Illustration by "Dug"

Sword Spirit AKA:  Blade Brain HACKFACTOR:  7 EP VALUE:  1400 CLIMATE/TERRAIN:  Any FREQUENCY:  Very Rare ORGANIZATION:  Solitary ACTIVITY CYCLE:  Any DIET:  Nil INTELLIGENCE:  Variable ALIGNMENT:  Variable NO.APPEARING:  1 SIZE:  S (3' tall) MOVEMENT:  24" PSIONIC ABILITY:  Nil Attack/Defense Modes:  Nil/Nil MORALE:  Foolhardy(16) ARMOR CLASS:  5 NO. OF ATTACKS:  2 DAMAGE/ATTACK:  1-4 SPECIAL ATTACKS:  See Below SPECIAL DEFENSES:  +2 or better to hit, See Below MAGIC RESISTANCE:  30% HIT DICE:  5 CREATED BY:  Mike Hensley

Sword Spirit
DESCRIPTION:  Sword Spirits are incorporeal beings from the ethereal plane and appear as almost transparent, vaguely humanoid figures with blank features.

COMBAT/TACTICS: If a Sword Spirit encounters a creature that is carrying a +2 or better weapon, it will immediately attack that creature in an attempt to possess the weapon. They attack with their two claws for 1d4 damage, but this is only a ruse to get their opponent to attack them. When a Sword Spirit is hit by a +2 or better magic weapon, the weapon has to make a save versus acid or be possessed. If this happens, the Sword Spirit disappears into the weapon and takes control of it. The weapon cannot be possessed if its attack kills the Sword Spirit.

After a weapon has been possessed by a Sword Spirit, treat it as an intelligent magic weapon from then on. See the rules in the GMG on intelligent weapons. The Sword Spirit cannot be removed from the weapon with anything less than a wish. If the weapon is destroyed, the Sword Spirit has to go back to the ethereal plane for at least a decade before it can try to find a new weapon to possess.

A Sword Spirit can only be harmed by a +2 or better weapon. If a Sword Spirit is attacked by creatures that don't have at least one +2 or better weapon for it to try to possess, it will just disappear into the ethereal plane.

HABITAT/SOCIETY:  Sword Spirits are the ghosts of intelligent weapons that have been destroyed. They long to possess a new weapon and forever lurk in the ethereal plane trying to sense the location of one. When they sense the location of a +2 or better weapon in the material plane, they cross over in an attempt to possess it.

ECOLOGY:  Sword Spirits are the result of powerful mages creating magical weapons that are imbued with intelligence. When such a weapon is destroyed, a Sword Spirit is created. Some misguided individuals actually seek out Sword Spirits in order that they may have an intelligent weapon. Unfortunately, this is usually a mistake.

YIELD: Medicinal:  Nil Spell Components:  Nil Hide/Trophy Items:  Nil Treasure:  Nil Other:  Nil

Mikeeze Wurld is © 2001 by Michael S. Hensley. HackMaster is a trademark of Kenzer and Company. Any use of trademarks is in no way to be considered a challenge to such trademark or copyright by its rightful owner.