Sanctifying an Unholy Weapon

[Herremann the Wise]

Hi Everyone,

The Quick Question: Imagine you have a +3 unholy longsword and you want to get rid of the unholy part. How can you do this?

The Long Question: The character in question has the Ancestral Relic [General] feat from the Book of Exalted Deeds. He wishes to imbue his greatsword by consuming this item. Would you allow him to do it or would you say the evil taint restricts the use of the item for this purpose? (The character is a good character with good ancestors - a line of paladins in fact).
How would you allow him to use the item in terms of the Ancestral Relic feat?

Best Regards
Herremann the Wise

 

[Scharlata]

Hi, Herremann!

The Quick Question: Imagine you have a +3 unholy longsword and you want to get rid of the unholy part. How can you do this?

Look into the Book of Exalted Deeds, pages 119/120, Redeeming Evil Magic Items, Redeemed Unholy Weapon.

The Long Question: [...] How would you allow him to use the item in terms of the Ancestral Relic feat?

I've had let a PC used an evil magic item in the same way as you suggested. I've even had let another PC pay the costs for a Lesser Planar Ally with evil magic items.

It's a way to get rid of evil magic items good PCs are not ment to sell or are unable to use. It's a little cheesy but then...

Kind regards

 

[glass]

It's a way to get rid of evil magic items good PCs are not ment to sell or are unable to use. It's a little cheesy but then...

Doesn't strike me a cheesy at all. AFAIAC, it's exactly the sort of thing good characters should be looking to do with evil magic items.


glass.

 

[smootrk]

It certainly makes much more sense to eliminate the evil taint from found items. Simply dumping (selling) the evil items on the open market just makes them available for the next blackguard to pick them up at the local magic walmart.

You can always create a spell or series of spells (or other rituals) that a goodly priest type might be able to cast to remove the unholy portion. The rituals should be at least similar in power to the creation process, perhaps without cash or XP requirements -- in fact, I would award XP for these processes.

Be advised that the evil folks will likely be on a mission to do the same to sanctified or otherwise holy items.... might make for interesting campaign concept... a sort of cold war of item creation/destruction made between opposing forces, rather than direct combat confrontations; perhaps in a Lawful City with strong governance that will not allow direct religious confrontations to occur.

 

[Goolpsy]

The same could happen in Law vs Chaos

 

[smootrk]

The same could happen in Law vs Chaos

I guess it could, but I would think that they would actually duke it out, rather than a covert operation of stealing icons & relics for de-santicfying (or the opposite). My thoughts were of a good vs evil in a lawful setting would create this kind of 'cold war'. In any other setting (than a lawful one) I don't think things would go into a covert cold war. For instance, in a Chaotic society, things would become open warfare almost immediately. In an altogether evil society I would imagine all out conflict as well. In a holy (or goodly) society, if Law vs. chaos situation might arise but I think non-confrontation methods would be used to settle differences (ala the good people).

Just expanding on my thoughts. I am sure other opinions or explanations are possible.