Originally posted on the Realms of Evil forums (Womb of Creation), October 13, 2001. The author did not name an edition; it is filed under AD&D 2e by its rules. This is the author's revised version of the sword. Changes the author made later in the thread are applied and listed at the end. Shown as written, with light spelling and formatting fixes only.

Bonuses: See Table 3: Alignment Effect.

Description

The sword of Eternity is a bastard sword with a 4' double edged mythril blade, and a 5" diamond hilt encrusted with a white moonstone at the bottom of the hilt. The sword can be held one or two-handed. While the sword was being forged several spells were cast on it by many different wizards. As a result of the spells being cast on the sword while it was being forged the spells cannot be broken or undone giving the sword strange abilities and magic. A strange quality that the sword also got was that it is as light as a feather allowing any size creature to wield it. Each time the sword passes to a new wielder one new spell can be cast on the sword. The sword permanently gains all the spell properties of the spell cast on it. Any spell can be cast on the sword because it does not have any limits. Since the sword permanently gains the properties of any spell cast on it, it will retain those spell properties when the wielder dies, is killed, or the sword is given to a new wielder. The only danger from the sword is that it keeps gaining in strength and power as it passes from one wielder to another, until it becomes so strong that the sword can only be wielded by a God.

Because the sword is so powerful its abilities and powers are strongly affected by the alignment of a PC: Good, Neutral, or Evil. If a PC is of Good alignment the sword gains a few added abilities. Neutral PCs gain more advantage using the sword than either a Good or Evil alignment does. The sword has a strange effect on Evil PCs. If owned by an Evil PC the sword steals the wielder's soul, making them Lawful Evil until the PC dies or is killed. After several months of owning and using the sword, the sword will try to wield the wielder (save vs. charm at -5). If the PC fails the save, the sword casts an indefinite domination on the wielder until the sword is knocked from their hand or the PC is killed.

Abilities

• The sword causes the wielder to stop aging and remain the same age for as long as they own the sword, but if the sword is stolen, given away, or abandoned the PC starts to age at an advanced rate (see Table 1).
• The sword permanently gains the properties of any spell cast upon it by the wielder. Any spell can be cast on the sword by the wielder.
• The sword is strongly affected by PC alignment (see Table 3).
• Lifting and wielding the sword requires a Strength check of 18+.
• The sword functions no matter what level the PC is, as long as it has not reached full power. Once it reaches the point where only a god can handle it, the sword will kill anyone but a god.

Table 1: Aging Rate

Notes: (1) For each year owned add 7 days to the days allowed. (2) Multiply by 2 for every year after 10 years, for every week after the days allowed are exceeded.

Table 2: Power Advancement of Sword

Note: With more than 16 owners the sword is too powerful and can no longer be handled; a priest of a god must pray for the god to come and take the sword. Roll d20; a 15 or higher is needed for the god to come and take the sword.

Table 3: Alignment Effect

Author's Notes and Corrections

• Reply #3 (October 13, 2001): the author added that it takes a Strength check of 18+ to wield the sword.
• Reply #16 (October 14, 2001): the author clarified that the sword works at any character level until it reaches full power, after which it kills anyone but a god.
• The original text says the domination lasts "until one of three things happen" but lists only two; the two listed are kept.