Elves' Bane (Rune Long Sword):

This sword is often also called "Thogar's Tears" and has a very sad story behind it. It was towards the end of the Elf and Dwarf. Thogar was one of the last known Dwarven Rune Smith. He had stayed neutral while his fellow Dwarves battled the Elves. He had no hatred for Elves and was extremely sorrowful about the death and destruction from the two races battling over rulership of the World. He lived in a city where Dwarves and Elves actually still lived in peace with each other, one of the few. The city's name has been lost in the mists of time. Going directly against the Elven elders of the city, a bunch of young hotheaded Elves decided to create problems for their Dwarven neighbors. This skirmishing became heated battles and thousands were killed on both sides. In one of the "skirmishes", the Dwarven Rune Smith's son was killed. Many stories exist about Thogar's son including that he was deeply in love with an Elven Lady. This, of course, is deeply disputed by many scholars. Thogar broke into a rage and forged a rune weapon which was keyed especially to the bane of Elves. It is rumored that the soul of his dead son was forged into the weapon and is the only soul drinker which it is said that he forged. The sword was released into the hands of a young Dwarven warrior who was also bend on revenge. His sister had been killed by Elves in the violence and he proceeded to murder every surviving Elf in the city. While he did not work alone, he took great delight in feeding his sword the souls of elves and he is the one who first coined the name "Elve's Bane." As time went on, Thogar's hatred died and he realized what he had done. It broke his heart and he became a shell of what he once was. The Rune Smith tried to get his dread sword back but the warrior left the remains of the city to continue his battle with the Elves. Thogar simply did not have the life left to pursue the wielder of the weapon he had made and dies within a couple of years. Many say that he died of a broken heart.

The sword was lost for centuries when the warrior who carried the sword was dropped in battle by an incredibly skilled Elven archer. Unfortunately, the sword did not stay lost forever. While much animosity still existed between the two races, the Axe had been long buried and for the most part peace existed between the survivors of the two races. Hotheads, especially young hotheads, always seem willing to re-inflame old scores and old hatreds. It was one of these hotheads who found the lost rune sword. When the dust settled, many Elves had been killed and the area was rocked by unrest between the surviving Elves and Dwarves for generations. The sword disappeared again although this time for a much shorter time. Another time of pointless bloodshed between Dwarves and Elves erupted again. Over the centuries, the sword has periodically reappeared with similar results. Sometimes it has found its way into the hand of Dwarven warriors who has lead what could be called armies against the elves while others have simply been homicidal maniacs bent on killing as many Elves personally as possible. Dwarves wishing to finish the Elves once and for all are always wanting to acquire the malign weapon to help them in their wars while those who wish peace want to find the weapon so that it might be put where it can no longer cause bloodshed.

Like many rune weapons made for war, Elves' Bane is a plain and utilitarian weapon. Even so, or maybe because of it, the weapon has a severe beauty. The sword is constructed from dark grey metal which is dull and seems to almost absorb the light around it. Running down the length of the weapon is a series of deeply etched runes. The blade is wide for a long sword although the tip does taper to a sharp point for stabbing. The hand guard is simple without any decoration. The sword feels perfectly balanced in the hand.

Hatred is the most dominant part of the sword’s personality is hatred. If was forged in hatred and forged for hatred. As far as the sword is concerned, no Elf has the right to live. It does not matter if they are man, woman, or child. Any means of killing Elves is acceptable, attacking blinded opponents, stabbing them at night while they sleep, murdering captured elves, and even the murder of babes in arms. While any means of death is acceptable to the sword, the sword loves to consume the souls of elves. It is told that the process is extremely painful and the victim can feel their soul being slowly consumed. The sword does have a sense of caution but will urge any wielder to immediately attack any elf which they encounter if it thinks that the killing can be gotten away with. If the murder cannot be gotten away with immediately, the sword will begin suggesting plots of how to kill the elf without being caught. The sword can be quite devious in its plotting to kill elves. The wielder will find himself fighting these urges which are practically shouted (in a mental voice) at the wielder if he does not immediately respond to the sword. Using torture against elves and Elven sympathizers is a perfectly acceptable means of getting information and the sword absolutely believes that the ends justify the means. Those ends of course is the death of all elves. Probably the sword’s personality is best described as miscreant although it will allow wielders on any alignment to use it. Most of the wielders of the long sword have been dwarves but it has also been owned for short periods by humans. The sword has never bonded with a human and it will not bond with Dwarves who do not share the sword’s hatred of Elves. The sword seems to only be willing to bond with warriors, it will not bond to clergy or powerful psychics. While not at the level of hatred, the sword has a strong dislike for practitioners of magic as well. If nothing else, the sword’s hatred seems to drive those who do not share the hatred to discard the weapon. The hatred has also driven wielders into insanity where they just kill every Elf which they come across whatever the circumstances. A few individuals who have possessed the sword have told that they thought they felt a deep personality which sorrows for the elves which it has occurred. Some think this is what is left of the personality of the dwarf who by legend was the Rune Smith's son although many scholars discount the feeling of a deep personality. There are some dwarves who wish to gain possession of the sword so that they can see if they can bring that personality. In a manner of speaking, they wish to redeem the sword.

The most significant ability of the sword is the ability to drink souls although unlike most "soul drinkers", "Elves' Bane" is limited to the souls of Elves. The few elves who have survived encounters with the sword describe the blade as if burning when it just touches their flesh. If an elf attempts to grab the hilt of the sword, a similar burning will be felt although the sword cannot steal souls in this matter. The blade must actually slice into the flesh to consume souls. Because of the legends behind the sword and the sword’s ability to consume the souls of elves, it is greatly feared by Elves and can be assumed to have a horror factor against them (Horror Factor 12.) In addition to being a soul drinker, the sword has a number of powerful fire elemental abilities. Common among other rune weapons which are linked to the element of fire, the rune weapon has the ability to fire mini-fire balls. Other abilities include the ability to create a blinding flash which is often used when first entering battle, create circles of flame, increase the size of a fire dramatically, surround the wielder with a fiery aura, and create an animated fire which can act as an additional warrior.

Attributes:

Characteristics:

Like all Rune Swords, it is completely indestructible
Links to wielder within 6 months of constant contact. Can sense each other presences within 4 miles.
Gives wielder +1 on all saving throws.
Add +1 Attack per melee.
Can be used to parry energy blasts at -6
Miscreant Alignment but can be used by individuals of any alignment. Elves who attempt to grab the weapon will take takes 2D4 points of damage each time they touch the weapon or 3D6 damage if creatures of magic (Asgardian High Elves).

Weapon Bonuses:

Due to superior craftsmanship, equal to dwarven quality, +2 to Strike, +3 to Parry, and +2 on Initiative

Weapon Damage:

4D6+6 per strike, inflicts S.D.C. in S.D.C. Worlds and inflicts M.D.C. in M.D.C. Worlds (Plus strength bonus if applicable). The weapon inflicts double damage against elves (In addition to soul drinking ability)

Weapon's Special Abilities:

Fire Elemental Magic:

First Level:

Third Level:

Fourth Level:

Sixth Level:

Soul Drinker

Curse:

While not cursed with a normal curse, many considers the sword’s hatred of Elves to be a curse in itself. Whenever the wielder encounters an elf, the sword will begin to suggest killing the elf. If the Elf is able to be killed without repercussion for the wielder, the sword will urge an immediate response. If killing the elf would cause repercussions such as the elf being well protected or in a crowd, the sword will suggest how that the wielder might kill the elf. The sword’s plans can be quite devious. The possessor of the sword much save against insanity when the bonding is complete. The wielder will also have to save if their are attacked or injured by an elf. If any save is failed, the owner will be completely driven by a desire to kill elves (GM decides how this will occur.)

[ Baalgor Wastelands TM, Barraduk TM, Caer Itom TM, Caer Kurgas TM, Charun the Cruel TM, Church of Light and Dark TM, Cirga TM, Dragonwright TM, Eastern Territories TM, Floenry TM, Great Northern Wilderness TM, Heim TM, Hoknar TM, House Elial TM, House Kaze TM, Kighfalton TM, Kirgi TM, Kisenite TM, Kormath TM, Kym-nark-mar TM, Land of the South Winds TM, Lemaria TM, Lista TM, Llorn TM, Lopan TM, Lopnel TM, Mantus TM, M.D.C. TM, Mega-Damage TM, Odguard TM, Old Kingdom TM, Ophid’s Grasslands TM, Panath TM, Phi TM, Ratling TM, Rifter TM, Rurga TM, S.D.C. TM, Styphon TM, Tark TM, Timiro Kingdom TM, Utu TM, Vald-Tegor TM, Vequerrel Woodlands TM, Western Empire TM, Wolfen TM, Yin-Sloth Jungles TM, Yin-Sloth Periphery TM, and Zandragal TM are trademarks owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc. ]

[ Beyond the Supernatural®, Heroes Unlimited®, Nightbane®, Ninjas & Superspies®, Palladium Fantasy®, and Rifts® are registered trademarks owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc. ]

Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).

Return