Marketplace of Magic: Sindabras Weapons

Today I've got an article from the Grognard that was the first in the Marketplace of Magic series, meant to parallel the Bazaar of the Bizarre, which deals specifically with a magical material known as Sindabras or elf-silver. Yes, it is unique to the 10th Age but only because I put it there. Anyone can use it for any reason in their settings; there's not even much to divorce from it, as I think most of these items would make good generics.

After the cut you shall find Hamish Letterfriend's article on elf-silver and several elf-silver weapons!


Sindabras, the elf-silver
Hamish Letterfriend
 
I was beneath the eaves of the Silversong Forest being treated to a fine luncheon by the ever-gracious Green Wizards when I first came upon a sindabras weapon. I was much younger then than I am now, and I hadn’t seen as much of the world. One of the great elf-mages who was treating me (I believe it was Silaferandaryn the Enchanter) wore a silver sword at his belt. Having heard of elf-silver but never before seen it, I asked if he could show it to me. The blade glimmered strangely in the light and I marveled at its beauty. Like all elven weapons, the blade had been made in fantastic imitation of natural forms; its hilt was fashioned in the form of a pair of fallen leaves, its long blade the gently curving branch of a tree-bough.

But the blade itself was interesting beyond its mere craftsmanship, though I must say elvish work has always impressed me at least as much as dwarvish. Indeed, where I think of dwarvish work as a fine stew, elven crafts are more like fruity wines: light and airy, but no less wonderful for that. I asked the assembled Wizards about the weapon and they mentioned merely that it was sindabras, elf-silver, which by its very nature meant that it was enchanted.

Since first seeing one, I have encountered many sindabras-crafted items. I have studied a few of them in detail and, while I do not have time or space to write a treatise on exactly the magical theory I observed in action, I can describe some of them to you.

Simple Sindabras Weapon. Sindabras blades are enchanted by merit of their composition. Without any further preparation, any weapon made of sindabras is a +1 weapon with all attendant bonuses implied.

Sword of Parrying. These sindabras weapons are enchanted to find and block incoming attacks. Most of these weapons are narrow-bladed scimitars of some sort or other (as elves prefer this type of sword). Normally found as a +1 weapon, a sword of parrying also provides an AC bonus commensurate with its weapon bonus; hence, a sword of parrying +1 provides a -1 AC bonus to its wielder. It is rare, but not impossible, to find swords of parrying that are of a differing bonus.

Keening Scimitar. These sindabras weapons are layered with a series of enchantments that are quite difficult to perform and may easily be fouled during their forging. For this (and other) reasons, they are fairly rare. The keening scimitar has the appearance of a normal elvish blade save that the crossguard or pommel is often shaped in the form of an elf with long flowing hair and an open mouth. A keening scimitar produces a sharp and lonesome wail when swung in anger. Keening Scimitars are generally of +2 enchantment. The weapon begins keening after the first round of combat in which it makes contact. Weak-willed creatures may be frightened by the sound and the DM may deem it appropriate that they immediately make a morale check. For every round thereafter, any foes the wielder of the keening scimitar is directly facing in combat must make a save vs. petrification or become fascinated and horrified by the sound for as long as it lasts. Fascinated characters receive no dexterity bonus to their AC and suffer a -2 penalty to strike the wielder of the scimitar.

This is a charming effect and those with immunities or resistance to charm (undead, elves, etc.) react accordingly.

Talifer’s Falcata. The first of these weapons was created by the elvish god of war and fools after a great battle. During the Tailimisiän War of the Succession a bloody battle was fought between two contenders for the wind elvish throne upon the ford of the great River Wenning. The original falchion was wielded by the brave, noble, and extremely foolhardy elvish knight Teyaron: when he fell defending his lord during an ill-conceived charge, his blade was blessed by the hand of Talifer himself as a reminder of the achievements of bravery. Teyaron’s lord eventually become Hierophant of the kingdom of Tailimisiä.

Talifer’s Falcata may be designed with different decoration than the original (which was engraved with blessings of battle, the sun, healing, and slaying and which had a large star sapphire as its pommel stone) but they are all mechanically similar. Some might call Talifer’s Falcata cursed, for the wielder of such a weapon will become temporarily inured to the physical harm they are suffering!

When a character picks up one of Talifer’s Falcata they must always use it in melee, just like a cursed weapon. As long as they are using it, the DM must keep track of their hit points for them so they never know how close they are to death. However, the Falcata does provide some benefits: These are all +1 weapons, but they deal +3 extra damage in melee. Additionally, their bonus increases to +4 (and +7 damage) whenever their wielder drops below 1/2 of his maximum HP.

Wielder’s of Talifer’s Falcata can not voluntarily withdraw from battle while they can still stand; when the weapon’s bonus increases to +4, their AC also increases in a 2 point penalty as the blade roots them to the spot. Any knockdown rolls or attempts made against them allow them to make a CON check to avoid falling over with a bonus equal to the weapon’s enchantment (+4).