“Sword of Truth” D&D artifact possiblities…

Option 1

I've taken over running a shared world campaign with a high level group and an artifact that was hinted to have more powers that might be discovered later.

The PCs just finished an adventure gained a lot of loot, and hit 16th level.

The PCs are strong, have high stats, and a ton of items.

The paladin had quested for this sword, recovering it from the bane warrens, then purging it of its former corruption and restoring it to its original holy status.

I took over DMing the campaign at that point.

Now the paladin wants to use his share of loot (25,000 gp) to go on a religious vision quest or whatnot to see what new powers he can discover in the Sword of Truth instead of spending his money on things like improving his amulet of natural armor another plus or two which he feels would be effective (he has a 30 AC already) but role-playing wise boring. He said he will be happy with whatever he discovers even though he is not choosing it, etc.

So there is room to do this in the history and I like the story flavor here of this option, I just need to come up with an appropriate add on power to an epic artifact sword that is 25K gp appropriate.

The Sword is called the Sword of Truth, it is a +2 epic good cold iron long sword evil bane, arcane user (spell or spell

ability) bane, does a targeted dispel magic on crits, and grants its wielder True Sight. Evil wielders gain a negative level as do arcane wielders. Not clear if it was used in Clash of Gods War where they amalgamated as single champions squaring off on Good/Evil/Neutral alignment axis. It prohibits wielder from speaking a knowing falsehood. In past used in church trials to get truth out of suspects.

Yes, grossly powerful, but he still does less damage than the PC dwarf fighter cleric when that PC gets going large and in charge.

If it was a normal sword I could easily figure out a power, but it is an artifact and the gp cost for adding a power on I'm fuzzy on in my head.

Here are the powers I was thinking of and possible limitations.

Turns opponents hit (on crit) back to original shape if in alternate form (Save). [He has not hit a shape changer yet]

Dispels automatically (no dispel check) illusions on opponents struck (on crit). [Don't think anybody with an illusion yet since cleansed]

Grants wielder dark vision (although the paladin generates 4th level magical light as a prc ability already).

Illumine struck invisible creatures revealing their presence (fairy fire on strike)

Bonus on Search checks

Bonus on Spot

Arcane Sight

Zone of Truth power

Discern Lies

Intelligent magic item powers

Option 2

Ummm... OK, here's a go at more completeness;

For those without Unearthed Arcana, this will not make much sense, and I can't explain fully what the Battle Scion is (CoC and all that).

Essentially: the Battle Scion is the warrior-type PrC that gets its special abilities from the Legendary Weapon he wields. So this Seeker is using this framework with the Sword of Truth as the Legendary Weapon.

Sword of TruthForged long ago by wizards of tremendous power, the Sword of Truth is a longsword gifted to special individual every generation by the First Wizard. The Seeker is charged with upholding justice and as such is not beholden to any power political or otherwise, save the Truth.Requirements Anybody can pick up and wield the Sword of Truth as a +2 Keen Longsword with the Fueled by Anger and The Price special abilities (see below). A Seeker (Battle Scion) who wields the Sword of Truth gains additional special abilities if he meets the following criteria.Base Attack Bonus: +6Skills Sense Motive 6 ranksFeats: Iron Will, Power AttackHowever, only a True Seeker can gain more than three levels of this PrC. A True Seeker must also meet these criteria;Alignment: any goodSkills Sense Motive 10 ranksFeats Skill Emphasis: Sense Motive, TrackAttributesHardness/Hit Points: 12/25

Caster Level: 17thValue: To anyone other than the Seeker, the Sword of Truth appears to be worth as much as a Medium +2 Keen Longsword (market price 18,325 gp).Special Abilities: The Sword of Truth grants a number of special abilities to its wielder, depending on on the character's class level in the Seeker (battle scion) prestige class.

Abilities granted by the Sword of Truth

Battle ScionLevel Ability- Fury of Justice, Intent, The Price1st: Righteousness2nd: +3 Enhancement3rd: Sunder Spell4th*: The White Blade5th*: Greater Fury of Justice 6th*: +4 Enhancement7th*: Channel the Predessesors8th*: Reflect Spell9th*: Swordless Seeker10th*: +5 Enhancement Supreme Fury of Justice

Fury of Justice (Ex) When the Sword of Truth is drawn, its wielder gains a +2 bonus to Strength, a +2 Bonus to Dex and a +1 dodge bonus to AC. The wielder is filled with rage and passion, driven by a desire to destroy any they perceive to be an enemy. These effects last until all enemies within LoS are slain, or the wielder succeeds at a DC 15 Will save.

Intent: (Ex) The Sword of Truth will only harm a living thing that the wielder perceives to be an enemy. If used to strike a creature that the wielder believes to be innocent, the damage from any strike is reduced to 0.

The Price (Ex) Whenever the Sword of Truth is used to kill a living creature, the wielder must succeed at a Will save after the task is done. The DC for this save is based on the dead creature's alignment: LG = 30, NG and CG = 25, LN, CN, and N = 20, LE and NE = 10, CE = 5. A successful save means the wielder is fatigued for the remainder of the encounter. A failed save means the wielder takes d10 damage and becomes helpless from the pain. The wielder must then make a second save one round later vs the same effects at the same DC. This lasts until the wielder makes the save or dies.

Righteousness (Ex) A true Seeker gains the ability to shield themselves from The Price. When taking a life in their capacity as Seeker or when justice is on their side, they gain a bonus to the Will save from The Price equal to their Seeker class level.

+3 Enhancement The Sword of Truth becomes a +3 weapon in the hands of a 2nd level Seeker.

Sunder Spell (Su) A number of times per day equal to his class level, the Seeker may ready an action to sunder a spell that targets him. This gives the Seeker a Spell Resistance score equal to 10 + his class level + his Charisma Modifier against that spell.

*Only a True Seeker may advance beyond this point*

The White Blade (Ex) A true Seeker learns how to forgive any one for their crimes, no matter how heinous or wrong. The Seeker can fill his soul with the small amount of goodness that exists within a single target and slay them without suffering from the effects of The Price. The White Blade also ignores the Intent special property; a true Seeker can kill anyone.

Greater Fury of Justice (Ex) When the Sword of Truth is drawn by a True Seeker of 5th level; he gains a +4 bonus to

Strength, a +4 Bonus to Dex and a +2 dodge bonus to AC instead of the standard effects. This has the added benefit of staving off the effects of The Price until the Fury has ended.

+4 Enhancement The Sword of Truth becomes a +4 weapon in the hands of a 6th level Seeker.

Channel the Predessesors (Ex) The Seeker gains the ability to call upon the skills and prowess of former Seekers in Battle. Any number of times per day, as a free action, the Seeker can gain an insight bonus to attack rolls and damage rolls equal to his class level when wielding the Sword of Truth. Alternately, a Seeker can forgo one or more points of the insight bonus and gain a feat from the list of Fighter bonus feats at a rate of one point per feat.

Reflect Spell (Su) Any spell cast at the Seeker that fails to overcome the SR from Sunder Spell is also reflected back at the caster as if affected by Spell Turning

Swordless Seeker (Ex) A true Seeker at this point no longer needs the Sword of Truth to perform any of the above class abilities, any weapon will do. A weapon does not gain or lose any magical abilities when used by a Seeker. Additionally, the Seeker is no longer affected by The Price under any circumstances.

+5 Enhancement The Sword of Truth becomes a +5 weapon in the hands of a 10th level Seeker.

Supreme Fury of Justice (Ex) When the Sword of Truth is drawn by a True Seeker of 10th level, he gains a +6 bonus to Strength, a +6 Bonus to Dex and a +3 dodge bonus to AC instead of the standard effects.

Hokay, so there it is. I hope this is a little more defined. I'm kinda fuzzy on what exactly happens when Richard turns the Sword white, so if anyone wants to chime in a refresh my memory, that'd be great. Also, I realize that Channel the

Predessesors is waaaay tough, but Richard used it to kill 30 of the best swordsmen in the world. And besides, it's not like anyone is going to let a PC take this PrC, right?

EDIT: Altered Fury of JusticeAdded Intent special propertyAltered The White Blade special propertyAdded True Seeker requirements

LordChronos02-16-04, 05:45 PMAsok, going about a PrC I would have the rage (low lvl barb?) be a function of the sword when the posessor confronts a foe (enemy, all based on perspective). Have the PrC allow control of the rage and possibly granting a type of greater rage (consider it a refining of the ability). I think one of the prereqs for the PrC should be a save or die effect (to justify w/ yourself why you killed them) when you have killed someone for the first time w/ the wpn.

Zunishahd, your write up seems okay for DnD terms I guess. However, I disagree with power attack being a prereq and the Swordless Seeker ability. Also add in some sort of sense direction to the wpn, and when you are close enough (say 30') you know exaclty where the sword is reguardless of senses. Almost like an extra sense.

Zunishahd02-16-04, 06:46 PMThanks for the feedback :)

Originally posted by LordChronos ...I disagree with power attack being a prereq...

Yeah, the thing that made me think of this was when Richard "saves" Kahlen and kills with the sword the first time. The image of him putting Everything. He.

Had. into that sword stroke.... <shrug> A PrC's gotta have some prereq feats, what would you suggest in it's place?

Originally posted by LordChronos ...and the Swordless Seeker ability. Also add in some sort of sense direction to the wpn, and when you are close enough (say 30') you know exaclty where the sword is reguardless of senses. Almost like an extra sense.

It's been awhile since I've read any of the books, but doesn't Richard use the abilities of the former Seekers at one point when he doesn't actually have the sword on him? Says something to the effect of, "I am the True Seeker, I don't need the sword" ? And was his bond with the sword a virtue of the Sword of Truth or was it another of Richard's ubermench twinky abilities?

I'm honestly asking as I don't remember properly.

unusualsuspect02-16-04, 06:59 PMIf i remember correctly, Richard almost ALWAYS wielded the sword two-handed... Which really sounds like a bastard sword to me.

LordChronos02-16-04, 08:34 PMOriginally posted by Zunishahd A PrC's gotta have some prereq feats, what would you suggest in it's place?

It's been awhile since I've read any of the books, but doesn't Richard use the abilities of the former Seekers at one point when he doesn't actually have the sword on him? Says something to the effect of, "I am the True Seeker, I don't need the sword" ? And was his bond with the sword a virtue of the Sword of Truth or was it another of Richard's ubermench twinky abilities?

I'm honestly asking as I don't remember properly.

Toughness? Blind-fight? Wpn Focus? Skill Focus (Profession Guide)? I dunno as I said before taking things from one place and putting them in DnD does not work. And if I cannot copy something correctly I do not bother (when I copy an idea) out of respect for the idea/thing/person in question. Try to think of something from before he got the sword and/or right when he got it *shrugs*

And that in that line I believe he was retorting to someone questioning his credablility as the Seeker (since he did not have it to prove himself). Basically he is the Seeker, the sword is just a tool. The Seeker is a type of person (like a paladin ugh) the sword is just a badge of office so to speak. Even without a badge of office, a mayor is still a mayor.

Brac6402-17-04, 09:52 PMi agree with unusalsuspect. Richard charges into battle sword raised and wielded with two hands. When he is battling the baku-tau mana in the books, Goodkind describes the sword as more of a longsword. Furthermore i think the sword is the one that should have the rage ability, it did put whoever was wielding it in a rage, even if they weren't a seeker. Like Fitch for example in Faith of the Fallen i think it was.

Asok02-18-04, 04:52 PMIt's true that the Seeker PrC outlined by Zunishahd is powerful, but I feel that it a fairly accurate representation of the book. It's got a different feel then the PrC I thought of. My idea wasn't to make it an exact copy of the book, but rather a balanced PrC that most DMs wouldn't mind letting a player have.

With Zunishahd, you'd almost have to put in a bonus rule

saying you can only take a Seeker PrC level for every two levels of another character class. That way when you get to the 10th level, you'd be epic anyway, and the Seeker PrC wouldn't be so over-powered. I would change a few things about the design though.

First, it is just nitpicky, but I see the Sword of Truth as a bastard sword because, as someone else mentioned, he used it two-handed a lot. Of course, that’s no big deal and if I was DM, I’d let the player pick.

Second, the alignment doesn't need to be good does it? I mean, Richard was good, but can't anybody be the Seeker. Hmmm... my memory is going bad since it has been awhile since I read the first book, but it seemed to me that when Zed gave Richard the sword it was more of a ceremonially thing than magically (I’m at work so I can’t just check my book right now).

Zunishahd02-18-04, 11:40 PMHello again! This project has gotten under my skin, so I went and dragged my books out of storage (TOR has got to start using real glue for their bindings, yeesh :rolleyes: )

Going back through Wizard's First Rule, I altered my PrC (making it tougher, but I'm just doing this now to try to convert honestly and completely. Take what ever ideas you like, change the rest :) )-I made a distinction between a wielder of the the Sword of Truth and the True Seeker (Samuel had the sword, but he wasn't a Seeker, and look what happened to him).-I changed when Fury of Justice was gained, and added tougher versions of it at the high end.-I added the Intent special quality

Barbarian-type rage doesn't feel right for the effects Goodkind describes, so I made my own.

About the longsword vs. bastard: Of course, Goodkind doesn't give a blade length in his description in WFR. But there's that sword at the begining of every chapter in every book. I don't think Goodkind would have put it there if the Sword of Truth didn't resemble that.

Yes, Richard uses it in two hands a lot. You can use a longsword in two hands. If you have a free hand, it's a good idea (and not just in DnD).

And I stand by my Swordless Seeker special ability. In Blood of the Fold, pg 517 (for the paperback), when Richard has to leave the sword behind to travel in the sliph;

"When he took his hands away, he could still feel the magic within him. He had to leave the sword, but he still had the magic; he was the true Seeker."

And later, when he's looking for Khalan (pg. 562);

"Richard was livid- lost in the thundering rage of the magic storming through him.Even though the sword wasn't with him, the magic was still his; he was the true Seeker of Truth, and he was bonded irrevocably to its magic. It coursed through him with lethal vengeance...He whirled through the men of the Blood of the Fold as if they were mere statues, toppling before a ruinous wind."

Omeganian01-12-07, 03:50 PMWhen Richard fought with the sword in the first book, it was already showing signs of being vorpal and giving the Sunder and Cleave feats for free