¶ Abilities:
¶ Soul Searing Cut:
Each strike of the Soulcleaver is imbued with the ability to sense and penetrate the essence of enemies struck. It seems as if the blade not only cuts through the body, but also captures the aura and essence of the soul. The weapon does not draw directly from the souls, but gathers their memories, emotions and strength.
¶ Consequence of the action:
When the bearer of the Soulcleaver makes a successful attack with the weapon, the soul of the opponent struck is touched and penetrated. This allows the wearer to gain insight into the thoughts and emotions of the enemy during combat, which could grant tactical advantages and a bonus to the next attack.
¶ Soul-strengthening bond:
The Soulcleaver strengthens the bond between the bearer and the weapon with each battle. The more souls it penetrates, the more powerful the bond between the wielder and the Odachi becomes. This allows the samurai to use the accumulated memories and experiences of fallen enemies to improve his own fighting prowess and gain tactical advantages.
¶ Consequence of the action:
With each battle and each soul that the Soulcleaver penetrates, the bond between the samurai and the weapon is strengthened. This allows the wielder to develop a certain resilience against psychic attacks and spells aimed at influencing or controlling the mind. The bonus becomes stronger with increasing experience and the number of souls collected.
¶ Spiritual Resistance:
The Soulcleaver appears to possess some intelligence of its own and is able to protect the spirit of its wielder. It can fend off the attacks of ghostly beings and has a special resistance to dark magic and influencing effects.
¶ Consequence of the action:
The Soulcleaver grants the samurai increased defence against ghostly and undead enemies. If the wearer is hit by attacks from such creatures, the Blade of Odachi will activate a protective spell to reduce the damage or ward off the negative effects.
¶ Soul Binding Inheritance:
The Soulcleaver retains the memories and essence of the souls it has severed. When the current bearer dies, this stored essence will flow back into the Odachi and merge with the soul of the new bearer. In this way, the power and history of the weapon is passed down from generation to generation, and each bearer can access the wisdom and strength of the past.
¶ Consequence of the action:
When the current bearer of the Soulcleaver dies, the essence of the collected souls is stored in the Odachi. When the next samurai takes over the Soulcleaver, he will not only inherit the strength of the previous bearers, but also develop a deeper connection to the weapon. This can manifest itself in increased fighting skills and a deeper understanding of the history and power of the Odachi.
¶ Stats:
- Attack Bonus: +5 (This bonus is added to attack rolls made with the Soulcleaver).
- Damage: 2d10 + DEX modifier (or other appropriate modifier, depending on DND edition and character traits)
- Critical Hit: On a natural 20 on the die, the Soulcleaver deals double damage and allows the wearer to pierce an additional soul, giving them an additional bonus to their next attack.
- Special Characteristics: The Soulcleaver cannot be affected by normal rust or decay, and its blade always remains sharp and undamaged, regardless of the circumstances.
Length: 5 feet (150 cm) Weight: 12 lbs (5.4 kg)
¶ Lore:
Eons ago, a mighty sword was forged to serve as an instrument of execution for the most dangerous criminals. Generation after generation it was passed down to judge the corrupt, and with each deadly cut it pierced not only flesh and bone, but also the essence of lost souls.
But with time and ill use, the sword changed. The sinister shadows of the condemned seemed to penetrate the blade, and a gruesome, ghostly aura enveloped it. No one could ignore the dark secret of the Sword of Souls, for it was notorious as a weapon of retribution and suffering.
The sword changed hands from one merciless warrior to the next, and everyone who wielded it was haunted by the souls of the condemned. The visions of the suffering tormented them, and their own darkness was intensified as the sword fed on the torment of the deceased.
The bearers of the Sword of Souls were forced to fight their own despair and corruption to avoid being devoured by the souls trapped in the blade.The incessant thirst for vengeance and the dark impulses of the sword threatened to corrode their souls.
The history of the sword was marked by blood and horror, by countless lives ended by its sharp blade. The legends told of tragic fates, of those who could not resist the sword's spell and fell into an abyss of madness and despair.
One day, the Sword of Souls disappeared without a trace and its dark legacy seemed to be lost forever. Some believed it was buried in the depths of a long-forgotten pit, while others rumoured that it had found a new, hidden master.
But the legend of the cruel Sword of Souls endured through the centuries, and those who knew the dark tales feared its return. For they knew that such a weapon never truly disappeared, but only waited to devour the souls of its enemies once more and shroud the world in darkness.