action to speak the command word again or until you drop or sheathe the sword.  Additionally, the wielder’s Charisma score is 15 while you wield this sword (it have no effect on you if your Charisma is already 15 or higher).

• After winning two battles, the sword’s bonus go up to +2, the wielder’s Charisma to 16, and the wielder gains 2d6 temporary hit points when leading a charge of at least ten combatants lasting until the end of the battle.
• After winning four battles, the sword’s bonus go up to +3, the wielder’s Charisma to 17 and all combatants lead by the wielder gain a +1 to attack rolls and to saving throws against Fear.
• After winning eight battles, the sword’s bonus go up to +4, the wielder’s Charisma to 18, the temporary hit points gained when leading a charge go up to 6d6 and all combatants following them on the charge gain 2d6 temporary hit points for the same duration.
• Lastly, after winning sixteen battles, the sword’s bonus go up to +2, the wielder’s Charisma to 19 and the wielder gains resistance to non-magical bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage during a field battle.

However, all of these bonuses (even the base +1) are lost if the wielder ever abandons their troops or flees the battlefield, a fighting retreat is acceptable but flight is not.  The wielder must win another battle to restore it to its base bonus and start rebuilding victories from there.

A battle for the purpose of this sword requires there to be at least one hundred combatants on either side and a reasonable chance of defeat for either side.

Notes: Military success is one of the classic ways for people to build a power base, this sword is designed to enhance that road to power.  But you have to be willing to fight to really get the best of the magic of the sword and never run from battle, no matter how hopeless the fight is.

Photo “Flaming sword” by quinn.anya is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

Tuesday Magic Item – Clarion Sound of Freedom

Gollaon looked out over the assembled ranks and smiled.  “Now this is an army pleased and honored to stand with.”

Voddick finished cocking and loading his crossbow.  “I agree.  There is a certain pleasure to taking the fight to slavers.  Especially with an army of freedmen and women to bring the point home.”

“The slaveholder will not surrender their position easily, so we will have to pull them down.”

“I think we can do that,” said Voddick with a grim smile.

Clarion Sound of Freedom

These horns have only a very few commonalities between them, some of the metal fitting are made from slave chains melted down, carrying straps are often woven from the locks of hair of freed slaves but they come in a variety of styles.