Please review my Weapon of Legacy: Tengu's Shadow

[Uchiha_Arthas]

Hi guys,

I am making a new weapon of legacy for my character in a forth coming game and have already sent it off to my GM but would like your opinion as well.

Note: I am using a different method to pay for WoL upgrades, involving the sacrifce of gems & or magic items. Feed back on that in particular would be appreciated.

Warning: This is a bit of a slog to read through. I will attempt to place it in appropiate sections but please feel free to skip the history bit if you feel like it.


The Tengu’s Shadow:

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Appearance:
At first glance this blade appears to be a katana made of some unknown material. Closer examination of the blade itself will find that it is not forged from metal but is crafted from the bone of an unknown being (Sages and spells might identify the bone as belonging to a Tengu but the size of the bone makes that improbable.). The Tsuba (guard) and Hilt are made of Abyssal Blood Iron (Planar Handbook p. 69.) with the Tsuba worked to resemble a Beautiful Woman with Black Feathered Wings encircling the blade. The Hilt is wrapped in a soft black material which cannot be immediately identified (Black Feathers). There are two small diamond shaped gemstones on either side of the blade where it meets the hilt. The left gemstone being a blue sapphire in which a small lightning storm appears to be raging. The right gemstone being black sapphire in which black colored flames appear to be dancing. A third violet sapphire is set in the pommel.

Non-Legacy Ability: +1 weapon Cost: 2335 gp.

Restrictions:
Follower of the Sublime Way, +3 Base Attack Bonus, Proficient with Martial Weapons, Speak Elven or Tengu.

Omen (Pre-Bonding): The first time a wielder sleeps after using this weapon in battle, they are assaulted by visions and dreams of past wielders who had awoken the powers of this blade. These visions can be of any activity for which the blade was present and its wielder felt intense emotion. Usually these scenes are of famous battles but notable visions have included a wielder realising he was in love, to joyful contentment around a campfire, to funerals and one infamous time where a former wielder sadistically tortured her enemy. Researching these visions is perhaps the best way to track the history of this blade down.

Omen (Post-Bonding): When this blade is drawn from its sheath, the blade lets out a sound like a giant bird of prey or even small flock of such birds descending to attack that can be heard for approximately a half-mile. A player has to face a DC 15 will save to compel the sword not to make this noise. This noise gives the wielder a +2 circumstance bonus on intimidate checks. Once the wielder has bonded to the weapon, they may call forth visions of past wielders at will each time they sleep / meditate but have to face a wisdom or charisma check to summon a particular vision. (Older visions are more difficult to summon.) If they have awoken the spirit within the blade then they must have the spirit’s permission and aid to summon such visions.

 

[Uchiha_Arthas]

History: LONG READ, Feel Free to skip if wanted.


Born in disgrace: DC= 15
Many of the myths and legends regarding this blade have been deemed fairy-tales by Scholars today as have the tales of it wielders. Eons ago, a noble elven warrior mage took his bastard daughter into his house as her Tengu mother (his lover) had recently died. The fact that the child from his affair was coming to live with them greatly upset his wife and their children, the fact that half-breed children were looked down upon in noble elven society made the matter even worse. Thus they and the majority of other nobility treated the child poorly. Some time after the father perished in battle against a demon lord with his blade having broken as he struck the blow that banished the demon back to the Abyss. With her father’s death the family’s treatment of the half-tengu child worsened but stopped shy of actual abuse. Taking the broken pieces of her father’s sword the child whose name was Ayane returned to her mother’s people who trained her in the Sublime Way as they had her father years ago. While the Tengu were kind, the ways of their society prevented them from truly embracing Ayane as family. At best she was a visiting student like many from other races, who came to visit the Tengu. Ayane proved to be a prodigy in the Sublime way and had a strong will despite or perhaps because of her past and became their top student of her generation. As was the custom among the Tengu school for such a student, she was expected to commission a blade of her own according to a vision she would receive while meditating. During this vision she met her parents for one final farewell and acting on their instructions the child had the remains of her father’s sword reforged into the hilt and guard of her new sword while utilising a magic ritual to combine the bones of her mother’s remains into one and fashion them in to the blade. She then placed the gemstones her parents had given each other on the blade where it met the hilt and then placed the gem her parents had given her when she was born on the hilt. When the blade was complete and having new found pride in her birth due to her vision of her parents she vowed never to again allow herself to be belittled, put down or ill treated because of her birth as she had been when she was young.

Vengence for Comrade and Kin: DC= 20
For a time Ayane took to the life of a wondering sellsword, looking more to increase her skills and knowledge of the Sublime Way then to make money. Her skills increased with every battle and she found that her blade also gained in strength to match her own growth. She became known for her intimidating aura and the lightning speed of her attacks. She spent more then a century on this path when the news of a new demonic invasion of the elven lands led by the very same demon who had slain her father came to her ears. Ayane joined the war effort, acting on more of a desire for revenge and to honour her father then actual concern for the elven nation or her half-siblings. While her ability and honourable intent were praised many elven samurai came to realise that Ayane had little regard for the laws, traditions or honour that consumed a normal samurai’s life. The truly insightful among them realised that she had little regard for most moral debates and was consumed only with her own skill in the nine-fold path as well those matters that directly concerned her, such as vengeance for her dead father or matters that affected those she cared about. Eventually she avenged her father by slaying the demon lord in a terrific battle on his home plane.

To Thine Own Shelf Be True: DC=25
During the war Ayane fell in love with another elven noble whom she had fought beside and had even been one of the few elves to treat her kindly when she was younger and the pair were soon to be married. However her lover’s family were aghast at a half blood polluting their line no matter how much of a heroine she was and made arrangements for another noble pure elven family to call in the marriage contract they had agreed to long ago. While polygamy was accepted in elven society, to Ayane the fact that she would not be her lover’s sole wife rankled. The fact that she would be ranked and treated as her lover’s second wife hurt. The fact that her children would also be ranked below the other wife’s children was nearly unbearable due to her past. However it was the fact the first wife was her half-sister and belonged to the same family that had mistreated her in her youth and that her lover actually cared somewhat for that sibling pushed the young warrior over the edge.

When the time came for the formal betrothal between the two, Ayane made an appearance to vehemently and publically insult both noble families including her fiancé before calling of her engagement and leaving. Neither family could stand the insult she paid them however and sent assassins after her as well as encouraging their members to formally challenge the heroine to a duel. The assassins were easily dispatched by Ayane but those noble family members who challenged her received a different treatment. While Ayane left them alive, she publically humiliated them first making it obvious that they were no match for her and begging for their lives before sending them back horribly crippled, scarred and broken.

Sorrow: DC=30
Finally the public humiliation became too much for the noble families and they prevailed upon the only warrior who might stand a chance against Ayane, her former fiancé who was now married to her pregnant half-sister. Pointing out that unless they re-dressed the public humiliation they had received from the half-tengu, both families honour, reputation and political standing would be ruined and the majority of their elders and youth would be forced to commit ritual-suicide they persuaded the reluctant elf to challenge his one time fiancé.

When the two former lovers met in a secluded area to duel they found themselves evenly matched. Neither could truly bear to harm the other but Ayane could not bear to bow her head to those who had mistreated her for her birth and young noble could not allow his family to suffer the dishonour of her insults any longer. Ayane eventually disarmed her opponent and had him at her mercy when the match was interrupted by the interference of Ayane’s half-sister. Using the element of surprise she managed to injure and disarm the tired Ayane who quickly responded by drawing her kodachi and lunging to attack the one who had injured her. However before she could reach her half sister she found herself stabbed with her own blade by her one time lover who had acted on instinct to protect his pregnant wife.

The young noble took Ayane’s body and buried it in secret to prevent it’s desecration by her enemies. Upon returning home he was celebrated for his skill and found that he had became famous for slaying such a skilled foe as his wife had not spread the details of the duel as her interference would be regarded as dishonourable. It is said that in later years when his only child reached the age of majority, the noble returned to the glade where he had fought Ayane and took his own life in atonement with her blade that he had kept with him for the whole time while leaving messages far and wide through out the known lands relaying what truly happened in the duel and it’s cause, while bequeathing Ayane’s sword to the Tengu clan who had cared for her briefly.

Extra Info: In this Elven Empire’s time, half-elves with any other species were greatly looked down upon; it was also believed that each person was associated with a type of gemstone which matched their personality/life similar to horoscopes currently. It became fashionable for nobles to have one or two of the gems associated with themselves placed on items they wore or own. Personal designs became common; one could have a gem for their clan/family while another for someone they cared deeply for such as a spouse, sibling, friend etc. Such gems had power of a sort for their owner.

 

[Uchiha_Arthas]

Legacy Rituals (Least): To be able to call the powers within the blade, the wielder must meet three conditions:

Born in Disgrace: Use the blade to protect someone who is being looked down upon or attacked because of the circumstances of their birth. (This may be the wielder themself or any other person)

Divine thine own gem: . The player will also require a divination to be performed as to what gem they are associated with. The player will then need to have a divination spell cast by a cleric (Cost: 400 gp, if no party member can cast it) identifying what particular gem they are associated to use as a reagent. They will then need to acquire gems of that particular type as well as gems matching any of the types inlaid in the blade. Total cost of these gems should be approx: 1,600 g.p

The Ritual:

The wielder must meditate with the blade for a day before the ritual. The ritual begins with an incantation (pg 174 UA) requiring the above gemstones to be crushed into powder, a Lesser Augment Crystal of Energy Assault (Lightning/Flaming) (3000gp) and a few drops of the wielder's blood. This Incantation has two Skill Checks, Knowledge (Arcana) DC 15 which needs three successes to correctly make the Arcane pattern with the crushed gems and a Spellcraft DC 15 which needs three successes to correctly perform the incantation. The Spellcraft & Knowledge checks can be made by someone else (Hire an NPC or party member) but the wielder has to provide their own blood and take part as a secondary caster in the ritual. If the Incantation fails completely (two failures in a row) then the ritual has drawn the attention of outsiders (demonic or good) who send an appropriate response (DM’s Choice: Base Suggestion is an appropriate level demon). During this ritual the wielder must also make a vow to be true to their own self, (Stay true to their own code of conduct despite pressures from the outside.)

NOTE: Total costs for above ritual should be approximately 5,000 gp. The DM & player may move the value near that number. (Increase costs for divination, decrease costs for gems, increase cost for hiring NPC to perform ritual…)

Enhancing Rituals (Levels 6-10): The Blade is now awakened but it is very weak as it is missing pieces of itself. In order to fuel its power it needs to consume strong magic. Periodically (Every Level) the Wielder must repeat a smaller version of the above ritual in which they meditate with the sword and periodically sprinkles either an appropriate amount (2,875 gp) of crushed gems on the blade or offer a sacrifice of magic items. If magic items are offered then all their magic is drained, leaving behind the (non-magical) item. (Only the value of the magic in the item counts towards the ritual). The wielder must have completed all the (Levels 6-10) rituals before attempting the Legacy Ritual (Lesser).

Legacy Rituals (Lesser): To be able to awaken the entity lying within the blade, the wielder must meet three conditions:

Vengance: Avenge a serious wrong done to you or a friend

The Ritual: Same as the previous ritual, except 9,000 gp of crushed gems are needed as well as a Greater Augement Crystal of Energy Assault (Lightning / Fire). The DC for the incantation of both skill checks is now 18.

NOTE: Total costs for above ritual should be approximately 15,000 gp. The DM & player may move the value near that number. (Decrease costs for gems, increase cost for hiring NPC to perform ritual…)

Enhancing Rituals (Levels 12-16): The Blade is now fully awakened and the Spirit inside it soon will be. If anything this has increased its thirst for the power it needs to sustain itself. In order to fuel its power it needs to consume even stronger magic. The wielder must have completed all the (Levels 12-16) rituals before attempting the Legacy Ritual (Greater). The cost of the ritual each level is 13,000 gp.

Legacy Rituals (Greater): To be able to fully restore the entity lying within the blade, the wielder must meet four conditions:

Stand Firm: The wielder must stand firm for what they believe in despite tremendous odds or personal cost. Facing down a large army of undead with a small force or staying true to their own alignment despite political or personal pressure from friends.

Strengthen thy Blade: While Ayane remained firm in face of prejiduice, she was nevertheless betrayed (in her mind) and killed by the one she loved. Reassure that she is cared for and that you will not betray her as one time lover did. (This should be done ideally through role-play but the DM can make Intelligence, Wisdom & Charasima checks of the appropriate difficulty if they prefer.)

Create thy Soul-Gem: Using ordinary gems will no longer work, now the make a unique soul-gem. This will largely require significant expense in terms of divination for the proper method to make one along with the materials (Your blood will likely be involved) required for the actual manufacture and hiring the NPC to make the gem.

The Ritual: Same as the previous rituals except that the total price for creating the gem and completing the ritual should be approximately 41,000 gp. The DC for the incantation of both skill checks is now 21.

NOTE: After completing this ritual, a delicate band of your character’s soul gem now encircles’s the lavender gem at the pommel.

Enhancing Rituals (Levels 17-20): The Blade is now almost complete, however the joining of various pieces is unstable and needs time and magic to be truly repaired and stabilized. However such repair is costly. In order to fuel its power it needs to consume even stronger magic. The cost of the ritual each level is 36,000 gp.

 

[Uchiha_Arthas]

Abilities:
Level 4: +1 Weapon 2,335 gp
Level 5: +1 (Lesser Gem) Flaming / Shocking Weapon 3,000 gp
Level 6: +1 Unholy Aura Continuous Bane 4,000 gp
Level 7: Fearsome Aura CauseFear 5/d 2,000 gp
Level 8: Speed of the Tengu Quick Draw 1,500gp
Level 9: +2 Flaming / Shocking Weapon 6,000gp
Level 10:
Total Cost: 18,835 gp
Level 11: +2 (Greater Gem) Flaming / Shocking Weapon 6,000 gp
Level 12: Awaken the Warrior Within, 12,000 gp
Level 13: Sharing Knowledge (Iajutsu Focus) 20,000 gp
Level 14: +2 Flaming / Shocking Vampiric Weapon 24,000 gp
Level 15:
Level 16: + 3 Flaming / Shocking Vampiric Weapon 18,000 gp
Total Cost = 18,835 + 80,000 = 98,835 gp
Level 17: + 3 (Soul-Gem) Warning Flaming / Shocking Vampiric Weapon 22,000gp
Level 18: + 4 Warning Flaming / Shocking Vampiric Weapon 26,000 gp
Level 19: + 4 Warning Flaming / Shocking Vampiric BlurStrike Weapon 64,000 gp
Level 20: + 5 Warning Flaming / Shocking Vampiric BlurStrike Weapon 34,000 gp
Total Cost = 18,835 + 80,000 + 149,000 = 244,835 gp

Description (Least):

Flaming / Shocking Weapon (Lesser): The Weapon gains the ability to hold an additional augment crystal. This additional crystal must be of the (Lesser) flaming / shocking variety. This is despite normal pre-requisite of the +2 weapon enhancement and may only be of either the fire or lightning variety. Without such a crystal set in the weapon, the blade’s other abilities will not function. FLUFF: The color of the flames or lightning produce can change depending on the wielders mood, black for hatred, red for anger etc…

Unholy Aura: Bane (Su): Beginning at 6th level, Tengu’s shadow is the centre of a constant bane spell. The save DC is 11, or 11 + your Charisma modifier, whichever is higher. Any enemy who successfully saves is immune to this ability for 24 hours. Caster level 5th.

Fearsome Aura: Cause Fear (Sp): Five times per day on command, you can use cause fear as the spell. The save DC is 11, or 11 + your Charisma modifier, whichever is higher.

Speed of the Tengu: Starting at 8th level, you are treated as if you possessed the Quick Draw feat when unsheathing Tengu’s Shadow.

Description (Least):

Flaming / Shocking Weapon (Greater): The additional slot must now hold either a (Greater) Fire or Lightning Augment Crystal. If such a crystal is not placed into the Weapon then the Weapon’s abilities do not function.

Awaken the Warrior Within: Ayane’s soul was imprisoned within the blade when it slayed her, now it has awoken. It can communicate with you telepathically and speaks Common, plus one additional language per point of Intelligence bonus. The item can hear and see out to 120 feet using darkvision, and it has blindsense with a range of 120 feet. It gains an Intelligence of 18, Wisdom of 12, and Charisma of 16.

Sharing Knowledge: The bond between you and Ayane has grown stronger, the two of begin sharing knowledge allowing you to gain knowledge of the Iaijutsu Focus skill. If you already know this skill you gain a +10 bonus to it. If you don’t know this skill it becomes a class skill allowing you to put points into it. However this skill will only be counted as a class skill with this weapon. With all other weapons the skill will be capped to its cross-class skill level preventing you from taking full advantage of it’s skill points.
Vampiric: The blade does an extra 1d6 points of damage upon hitting a living creature and heals the victor for the same amount.

Description (Greater):

Flaming / Shocking Weapon (Soul Gem): The additional slot now holds the Soul Gem which allows the wielder to switch between Flaming / Shocking (Greater augment crystal) abilities without the need to replace the gem. It only requires a free action to switch between the two abilities.

Warning: The blade alerts you to danger allowing you to react more quickly. You gain a +5 bonus to your initiative.

BlurStrike: Upon activation your opponent is considered flat footed against the first attack you make with the weapon after activating it. This ability only functions ten times per day.

 

[Uchiha_Arthas]

So what do you guys think, I'm a bit nervous as it is my first time creating a WoL.

Things I would like Feedback in particular on would be the:

Ritual System

and

The actual abilities

Do you think they are balanced? or not?

I'm in particular worried about the blurstrike ability. It fits my character Swordsage with Iaijutsu focus but is it good enough for a + 2 cost over things such as Ghost Strike? Similarly I had problems with Warning vs Keen Edge as both fit my character.