It’s been too long since this column last delved into Sumerian mythology so today Epic Monsters is tackling a weapon like no other. This mace is sentient, it flies, it changes shape, Ninurta used it to kill a demon—it’s Sharur!
Some scholars have come to believe this legendary weapon is the precursor to others, including what you’ll find in Camelot! Its biggest claim to fame is when the Akkadian deity Ninurta used it to smash Asag (or Azag), a demon that made its own rock offspring by mating with a mountain and was so offensive to the eyes that fish boil alive in rivers when it is nearby. In addition to flying, speaking with its wielder, and changing itself into a winged lion and back, Sharur can contact the god Enlil for important tactical or world information.
Design Notes: It seemed apropos to use Asi from Droṇa’s entry in Mythological Figures & Maleficent Monsters as the base for Sharur. Unlike the flaming primordial sword however this mace has some bits all its own—hitting up a god for secrets, extra damage against demons, changing into a winged lion. Both are intelligent weapons from the same mythology so I think the similarity is fitting. Let’s look at the numbers! The DMG comes in at 4.75 and the Blog of Holding at 5.4, averaging out to CR 5.
This magic, sentient mace grants a +2 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with it. Once you have attuned to the weapon, while wielding it you gain the following features:
Sentience. Sharur is a sentient lawful good weapon with Intelligence 14, Wisdom 16, and Charisma 15. It has hearing and darkvision out to a range of 60 feet. The weapon communicates telepathically with you and can speak, read, and understand Sumerian.
Personality. The mace’s purpose is to do good deeds and destroy demons. It is highly motivated, but very averse to compromising its interests for even a short time while in the pursuit of the greater good.
Destroying the Mace. The mace can never be permanently destroyed. When reduced to 0 hit points, Sharur fades into the Ethereal Plane, reappearing in a location of its choosing 1d4 weeks later.
Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points 78 (12d4+48)
Speed fly 40 ft. (hover)
Saving Throws Int +5, Wis +6, Cha +5
Skills Perception +6, Religion +5, Stealth +6
Damage Resistances cold, lightning, radiant; bludgeoning, piercing, slashing
Damage Immunities fire, necrotic, poison, psychic
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, poisoned
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 16
Languages Sumerian; telepathy 60 ft.
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
Divine Inspiration (3/Day). As an action, Sharur makes a DC 10 Intelligence check. On a success, it learns an obscure piece of myth or lore. By spending 1d4 rounds concentrating, it can attempt a DC 15 Intelligence check to learn a secret piece of information.
Fiend Smasher. Sharur deals an extra 9 (2d8) radiant damage against fiends.
Immutable Form. Sharur is immune to any spell or effect that would alter its form, except for its Winged Lion feature.
Magic Resistance. Sharur has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Winged Lion. Sharur uses a bonus action to magically polymorph into a winged lion, or back into its true form. It reverts to its true form if it dies. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying is absorbed or borne by the new form (Sharur’s choice).
In its winged lion form, Sharur retains its game statistics and ability to speak, but its attacks are replaced by those of a lion (except Multiattack), and it gains the Keen Smell, Pack Tactics, and Pounce traits.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. Sharur attacks twice.
Macehead. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (2d6+3) magical bludgeoning damage plus 7 (2d6) radiant damage.
Some scholars have come to believe this legendary weapon is the precursor to others, including what you’ll find in Camelot! Its biggest claim to fame is when the Akkadian deity Ninurta used it to smash Asag (or Azag), a demon that made its own rock offspring by mating with a mountain and was so offensive to the eyes that fish boil alive in rivers when it is nearby. In addition to flying, speaking with its wielder, and changing itself into a winged lion and back, Sharur can contact the god Enlil for important tactical or world information.
Design Notes: It seemed apropos to use Asi from Droṇa’s entry in Mythological Figures & Maleficent Monsters as the base for Sharur. Unlike the flaming primordial sword however this mace has some bits all its own—hitting up a god for secrets, extra damage against demons, changing into a winged lion. Both are intelligent weapons from the same mythology so I think the similarity is fitting. Let’s look at the numbers! The DMG comes in at 4.75 and the Blog of Holding at 5.4, averaging out to CR 5.
Sharur
Weapon (mace), legendary (requires attunement)This magic, sentient mace grants a +2 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with it. Once you have attuned to the weapon, while wielding it you gain the following features:
- You can use a bonus action to speak this mace’s command word, causing energy to flow out of it. This energy sheds bright light in a 10-foot radius and dim light for an additional 20 feet. While the mace is lit, it deals an extra 2d6 radiant damage to any target it hits. The energy lasts until you use a bonus action to speak the command word again, or until you drop or sheathe the mace.
- You can use a bonus action to toss this mace into the air and speak a different command word. When you do so, the mace begins to hover and the consciousness inside of it awakens, transforming it into a creature. The creature is friendly to you and your companions, and it acts on your turn. You can use a bonus action to command how the creature moves and what action it takes on its next turn, or to give it general orders, such as to attack your enemies. In the absence of such orders, the creature acts in a fashion appropriate to its nature. You can transform the mace into a creature for up to 10 minutes, all at once or in several shorter increments, each one using a minimum of 1 minute from the duration. The mace regains 5 minutes of transforming capability for every 12 hours that feature is not in use.
- Three times per day, you can use an action to make a DC 10 Intelligence check. On a success, Sharur learns and tells you about an obscure piece of myth or lore. By spending 1d4 rounds concentrating, you can attempt a DC 15 Intelligence check to discover a secret piece of information.
Sentience. Sharur is a sentient lawful good weapon with Intelligence 14, Wisdom 16, and Charisma 15. It has hearing and darkvision out to a range of 60 feet. The weapon communicates telepathically with you and can speak, read, and understand Sumerian.
Personality. The mace’s purpose is to do good deeds and destroy demons. It is highly motivated, but very averse to compromising its interests for even a short time while in the pursuit of the greater good.
Destroying the Mace. The mace can never be permanently destroyed. When reduced to 0 hit points, Sharur fades into the Ethereal Plane, reappearing in a location of its choosing 1d4 weeks later.
Sharur
Tiny construct, lawful goodArmor Class 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points 78 (12d4+48)
Speed fly 40 ft. (hover)
STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
17 (+3) | 17 (+3) | 18 (+4) | 14 (+2) | 16 (+3) | 15 (+2) |
Saving Throws Int +5, Wis +6, Cha +5
Skills Perception +6, Religion +5, Stealth +6
Damage Resistances cold, lightning, radiant; bludgeoning, piercing, slashing
Damage Immunities fire, necrotic, poison, psychic
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, poisoned
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 16
Languages Sumerian; telepathy 60 ft.
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
Divine Inspiration (3/Day). As an action, Sharur makes a DC 10 Intelligence check. On a success, it learns an obscure piece of myth or lore. By spending 1d4 rounds concentrating, it can attempt a DC 15 Intelligence check to learn a secret piece of information.
Fiend Smasher. Sharur deals an extra 9 (2d8) radiant damage against fiends.
Immutable Form. Sharur is immune to any spell or effect that would alter its form, except for its Winged Lion feature.
Magic Resistance. Sharur has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Winged Lion. Sharur uses a bonus action to magically polymorph into a winged lion, or back into its true form. It reverts to its true form if it dies. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying is absorbed or borne by the new form (Sharur’s choice).
In its winged lion form, Sharur retains its game statistics and ability to speak, but its attacks are replaced by those of a lion (except Multiattack), and it gains the Keen Smell, Pack Tactics, and Pounce traits.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. Sharur attacks twice.
Macehead. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (2d6+3) magical bludgeoning damage plus 7 (2d6) radiant damage.
