The Sword of Kantomar

Close to two years ago, Aoborr Stormeye, Leandra Winterfrost, Shadell and Wren Corby set out on a quest that seemed doomed from the start. Perhaps it is the ancient nature of this quest that lends a certain forgetfulness to those who are involved, even as the tale is surrounded by death. Others might call it a curse.

It was in search for The Scarab of Amun Kafele in the ancient city of Malef Kadrhun, that these adventurers first heard of the Sword of Kantomar. Deep beneath a pyramid, through long closed doors inscribed with udun, the tomb of ancient nobles was said to lie. Udun, the ancient writings of the priests and magi, is now as dead as those who revered the fabled Animeities. The Animeities were a race of demigods who were the children of the Goddess Bestia, Lady of the Beasts. Few there are that recall such divine beings, as they were shunned by those of other cultures. For the people of the Animeities worshipped animal gods, and in so doing, took on some of the more bestial qualities among mortalkind. Polygamy, bestiality, orgies and cannibalism were commonplace among this savage people, and like the people themselves, so were the gods driven off by the other divinities.

The hot desert was a brutal land in which to live, and some scholars contend that it was the heat that drove the people crazy, to the point of resorting to such abominable practices as human sacrifice. Plagues, sandstorms and curses were commonplace.

Many kings, had the people of Malef Kadrhun, and none more infamous than the dreaded Amun Khafele. It is said that this king was twisted and evil beyond imagination. By his decree, he took the maidenhead of every virgin in his kingdom, and the first born male of every household was taken to serve him. He built for himself an army of thousands, and plotted to move northward against the people of the green lands.

But the northern folk got wind of this plot through their seers, and raised their own army to fend off the Dread Lord, also called the Necromaster. They set the great hero Kantomar to head this army, for he was a Righteous Warrior, and had skills to thwart the undead, and it was rumored that the Necromaster’s army was made up of walking dead, as well as living souls.

Amun Kafele met with Kantomar in single combat on the field of battle. The battle raged long. The Necromaster had might and magic on his side. Kantomar had prowess and divine protections on his. And so it was that Kantomar thrust his sword into the heart of the foul Necromaster, even as the Holy Knight was smitten by a powerful spell. Kantomar’s wound, however, was not fatal, and he rose to retrieve his sword from his enemy’s chest. But the Paladin was thwarted by a wave of darkness, and when it passed, Amun Kafele was gone, and the sword as well.

The legends do not say what happened to Kantomar immediately after the battle, though there are other tales of his later exploits. But it is believed that the Necromaster lived on. Tales have been heard amongst the barbaric desert folk about what really happened to Amun Kafele. They tell of a vampire, or perhaps a demon, who swept down upon him at the moment Kantomar struck him, imbuing him with everlasting life through eternal damnation.

And so it came to pass that Aoborr Stormeye, Leandra Winterfrost, and Shadell (For Wren Corby had departed) happened upon the Tomb of Amun Khafele and a vast hoard of wealth protected by the naga, Khaffifu. She told them of her curse, to guard the wealth until released by the Necromaster, or until he perished from existence. She even offered the hoard to them if they brought about his destruction. She then relayed to them the tale of the Sword of Kantomar, but only in part. Khaffifu explained that the sword had been split, and its pieces spread throughout Talagon. For it was rumored, or perhaps even fated, that the only blade that could slay the evil Khafele, was that which once pierced his heart.

Compelled by fate, the trio of heroes found themselves in the lair of a basilisk, whispered to be the resting place of the pommel of Kantomar’s sword. They say misery loves company and that curses linger for millennia to haunt those who come in contact with the ills begotten by legends. And so it was that Aoborr of Barbos found himself alone against the beast, for both his Druid companion, Shadell, and the Bard, Winterfrost, were turned to stone by the basilisk’s gaze. While he almost died, Aoborr managed to slay the beast, retrieve the pommel and return his petrified friends to the Caer Falken Inn. It is unclear what happened to the pommel, for the Barbosian shunned strange magic, and it is likely he gave it to Ferghus the innkeeper, or one of his companions for safe keeping. But what is known, is that Shadell was recovered, while Leandra Winterfrost was taken by The Keeper forever.

Three months later, A Cleric of Lunari spoke of the Sword of Kantomar as she lie dying from a foul venom. In her delirium, she told of Deadkeep Mountain, an ancient keep of the dead. It was there, in a lair of harpies, that Aoborr Stormeye, Celene, Paladin of Lunari, Lynliss the ranger and Seara the rogue came to find the Hilt of the Sword of Kantomar.

Five months later, the same four who had found the hilt, fought and slew the green dragon, Jade, in the deep places beneath a dungeon, in the Moondawn Forest, called Ithilminuial by the elves. Within Jade’s lair were many wonders, including Gwaithrandir, known in the common tongue as Wilderness Wanderer, an intelligent long sword. Also, they found there the third part of the sword of Kantomar; the grip.

In the time after the discovery of the artifact's parts, no one made use of them, despite the fact that, even individually, each holds a magical power. Nor has any other part been sought after or found.

Exactly two years after the finding of the last sword part, a party of adventurer's came upon the scabbard in a deserted tree house on the Island of the Serpent's Tooth, sometimes known as Oracle Isle. Allie, Gralla, Kel Two-Heart, Lirinor, Thaylias and Shanti were those who came across this last part, unknowing for sure what it was, although the halfling, Allie, a bard with no mean font of knowledge, had her suspicions, and placed it within her bag of holding.

Over time, the magic of the artifact contained within the extra-dimensional space of the bag, began to work its will.  The party, through its psychic connection with those who found the previous parts, being all frequenters of the Caer Falken Inn, held within their spirits a mystical connection, now made complete by the finding of the last part of this relic.  The scabbard's part was always to keep the blade keen and whole and free from harm, and now, within the ethereal space, it called the other parts to it, and made them whole once more.

Exactly one year from the finding of the scabbard, Allie drew it forth, at the behest of Nightfox, the shaman of the Windcaller Clan.  In surprise, all eyes looked upon the sword in wonder. A hybrid blade, larger than a longsword and smaller than a bastard sword, it glowed with a white nimbus of power.  It was Kel Two-Heart, half fey blooded and half Barbosian, in the presence of a Holy Woman of his people, who took up this sword and claimed it as his own.

Talagon yet faces continual unrest as the seeds of war are planted, magic and evil sweep the land, the dead walk commonly, politics have turned to intrigue, and even the old gods are awakening. As the fates play their games with those on mortal soil, there is no telling what shall come. But one thing is certain. Something is coming, and with the Sword of Kantomar at last found, the sword arm of Kel Two Heart and his companions is now irrevocably linked to the hand of fate.

Properties of The Sword of Kantomar

The blade is usable by anyone with a proficiency in longsword or bastard sword, for its weight matches the former, its damage the latter. It is +6 against all undead and +8 against True Vampires (not spawn), and in particular, Amun Khafele. The damage bonus against Amun Khafele and other true vampires is an additional +2d6 (as any Bane weapon).

The wearing or using of this weapon grants the carrier a sacred bonus of +3 to Armor Class and +1 to Saving Throws, enables the wearer to detect all undead within 15 feet and possesses the Ghost Touch ability against undead only.  Furthermore, the blade grants a perpetual Protection from Evil (as per the spell), but again, only against undead.

The one who carries this sword is compelled to fight any and all undead within detection unless a Will Save (DC 25) is made. This saving throw is required against each individual undead creature.  No saving throw is permitted against Amun Khafele or other true Vampires.

A vampire slain by this sword is permanently destroyed, and other typical methods for assuring the vampire's destruction are not necessary.

Any successful strike with this weapon against a creature who is not undead results in the wielder receiving one Negative Level, as per the Energy Drain condition.

Anyone who dies while wielding this weapon shall rise up as an extraordinary Vampire, who will be unable to further touch the Sword of Kantomar, but can only be destroyed by it.

It is unknown by any mortal what will happen to this blade if Amun Khafele is destroyed.  The owner of this blade, intact, may be rid of it only through a Remove Curse by the current Arch-Priest of Solaris.