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I've actually been working on write ups for these swords as I am running the Seven Swords of Sin module and would like more information than what is presented in the module. I've created write ups for two other swords, and modified Asheia to make it somewhat equal in power to the other swords.
Minor Artifact
Aura Strong transmutation; CL 16th
Slot —; Weight 25 lb.
Of the Seven Blades of Conviction wielded by the runelords’ champions, weapons known as the Alara’hai to the Thassilonians, the sword of greed was the most extravagant, for it was made of magically hardened gold, tempered to the strength of adamantine yet retaining its luster. Although made of gold, Chellan functions as an adamantine weapon for purposes of overcoming damage reduction and bypassing hardness. Chellan is a +5 keen scimitar, and its dense weight allows it to damage foes as if it were one size category larger than its actual size. It can be properly wielded only by characters with a Strength of 18 or higher—all other characters must either wield it as a two-handed weapon or take a –2 penalty on attack rolls with the weapon. Whenever Chellan strikes a foe, the target must make a
DC 20 Fortitude save or be slowed as the spell (CL 16th). If the sword instead scores a critical hit, the target must make a DC 25 Fortitude save or be turned into a crystalline statue, as if by flesh to stone. Characters turned to crystal by Chellan appear to be made of ruby, diamond, or some other valuable gem, but are in fact merely colored quartz of little value to the looter.
Minor Artifact
Aura Strong enchantment; CL 16th
Slot —; Price —
This beautiful blade is a +5 flaming burst longsword. Whenever it strikes an opponent, the target must make a DC 20 Will save or fall under the effects of a charm monster, treating you as a close friend. Only one creature can be charmed in this way at a time. If another
creature becomes charmed by the sword, the first is freed from this effect. If the sword instead scores a critical hit, the target must make a DC 25 Will save or be affected by a dominate monster, obeying your every command.
I bumped up Asheia a little bit because Chellan was so much more powerful than Asheia, but I attributed this to Karzoug being awake and in power. I think until someone can master the swords, the are reduced in power, and the one wielded by Tiranna is not at full strength.
Minor Artifact
Aura Strong ; CL 16th
Slot --; Price --
This exquisitely beautiful +5 wounding mithril rapier is arguably the most flamboyant of all the Alara’hai. Those who wielded Baraket were known for their boastful feats of skill and bravery, and for their vengeance should one usurp their boasts. Any who wield Baraket may Feint as a swift action and treat their Bluff and Intimidate ranks as equal to their hit die. In addition, Baraket despises those that strike the one wielding it, and imposes upon the wielder a +1 morale bonus to hit and damage for each strike made by an opponent. For example, if a single enemy were to strike the wielder of Baraket 3 times, the wielder would have a +3 morale bonus to hit and damage against that single enemy. However, the morale bonus is reduced by each strike the wielder inflicts upon the enemy. For example, if the wielder had been struck three times, in his retuning blows, his first strike would have a +3 morale bonus, while his second would have a +2 bonus and third would have a +1 bonus.
Minor Artifact
Aura Strong necromancy and transmutation ; CL 16th
Slot --; Price --
This +5 vicious greatsword is terrifying in its appearance. Forged out of some unknown metal, Garvok, is heavier than it appears and deals damage as if it were one size category larger. Those who wield Garvok are treated as undead for the purposes of the negative energy dealt by the sword, and are in fact healed by it, though not negative energy dealt from other sources. From all other sources negative and positive energy, one who wields Garvok is still treated as normal. Garvok is very potent at destroying those that resist damage and treats all damage resistance and hardness as 10 points less than normal. However, those who wield Garvok face a constant struggle between their self-control and the ever-present rage burning within the sword. Any who draw Garvok out of it’s sheathe must immediately make a DC 20 Will save or fall pretty to the rage within the sword. Those who fail their save gain a +4 enhancement bonus to Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution, a +4 natural armor bonus, a +5 competence bonus on Fortitude saves, and they treat their base attack bonus as equal to their hit die. However, those affected by the Garvok’s rage lose any ability to cast spells, even from magical items, and stop thinking logically or rationally. They become focused on destroying anything in their path and will seek their destruction at all costs, be it charging head-on into a group of foes with no regards to safety or tactics, or falling prey to obvious tricks or ploys. The effects of Garvok’s rage lasts for 1 minute, at which point the wielder is exhausted for 10 minutes. After the wielder of Garvok has recovered from the exhaustion, they must make another save or be affected by the rage again if the sword is still drawn.
I haven't quite decided where to go with the other three swords, though I do have some ideas.
If you have any ideas yourself, post them and maybe we can come up with some good ideas for the other 5 Swords of Sin.
I'm in no way an expert on design or balance. But as far as basic ideas...
I'd add an effect to Tannaris's aura that would make targets under its affect attempt to steal / disarm from their ally's every round they're under it
For Ungarato. I'd have it give the wielder a Barghest's feed ability, that also gives some other buffing effect. Like Hero's feast.
And finally for Shin-Tari. I'd add a Crushing Despair effect to its strikes. reflavored as severe apathy. And maybe the ability to cast Waves of Exhaustion 3/day.
And one last thing, I could see Baraket having maybe a once daily use of Repel Metal or Stone. Seems kinda fitting for the sword of pride to be able to be able to force back "unworthy" weapons.
Hope some of these ideas helped.
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There will be significantly more on the Swords of Sin by the end of the year, so keep an eye out.
For now, though, Tels has some great ideas here. I'd steal liberally from there to tide you over.
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Actually, I would have had Garvok's negative energy ability belong to Ungarato. (Gluttony is Necromantic magic)
For Garvok's abilities, I like the idea of treating it as one size category higher, but I would maybe make significant use of the rage/anger and destruction powers. The rage, just in sticking with the pre-existing mechanic, I would make more in line with the Barbarian Rage ability. Maybe to make it a little more interesting, give him an additional +2 to sunder. Or you could say that someone using the blade applies double his Str bonus to damage instead of 1.5.
Tannaris, I would have an ability stealing quality. Maybe a primary ability that changes depending on either the highest ability score, or the class of the opponent. For example, +1 BAB for every 3 BAB of an opponent fighter; +1d6 sneak attack for every 2 dice of sneak attack of an opponent rogue; etc. Perhaps, it allows you to steal an ability from a single opponent once a round as a swift action. This requires the opponent to make a Will save DC say 20 or so, or lose that ability for the round.
Shin-Tari, to me, would have some kind of Dancing ability, or Blade Barrier style ability. Maybe even a Horn of Valhalla type conjuring, and levitation/fly at will.
Covetous Aura, Envious Urge and Healing Thief are all good powers for Envy.
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Sorry its taken me so long to reply my job just sucks. I like your ideas Tels, but i was thinking that the Swords of Sin kept to the Rune Lord school. Like Asheia had strong enchantment and Chellan had strong transmutation. That is what i was thinking but hell im not that great of a item maker so your input is welcome. I'll take all the help you guys can give me.
Sorry its taken me so long to reply my job just sucks. I like your ideas Tels, but i was thinking that the Swords of Sin kept to the Rune Lord school. Like Asheia had strong enchantment and Chellan had strong transmutation. That is what i was thinking but hell im not that great of a item maker so your input is welcome. I'll take all the help you guys can give me.
I had thought about that, but the problem is that, some of the schools don't really have good spells to put on weapons. Granted, Evocation is a great blasting school, however, if I were to have gone with the general theme of the two published weapons, they would have an effect that occurs when it hits, then another more powerful effect, that occurs on a critical.
Chellan has a power that significantly effects the victim in slow, and can 1 hit kill with Flesh to Gems.
Asheia can Charm it's victim, ending the fight, or Dominate them, ending the fight.
For Garvok, I wanted to step away from the template and go with what fits. Initially, I had tried to make it fit, but the problem is, there really isn't any Evocation spells that would make sense and fit the template. Both Slow and Charm Monster are in the 3-4 spell range, with Flesh to Stone being 6, and Dominate Monster being 9th. I tried looking for parallels and nothing really fit for a weapon. Fireball? Wall of Fire? Lightning Bolt? Fire Shield may work, but it doesn't really fit the theme. As for the crit ability, which extends from 6th to 9th level spells, we have a lot of options, and since the Swords were created with the Core Rule Book spells, we should limit ourselves to those as well. Not only are we trying to use Evocation, at this point, but we are also trying to stick to the theme of the Runelord of Wrath. Alaznist, consorted with demons, but the pure veneration of anger and wrath was most important to her. So, trying to fit Evocation spells to that theme, we come up short. Nothing really fits, though Mage's Sword would help with increasing the combat ability of the sword. So I broadened my search to spells that manipulate emotions or invoke feelings of hatred, rage, and destruction. Transformation fit that theme perfectly. Vicious also fit the theme of the sword, though that could easily be changed to an on strike, the victim must make a DC 20 Will save or be affected as per the Rage spell. However, the other two swords have the potential to end the fight in one blow, and there isn't a very good spell that it can mimic without copying the previous two swords, or really breaking into other schools. So we come with the Large weapon damage, which was already done by Chellan, however, the Sword also treats DR and Hardness as 10 points less, so if someone DOES have access to Stoneskin, it won't really matter. So now Garvok is balanced in appreciable power compared to Asheia and Chellan.
Now, a similar thought process went through my head when designing Baraket, except focusing on the superiority of the sword and whomever wields it. Now, conventional perception says people who uses Rapiers are often roguish type characters, that cause women to swoon, duel with a laugh and smile, and generally charismatic swordsmen of unparalleled skill. I tried to make a sword that would fit a musketeer of legend, with the idea a Duelist or a Rogue would be the most boastful people, possibly a Bard as well. Now, with a Rogue in mind, how would a sword help a Rogue most? By allowing him to sneak attack in a 1v1 fight. Therefore, Feint as a swift action. Now that is a very powerful ability as, suddenly, the Rogue can dish out as much damage in one round as a decked out fighter. However, the sword is an artifact. Now, growing up in school tells me that whenever one boy claims he did something, the next boy is going to try and one-up his claim. I applied this to the sword as well. Baraket could easily have an ego score, and be convinced it is the most superior being in existence. With the exception to Xanderghul, Runelord of Pride, of course. Therefore we come up with the 'hit me, I kill you' property and we have the sword. At the same time, I felt Baraket was a little lacking in real killing potential when I compare it to Chellan and Asheia as they both have the potential to end the fight in one blow. So I toss on the wounding property. Suddenly things are on an even footing.
As for the other swords, I'd only really started in on the theme behind the swords and have only poked around into their design as RL has ever been my nemesis. Now, Envy makes me think of Jealousy and people praising the sword for it's beauty, skill, etc. etc.. So I thought of the Fascination Aura which would allow the wielder to walk down the street and have the people fall to their knees in praise of Tannaris and her (yes, her) bearer. However, Belimarius was an Abjurer, so now I have to poke around into good Abjuration abilities for the sword, first, before going on from there. However none of the Abjurations have really struck my fancy, so nothing concrete on this sword.
Anyway, now you can see my thought process on the swords, and why I did what I did. I'm still working on the other three, and hope to come up with some ides sometime soon. Though, no promises. When it comes time for me to actually explain what these swords do, I may have to end up winging it, or saying, "You have no idea".
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As for the other swords, I'd only really started in on the theme behind the swords and have only poked around into their design as RL has ever been my nemesis. Now, Envy makes me think of Jealousy and people praising the sword for it's beauty, skill, etc. etc.. So I thought of the Fascination Aura which would allow the wielder to walk down the street and have the people fall to their knees in praise of Tannaris and her (yes, her) bearer. However, Belimarius was an Abjurer, so now I have to poke around into good Abjuration abilities for the sword, first, before going on from there. However none of the Abjurations have really struck my fancy, so nothing concrete on this sword.
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If it helps... the difference between Jealousy and Envy is ownership of the thing in question.
So you can be jealous when someone else drives your car or hangs out with your girlfriend, but you are envious of someone when they buy a new car or when they snag a Girlfriend HOTTER than yours...This begs the question for Tannaris: does she cause other people to be envious of her? Or is the sword itself envious of others?
For instance have you thought of having the sword steal the abilities of the people it strikes?
So if someone with fire resist 5 or haste fights her, upon a successful hit, she takes that ability/spell away from them and gives it to the wielder, because "it looks better on you anyway" and "you deserve it more"
OR
if the sword is envious of other weapons it could steal thier powers and give them to itself... so fighting someone with a flameburst sword would give Tannaris the flameburst quality.
An Envious person is so because they are insecure with what they have, so having the "Sword of ENVY" mimic and even steal the abilities (especially abjuration powered defensive abilities) of those around her to cover what she thinks she lacks seems to fit the bill, at least in my mind.
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Envy was abjuration, so let the sword have a constant Anti-Magic Shell, can cast Disjunction, and while wielding the sword, the wielder is not affected by the AMS the sword projects.
Her envy was to stop others from getting what they wanted or destroying what they have, so the sword should be similar. Balance is an issue here since AMS and Disjunction are both very powerful, so be cautious.