- - The Forge- -

The Sword of the Illiate
Write up by Jeff Horton. Contest design winner for February 25, 2000.

It is said that in the days before the Chaos Wars in the Northern Reaches, there was a person that looked out for and protected others. This person was a member of a secret order called the Illias. This sect was a secret society that was formed by the disciples of Illmatar (not of the Forgotten Realms); she was the patron saint of children. These disciples were granted special powers as disciples and had to be the protectors of children of any race. Now there could only be one leader of this sect and his job was to be the Illiate, it was the Illiates job to battle all manner of evil or injustice in the name of Illmatar. Magic as a whole was not liked, this is mostly due to cruelties perpetrated by mages during the Chaos Wars, and since that time most magic-users were hunted. The Illias knew it was dangerous to use magic that is why only one of the sects showed themselves in the name of Illmatar and protected the children. This was the Illiates job, thus the whole would not suffer at the hands of the masses. People that had need of the Illiate seem to recall little of the encounter with the Illiate some believed they were elven and by all accounts none can ever remember seeing one, just of hearing of them. After an encounter with the Illiate one man was asked what he/she looked like and all the man could say was "I don't know" the only thing that is ever remembered is the look of the short sword that was used. It is described as a high blue gloss blade, looks like Ice with Ice shards at the hilt and the grip seems to be made of some kind of green jell that molds itself to the wearer's hand and does not permit it to be dropped. Whenever the Illiate has an encounter it usually involves the weak, especially children. The individual seems to come out of nowhere and dispatches the vile beasts that are threatening the victims and then is off again without so much as a thank you. The earliest of times had the Illiate fight for the freedom of children under attack of a red dragon and someone recalls that Ice seamed to come from the black while others say that while fighting a Black Dragon a cone of something came out and helped kill the dragon.

Description: The short sword is an artifact of the god Illmatar. It is made of several unique metals of unknown origins. The blade is made of blue mythril, a very rear metal which looks like Ice. The hilt is made of White Mythril, an even rarer metal with very special magical properties. These unique types of Mythril are the lightest in the mithril family, and very magical in nature, this is why reproducing this sword would be near impossible. It has a green mold living on the handle that when gripped does not let go until it dies or the command word is spoken. The green ooze has been bound to perform the duty of gripping until the users death or when the command word is spoken. This means that if the sword is removed from the dead user and the new user doesn't know the command word, then the new user will take 1D4 pts of dmg every turn till death, or the removal of the hand holding the sword (unless of diametrically opposed alignment then 1D10/turn if save versus magic otherwise 1d20/turn). This sword cannot be removed by any means other than the command word spoken, the death of the holder or the total destruction of the sword, which means the users life anyway. The special properties of the sword can only be called upon by someone of Lawful Good alignment. All others meet the same fate as someone not knowing the command word. The command word cannot be spoken from the lips of anyone other than those of Lawful Good alignment.

Known Powers:

Very light (no speed factor)
Casts a permanent Forget spell on all who see the wielders face. Can obsorb 20 spell levels/day
Protects the user from all temperature changes (0-100 degrees)
Indestructable by mortal means
1d10 base damage
+4 to hit
+4 to damage (+8 versus evil)
Attacks all physical armor as if it were AC8 (this includes natural armor), magical bonuses still apply
Allows resurrection to be cast on a child once/week
Increases users strength to 25 when fighting to protect children
Doubles users HP

If the sword is ever destroyed the resultant explosion would be the equivalent of a d10x10 Fireblast with no savings throw.

Any Lawful good character performing unlawful or evil acts with the sword will suffer an alignment change to chaotic good and suffer any and all consequences therein.

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