Unexplored Worlds: The Blade of Veracity

• The Blade of Veracity is an unadorned steel short sword with a curved cross guard and leather-bound grip. The pommel is a clean steel cube with rounded edges with the only markings being two sets of initials stamped into the bottom of the cube. The weapon fells lighter than a comparable short sword although any scale would show they are of matched weights. The edge feels slightly dull and will not easily cut one's skin.


• The sword gets its name because of its intended purpose. When the blade is held against exposed skin, the target is forced to answer any question posed to him or her by the wielder. The target has a difficult chance to resist this compulsion, though the chance goes up to highly difficult if the blade is held again the target's throat. If the wielder stabs the target and holds the blade inside the victim's body, it is impossible for the target to resist questioning.


• Nearly four hundred years old, the blade was forged by a pair of brothers, one a master smith, the other a powerful wizard. The two had a strained relationship at that point. The wizard has grown in power over time and made many enemies. The smith, having grown disillusioned with his brother's battles, had gone in seclusion to perfect his craft. After several years, the wizard tracked his brother down and asked for one final boon, that he craft this one final weapon. The smith agreed and the two worked together to craft the sword. Neither spoke the entire time. When the sword was completed, the two parted ways never saw one another again.


• The Blade of Veracity confers a ten percent bonus to attack rolls, though not to damage. Instead, if the blade strikes a supernatural foe who's nature is to deceive or spread falsehoods, it causes double damage on a successful attack. If the creature is aware of the blade's powers, it may cower or flee at the sight of its antithesis.


• Unexplored Worlds is my attempt to design an RPG campaign in the open. Since I have not rolled a d20 in anger in many years, this is my way to keep playing without actually playing. All posts are written to be system-agnostic, so please use whatever keeps your interest in your own games. Just let me know how it goes!

---

© 2010 Marty Runyon. All rights reserved.