Shard of Deluge
Long sword built from storm sword shard. Empowered with the force of storm-water.
Full Item Description
This blade and tang are constructed from a single long shard. The blade is irregular in shape, with grooves along the edges, and variable width along the blade (The forte is thick, the Foible is thick, in between is thinner). There is a wide and deep fuller along both sides of the blade, which is not a straight line, but a gentle curve. The two fullers are asymetrical.
The grip is brown leather strips wrapped around the tang. It is always soaked, and can never be dried. Fixed to the grip is the pummel, which is modeled after a sea conch, and made of gold. The quillions of the blade are elegantly carved snails of gold, and the Ricasso of the blade has a intricate Annellet of gold. The annellet is constructed of loopings of gold.
(You can find out what these sword parts mean here: http://www.historicalweapons.com/swordparts.html)
History
The descent of this shard, after the sundering, rested it along the shores of an ancient lake, the exact name and location have been lost into time. It is known that the shard was found, by elves, and became a matter of contention among the elven people. This shard had the gift of water.
After being struck with sufficient force, or during times of storm, the shard would pour water in a great deluge. Its fullers would fill, the water would run and large puddles would form with each blow.
After the splitting of the elves, and the creation the hated drow, the knowledge of the shards was not forgotten. The drow sought the shard and attained it. It is not known how long the shard remained in the underdark, but it became a source of life to the drow. With its powers the deep unclean places, where the water is fetid and wrong, could be settled.
It is thought that the shard was forged into a blade by a drow Matriarch, who wielded the blade - symbolically and paradoxially, life and death in one woman's hands.
But all empires fall, and in the great battles the disperesed the drow finally and forever into the furthest reaches of the underdark the sword was recovered to the surface world. Once on the surface its history is hazy; lost and found, traded and sold - in the large human inhabitants where clean water is ample the sword is a novelty. It has passed undocumented through the hands of many people.
Magic/Cursed Properties
The sword is always wet to the touch, and dripping of water. In times of storm the output increases, till the sword is pouring drinkable water. On impact the sword releases a burst of water. The amount of water is so great that when wielded as a weapon, and planted harshly into the body of an opponent, the quantity of water will dilute blood and rearrange tissue. Its possible to drown a man by stabbing into the chest or mouth.
First Official Quest 12 week long quest with 10XP award per post. To get things really started here on new Strolen's I dug into the archives and recovered Siren no Orakio's old request for fresh ideas on the Shards of the Storm. The quest is as follows: What non-weapon can you make of the Shards of the Storm? Who among us can craft the most ingenious idea spawned from Siren's old masterpiece? Originally posted by Siren no Orakio:
Some time ago, I posted up the Shards of the Storm. In essence, they are fragments of a goddess's essense, containing a piece of the driven fury of the concept of the Storm. Much of their purpose, from a GMing point of view, is to provide a common thread for items of power. So? So, so far I have only been able to come up with two not-weapon items to make out of these, and I'd like to see what better minds than mine can do with them.
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? Responses (16)
What a logical and useful application of a Shard.
Also an amusing effect of splashing the enemy with lots of water with each sword-hit (watch out, slippery ground...), but in an intensive fight both combatants will be soon completely soaked, making them tired and cold.
The historical bit is also fine (except for the drow, know there is little love for them in these parts), and it shows that a quirky item in one place is a blessing of the gods in another one. Anyone tried to bring it into a desert, btw?
All in all, I like it. Bonus for a solid first submission.
Welcome, wildcorn.
Hey manfred,
Were I running a campaign I would try to keep the sword away from the desert. Its too useful there. However it might make a good plot focus for a desert campaign. A tale of three cities fighting for control of the sword they just stole from your party.
Now this is a wonderful first submission-a sword that spurts water. Really useful in deserts-noone will die of thirst whilst they have this sword.Extra deadly (although to both sides in the fight) in artic regions and in confined spaces.I hope all your submissions turn out as good as this.You've earned an HOH point allready. By the way, most people here really HATE the drow.
Well, it isn't allowed as a Quest submission, since it's a weapon, but it works. Not an incredibly original application of powers... Many swords in Ix. ;) Ooh, totally oblique reference, who can tell me where it's from?!
I like the power. The history is adequate, simplistic. I hate to beat a dead horse, but avoid the drow.
3/5.
A nice first set of submissions.
And yes the drow are a topic for difficult conversation here at best.
Once again this has a set of unique affects that you do not see everyday. However, I find it very difficult to see a delluge of water to erupt from a blade while in combat. It would, in effect, nearly finish the combat on the firest swing and it would be near impossible to continue. From the explanation of how it works. I may be reading far to much into it however.
It is still a good item none-the-less.
'I will not beat a dead horse, I will not beat a dead horse'
Other than that good job, I've managed to set aside my annoyance with races that exist only to slaughter/be slaughtered and given you what I would've given you anyway. Good Job.
I think it is an interesting piece. The concept if good, the history seems a bit wonky... and yes, I hate drow. But still a very interesting piece.
Oh my god, there's a dead horse in the street and people are still beating it!
That is actually funny!
I suppose I've learned my lesson:
If you want many many responses quickly, mention the drow. If you want a nemesis: glorify them.
Actually though, the only reason I took drow over duegar or dwarves is because in my last adventure the DM had us traverse a mountain range via a secret underdark tunnel. Drow were on my mind.
There is nothing wrong with it wildcorn... the most famous of all Strolen submissions is about a Drow Paladin names Drizzt. It's classic.
Oh, god, don't even mention it... It's liking saying Bloody Mary, it brings it back to life.
LOL-if you speak of this demon it appears.
Despite the love for drow, this remains fairly good.
With or without the silly demonizing of Drow, it is still good. It is not hard to remap the race since it plays little part in the nature of the item.
