Soul SwordParagon Level

This artifact is a flawlessly crafted, weighty two-handed weapon that shines with its own internal light. The opal pommel stone shines or grows dull depending on the sword's mood.

The Soul Sword is a +4 greatsword with the following properties and powers.

Properties

• You gain a +1 item bonus to Athletics checks, Insight checks, and Religion checks.
• You gain a +1 item bonus to attack rolls and damage rolls against undead creatures.
• The Sword grants you immunity to fear effects and resist 10 necrotic.
• When making an attack roll using a power granted by the Sword, you can apply the modifier of your highest ability score instead of the modifier normally used by the power.

Power ✦ At-Will (Standard Action)

You can use holy strike (paladin 1).

Power ✦ Encounter (Standard Action)

You can use divine reverence (paladin 7), applying the Sword's enhancement bonus as if the Sword were a holy symbol.

Power ✦ Daily (Standard Action)

You can use hand of the gods (paladin 17), applying the Sword's enhancement bonus as if the Sword were a holy symbol.

Thousands of years ago, the empire of Kortaja stood as a beacon of the divine. Toward the end of that civilization, the glass citadel and its deific armies were besieged by primordial forces. Kortaja's secret weapon was a set of seven fabled swords forged by the dwarf kings and wielded by the empire's seven greatest generals. In the last battle, six of the seven swords were shattered by the blast from a magic, primordial trumpet. The seventh weapon was lost in time. Deific servants have been searching for it for millennia.

Goals of the Soul Sword

• Destroy all undead.
• Challenge deviousness wherever encountered.
• Find remnants of ancient Kortaja. This activity includes but is not limited to repairing lost artifacts, searching out ancient dragons who knew of the empire, and excavating ruins.

Roleplaying the Soul Sword

The Soul Sword communicates telepathically with its wielder, expressing its desires calmly and respectfully. It makes clear that it will defy and counter inappropriate behavior on the part of its owner. The Sword is happy if the goals of its wielder lead toward challenging deceit, especially that caused by undead creatures, and searching for remnants of Kortaja. It is obsessive about this, but does not push hard unless its wielder is being negligent.

Concordance

Pleased (16-20)

"I bear the instrument of the primordials' destruction."The Soul Sword is pleased with its wielder—for the time being. It focuses on countering duplicity and searching for Kortajan remnants.

Properties

• The Sword's item bonus to Athletics checks, Insight checks, and Religion checks increases to +5.
• The Sword's item bonus to attack rolls and damage rolls against undead increases to +3.
• You take a -5 penalty to Bluff checks, Stealth checks, and Thievery checks. This penalty applies whether you are using or even holding the Soul Sword.

Satisfied (12–15)

"I am fulfilling something begun ages ago."The Soul Sword is satisfied enough with its wielder, but improvement is possible and desirable.

Properties

• The Sword's item bonus to Athletics checks, Insight checks, and Religion checks increases to +2.
• You take a -2 penalty to Bluff checks, Stealth checks, and Thievery checks. This penalty applies whether you are using or even holding the Soul Sword.

Normal (5–11)

"I sense that I have a greater purpose."When the Sword first comes in contact with the wielder, it is extremely communicative, friendly, and forthright. It is happy to explain its history, without dissembling or omission.

Unsatisfied (1–4)

"The Sword has a mind of its own."The Soul Sword believes its wielder has little chance of achieving its goals. It implores the owner to consider relinquishing the artifact.

Special: Once per day at any time, the Sword can try to take control of your body. It makes a special attack against your Will, rolling 1d20 + your level. If this attack hits, you are dominated until you save. This attack is possible whether you are using or even holding the Soul Sword.The Sword typically attempts to take control to warn its owner about deviance from proper behavior. It also tries to take control if the wielder ignores an opportunity to strike out against duplicity or uncover information about Kortaja.

Property

You take a -2 penalty to Bluff checks, Stealth checks, and Thievery checks. This penalty applies whether you are using or even holding the Soul Sword.

Angered (0 or lower)

"I can hardly bear the touch of this weapon!"The Soul Sword is completely frustrated by its owner and desperately seeks a new one.

Special: Once per day at any time, the Sword can try to take control of your body. It makes a special attack against your Will, rolling 1d20 + your level. If this attack hits, you are dominated until you save. This attack is possible whether you are using or even holding the Soul Sword.

Special: Each time you roll initiative, a 25% chance exists that the Sword refuses to perform any attacks for the encounter.

Special: The Sword importunes any of your allies it feels would be better owners. It might solicit strangers as well.

Property

You take a -5 penalty to Bluff checks, Stealth checks, and Thievery checks. This penalty applies whether you are using or even holding the Soul Sword.

Moving On

"It is time for the Sword to work to elevate another."The Soul Sword transforms the wielder into a Kortajan war hero, complete with the Kortajan military uniform, grooming, and mannerisms. The character has the knowledge of Kortajan generals and knows secrets of ancient Kortaja. Upon advancing to a new level, the possessor gains a +2 bonus to a single ability score and +2 bonus to any of two knowledge skills. The Sword disappears, seeking the next hero to elevate.If the Sword moves on because it is displeased, the former owner takes a permanent -1 penalty to Athletics checks, Endurance checks, and Insight checks.

Published in Open Grave.