The Sword of Arak
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This section contains canon info from officially published sources |
Named after its creator and former wielder, Arak the Erlking[1], the Sword of Arak is a powerful artifact and part of the Regalia of Arak[2]. The Sword is a longsword composed of black mithral[1][2][3] and shadowstuff[3][4]; its ivory hilt bears the visage of a keening banshee[1][2][3], purportedly Arak's lover Finngalla[1][2]. Currently it is possessed (and always carried) by Prince Loht[2], the son of Arak and Finngalla.
The Sword of Arak is a symbol of majesty to all of the Arak, and if it is stolen all of their kind will take great effort to see its return. Destroy the artifact (see "Destruction", below) will earn the everlasting hatred of their kind[5].
History
The true origins and history of the Sword is obscure to most everyone save perhaps the shadow fey[3]. Arak the Erlking forged the Sword on the Plane of Shadow[1]. He possessed it for hundreds of years until his destruction[1] at the hands of Gwydion the Sorcerer-Fiend during the escape of the shadow fey through the Obsidian Gate[6]. Arak's daughter and Loht's sister, Maeve, pulled the Sword along with the rest of the Regalia through the Gate before Gwydion could make his own escape[1][6]. Following the liberation of the shadow fey from Gwydion's grip, Prince Loht took possession of the Sword.
During the Grand Conjunction, the Sword of Arak was lostref name="TSR p. 134">The Shadow Rift (Module) p. 134</ref> and remained so for over a decade of time outside of the Shadow Rift (much longer in the temporal fugue of the Rift). It had fallen into the hands of Tristessa, the darklord of Keening. Loht recovered the sword[1] by tricking her into handing over it over in exchange for the Eye of Vhaeraun[7]. The Eye was a powerful magic item of illusion that made Tristessa believe it was her baby[8].
Loht ultimately used the Sword, along with the Regalia of Arak, to open the Obsidian Gate with the hopes of freeing Arak the Erlking. However, Loht had only been manipulated and deceived by Gwydion, whom attempted to escape the Gate. Though this attempt ultimately failed, the encounter left Loht badly maimed and mangled. Although physically quite weakened, Loht continues to carry the Sword of Arak.
Powers
The Sword of Arak is is a powerful magical longsword[3][4]. Under 2nd Edition rules, it acts as a +2 sword of sharpness[3][4][9]. Under 3rd Edition rules, it acts as +2 keen vorpal longsword. Though it normally has an enhancement bonus of only +2, this bonus rises when inside the Shadow Rift[2]. The Sword is capable of harming creatures vulnerable to weapon attacks of much higher enhancement bonuses[2][3][4]. The Sword is especially effective against Gwydion, having been imbued with magic for this purpose when first created[1].
Beyond its melee combat abilities, the Sword also allows its user to cast a number of powerful spells each once per day[2][3][4]. These spells are triggered by command words[2][3][4], each one being one of the Nine Breeds of the Arak[4].
Finally, the Sword also grants darkvision 90 ft[2] (infravision under 2nd Edition rules[3][4]).
Curse
As with the rest of the Regalia, the Sword of Arak carries a powerful curse when wielded by creatures other than the Arak[4][10]. This curse has two parts. The manifestation of this curse depends on whether the sword's user is inside or outside of the Shadow Rift[2]. Inside of the Rift, the user becomes gradually more insubstantial, gradually fading from existence before becoming incorporeal and then meeting oblivion entirely[2]. Outside of the Rift, the Sword's bearer becomes gradually more bestial-minded, with the bearer's physical Ability Scores increasing but mental ability scores decreasing, until the killing resumes[10]. For the purposes of meeting the Sword's requirements, slain creatures must be of at minimum Small size[3] or the equivalent of a sizeable dog[9].
The second part of the Sword's curse is its beguiling nature. Bearers of the Sword become unnaturally preoccupied with the Sword and enter obsessed drives to regain the Sword should it be lost or otherwise taken away[3][4][10].
Destruction
As with the other Regalia, thee Sword of Arak is immune to most conventional means of destruction. Returning it to the Plane of Shadow will causes its magical properties to unravel before the Sword dissolves completely[3][4][10]. Enough exposure to direct sunlight will also destroy the Sword[3][4][10].
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 The Shadow Rift (Module) p. 134
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 Ravenloft Gazetteer V p. 140
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 Servants of Darkness p. 64
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 The Shadow Rift (Module) p. 135
- ↑ The Shadow Rift (Module) p. 134-135
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Ravenloft Gazetteer V p. 152
- ↑ Servants of Darkness p. 51-53
- ↑ Servants of Darkness p. 59
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Realm of Terror (Black Boxed Set) p. 58
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 Ravenloft Gazetteer V p. 141
Data from the Ravenloft Catalogue
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The Shadow Rift - p134 | |
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Realm of Terror - p58 | |
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Realm of Terror - p58 | |
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Sword of Arak, The Sword of Arak |
