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About Birds Of Prey
The sword presently known as Birds of Prey is a battered longsword of uncertain origin; its blade is blackened as with fire, the hilt is in bad need of reforging and many empty divots have been left where gems once sat. The blade is composed of an impossible composite alloy of Abyssal green steel, cold iron, silver and adamantine.
There is a faint etching, like a maker's mark, on the blade: a nine-pointed star.
Properties
Birds of Prey acts as a +1 longsword that halves any damage resistance that it is wielded against: its patchwork nature carries something fatal to every creature.
(Fractions are rounded down, as typical)
Personalities
Birds of Prey has four distinct personalities, each named for a bird native to the Prime Material Plane and the Outlands. While on the Outlands, the Prime or any plane with no alignment descriptor (including such planar byways as the Infinite Staircase) the personalities clash because of the plane's neutral nature and no benefits or penalties are applied. However, when on an alignment-dominant plane, one of the four personalities will seize greater control over the others and grant the bearer a bonus and penalty to skill checks as it offers it's "guidance".
Eagle- Forthright, honest and courageous. Eagle is dominant on Good aligned planes. Eagle grants a +2 bonus on Diplomacy and Perception checks and a -2 penalty on Stealth and Bluff checks. Eagle disdains cowards and liars and places value on gathering true allies, remaining alert and facing obstacles head-on.
Sparrow- Capricious, mercurial and impetuous. Sparrow is dominant on Chaos aligned planes. Sparrow grants a +2 bonus on Bluff and Sleight of Hand checks and a -2 penalty on Perception and Sense Motive checks. Sparrow loves shiny things and will exhort its wielder to reach their goals through underhanded and "exciting" means. Its warbling voice and reliance on chance, however, makes it difficult for its wielder to separate truths from lies and to trust their own senses.
Owl- Stern, knowledgeable and didactic. Owl is dominant on Law aligned planes. Owl grants a +2 bonus on all Knowledge skills and Linguistics checks and a -2 penalty to Diplomacy, Intimidate and Bluff checks. Owl is wise and well-travelled and will share its knowledge with its wielder. However, it is a solitary bird and is more used to watching others than influencing their decisions through speech or guile.
Crow- Murderous, cruel and impulsive. Crow is dominant on Evil aligned planes. Crow grants a +2 bonus on Intimidate and Survival checks and a -2 penalty on Diplomacy and Heal checks. Crow delights in shedding blood and coming out on top but considers gentle ministrations and diplomatic discussion tools for the weak.
There is also a fifth voice, a combination of all four, which occasionally speaks on Unaligned planes. Its identity and goals, however, are not clear.
(When a plane has two alignment descriptors, both bonuses are halved and applied; for example, on a Chaotic and Evil plane like the Abyss, Crow and Sparrow fight for dominance and the wielder of Birds of Prey receives a +1 bonus on Intimidate, Survival, Bluff and Sleight of Hand and a -1 penalty on Diplomacy, Heal, Perception and Sense Motive checks.)
There is one constant element to the blade: it considers itself a weapon for heroes (though what constitutes a hero is currently under debate within the sword itself) and can remember little of its "life" beyond the present. It has hinted at other abilities, though it has managed to suppress them until its wielder proves a certain level of proficiency.
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