Saberhagen's Swords
Adam Smith
I'd write them up.
For those who don't already know, Fred Saberhagen wrote a series of
fantasy books (1st, 2nd, 3rd Book of Swords, 1st-Last Books of Lost
Swords, some others) about 12 magic Swords, made by the Gods as tools
in their games with humans. Each Sword has a specific magical power,
and as becomes apparent as the story develops the Swords are powerful
enough even to kill the very Gods who made them. The plot of the
books is all the various forces striving to control as many swords as
they can. In the end all but one are destroyed. (if ya wanna know
WHICH one, read the books . . .)
There's a poem which goes along with the Swords, which I'll use as an
outline.
For my own reasons, I am going to alter some of the Swords into forms
I like better. The least significant alteration is a cosmetic one-
instead of identical swords, each item will be a different weapon.
These are all major artifacts of unimaginable power. For the powers
to work the Swords must be actually weilded in hand, not merely
carried. Only one Sword can be wielded by a being at a time, no
matter how many hands they have or what level of God they are.
Weilding more than one negates the power of all until all but one are
dropped. You CAN weild one and carry as many as you have though.
None of the Swords radiate magic, but they are identifiable on close
inspection.
THE SONG OF SWORDS
Who holds Coinspinner knows good odds
Whichever move he make
But the Sword of Chance, to please the gods
Slips from him like a snake.
User has divine luck. Any attack roll made against the wielder
automatically fails, at a minimum. If the actual attack roll is a 1,
the attacker suffers a fatal accident in the process. This can
include, but is not limited to, the earth opening up under the
attackers feet and swallowing him whole. Spells and other things that
don't require an attack roll also automatically fail. Roll a D20, if
it comes up 1 the would be attacker suffers a fatal accident that
prevents the attack. Use your imagination for events that prevent
attacks from succeeding, they don't have to be particularly plausible.
The wielder wins all games of chance, and can use Coinspinner as a
Divination tool by merely enumerating the possible answers to a
question and randomly selecting one while wielding Coinspinner.
The possessor of Coinspinner must roll a D20 each day of possession,
on a 1 Coinspinner takes itself away and finds a new owner. When
Coinspinner takes itself away, it leaves something valuable in its
place- roll a D20, on a 20 it's a different Sword, otherwise it's
1000GP. No one can keep Coinspinner long, and no magical or other
means can extend the period of ownership. Coinspinner just shows up
for new owners, it can't be deliberately sought.
Otherwise Coinspinner is a +1 rapier.
The Sword of Justice balances the pans
Of right and wrong, and foul and fair.
Eye for an eye, Doomgiver scans
The fate of all folk everywhere.
All attacks and attempts to use magic against the wielder of Doomgiver
are automatically reflected on their source (ie the attacker takes
damage or is affected by the spell, instead of the wielder).
Otherwise Doomgiver is a +1 mace.
Dragonslicer, Dragonslicer, how d'you slay?
Reaching for the heart in behind the scales.
Dragonslicer, Dragonslicer, where do you stay?
In the belly of the giant that my blade impales.
The wielder of Dragonslicer gets an automatic critical on any attack
roll with Dragonslicer versus dragons (or draconic beings), and does
maximum damage. The wielder also automatically succeeds on any saving
throw versus a Dragon's attack. Otherwise Dragonslicer is a +1 Axe.
Farslayer howls across the world
For thy heart, for thy heart, who hast wronged me!
Vengeance is his who casts the blade
Yet he will in the end no triumph see.
Throw Farslayer with the intent to kill ANY specific being, even a
God, and Farslayer kills that being. No save of any kind is allowed
to prevent this, and no magic of any kind can return that being to
life. Farslayer doesn't return, it's left in the dead body for anyone
nearby to find and use. Otherwise Farslayer is a +1 javelin.
Whose flesh the Sword of Mercy hurts has drawn no breath;
Whose soul it heals has wandered in the night,
Has paid the summing of all debts in death
Has turned to see returning light.
(Woundhealer) is a winged rod with two ribbons wrapped around it that
look like snakes (a caduceus in other words). It heals all wounds and
restores all conditions/lost levels/drained characteristics/whatever
for anyone touched by it, even genetic abnormalities. It will regrow
lost limbs. Basically, if there's anything wrong with you,
Woundhealer will fix it. It will not raise the dead or 'repair'
corpses. It does not affect the undead in any way, it neither injures
nor heals them. There is no possible way to use Woundhealer to hurt
someone, though it can be used as an adjunct to torture, to keep the
victim from dying.
The Mindsword spun in the dawn's gray light
And men and demons knelt down before.
The Mindsword flashed in the midday bright
Gods joined the dance, and the march to war.
It spun in the twilight dim as well
And gods and men marched off to hell.
Every being within 1000' is immediately Charmed with no save. The
effect is strongwer than the ordinary Charm, affected beings will obey
ANY order to the best of their abilities. 24 hours after their last
exposure to the Mindsword, affected beings may make a will save (DC
40) every eight hours to throw off the effect, +5 on the attempt for
each additional eight hours.
Otherwise the Mindsword is a
I shatter Swords and splinter spears;
None stands to Shieldbreaker.
My point's the fount of orphans' tears
My edge the widowmaker.
Any armed foe attacked by Shieldbreaker's wielder dies. Any weapon,
armor, or shield they try to use is destroyed. Any weapon used to
attack Shieldbreaker's wielder is destroyed. If the attack was a
melee attack, the attacker is also killed. Shieldbreaker can NOT
injure unarmed opponents under any circumstances. Also, any UNARMED
attack against Shieldbreaker's wielder automatically succeeds,
automatically gets a confirmed critical, and automatically causes
maximum damage. (a God wielding Shieldbreaker was killed by unarmed
peasants) Shieldbreaker cannot be dropped in battle. (Don't take
Shieldbreaker against a Monk). Animals are also not affected by
Shieldbreakers power, only beings with made weapons, not natural ones.
Otherwise Shieldbreaker is a +1 greatsword.
The Sword of Stealth is given to
One lonely and despised.
Sightblinder's gifts: his eyes are keen
His nature is disguised.
Sightblinder makes it impossible for anyone to perceive the wielder's
presence, by any means, even indirectly, no matter what the wielder
does (except for sheathing it, of course). A guard in front of a
door, won't perceive the wielder, no would he perceive it if the
wielder opened that door. The wielder doesn't not leave footprints,
odor traces, or make sounds. Otherwise Sightblinder is +1 dagger.
Rest later.
The Tyrant's Blade no blood hath spilled
But doth the spirit carve
Soulcutter hath no body killed
But many left to starve.
The Sword of Siege struck a hammer's blow
With a crash, and a smash, and a tumbled wall.
Stonecutter laid a castle low
With a groan, and a roar, and a tower's fall.
Long roads the Sword of Fury makes
Hard walls it builds around the soft
The fighter who Townsaver takes
Can bid farewell to home and croft.
Who holds Wayfinder finds good roads
Its master's step is brisk.
The Sword of Wisdom lightens loads
But adds unto their risk.
Bryan J. Maloney
news:8130079e.04062...@posting.google.com:
> The wielder of Dragonslicer gets an automatic critical on any attack
> roll with Dragonslicer versus dragons (or draconic beings), and does
> maximum damage. The wielder also automatically succeeds on any saving
> throw versus a Dragon's attack. Otherwise Dragonslicer is a +1 Axe.
It should simply kill the dragon and then be irretrievable.
> Throw Farslayer with the intent to kill ANY specific being, even a
> God, and Farslayer kills that being. No save of any kind is allowed
> to prevent this, and no magic of any kind can return that being to
> life. Farslayer doesn't return, it's left in the dead body for anyone
> nearby to find and use. Otherwise Farslayer is a +1 javelin.
Where is the karmic doom that befalls the wielder?
> Any armed foe attacked by Shieldbreaker's wielder dies. Any weapon,
> armor, or shield they try to use is destroyed. Any weapon used to
> attack Shieldbreaker's wielder is destroyed. If the attack was a
> melee attack, the attacker is also killed. Shieldbreaker can NOT
> injure unarmed opponents under any circumstances. Also, any UNARMED
> attack against Shieldbreaker's wielder automatically succeeds,
> automatically gets a confirmed critical, and automatically causes
> maximum damage. (a God wielding Shieldbreaker was killed by unarmed
> peasants) Shieldbreaker cannot be dropped in battle. (Don't take
> Shieldbreaker against a Monk). Animals are also not affected by
> Shieldbreakers power, only beings with made weapons, not natural ones.
> Otherwise Shieldbreaker is a +1 greatsword.
It also has the ability to counteract effects of the other swords. The
Emperor used it in such a fashion at least once.
Bryan J. Maloney
I take it you're doing a post first-trilogy list? Townsaver didn't appear
in your listing.
Kevin Lowe
loc...@hotmail.com (Adam Smith) wrote:
> For my own reasons, I am going to alter some of the Swords into forms
> I like better. The least significant alteration is a cosmetic one-
> instead of identical swords, each item will be a different weapon.
Everything looks okay mechanically, but I have to say that making the
swords into a variety of different items spoils a great deal of the
possible fun. A regular schtick of Swords stories is the "I think he's
got one of the Swords, but I don't know which" bit, and similarly in at
least one story someone got unstuck by picking a fight wielding
Woundhealer, not knowing what it was.
Making them indistinguishable apart from wee sigils on the handle is a
Good Thing.
Kevin Lowe,
Tasmania.
CARRIER LOST
> Oddly, I haven't seen any mentions of these for D&D 3.5, so I thought
> I'd write them up.
except you made them NOT SWORDS. three hail banjos in penance.
Rick Pikul
loc...@hotmail.com says...
> Dragonslicer, Dragonslicer, how d'you slay?
>
> Reaching for the heart in behind the scales.
>
> Dragonslicer, Dragonslicer, where do you stay?
>
> In the belly of the giant that my blade impales.
>
>
> The wielder of Dragonslicer gets an automatic critical on any attack
> roll with Dragonslicer versus dragons (or draconic beings), and does
> maximum damage. The wielder also automatically succeeds on any saving
> throw versus a Dragon's attack. Otherwise Dragonslicer is a +1 Axe.
I would add something to represent its penchant for getting stuck:
Say requiring a DC20 strength check to pull it free, as a free action as
part of the attack or a move action afterwards.
> Farslayer howls across the world
>
> For thy heart, for thy heart, who hast wronged me!
>
> Vengeance is his who casts the blade
>
> Yet he will in the end no triumph see.
>
>
> Throw Farslayer with the intent to kill ANY specific being, even a
> God, and Farslayer kills that being. No save of any kind is allowed
> to prevent this, and no magic of any kind can return that being to
> life. Farslayer doesn't return, it's left in the dead body for anyone
> nearby to find and use. Otherwise Farslayer is a +1 javelin.
I would add a requirement that the victim has to have wronged you
in some way.
> The Sword of Stealth is given to
>
> One lonely and despised.
>
> Sightblinder's gifts: his eyes are keen
>
> His nature is disguised.
>
>
> Sightblinder makes it impossible for anyone to perceive the wielder's
> presence, by any means, even indirectly, no matter what the wielder
> does (except for sheathing it, of course). A guard in front of a
> door, won't perceive the wielder, no would he perceive it if the
> wielder opened that door. The wielder doesn't not leave footprints,
> odor traces, or make sounds. Otherwise Sightblinder is +1 dagger.
Removing the 'appear as one trusted or feared' trait?
Also, I would give a bonus to spot/search checks and saves v/s
illusions.
--
Phoenix
Aaron F. Bourque
Would it really be that hard to make then UNNOT SWORDS?
Aaron "The Mad Whitaker" Bourque; hmm, unnot sword, isn't that
what Alexander used on the ox cart?
--
Women supposedly mature at a faster rate than men
If that is true, how come they live so much longer then . . ?
"We're nothing like God. Not only do we have limited powers,
but sometimes we're driven to become the devil himself."-ndw
Bill Seurer
> Oddly, I haven't seen any mentions of these for D&D 3.5, so I thought
> I'd write them up.
>
You left out the sword interactions. And they work better as all swords.
Mr. M.J. Lush
Adam Smith <loc...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>Oddly, I haven't seen any mentions of these for D&D 3.5, so I thought
>I'd write them up.
>
>For those who don't already know, Fred Saberhagen wrote a series of
>fantasy books (1st, 2nd, 3rd Book of Swords, 1st-Last Books of Lost
>Swords, some others) about 12 magic Swords, made by the Gods as tools
>in their games with humans.
Excellent post!
I've never read these books (but probably will), some of the swords
descriptions strongly reminded of those Munchausen style fairy-tales
where the hero gathers some extraordinary friends (the greatest sharpshooter,
the strongest man, the one who can fire monkeys out of his butt :-)
and go adventuring. A one off in that style could make a fun
change of pace.
--
Michael
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NPC rights activist | Nameless Abominations are people too.
Bryan J. Maloney
news:cbm4on$om5$1...@helium.hgmp.mrc.ac.uk:
> In article <8130079e.04062...@posting.google.com>,
> Adam Smith <loc...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>Oddly, I haven't seen any mentions of these for D&D 3.5, so I thought
>>I'd write them up.
>>
>>For those who don't already know, Fred Saberhagen wrote a series of
>>fantasy books (1st, 2nd, 3rd Book of Swords, 1st-Last Books of Lost
>>Swords, some others) about 12 magic Swords, made by the Gods as tools
>>in their games with humans.
>
> Excellent post!
Except that he violated the basic premise that they are ALL SWORDS that are
visually identical except for a small decoration that cannot be seen at any
distance. I'd rate it as a "somewhat better than mediocre" post.
Kataphractoi
constant reminders :)...
http://www.seankreynolds.com/rpgfiles/magicitems/saberhagenswords.html
Of course, he _said_ he plans on converting them to 3E soon. But it's been
two years....
Maybe it's time for me to start pestering him online again. :)
Adam Smith
> Adam Smith wrote:
>
> > Oddly, I haven't seen any mentions of these for D&D 3.5, so I thought
> > I'd write them up.
> >
>
> You left out the sword interactions.
I was going to do that after the individual descriptions.
> And they work better as all swords.
Making them different weapons is just a cosmetic thing. You can
switch it back without effort if you like.
Adam Smith
> > Dragonslicer, Dragonslicer, how d'you slay?
> >
> > Reaching for the heart in behind the scales.
> >
> > Dragonslicer, Dragonslicer, where do you stay?
> >
> > In the belly of the giant that my blade impales.
> >
> >
> > The wielder of Dragonslicer gets an automatic critical on any attack
> > roll with Dragonslicer versus dragons (or draconic beings), and does
> > maximum damage. The wielder also automatically succeeds on any saving
> > throw versus a Dragon's attack. Otherwise Dragonslicer is a +1 Axe.
>
> I would add something to represent its penchant for getting stuck:
> Say requiring a DC20 strength check to pull it free, as a free action as
> part of the attack or a move action afterwards.
My problem with Dragonslicer is that's it's too limited; I don't want
to make it even more limited.
> > Farslayer howls across the world
> >
> > For thy heart, for thy heart, who hast wronged me!
> >
> > Vengeance is his who casts the blade
> >
> > Yet he will in the end no triumph see.
> >
> >
> > Throw Farslayer with the intent to kill ANY specific being, even a
> > God, and Farslayer kills that being. No save of any kind is allowed
> > to prevent this, and no magic of any kind can return that being to
> > life. Farslayer doesn't return, it's left in the dead body for anyone
> > nearby to find and use. Otherwise Farslayer is a +1 javelin.
>
> I would add a requirement that the victim has to have wronged you
> in some way.
I figure wanting them dead is enough.
> > The Sword of Stealth is given to
> >
> > One lonely and despised.
> >
> > Sightblinder's gifts: his eyes are keen
> >
> > His nature is disguised.
> >
> >
> > Sightblinder makes it impossible for anyone to perceive the wielder's
> > presence, by any means, even indirectly, no matter what the wielder
> > does (except for sheathing it, of course). A guard in front of a
> > door, won't perceive the wielder, no would he perceive it if the
> > wielder opened that door. The wielder doesn't not leave footprints,
> > odor traces, or make sounds. Otherwise Sightblinder is +1 dagger.
>
> Removing the 'appear as one trusted or feared' trait?
Yeah, I wasn't happy with that. Even some of the characters in the
book realized they were under Sightblinder's influence.
> Also, I would give a bonus to spot/search checks and saves v/s
> illusions.
Yeah, I forgaot to add that.
Adam Smith
> > Throw Farslayer with the intent to kill ANY specific being, even a
> > God, and Farslayer kills that being. No save of any kind is allowed
> > to prevent this, and no magic of any kind can return that being to
> > life. Farslayer doesn't return, it's left in the dead body for anyone
> > nearby to find and use. Otherwise Farslayer is a +1 javelin.
>
> Where is the karmic doom that befalls the wielder?
If the guy you just killed had friends, they now have Farslayer . . .
> > Any armed foe attacked by Shieldbreaker's wielder dies. Any weapon,
> > armor, or shield they try to use is destroyed. Any weapon used to
> > attack Shieldbreaker's wielder is destroyed. If the attack was a
> > melee attack, the attacker is also killed. Shieldbreaker can NOT
> > injure unarmed opponents under any circumstances. Also, any UNARMED
> > attack against Shieldbreaker's wielder automatically succeeds,
> > automatically gets a confirmed critical, and automatically causes
> > maximum damage. (a God wielding Shieldbreaker was killed by unarmed
> > peasants) Shieldbreaker cannot be dropped in battle. (Don't take
> > Shieldbreaker against a Monk). Animals are also not affected by
> > Shieldbreakers power, only beings with made weapons, not natural ones.
> > Otherwise Shieldbreaker is a +1 greatsword.
>
> It also has the ability to counteract effects of the other swords. The
> Emperor used it in such a fashion at least once.
I'll get to that. . .
Mr. M.J. Lush
So by crossing out the different weapon descriptions and making all swords
visually identical except for a small decoration that cannot be seen at any
distance, it can become an excellent post?
Adam Smith
Time for the rest . . .
I'm going to modify some things from yesterday as I go.
> These are all major artifacts of unimaginable power. For the powers
> to work the Swords must be actually weilded in hand, not merely
> carried. Only one Sword can be wielded by a being at a time, no
> matter how many hands they have or what level of God they are.
> Weilding more than one negates the power of all until all but one are
> dropped. You CAN weild one and carry as many as you have though.
> None of the Swords radiate magic, but they are identifiable on close
> inspection.
Also, anyone wielding or carrying a 'Sword' will recognize another
'Sword' on sight.
> The Sword of Justice balances the pans
>
> Of right and wrong, and foul and fair.
>
> Eye for an eye, Doomgiver scans
>
> The fate of all folk everywhere.
>
>
> All attacks and attempts to use magic against the wielder of Doomgiver
> are automatically reflected on their source (ie the attacker takes
> damage or is affected by the spell, instead of the wielder).
> Otherwise Doomgiver is a +1 mace.
In the case of area attacks, the caster will take damage as if he were
standing where the holder of Doomgiver is, ie Doomgiver will not
change the point of impact of a Fireball, but it will toast the caster
(but not the casters allies).
For things like Charm spells, reflection means that the caster is
affected as if the Wielder cast the spell. Also, casters will
automatically fail any saves versus their reflected spell. (cast
Charm on the wielder of Doomgiver and YOU will be Charmed instead, no
matter what your Will Save is, guaranteed)
> Dragonslicer, Dragonslicer, how d'you slay?
>
> Reaching for the heart in behind the scales.
>
> Dragonslicer, Dragonslicer, where do you stay?
>
> In the belly of the giant that my blade impales.
>
>
> The wielder of Dragonslicer gets an automatic critical on any attack
> roll with Dragonslicer versus dragons (or draconic beings), and does
> maximum damage. The wielder also automatically succeeds on any saving
> throw versus a Dragon's attack. Otherwise Dragonslicer is a +1 Axe.
Change: Dragonslicer is otherwise a +1 spear.
(I think Dragonslicer is too weak, anyone have ideas on how to make it
better, ie comparable to the other 'Swords'? autokill is an obvious
possibility, but I'd rather make it more general; dragons just aren't
that common)
> Whose flesh the Sword of Mercy hurts has drawn no breath;
>
> Whose soul it heals has wandered in the night,
>
> Has paid the summing of all debts in death
>
> Has turned to see returning light.
>
>
> (Woundhealer) is a winged rod with two ribbons wrapped around it that
> look like snakes (a caduceus in other words). It heals all wounds and
> restores all conditions/lost levels/drained characteristics/whatever
> for anyone touched by it, even genetic abnormalities. It will regrow
> lost limbs. Basically, if there's anything wrong with you,
> Woundhealer will fix it. It will not raise the dead or 'repair'
> corpses. It does not affect the undead in any way, it neither injures
> nor heals them. There is no possible way to use Woundhealer to hurt
> someone, though it can be used as an adjunct to torture, to keep the
> victim from dying.
Modification: Woundhealer heals Vampirism, Lychanthropy, and other
similar conditions, so using it against a vampire will turn that
Vampire into a non-vampiric living being.
(I don't want to make Woundhealer a weapon, but it also has to cure
ANYTHING. Undeath is a problem . . .)
Change: Otherwise Woundhealer is a +1 staff. (a caduceus was too
much)
> The Mindsword spun in the dawn's gray light
>
> And men and demons knelt down before.
>
> The Mindsword flashed in the midday bright
>
> Gods joined the dance, and the march to war.
>
> It spun in the twilight dim as well
>
> And gods and men marched off to hell.
>
>
> Every being within 1000' is immediately Charmed with no save. The
> effect is strongwer than the ordinary Charm, affected beings will obey
> ANY order to the best of their abilities. 24 hours after their last
> exposure to the Mindsword, affected beings may make a will save (DC
> 40) every eight hours to throw off the effect, +5 on the attempt for
> each additional eight hours.
>
> Otherwise the Mindsword is a
Change: Every being within 100' (not 1000') is immediately Charmed,
etc. This radius increases by 100' every round, to a maximum of
1000'. The effect starts when the Mindsword is drawn.
The Mindsword is a +1 Greatsword.
> I shatter Swords and splinter spears;
>
> None stands to Shieldbreaker.
>
> My point's the fount of orphans' tears
>
> My edge the widowmaker.
>
>
> Any armed foe attacked by Shieldbreaker's wielder dies. Any weapon,
> armor, or shield they try to use is destroyed. Any weapon used to
> attack Shieldbreaker's wielder is destroyed. If the attack was a
> melee attack, the attacker is also killed. Shieldbreaker can NOT
> injure unarmed opponents under any circumstances. Also, any UNARMED
> attack against Shieldbreaker's wielder automatically succeeds,
> automatically gets a confirmed critical, and automatically causes
> maximum damage. (a God wielding Shieldbreaker was killed by unarmed
> peasants) Shieldbreaker cannot be dropped in battle. (Don't take
> Shieldbreaker against a Monk). Animals are also not affected by
> Shieldbreakers power, only beings with made weapons, not natural ones.
> Otherwise Shieldbreaker is a +1 greatsword.
Shieldbreaker destroys arrows, not the bows that fired them.
Shieldbreaker renders the wielder immune to the powers of the other
swords, but it doesn't destroy them unless they're used for a melee
(exception: Farslayer) attack against the wielder.
Change: Shieldbreaker is a +1 bastard sword.
> The Sword of Stealth is given to
>
> One lonely and despised.
>
> Sightblinder's gifts: his eyes are keen
>
> His nature is disguised.
>
>
> Sightblinder makes it impossible for anyone to perceive the wielder's
> presence, by any means, even indirectly, no matter what the wielder
> does (except for sheathing it, of course). A guard in front of a
> door, won't perceive the wielder, no would he perceive it if the
> wielder opened that door. The wielder doesn't not leave footprints,
> odor traces, or make sounds. Otherwise Sightblinder is +1 dagger.
> Rest later.
Rest now-
> The Tyrant's Blade no blood hath spilled
>
> But doth the spirit carve
>
> Soulcutter hath no body killed
>
> But many left to starve.
Every being within 100' gains one negative level per round with no
save (this does not increase the wielder's hit points). Creatures
within the area of effect are also incapable of taking ANY action
until the effect is removed (this specifically includes any form of
movement, combat, or spellcasting). This radius increases by 100'
every round, to a maximum of 1000'. Creatures slain this way do not
rise as undead. Creatures who are drained but not slain automatically
lose one negative level every 24 hours. Otherwise Soulcutter is a +1
halberd.
> The Sword of Siege struck a hammer's blow
>
> With a crash, and a smash, and a tumbled wall.
>
> Stonecutter laid a castle low
>
> With a groan, and a roar, and a tower's fall.
Stonecutter cuts through stone as if it were soft cheese. It can
carve a passage through solid rock large enough for a medium sized
creature to walk through at 5' per round (the carving at 5' per round,
not the walking through the carved passage). Stonecutter does NOT
make the carved out chunks of rock disappear or make them weightless
though- they'll still have to be dealt with. Stonecutter doesn't
change the properties of the rock it carves through (it doesn't turn
rock soft and cheesy in other words, it just cuts it easily).
Stonecutter can also be used to perform intricate carving of fine gems
without otherwise harming them. Otherwise Stonecutter is a +1 Axe.
> Long roads the Sword of Fury makes
>
> Hard walls it builds around the soft
>
> The fighter who Townsaver takes
>
> Can bid farewell to home and croft.
While defending a fixed place containing sentient non-combatants (not
the farmer's chicken coop in other words, unless it has people in it),
Townsaver automatically parries/deflects any attack made against the
wielder or any ally of the wielder within 5'. The wielder also
automatically succeeds on any save he may have to make. Offensively
Townsaver gets an automatic confirmed critical, and does maximum
damage every time it attacks.
Otherwise Townsaver is a +1 Broadsword.
> Who holds Wayfinder finds good roads
>
> Its master's step is brisk.
>
> The Sword of Wisdom lightens loads
>
> But adds unto their risk.
Wayfinder points the path to whatever destination you desire, even
abstract ones. Wayfinder will show the wielder the way to the nearest
(or 7th nearest if you want) pile of treasure, the nearest unguarded
pile of treasure, true love, great power, comfort, ease, security,
anything. Whatever you desire to find, Wayfinder will show you what
direction to walk (literaly, btw) to find it. If obtaining the goal
requires allies, then the path wayfinder points out will take you to
them. All it does it point out which DIRECTION you need to travel in
at any given moment, it doesn't tell you how to overcome the obstacles
you face. (well, it will point you on the path around a landslide (if
there is one), it just won't tell you how to convince the allies you
need to follow you). The direction Wayfinder shows is always a useful
one, it will NOT merely point down if someone in Chicago asks how to
get to Australia for instance.
Otherwise Wayfinder is a +1 Shortsword.
Sword interactions:
When the powers of two Swords conflict, roll a d20- on a 1-10 the
Sword whose name comes earlier in the alphabet wins out, 11-20 the one
that comes later in the alphabet wins. The result is good for 24
hours, after that roll again at the next interaction. Examples:
Farslayer v Doomgiver. On a 1-10 Doomgiver wins and reflects
Farslayer against it's wielder, on an 11-20 the wielder of Doomgiver
dies. Shieldbreaker v Sightblinder: on a 1-10 the wielder of
Shieldbreaker will perceive someone wielding Sightblinder, on 11-20
he won't. Whichever outcome, the results are good for 24 hours. If
Townsaver succeeds this time in parrying Shieldbreaker it'll succeed 2
hours from now as well, but roll again tomorrow.
If the POWERS of two Swords don't conflict, the relevant power wins.
For instance Shieldbreaker will destroy Stonecutter or Dragonslicer or
Woundhealer if they're used to attack Shieldbreaker's wielder.
If neither power is relevant, then the swords merely act as their +1
counterparts would.
(this is different than the books, but I didn't want to enumerate
(make up) the 66 different Sword interactions)
Rick Pikul
>> Long roads the Sword of Fury makes
>>
>> Hard walls it builds around the soft
>>
>> The fighter who Townsaver takes
>>
>> Can bid farewell to home and croft.
>
>
> While defending a fixed place containing sentient non-combatants (not
> the farmer's chicken coop in other words, unless it has people in it),
> Townsaver automatically parries/deflects any attack made against the
> wielder or any ally of the wielder within 5'. The wielder also
> automatically succeeds on any save he may have to make. Offensively
> Townsaver gets an automatic confirmed critical, and does maximum
> damage every time it attacks.
I would change the defensive trait to: The wielder of Townsaver is
immune to being killed, stunned, or otherwise disabled for any reason, so
long as he continues to defend his charges. It was mentioned in the books
that you could kill the Sword of Fury's wielder, it's just that he
wouldn't drop until the fight was over.
--
Phoenix
Kevin Lowe
Rick Pikul <rwp...@sympatico.ca> wrote:
Wasn't part of the deal with Townsaver that you wouldn't die of your
injuries while the biff was on, but you were on your own after that? I
thought that there was a bit of a kamikaze aspect to taking Townsaver to
work. Am I misremembering?
Kevin Lowe,
Tasmania?
Bryan J. Maloney
>> I would add a requirement that the victim has to have wronged
>> you
>> in some way.
>
>
> I figure wanting them dead is enough.
Are you trying not to get it? The target of the sword must have actually
done some wrong to the wielder for it to work.
Adam Smith
Actually no, Farslayer will slay anyone, regardless. In the book that
deals mostly with it two feuding families wipe each other out, one at
a time, over the course of one night. At no point is it indicated
that any individual target ever hurt the thrower, or that they even
knew each other in any real sense.
Timothy Dransfield
> Whose flesh the Sword of Mercy hurts has drawn no breath;
> Whose soul it heals has wandered in the night,
> Has paid the summing of all debts in death
> Has turned to see returning light.
Ok, so I haven't read the books, and I'm just curious. That first line
seems to me to read quite clearly that the Sword of Mercy CAN hurt
"creatures", but that said "creatures" must not have drawn breath.
1) Were there undead in the books? If you beat them over the head with
this sword, do they take damage?
2) What about constructs, oozes, etc? Could the sword hurt them?
I know this is all tangential, and hardly the point of the sword. I'm
just annoyed by that first line of the poem if what the author *actually*
means is "you can't hurt anything with this Sword". After all, it's a
fantasy world, and it's not exactly difficult to imagine enemies that
haven't drawn breath.
TJD
Adam Smith
fantasy books (1st, 2nd, 3rd Book of Swords, 1st-Last Books of Lost
Swords, some others) about 12 magic Swords, made by the Gods as tools
in their games with humans. Each Sword has a specific magical power,
and as becomes apparent as the story develops the Swords are powerful
enough even to kill the very Gods who made them. The plot of the
books is all the various forces striving to control as many swords as
they can. In the end all but one are destroyed. (if ya wanna know
WHICH one, read the books . . .)
There's a poem which goes along with the Swords, which I'll use as an
outline. There's also an official Sword's writer's Bible online
(www.berserker.com), so I'm going to weave in those descriptions with
the 'Song of the Swords' and my game mechanical takes on the swords,
and occasionally some of my thoughts on why I changed things. Each
entry will be: Poem, Saberhagen's Bible, my take. My take does NOT
necesarily follow Saberhagen's version, and some of my Swords are VERY
different than his, with only the name the same.
For my own reasons, I am going to alter some of the Swords into forms
I like better. The least significant alteration is a cosmetic one-
instead of identical swords, each item will be a different weapon.
These are all major artifacts of unimaginable power. For the powers
to work the Swords must be actually weilded in hand, not merely
carried. Only one Sword can be wielded by a being at a time, no
matter how many hands they have or what level of God they are.
Weilding more than one negates the power of all until all but one are
dropped. You CAN wield one and carry as many as you have though.
None of the Swords radiate magic, but they are identifiable on close
inspection. Anyone wielding or carrying a 'Sword' will recognize
another
'Sword' on sight. If the wielder of a Sword should die while wielding
it, its magic stops immediately (ie the corpse of someone who dies
wielding Sightblinder will be perfectly visible).
The 'Swords' cannot be damaged or destroyed, not by the power of
another 'Sword', not even by a God. (this is a change from the books.
I just didn't like the idea of Shieldbreaker going around destroying
every other Sword- there's no obvious reason why, for instance,
Doomgiver should fail to do to Shieldbreaker what it does to every
other attack)
If any Sword is left unused for a year (sometimes less) it will
disappear and find a new owner. They're meant to be used, not locked
up in a vault.
THE SONG OF SWORDS
Who holds Coinspinner knows good odds
Whichever move he make
But the Sword of Chance, to please the gods
Slips from him like a snake.
COINSPINNER (SW. OF CHANCE)
Symbol: dice
Sound: none
Remarks: renders bearer incredibly, magically lucky. Anyone attempting
harm to user has amazing bad luck, swallowed by an earthquake if
necessary to save user.
This SW. is unique in that it moves itself around at random intervals,
changing owners now and then, leaving even locked and sealed vaults to
reappear in unexpected places.
****************************************************************
User has divine luck. Any attack roll made against the wielder
automatically fails, at a minimum. If the actual attack roll is a 1,
the attacker injures himself in the process- the would be attacker
takes maximum possible damage from his weapon, including critical
multiplier. Spells and other things that
don't require an attack roll also automatically fail. Roll a D20, if
it comes up 1 the would be attacker affcts himself with the attack, as
above. Use your imagination for events that prevent
attacks from succeeding, they don't have to be particularly plausible.
The wielder wins all games of chance, and can use Coinspinner as a
Divination tool by merely enumerating the possible answers to a
question and randomly selecting one while wielding Coinspinner.
The possessor of Coinspinner must roll a D20 each day of possession,
on a 1 Coinspinner takes itself away and finds a new owner. When
Coinspinner takes itself away, it leaves something valuable in its
place- roll a D20, on a 20 it's a different Sword, otherwise it's
a 1000GP gem. No one can keep Coinspinner long, and no magical or
other
means can extend the period of ownership. New owners generally just
find Coinspinner lying on the ground somewhere or it substitutes
itself for a weapon in the owners possession.
Otherwise Coinspinner is a +1 rapier.
The Sword of Justice balances the pans
Of right and wrong, and foul and fair.
Eye for an eye, Doomgiver scans
The fate of all folk everywhere.
DOOMGIVER (SW. OF JUSTICE)
Symbol: hollow circle
Sound: none
Remarks: anyone attacking user suffers whatever injury (s)he is trying
to inflict. Was destroyed by SHIELDBREAKER very early in the series.
****************************************************************
All attacks and attempts to use magic against the wielder of Doomgiver
are automatically reflected on their source (ie the attacker takes
damage or is affected by the spell, instead of the wielder). The
would be attacker takes maximum possible effect from the reflected
attack, including being multiplied for a critical hit.
In the case of area attacks, the caster will take damage as if he were
standing where the holder of Doomgiver is, ie Doomgiver will not
change the point of impact of a Fireball, but it will toast the caster
(but not the casters allies).
For things like Charm spells, reflection means that the caster is
affected as if the Wielder cast the spell. Also, casters will
automatically fail any saves versus their reflected spell. (cast
Charm on the wielder of Doomgiver and YOU will be Charmed instead, no
matter what your Will Save is, guaranteed)
Otherwise Doomgiver is a +1 mace.
Dragonslicer, Dragonslicer, how d'you slay?
Reaching for the heart in behind the scales.
Dragonslicer, Dragonslicer, where do you stay?
In the belly of the giant that my blade impales.
DRAGONSLICER (SW. OF HEROES)
Symbol: dragon
Sound: shrilling
Remarks: See DRAGONS. Penetrates easily the thickest armored scales
and finds the vital spots of these otherwise almost invulnerable
monsters.
Does not guarantee the wielder against death or injury.
****************************************************************
The wielder of Dragonslicer automatically kills any non-humanoid,
creature he attacks with Dragonslicer, (ie monsters in general, not
just Dragons). Though Dragonslicer is a Spear it cannot be thrown for
effect; it must be wielded in hand in order for its magic to work.
Dragonslicer does not provide any defensive abilities. Otherwise
Dragonslicer is a +1 Spear.
Farslayer howls across the world
For thy heart, for thy heart, who hast wronged me!
Vengeance is his who casts the blade
Yet he will in the end no triumph see.
FARSLAYER
(SW. OF VENGENANCE)
Symbol: target; that is concentric rings
Sound: howl
Remarks: Farslayer when thrown at a foe will travel any distance
necessary to reach intended target. Skewers the heart (in case of a
demon, the physical object housing the life). No physical or magical
barrier (except, of course, SHIELDBREAKER) is effective.
****************************************************************
Throw Farslayer with the intent to kill ANY specific being, even a
God, and Farslayer kills that being. You don't have to know the
being's name, you just have to some means of identifying it, "the
leader of that band of orcs over there", "whoever just killed the
king", and "the most evil person in the world" are all valid. No save
of any kind is allowed
to prevent this, and no magic of any kind can return that being to
life. Farslayer doesn't return, it's left in the dead body for anyone
nearby to find and use. Farslayer works regardless what planes the
Wielder and target are on (ie being on a different plane won't help
you). Otherwise Farslayer is a +1 javelin.
Whose flesh the Sword of Mercy hurts has drawn no breath;
Whose soul it heals has wandered in the night,
Has paid the summing of all debts in death
Has turned to see returning light.
WOUNDHEALER (SW. OF MERCY; SW OF LOVE)
Symbol: open hand
Sound: human breath
Remarks: Actually not a weapon. When plunged into body causes no pain
or damage--quite the contrary. Heals any injuries or disease, as long
as spark of life remains. Will not raise dead or restore youth. Can be
used prophylactically, e.g., a man can hold this Sword embedded in his
flesh and jump off a cliff, or face an armed attack, without being
hurt more than momentarily. Caused Jord the Smith to regrow his
amputated arm, over a period of months.
On the downside, can be used by a torturer to revive his victims, over
and over.
****************************************************************
Woundhealer heals all wounds and
restores all conditions/diseases/lost levels/drained
characteristics/whatever
for anyone touched by it, even genetic abnormalities. It will cure
Lycanthropy and Mummy rot and any other magical diseases, so long as
the victim is still alive. It will regrow
lost limbs. Basically, if there's anything wrong with you,
Woundhealer will fix it. It will not raise the dead or 'repair'
corpses. It does not reverse the effects of aging. Its magic does
not affect the undead, constructs, or any creature without a
Constitution score in any way, it neither injures
nor heals them (exception, as a +1 staff it can be used in combat
against them and will work fine as such). It will not cure vampirism
or any condition suffered by the undead. There is no possible way to
use Woundhealer to hurt a living being, though it can be used as an
adjunct to torture, to keep the
victim from dying. Otherwise Woundhealer is a +1 staff.
The Mindsword spun in the dawn's gray light
And men and demons knelt down before.
The Mindsword flashed in the midday bright
Gods joined the dance, and the march to war.
It spun in the twilight dim as well
And gods and men marched off to hell.
MINDSWORD (various alternate names; make one up if you like)
Symbol: generic banner
Sound: faint roar as of cheering mob
Remarks: inspires fanatical loyalty, obedience, worship of wielder.
Can even cause GODS to fall down and worship humans.
****************************************************************
Every being within 100' is immediately Charmed, with no save. This
radius increases by 100' every round, to a maximum of
1000'. The effect starts when the Mindsword is drawn. The
effect is stronger than the ordinary Charm, affected beings will obey
ANY order to the best of their abilities. 24 hours after their last
exposure to the Mindsword, affected beings may make a will save (DC
40) every eight hours to throw off the effect, +5 on the attempt for
each additional eight hours.
Otherwise the Mindsword is a +1 Greatsword
I shatter Swords and splinter spears;
None stands to Shieldbreaker.
My point's the fount of orphans' tears
My edge the widowmaker.
SHIELDBREAKER (SW. OF FORCE)
Symbol: hammer
Sound: thudding; slow rhythm when danger threatens, rapid in actual
combat.
Remarks: violently trumps any and all other weapons, physical or
magical, passive or active. DEMONS and WARBEASTS also count as weapons
for this purpose.
One fighter with SW OF FORCE can carve up an army (as long as they
keep coming within reach) and survive unscratched. But user may be
exhausted, even fatally, being tugged through violent exercise by this
SW. Once in action, can't be dropped or turned off until the fight is
over.
All other SWORDS are useless as weapons against person armed with this
one; e.g., wielder cannot be tracked down by WAYFINDER or deceived by
SIGHTBLINDER.
Direct opposition between WOUNDHEALER and SHIELDBREAKER is a special
case; please consult with Fred Saberhagen before staging this.
Only one way to beat SW. OF FORCE: SHIELDBREAKER will not harm the
flesh of an unarmed person, and wielder can be outwrestled even by
someone normally much weaker.
****************************************************************
Any armed foe attacked by Shieldbreaker's wielder dies. Any weapon,
armor, or shield they try to use is destroyed. Any weapon used to
attack Shieldbreaker's wielder is destroyed (Shieldbreaker destroys
arrows, not the bows that fired them). If the attack was a
melee attack, the attacker is also killed. Shieldbreaker can NOT
injure unarmed opponents under any circumstances; it will pass
throught he flesh, clothing, armor, etc of unarmed people without
injury. Also, any UNARMED
attack against Shieldbreaker's wielder automatically succeeds,
automatically gets a confirmed critical, and automatically causes
maximum damage. (a God wielding Shieldbreaker was killed by unarmed
peasants) Shieldbreaker cannot be dropped in battle. (if you're
facing a Monk, drop or sheath Shieldbreaker BEFORE the battle starts).
Animals are also not affected by
Shieldbreakers power, only beings with made weapons, not natural ones
are affected (ie a Dragon would count as 'unarmed', a troll who picked
up a stick to use as a club would count as armed). Otherwise
Shieldbreaker is a +1 bastard sword.
The Sword of Stealth is given to
One lonely and despised.
Sightblinder's gifts: his eyes are keen
His nature is disguised.
SIGHTBLINDER (SW. OF STEALTH)
Symbol: human eye
Sound: none
Remarks: When drawn, causes others to see its wielder as someone they
desperately fear, or desperately love. Perception may switch from one
to the other and back again. The SW. Of STEALTH itself generally
becomes invisible in use, thus can be used to strike a treacherous
blow.
A secondary and subtler effect is to enhance the user's perception of
the true nature of anyone (s)he sees.
****************************************************************
Sightblinder makes it impossible for anyone to perceive the wielder's
presence, by any means, even indirectly, except that they can feel it
if the wielder touches them (or sheaths or drops Sightblinder, of
course). A guard in front of a
door, won't perceive the wielder, nor would he perceive it if the
wielder opened that door, but he would perceive being slugged by the
wielder. The wielder does not leave footprints,
odor traces, make sounds, or in any way leave any detectable evidence
of his passing. If the wielder deliberately touches/shoves/attacks
someone, they WILL perceive that and be able to react appropriately,
but this does not extend to being able to locate the wielder by feel
(ie if you touch the wielder, you won't perceive it, but if the
wielder touches you, you will). Otherwise Sightblinder is +1 dagger.
(note: my version of Sightblinder is entirely different from
Saberhagen's- that's because I don't like his.)
The Tyrant's Blade no blood hath spilled
But doth the spirit carve
Soulcutter hath no body killed
But many left to starve.
SOULCUTTER (TYRANT'S BLADE)
Symbol: none
Sound: none
Remarks: On being drawn from its scabbard, induces utter,
incapacitating hopelessness and despair--beginning with the person who
draws it, spreading slowly to those nearby, then farther. Under
Soulcutter's influence no human activity seems worth the effort.
Radius of operation enough to cover a fair-sized battlefield. Whole
armies may be induced to throw down their weapons. This Sword will
prevail over MINDSWORD when the two are brought into direct conflict.
****************************************************************
Every being within 100', except the wielder, gains one negative level
per round with no
save (this does not increase the wielder's hit points). Creatures
within the area of effect, except the wielder, are also incapable of
taking ANY action
until the effect is removed (this specifically includes any form of
movement, combat, or spellcasting). This radius increases by 100'
every round, to a maximum of 1000'. Creatures slain this way do not
rise as undead. Creatures who are drained but not slain automatically
lose one negative level every 24 hours. Otherwise Soulcutter is a +1
halberd.
The Sword of Siege struck a hammer's blow
With a crash, and a smash, and a tumbled wall.
Stonecutter laid a castle low
With a groan, and a roar, and a tower's fall.
STONECUTTER (SW. OF SIEGE)
Symbol: a wedge, splitting a block
Sound: heavy, slow hammering
Remarks: Cuts stone of any kind (diamonds, granite, etc.) neatly and
smoothly as cheese. Great for undermining forts, escaping dungeons,
setting ambushes. Marvelous sculptor's tool.
****************************************************************
Stonecutter cuts through any non-living material (stone, metal, dead
wood, the undead, whatever) as if it were soft cheese. It can
carve a passage through solid rock large enough for a medium sized
creature to walk through at 5' per round (the carving at 5' per round,
not the walking through the carved passage). Stonecutter does NOT
make the carved out chunks of rock disappear or make them weightless
though- they'll still have to be dealt with. Stonecutter doesn't
change the properties of the material it carves through (it doesn't
turn
rock soft and cheesy in other words, it just cuts it easily).
Stonecutter can also be used to perform intricate carving of fine gems
without otherwise harming them.
When attacking with Stonecutter, treat it as making a touch attack
against armored opponents, since it cuts through non-living material
as if it weren't there (creatures with natural armor get the benefit
of that though- it's close enough to being a living part of their
body). When wielded against creatures that are not made of living
material (Undead, Golems, animated objects, etc- anything without a
Constitution score) Stonecutter automatically hits, and automatically
does maximum possible damage, multiplied for a critical hit,
notwithstanding the immunity of such creatures to critical hits.
Otherwise Stonecutter is a +1 Axe.
Long roads the Sword of Fury makes
Hard walls it builds around the soft
The fighter who Townsaver takes
Can bid farewell to home and croft.
TOWNSAVER (SW. OF FURY)
Symbol: crenelated wall
Sound: scream
Remarks: in physical combat very similar in effect to SHIELDBREAKER,
but only under limited conditions: when defending some place of human
habitation, as a castle, village, house, cave, etc. Also does not
defend its wielder against injury.
****************************************************************
While defending a fixed place containing sentient non-combatants (not
the farmer's chicken coop in other words, unless it has people in it),
Townsaver automatically kills any being attacked with it and any being
who attacks the wielder in melee combat. It also protects the wielder
against any and all injury and magical effects (including the effects
of other swords), making the wielder invulnerable. Otherwise
Townsaver is a +1 Broadsword.
Who holds Wayfinder finds good roads
Its master's step is brisk.
The Sword of Wisdom lightens loads
But adds unto their risk.
WAYFINDER (SW. OF WISDOM)
Symbol: small white arrow--points to pommel
Sound: none. Sword quivers in action.
Remarks: Aims itself physically, geographically, twisting in the hand
to point in the direction of whatever goal user asks for. If necessary
will point, unerringly, to the proper intermediate goal or
destination, person, place, or thing.
****************************************************************
Wayfinder points the path to whatever destination you desire, even
abstract ones. Wayfinder will show the wielder the way to the nearest
(or 7th nearest if you want) pile of treasure, the nearest unguarded
pile of treasure, true love, great power, comfort, ease, security,
anything. Whatever you desire to find, Wayfinder will show you what
direction to walk (literaly, btw) to find it. If obtaining the goal
requires allies, then the path wayfinder points out will take you to
them. All it does it point out which DIRECTION you need to travel in
at any given moment, it doesn't tell you how to overcome the obstacles
you face. (well, it will point you on the path around a landslide (if
there is one), it just won't tell you how to convince the allies you
need to follow you). The direction Wayfinder shows is always a useful
one, it will NOT merely point down if someone in Chicago asks how to
get to Australia for instance. Otherwise Wayfinder is a +1
Shortsword.
Sword interactions:
When the powers of two Swords conflict, roll a d20- on a 1-10 the
Sword whose name comes earlier in the alphabet wins out, 11-20 the one
that comes later in the alphabet wins. The result is good for 24
hours, after that roll again at the next interaction. Examples:
Farslayer v Doomgiver. On a 1-10 Doomgiver wins and reflects
Farslayer against it's wielder (killing the wielder of Farslayer), on
an 11-20 the wielder of Doomgiver
dies. Shieldbreaker v Sightblinder: on a 1-10 the wielder of
Shieldbreaker will perceive someone wielding Sightblinder, on 11-20
he won't. Whichever outcome, the results are good for 24 hours. If
Doomgiver succeeds this time in reflecting Shieldbreaker (killing the
wielder of Shieldbreaker, btw) it'll succeed 2
hours from now as well, but roll again tomorrow.
The only exception to this is Townsaver, which trumps all other Swords
while being used. Townsaver, while defending a 'town', will make the
user IMMUNE to the effect of every other Sword.
If the POWERS of two Swords don't conflict, the relevant power(s) take
effect.
For instance Shieldbreaker will kill the wielder of Dragonslicer if
Dragonslicer is used to attack Shieldbreaker's wielder.
(but it will NOT destroy the Sword itself).
If neither power is relevant, then the swords merely act as their +1
counterparts would.
Finis.
Rick Pikul
> In article <pan.2004.06.28...@sympatico.ca>,
> Rick Pikul <rwp...@sympatico.ca> wrote:
{Foomph... Townsaver}
>> I would change the defensive trait to: The wielder of Townsaver is
>> immune to being killed, stunned, or otherwise disabled for any reason, so
>> long as he continues to defend his charges. It was mentioned in the books
>> that you could kill the Sword of Fury's wielder, it's just that he
>> wouldn't drop until the fight was over.
>
> Wasn't part of the deal with Townsaver that you wouldn't die of your
> injuries while the biff was on, but you were on your own after that? I
> thought that there was a bit of a kamikaze aspect to taking Townsaver to
> work. Am I misremembering?
Yep, you're on your own, Townsaver would stop allowing you to ignore the
spear trough your chest.
Of course, you don't get to see much of Townsaver in action. Only three,
or was it four?), fights, only one of which even has the weilder wounded,
(and that one had Shieldbreaker vaping Townsaver, its wielder, and a chunk
of the city wall). You have to rely on what Mark was told about it.
--
Phoenix
Rick Pikul
Actually, given that the fued had been going on for some time, just being
a member of the other family was enough to have done some wrong. Also,
the normal target was 'the guy who just threw this sword and killed my
<fitb>.
Now, even a small wrong would be enough, say the guy who stiffed you two
cents from your change.
--
Phoenix
Knight37
news:cbpvl6$1mn$1...@us23.unix.fas.harvard.edu:
> Adam Smith <loc...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Whose flesh the Sword of Mercy hurts has drawn no breath;
>> Whose soul it heals has wandered in the night,
>> Has paid the summing of all debts in death
>> Has turned to see returning light.
>
> Ok, so I haven't read the books, and I'm just curious. That first
> line seems to me to read quite clearly that the Sword of Mercy CAN
> hurt "creatures", but that said "creatures" must not have drawn
> breath.
>
> 1) Were there undead in the books? If you beat them over the head
> with this sword, do they take damage?
Undead have drawn breath before. Just not currently.
> 2) What about constructs, oozes, etc? Could the sword hurt them?
>
> I know this is all tangential, and hardly the point of the sword. I'm
> just annoyed by that first line of the poem if what the author
> *actually* means is "you can't hurt anything with this Sword". After
> all, it's a fantasy world, and it's not exactly difficult to imagine
> enemies that haven't drawn breath.
Not too many. Constructs. I can't think of much more.
Knight37
Knight37
>> Actually no, Farslayer will slay anyone, regardless. In the book
>> that deals mostly with it two feuding families wipe each other out,
>> one at a time, over the course of one night. At no point is it
>> indicated that any individual target ever hurt the thrower, or that
>> they even knew each other in any real sense.
>
> Actually, given that the fued had been going on for some time, just
> being a member of the other family was enough to have done some wrong.
> Also, the normal target was 'the guy who just threw this sword and
> killed my <fitb>.
>
> Now, even a small wrong would be enough, say the guy who stiffed
> you two cents from your change.
>
Personally I wouldn't let the sword work unless they knew the true name
of whoever the target was. This sword is just way too powerful as it is.
No 33 Secretary
news:Xns951777961...@130.133.1.4:
> Timothy Dransfield <dra...@ls01.fas.harvard.edu> wrote in
> news:cbpvl6$1mn$1...@us23.unix.fas.harvard.edu:
>
>> Adam Smith <loc...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Whose flesh the Sword of Mercy hurts has drawn no breath;
>>> Whose soul it heals has wandered in the night,
>>> Has paid the summing of all debts in death
>>> Has turned to see returning light.
>>
>> Ok, so I haven't read the books, and I'm just curious. That first
>> line seems to me to read quite clearly that the Sword of Mercy CAN
>> hurt "creatures", but that said "creatures" must not have drawn
>> breath.
>>
>> 1) Were there undead in the books? If you beat them over the head
>> with this sword, do they take damage?
>
> Undead have drawn breath before. Just not currently.
I don't recall that it was ever explained, but it might have been referring
to demons, which were . . . well, that'd be a spoiler (though one on one of
hte stupider parts of the series).
--
Terry Austin
www.hyperbooks.com
Campaign Cartographer now available
No 33 Secretary
news:Xns9517780B0...@130.133.1.4:
Yeah, but books aren't games, and being "way too powerful" was the entire
*point* of Farslayer.
Timothy Dransfield
> > 1) Were there undead in the books? If you beat them over the head
> > with this sword, do they take damage?
> Undead have drawn breath before. Just not currently.
Sure... and how far back do we take "has drawn no breath" to go? The
creature that breathed is dead. The undead is a new critter, and has
drawn no breath. But I'm happy to let this one go. The other one,
however...
> > 2) What about constructs, oozes, etc? Could the sword hurt them?
> >
> > I know this is all tangential, and hardly the point of the sword. I'm
> > just annoyed by that first line of the poem if what the author
> > *actually* means is "you can't hurt anything with this Sword". After
> > all, it's a fantasy world, and it's not exactly difficult to imagine
> > enemies that haven't drawn breath.
> Not too many. Constructs. I can't think of much more.
Oozes. Animated corpses. Elementals. Fungus? Molds? Plants? Demons?
Devils?
Dan Childers
explicitly stated in the books, but some of this
is implied in the Swong of the Swords.
1) Everyone who uses Farslayer ends up dead themselves
soon thereafter. Often, this is because the target's
companions sent Farslayer right back; but even when
this didn't happen, the user would be dead within a
day or so. Nobody in the books seemed to make the
connection, but it is implied in Farslayer's verse.
In game terms, anyone who uses Farslayer's power
*will* end up dead soon, with any amount of DM
railroading permitted to make it so.
2) Everyone who wielded Townsaver in defense of a
place, would end up having to leave that place and
never return. This is implied in Townsaver's verse.
Again, DM railroading is allowed to ensure this;
you are dealing with really powerful artifacts here.
In addition, Townsaver will not allow the wielder
to retreat or end the fight until the defended
place is no longer under attack.
3) Coinspinner is good luck when you have it--but
when your luck goes away, it goes bad. Coinspinner
tends to change owners very often, and usually
diappears at a very inconvenient time.
4) If there are two or more different ways to get
to a place, Wayfinder will send the wielder down
the more difficult or dangerous route. This side
effect *is* known to several characters in the
books. On the other hand, Wayfinder will direct
the wielder to any necessary prerequisites. For
example, if you need the Key of Wondrous Wonderment
to open the Crypt of Bad Nasty Things to get to
where you want to go, Wayfinder will lead you to
the Key first and then to the Crypt.
5) The wielder is NOT immune to the effects of
Soulcutter or the Mindsword. Soulcutter affects
the wielder just like everyone else; the Mindsword
makes the wielder megalomaniacal and overconfident.
Even carrying these Swords around sheathed has bad
effects on the owner's psyche.
6) Once drawn and in a fight, Shieldbreaker will
not allow the wielder to retreat, end the fight,
or even subdue until all opponents are dead. It
will not do this for unarmed opponents (even though
Shieldbreaker is useless against them); it will
not relent against foes the wielder does not
want to kill. (One wielder was forced to kill his
own family, enchanted by the Mindsword).
7) Whenever Dragonslicer kills a dragon, it is
automatically wrenched out of the wielder's hands
and left in the body of the dragon. It can be
retrieved normally. (Note: I would expand
Dragonslicer's targets to include any Large or
larger nonhumanoid monster; in the Books of the
Swords, unlike standard D&D settings, dragons
were about the only monster in this category.)
And some general notes:
The Swords were created as items for a game of the
gods; thus, it is built in to them that they tend
to move around and change owners a lot. Especially,
they tend to change owners if the current owner
doesn't use them much. Also, when a Sword comes
into an area, political upheaval tends to follow.
The gods have heavy bets on the game (early in the
series), and will watch any wielders; many are
cheating in the Game of Swords, and a few are using
the Game as a smokescreen to cover their private
agendas. And Vulcan made the Swords *too* powerful--
the gods are *not* immune to their effects.
Despite the earlier writeup, all the Swords are
masterwork longswords, indistinguishable except
for the sigils on their hilts. All are clearly
magical, and most people know about them, at
least what is in the Song of the Swords (part of
the rules of the game was that word of the Swords
was widely spread before they were released).
As artifacts, they ignore damage resistance.
(Woundhealer heals any wounds it makes as soon as
it makes them, making it effectively useless as
a weapon; and some Swords, notably Shieldbreaker,
are much more powerful than this in combat.)
Note that Shieldbreaker and Townsaver seem to
"fight for themselves" when wielded by an
inexperienced wielder. I would rule that when
activated, the wielder of Townsaver fights as
a 10th level fighter, and Shieldbreaker's wielder
as a 15th level fighter, unless the wielders
own combat skill is better than that.
Knight37
news:c02c3b0f.04062...@posting.google.com:
> Woundhealer heals any wounds it makes as soon as
> it makes them, making it effectively useless as
> a weapon
But a great torture device. Stab, heal, Stab, heal, Stab heal!
Wanna talk now? No? Okay Stab, heal!
Jasin Zujovic
Too powerful for what?
I haven't read the books, but apparently the swords are meant to be
crazymad powerful artifacts.
--
Jasin Zujovic
jzuj...@inet.hr
Knight37
@news.iskon.hr:
> Too powerful for what?
>
> I haven't read the books, but apparently the swords are meant to be
> crazymad powerful artifacts.
But this sword really blows away all the others IMHO. I mean, I can kill
ANYTHING and keep the sword. All I got to do is get pretty close to
whatever it is and then use the sword's power, it automagically kills
whatever I want it to, and then I go retrieve the sword.
I didn't know the bit about the curse as another poster posted about,
that balances it all out just fine. Who would knowingly use this sword,
knowing about the curse? I take it the curse is not widely known.
Knight37
No 33 Secretary
news:Xns9517A7DD6...@130.133.1.4:
> Jasin Zujovic <jzuj...@inet.hr> wrote in news:MPG.1b4bde30f0678838989865
> @news.iskon.hr:
>
>> Too powerful for what?
>>
>> I haven't read the books, but apparently the swords are meant to be
>> crazymad powerful artifacts.
>
> But this sword really blows away all the others IMHO. I mean, I can kill
> ANYTHING and keep the sword. All I got to do is get pretty close to
> whatever it is and then use the sword's power, it automagically kills
> whatever I want it to, and then I go retrieve the sword.
You presume that you'll be allowed to retrive the sword _by_ the sword, or
some nearby god that thinks you're not playing fair.
>
> I didn't know the bit about the curse as another poster posted about,
> that balances it all out just fine. Who would knowingly use this sword,
> knowing about the curse? I take it the curse is not widely known.
>
Nor explicitly stated, IIRC. Even so, there are those who would gladly die
to kill their hated enemy.
Daniel Ray Giese
: Knight37 <knig...@email.com> wrote in
: news:Xns9517A7DD6...@130.133.1.4:
:> Jasin Zujovic <jzuj...@inet.hr> wrote in news:MPG.1b4bde30f0678838989865
:> @news.iskon.hr:
:>
:>> Too powerful for what?
:>>
:>> I haven't read the books, but apparently the swords are meant to be
:>> crazymad powerful artifacts.
:>
:> But this sword really blows away all the others IMHO. I mean, I can kill
:> ANYTHING and keep the sword. All I got to do is get pretty close to
:> whatever it is and then use the sword's power, it automagically kills
:> whatever I want it to, and then I go retrieve the sword.
: You presume that you'll be allowed to retrive the sword _by_ the sword, or
: some nearby god that thinks you're not playing fair.
And of course, since the sword's existence is common knowledge, it is rare
to find a solo enemy. And of course, you must assume your victim doesn't
hold Shieldbreaker.
For that matter, anyone out there know what would happen if you target
someone with Sightblinder?
Dan Giese
dr...@uwm.edu
Reginald Blue
> (Woundhealer heals any wounds it makes as soon as
> it makes them, making it effectively useless as
> a weapon
You know, versus an undead, this power could be quite devastating, presuming
it's basis is normal "cure" magic.
Consider:
Versus a human, you hit him, and do 8 points of damage. Woundhealer then
channels positive energy and heals 8 points of damage. Net result = no
damage.
Versus an undead, you hit him, and do 8 points of damage. Woundhealer then
channels positive energy and CAUSES 8 points of damage. Net result = double
damage.
--
Reginald Blue
"I have always wished that my computer would be as easy to use as my
telephone. My wish has come true. I no longer know how to use my
telephone."
- Bjarne Stroustrup (originator of C++) [quoted at the 2003
International Conference on Intelligent User Interfaces]
Bryan J. Maloney
news:Xns9517780B0...@130.133.1.4:
That's the WHOLE POINT of these weapons, dimbulb.
Bryan J. Maloney
> Jasin Zujovic <jzuj...@inet.hr> wrote in
news:MPG.1b4bde30f0678838989865
> @news.iskon.hr:
>
>> Too powerful for what?
>>
>> I haven't read the books, but apparently the swords are meant to be
>> crazymad powerful artifacts.
>
> But this sword really blows away all the others IMHO.
Then you're an idiot. At least one of the swords can trump it.
> whatever it is and then use the sword's power, it automagically kills
> whatever I want it to, and then I go retrieve the sword.
Wrong. The power specifically states that you will not benefit from the
vengeance. Therefore, somehow, SOMETHING will mess it up for you.
> that balances it all out just fine. Who would knowingly use this
sword,
> knowing about the curse? I take it the curse is not widely known.
The curse is very widely known. However, Saberhagen writes three-
dimensional characters rather than the moronic cartoons that you
obviously play. If there is true lust for vengeance, then having that
come back to bite you very often doesn't matter. You HAVE read enough
history to know this, or are you just another fart-gas-brained waste of
DNA?
Adam Smith
> > Personally I wouldn't let the sword work unless they knew the true name
> > of whoever the target was. This sword is just way too powerful as it is.
> >
> Yeah, but books aren't games, and being "way too powerful" was the entire
> *point* of Farslayer.
Indeed, "being way too powerful" was the point of ALL the Swords . . .
Bryan J. Maloney
larblortch news:Xns951764D16248Ata...@216.168.3.50:
> I don't recall that it was ever explained, but it might have been
> referring to demons, which were . . . well, that'd be a spoiler
> (though one on one of hte stupider parts of the series).
Go ride your elephant.
Rick Pikul
> Personally I wouldn't let the sword work unless they knew the true name
> of whoever the target was. This sword is just way too powerful as it is.
You do realize that the Swords are the most powerful artifacts ever
forged by the God of Smiths, right?
--
Phoenix
Bryan J. Maloney
news:pan.2004.06.30...@sympatico.ca:
Indeed, they are so very powerful that they actually disrupt the mortal AND
Divine balances of power, permanently.
Terry Austin
I don't believe I read that one.
--
Terry Austin
http://www.hyperbooks.com/
Campaign Cartographer Now Available
Terry Austin
news:8130079e.0406...@posting.google.com:
Yes. They were, after all, god-made artifacts.
Jasin Zujovic
> > (Woundhealer heals any wounds it makes as soon as
> > it makes them, making it effectively useless as
> > a weapon
>
> You know, versus an undead, this power could be quite devastating, presuming
> it's basis is normal "cure" magic.
>
> Consider:
>
> Versus a human, you hit him, and do 8 points of damage. Woundhealer then
> channels positive energy and heals 8 points of damage. Net result = no
> damage.
>
> Versus an undead, you hit him, and do 8 points of damage. Woundhealer then
> channels positive energy and CAUSES 8 points of damage. Net result = double
> damage.
Double damage's vs. undead, no damage vs. others is okay, I guess, but
can hardly be called devastating in the context of what the swords can
otherwise do.
--
Jasin Zujovic
jzuj...@inet.hr
Jasin Zujovic
> > Too powerful for what?
> >
> > I haven't read the books, but apparently the swords are meant to be
> > crazymad powerful artifacts.
>
> But this sword really blows away all the others IMHO. I mean, I can kill
> ANYTHING and keep the sword. All I got to do is get pretty close to
> whatever it is and then use the sword's power, it automagically kills
> whatever I want it to, and then I go retrieve the sword.
What if someone's simply quicker to pull it out (in D&D, readies an
action)? What if you're attacking a town, and your opponent's wielding
Townsaver? What if your opponent has Shieldbreaker?
It is insanely powerful, but so are the others. They're plot devices
more than they are magic items.
> I didn't know the bit about the curse as another poster posted about,
> that balances it all out just fine. Who would knowingly use this sword,
> knowing about the curse? I take it the curse is not widely known.
Well, there's that, too.
--
Jasin Zujovic
jzuj...@inet.hr
Rupert Boleyn
<tau...@hyperbooks.com> carved upon a tablet of ether:
> loc...@hotmail.com (Adam Smith) wrote in
> news:8130079e.0406...@posting.google.com:
>
> > No 33 Secretary <taustin...@hyperbooks.com> wrote in message
> > news:<Xns951764F7FA59Bta...@216.168.3.50>...
> >
> >> > Personally I wouldn't let the sword work unless they knew the true
> >> > name of whoever the target was. This sword is just way too powerful
> >> > as it is.
> >> >
> >> Yeah, but books aren't games, and being "way too powerful" was the
> >> entire *point* of Farslayer.
> >
> >
> > Indeed, "being way too powerful" was the point of ALL the Swords . . .
> >
> Yes. They were, after all, god-made artifacts.
Didn't the god who made them intentionally make them to be even more
over-powered than the other gods thought?
--
Rupert Boleyn <rbo...@paradise.net.nz>
"Just because the truth will set you free doesn't mean the truth itself
should be free."
Kevin Lowe
dchi...@cablespeed.com (Dan Childers) wrote:
Just some nitpicks.
> 1) Everyone who uses Farslayer ends up dead themselves
> soon thereafter. Often, this is because the target's
> companions sent Farslayer right back; but even when
> this didn't happen, the user would be dead within a
> day or so. Nobody in the books seemed to make the
> connection, but it is implied in Farslayer's verse.
> In game terms, anyone who uses Farslayer's power
> *will* end up dead soon, with any amount of DM
> railroading permitted to make it so.
I believe there are one or two exceptions in the spin-off books. I'm
pretty sure it's not certain doom to use Farslayer, it's just that the
very nature of seeking bloody revenge tends to bite you on the bum.
> 3) Coinspinner is good luck when you have it--but
> when your luck goes away, it goes bad. Coinspinner
> tends to change owners very often, and usually
> diappears at a very inconvenient time.
Or a very convenient time... I believe in one instance Coinspinner did a
bunk just as its wielder was attacked by an enemy wielding
Shieldbreaker. Again, I don't think it's so much that Coinspinner drops
you in the poo, it's just that it disappears at a dramatic moment and
that's almost always bad.
Kevin Lowe,
Tasmania.
Bruce Probst
>> Woundhealer heals any wounds it makes as soon as
>> it makes them, making it effectively useless as
>> a weapon
>
>But a great torture device. Stab, heal, Stab, heal, Stab heal!
>Wanna talk now? No? Okay Stab, heal!
Only if you're doing the stabbing with a different weapon. You can't "stab"
someone with Woundhealer, it literally passes through flesh insubstantially.
In fact, given that Woundhealer would also be soothing pain, easing tired
muscles, providing relaxation etc. you would be "resetting" your torture
victim every time you used it. No matter what you did to him in the
interim, one application of Woundhealer and it would all become just an
unpleasant memory with no permanent effects. I don't think that would count
as an effective torture technique. ("Strap him to the comfy chair, and give
him a nice cup of tea!")
(Mind you, even Woundhealer had a "curse" of a kind, early in the series ...
it wasn't called the Sword of Love idly. Later in the series this "Love
Potion #9" effect seemed to go by the boards and it just became the
Universal Healing Machine ....)
----------------------------------------------------------------
Bruce Probst bpr...@netspace.net.au
Melbourne, Australia MSTie #72759
"You can't handle the truth!"
ASL FAQ http://www.users.bigpond.net.au/mantis/ASLFAQ
Bryan J. Maloney
news:MPG.1b4c94e3b...@news.iskon.hr:
> What if someone's simply quicker to pull it out (in D&D, readies an
> action)? What if you're attacking a town, and your opponent's wielding
> Townsaver? What if your opponent has Shieldbreaker?
Vs. Townsaver: The victim is slain, but Townsaver keeps the fight going
until the municipality is safe.
Vs. Shieldbreaker: Scratch one Farslayer.
Bruce Probst
wrote:
>> Go ride your elephant.
>>
>I don't believe I read that one.
"Empire Of The East", part 1 ("The Broken Lands").
Hong Ooi
wrote:
>"Bryan J. Maloney" <cavag...@sbcglobal.not> wrote in
>news:Xns9517C24AD3...@207.115.63.158:
>
>> No 33 Secretary <taustin...@hyperbooks.com> abagooba zoink
>> larblortch news:Xns951764D16248Ata...@216.168.3.50:
>>
>>> I don't recall that it was ever explained, but it might have been
>>> referring to demons, which were . . . well, that'd be a spoiler
>>> (though one on one of hte stupider parts of the series).
>>
>> Go ride your elephant.
>>
>I don't believe I read that one.
It is obviously, I say obviously a euphemism for a sexual act.
*DO I HAVE TO SPELL *EVERYTHING* *OUT*?*
Hong "also, are nested *asterisks* allowed?" Ooi
--
Hong Ooi | "Well, that about WANGER up the
ho...@zipworld.com.au | WANGER of your WANGER, Hong.
http://www.zipworld.com.au/~hong/dnd/ | WANGER."
Sydney, Australia | -- MSB
Reginald Blue
> Reginald Blue <Regina...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>>> (Woundhealer heals any wounds it makes as soon as
>>> it makes them, making it effectively useless as
>>> a weapon
>>
>> Woundhealer then channels positive energy and CAUSES 8 points of
>> damage. Net result = double damage.
>
> Double damage's vs. undead, no damage vs. others is okay, I guess, but
> can hardly be called devastating in the context of what the swords can
> otherwise do.
I guess I do not recall any ability that actually allows a weapon to do
double damage to a specific class of opponents. I discount the "no damage
vs. others", at least assuming the sword is not cursed, as the character can
always draw another sword. ("Caddy, I'll take the 5 iron...+5 iron mace,
that is.")
But maybe you're right.
Knight37
I haven't read the series. I assumed we were talking about using these in
a D&D game, and so I would tailor the sword to fit my game.
No 33 Secretary
news:b4a5e0p45ib1o4hb6...@4ax.com:
> On Wed, 30 Jun 2004 06:18:03 -0000, Terry Austin
> <tau...@hyperbooks.com> carved upon a tablet of ether:
>
>> loc...@hotmail.com (Adam Smith) wrote in
>> news:8130079e.0406...@posting.google.com:
>>
>> > No 33 Secretary <taustin...@hyperbooks.com> wrote in message
>> > news:<Xns951764F7FA59Bta...@216.168.3.50>...
>> >
>> >> > Personally I wouldn't let the sword work unless they knew the true
>> >> > name of whoever the target was. This sword is just way too powerful
>> >> > as it is.
>> >> >
>> >> Yeah, but books aren't games, and being "way too powerful" was the
>> >> entire *point* of Farslayer.
>> >
>> >
>> > Indeed, "being way too powerful" was the point of ALL the Swords . . .
>> >
>> Yes. They were, after all, god-made artifacts.
>
> Didn't the god who made them intentionally make them to be even more
> over-powered than the other gods thought?
>
I have no memory of whether or not it was intentional, but the other gods
certainly didn't intend them to be able to kill gods.
No 33 Secretary
news:lme5e0pmb1rkbav9p...@4ax.com:
> On Wed, 30 Jun 2004 06:17:42 -0000, Terry Austin <tau...@hyperbooks.com>
> wrote:
>
>>> Go ride your elephant.
>>>
>>I don't believe I read that one.
>
> "Empire Of The East", part 1 ("The Broken Lands").
>
Then I'm certain I haven't read that one.
--
Terry Austin
No 33 Secretary
news:ksf5e05khgl6pcdsh...@4ax.com:
> On Wed, 30 Jun 2004 06:17:42 -0000, Terry Austin <tau...@hyperbooks.com>
> wrote:
>
>>"Bryan J. Maloney" <cavag...@sbcglobal.not> wrote in
>>news:Xns9517C24AD3...@207.115.63.158:
>>
>>> No 33 Secretary <taustin...@hyperbooks.com> abagooba zoink
>>> larblortch news:Xns951764D16248Ata...@216.168.3.50:
>>>
>>>> I don't recall that it was ever explained, but it might have been
>>>> referring to demons, which were . . . well, that'd be a spoiler
>>>> (though one on one of hte stupider parts of the series).
>>>
>>> Go ride your elephant.
>>>
>>I don't believe I read that one.
>
> It is obviously, I say obviously a euphemism for a sexual act.
To you, my dear friend, *everything* is obviously a euphemism for a sexual
act.
I had a friend in high school like that. A very prim, proper young lady,
downright prudish, unless you knew her well. She made a Reader's Digest
Songbook one of the most obscene things ever put in print, one fine day.
You don't have a sister from Missouri, do you?
>
> *DO I HAVE TO SPELL *EVERYTHING* *OUT*?*
>
>
> Hong "also, are nested *asterisks* allowed?" Ooi
Depends. Are they a euphemism for a sexual act?
Dave Butler
>>>"Bryan J. Maloney" <cavag...@sbcglobal.not> wrote in
>>>> Go ride your elephant.
>>>>
>>>I don't believe I read that one.
>>
>> It is obviously, I say obviously a euphemism for a sexual act.
>To you, my dear friend, *everything* is obviously a euphemism for a sexual
>act.
Not that having an obvious euphemism is anything to be embarrassed about.
--
--DcB
No 33 Secretary
news:Y6DEc.624377$Ar.1...@twister01.bloor.is.net.cable.rogers.com:
Well, if it's *obvious*, then one might actually feel some justified pride
in it. Or at least use it as advertising.
Bryan J. Maloney
> Bruce Probst <bpr...@netspace.net.au> wrote in
> news:lme5e0pmb1rkbav9p...@4ax.com:
>
>> On Wed, 30 Jun 2004 06:17:42 -0000, Terry Austin
>> <tau...@hyperbooks.com> wrote:
>>
>>>> Go ride your elephant.
>>>>
>>>I don't believe I read that one.
>>
>> "Empire Of The East", part 1 ("The Broken Lands").
>>
> Then I'm certain I haven't read that one.
>
I read it in magazine serialization, nyah nyah nyah.
Bryan J. Maloney
news:ksf5e05khgl6pcdsh...@4ax.com:
> On Wed, 30 Jun 2004 06:17:42 -0000, Terry Austin <tau...@hyperbooks.com>
> wrote:
>
>>"Bryan J. Maloney" <cavag...@sbcglobal.not> wrote in
>>news:Xns9517C24AD3...@207.115.63.158:
>>
>>> No 33 Secretary <taustin...@hyperbooks.com> abagooba zoink
>>> larblortch news:Xns951764D16248Ata...@216.168.3.50:
>>>
>>>> I don't recall that it was ever explained, but it might have been
>>>> referring to demons, which were . . . well, that'd be a spoiler
>>>> (though one on one of hte stupider parts of the series).
>>>
>>> Go ride your elephant.
>>>
>>I don't believe I read that one.
>
> It is obviously, I say obviously a euphemism for a sexual act.
>
> *DO I HAVE TO SPELL *EVERYTHING* *OUT*?*
I certainly hope so.
Bryan J. Maloney
> I have no memory of whether or not it was intentional, but the other
> gods certainly didn't intend them to be able to kill gods.
Given the (goofy) back-story of the setting, something else had to be made
up to be the "weapon too terrible to exist".
Terry Austin
Well, aren't you _special_.
Rick Pikul
> In article <c02c3b0f.04062...@posting.google.com>,
> dchi...@cablespeed.com (Dan Childers) wrote:
{Foomph...}
>> 3) Coinspinner is good luck when you have it--but
>> when your luck goes away, it goes bad. Coinspinner
>> tends to change owners very often, and usually
>> diappears at a very inconvenient time.
>
> Or a very convenient time... I believe in one instance Coinspinner did a
> bunk just as its wielder was attacked by an enemy wielding
> Shieldbreaker. Again, I don't think it's so much that Coinspinner drops
> you in the poo, it's just that it disappears at a dramatic moment and
> that's almost always bad.
It will also vanish to save itself, when someone simply took
Shieldbreaker and tried to smash Coinspinner, (he had both in his
possession at the time), Coinspinner vanished a split-second before
Shieldbreaker hit.
--
Phoenix
Bruce Probst
<taustin...@hyperbooks.com> wrote:
>> "Empire Of The East", part 1 ("The Broken Lands").
>>
>Then I'm certain I haven't read that one.
All of the "Swords" books are sequels (of sorts) to "Empire Of The East",
although the overall setting is quite different. I guess the most important
thing it sets up is what Demons actually are, and why the Emperor and his
kin have such power over them. What isn't explained (at least, as far as I
can recall; it's been many years since I read "Empire") is how the Emperor
changed from being "Big Bad Guy" to "wandering
mostly-neutral-but-somewhat-Good Guy".
The Nasty Evil Sorcerer from the Past (whose name I can't recall offhand) in
the "Swords" books was from the "Empire" time period (although I don't think
he was actually a character in that book).
Terry Austin
> On Wed, 30 Jun 2004 16:19:30 -0000, No 33 Secretary
> <taustin...@hyperbooks.com> wrote:
>
>>> "Empire Of The East", part 1 ("The Broken Lands").
>>>
>>Then I'm certain I haven't read that one.
>
> All of the "Swords" books are sequels (of sorts) to "Empire Of The
> East", although the overall setting is quite different. I guess the
> most important thing it sets up is what Demons actually are, and why
> the Emperor and his kin have such power over them. What isn't
> explained (at least, as far as I can recall; it's been many years
> since I read "Empire") is how the Emperor changed from being "Big Bad
> Guy" to "wandering mostly-neutral-but-somewhat-Good Guy".
>
> The Nasty Evil Sorcerer from the Past (whose name I can't recall
> offhand) in the "Swords" books was from the "Empire" time period
> (although I don't think he was actually a character in that book).
>
Fascinating. Perhaps I should dig up a copy.
Bryan J. Maloney
news:ad87e0tjb4ochu9rq...@4ax.com:
> On Wed, 30 Jun 2004 16:19:30 -0000, No 33 Secretary
> <taustin...@hyperbooks.com> wrote:
>
>>> "Empire Of The East", part 1 ("The Broken Lands").
>>>
>>Then I'm certain I haven't read that one.
>
> All of the "Swords" books are sequels (of sorts) to "Empire Of The
> East", although the overall setting is quite different. I guess the
> most important thing it sets up is what Demons actually are, and why
> the Emperor and his kin have such power over them. What isn't
> explained (at least, as far as I can recall; it's been many years
> since I read "Empire") is how the Emperor changed from being "Big Bad
> Guy" to "wandering mostly-neutral-but-somewhat-Good Guy".
That Empire was a LONG time ago. Even if it's the same guy, he's had
enough time to mellow. If he's not the same guy, times change, families
change.
Nikolas Landauer
> No 33 Secretary wrote:
> > > "Empire Of The East", part 1 ("The Broken Lands").
> > >
> >Then I'm certain I haven't read that one.
>
> What isn't explained (at least, as far as I can recall; it's been
> many years since I read "Empire") is how the Emperor changed from
> being "Big Bad Guy" to "wandering mostly-neutral-but-somewhat-Good
> Guy".
The person most often called 'Emperor' in _Empire of the East_ was not
the same person as the Emperor in the _Swords/Lost Swords_. John
Ominor was the man called 'Emperor' in _Empire of the East_. The
Emperor in _Swords/Lost Swords_, I believe, reveals his identity at the
end of the eighth book of Lost Swords (Shieldbreaker's Story, I
believe), and it is not John Ominor.
> The Nasty Evil Sorcerer from the Past (whose name I can't recall
> offhand)
Wood.
> in the "Swords" books was from the "Empire" time period (although
> I don't think he was actually a character in that book).
He was, IIRC, however he was completely human during _Empire of the
East_, and rather not-so during _Lost Swords_ (he's not in _Swords_).
--
Nik
Ken Andrews
wrote:
> Of course, you don't get to see much of Townsaver in action. Only three,
>or was it four?), fights, only one of which even has the weilder wounded,
>(and that one had Shieldbreaker vaping Townsaver, its wielder, and a chunk
>of the city wall). You have to rely on what Mark was told about it.
There was also another one, as I recall, where a young boy wielded
Townsaver. Once he drove off the bandits (?), he died from his
wounds.
Bill Seurer
Someone could be attacking a town with rubber bands and water balloons
and the wielder of TownSaver will die.
> Vs. Shieldbreaker: Scratch one Farslayer.
Also Woundhealer 'cause that was the most powerful one of all.
Bill Seurer
> It will also vanish to save itself, when someone simply took
> Shieldbreaker and tried to smash Coinspinner, (he had both in his
> possession at the time), Coinspinner vanished a split-second before
> Shieldbreaker hit.
I didn't read all the later books, what happened to Coinspinner in the end?
Adam Smith
Like every Sword but Woundhealer, it was destroyed by Shieldbreaker.
(Shieldbreaker was destroyed when it was used against Woundhealer)
Patrick Lyons
Forgotten Realms, and my Paladin of Tyr found Doomgiver. All were
swords, but of different types (Doomgiver was a long sword,
Coinspinner a rapier, Sightblinder a short sword, Shieldbreaker a
bastard sword, Dragonslicer a two handed sword, etc). In fact, we
actually found Dragonslicer on Athas during an interdimensional trip.
During the Year of the Sword, the swords drained power from the gods
(effectively causing a second Time of Troubles) and became +6 Swords
(up from their normal +3) and gained their Special Powers. With
Doomgiver, any non-meele attack, or special attack did the same damage
on my attacker as me...I took the damage but so did they. I even had
a backstab affect the thief who stabbed me. If I had previously
attacked that person, Doomgiver didn't protect me. It also had a
bunch of Law Sphere spells from Tome of Magic (Strength of One,
Defensive Harmony, etc). Of course, when the Gods were weakened,
Mephistoples (sp?) and an army of Baatezu attacked. For every Divine
Avatar they killed, they became immune to the power of one Sword. In
the end, we only achieved final victory because our Witch-kit
transmuter had chosen her new extra-planer link as the Dark Powers of
Ravenloft. She sucked the entire island of Prespur (off the coast of
Sembia for FR fans) into her own domain...and I became the thorn in
her side (she was CE). With Doomgiver at my side, I became immortal
(as my DM put it, you cannot die McCloud).
I played that character for 2 years, from 1st to 25th level.
Patrick
Harnmaster
wrote:
>On Tue, 29 Jun 2004 16:48:02 +0000, Knight37 wrote:
>
>> Personally I wouldn't let the sword work unless they knew the true name
>> of whoever the target was. This sword is just way too powerful as it is.
>
> You do realize that the Swords are the most powerful artifacts ever
>forged by the God of Smiths, right?
You mean Morrissey?
Courtney Love
>Fascinating. Perhaps I should dig up a copy.
Like the Book of Swords itself, "Empire of the East" is realy three novels in
one. There are two copies online from the various bookdealers can be had for
less than a buck:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/044120564X/qid=1089150903/sr
=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-3493575-9937513?v=glance&s=books
Do yourself a favor, though, and get one of the later omnibus printings. In
the original three books of the "Empire Of The East" series, there are
differences. One important difference being that Wood actually dies (I
presume, since after the climactic moment there's nothing left of him but a
body part) in the first printing, but does not in the second printing. This
was changed so Saberhagen could bring back Wood in the books of Lost Swords.
The first printing also ends the last book on an "up" note instead of a "down"
note, which changes the tenor somewhat.
--
"Justice is as strictly due between neighbor nations as between neighbor
citizens. A highwayman is as much a robber when he plunders in a gang, as when
single; and a nation that makes an unjust war is only a great gang."
--Benjamin Franklin
Rick Pikul
> Rick Pikul <rwp...@sympatico.ca> wrote in message news:<MPG.1b47ea6ab...@news.supernews.com>...
>
>> > The wielder of Dragonslicer gets an automatic critical on any attack
>> > roll with Dragonslicer versus dragons (or draconic beings), and does
>> > maximum damage. The wielder also automatically succeeds on any saving
>> > throw versus a Dragon's attack. Otherwise Dragonslicer is a +1 Axe.
>>
>> I would add something to represent its penchant for getting stuck:
>> Say requiring a DC20 strength check to pull it free, as a free action as
>> part of the attack or a move action afterwards.
>
>
> My problem with Dragonslicer is that's it's too limited; I don't want
> to make it even more limited.
Yes, it is one of the weakest of the swords.
Perhaps you could strengthen it by playing up its other name: Sword od
Heros.
--
Phoenix
Rick Pikul
I remembered incorrectly, it was Kenn, (Mark's half-brother), rather
than Mark who wielded Townsaver in the fight at the start.
--
Phoenix
Bill Seurer
In D&D an instant kill dragon sword would be very powerful given the
vast amounts of loot you can get from the now dead elder dragons.