Striker, Deflector of the South

Time for another #Swordtember post! This time it’s a fabled blade with an intelligence of its own.

Striker, Deflector of the South

Weapon (longsword), legendary (requires attunement by a creature of good alignment)

It is whispered that one day a hero will rise, a woman of such martial puissance that no one can stand against her. In the same breath, it is whispered that she will be wielding Striker. This plain, serviceable blade is marked with knicks and scratches, like it’s been the tool of a soldier on many long campaigns.

You gain a +3 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this magic weapon. It has the following additional properties:

Defender

The first time you attack with the sword on each of your turns, you can transfer some or all of the sword’s bonus to the Armor Class of a person within 10 feet of you, instead of using the bonus on any attacks that turn. For example, you could reduce the bonus to your attack and damage rolls to +1 and your target would gain a +2 bonus to AC. The adjusted bonuses remain in effect until the start of your next turn, although you must hold the sword for the target to gain a bonus to AC from it.

By Your Side

While you’re attuned to it, if Striker is ever out of your grasp, as a bonus action you can will it to magically appear in your hand, as long as you’re both on the same plane of existence.

Sentience

Striker is a sentient neutral good weapon with an Intelligence of 12, a Wisdom of 15, and a Charisma of 15. It has hearing and normal vision out to 120 feet. The weapon can speak, read, and understand Common, and can communicate with its wielder telepathically. Its voice is high and piercing. While you are attuned to it, Striker also understands every language you know.

Personality

Striker speaks with calm assurance, as it is certain it can overcome any challenge. The sword’s purpose is to protect the weak. It believes that to be the best and most noble goal a person in arms can pursue.

Striker’s thirst to protect the innocent must be regularly slaked. If the sword is aware of a situation in which a sentient being is being oppressed without its wielder coming to that being’s defense, a conflict between it and its wielder occurs at the next dawn.

Art courtesy of Publisher’s Choice Quality Stock Art © Rick Hershey / Fat Goblin Game