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Deathscythe (Relic)

posted Thursday, March 20th 2008 by Jonathan Drain
Game Material • Magic Items & Gear • Third Edition • Weapons

This magic item originally appeared 17 Relics by The Le Press. A relic is a powerful magic item which once formed part of the body or belongings of some great figure. See Seventeen Relics for special rules on relics.

In a kingdom ravaged by terrible creatures of living dead, the Deathscythes were first discovered as the weapons of choice of a new and powerful undead abomination formed by an archlich whose name is not spoken even today, lest it wake him from his sleep. Originally a nonmagical farming scythe, the corrupted spirits of ghostly slain farmers leaked into these weapons and gave them supernatural efficacy. Only a few Deathscythes are thought to still exist.

A Deathscythe is usually a +1 ghost touch scythe, although some are more powerful than normal. In addition, the vicious, life-hating spirit of the weapon deals +1d6 negative energy damage on a successful hit against a living creature.

Once per day, the wielder may call upon the fragment of undead spirit in the weapon and declare one attack a “Reaping of the Scytheâ€? before he rolls it. If the attack successfully hits and deals damage, the wielder must make a Fortitude save (DC 5 + half wielder’s character level+ Cha modifier) or be struck dead instantly. This is a death effect.

Moderate necromancy; CL 16th; Price 40,000gp; Weight 10lbs.

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