EDJ#6: The Stolen Sword

The Stolen Sword

by Andrew W. Ragland

originally published in Earthdawn Journal #6

Journal Text

From the Journal of Broost Oserolam, Cavalryman of the Sixth Circle and commander of the Broken Bone Lancers:

Looks like we got out of Iopos just in time. Those lousy Yellow Talons can't have been more than a half day's ride from the city when we took to the hills. Another day of hard riding and we'll meet up with the main body of the cavalry. That'll give us the numbers to mount a nasty surprise for those illegitimate sons of spoogras.

Laying in supplies for the ride turned out to be tougher than we expected. Stupid herb-seller tried to short us on the feverbark, and set off Ioroz's gahad. Should of known better than to put his thumb on the scales. Then the watch got all over us, and made us pay to get the thief's thumb put back on. Lousy city.

Hard to get mounts. Ours were spent, couldn't carry us any further. Needed fresh horses to ride so our regular mounts could rest a bit. Lots of questions asked, who we were, where we'd been, where we were going, like it was any of their business. All the time these Holders of Trust, big ujnort in fancy silver armor, keep coming around, butting in where they're not wanted. And a real shortage of remounts. Had to take what we could get. Couple of these nags aren't going to survive the ride, Passions forgive us. Got to get to the pass before the Talons though, warn the tribe and get an ambush set up.

Big stink just as we left. Named blade got swiped from one of the kids of some councilman or somesuch. Word from the stablehands was it got taken a couple days earlier but they kept it quiet so they could try and find it quick. Didn't do them any good. Didn't find it doing it quiet. Offered a big reward, had it cried all over the city, big threats of what they'd do to anybody trying to leave with the sword. Would have been tough to do. Guards at the gate went through everything we had, looked at all our blades, made us unroll our packs. Acted like they didn't see us giving them the buunda, just went right through our stuff, through anything big enough to hide a knife in, much less a sword.

Couple hours after we left, bunch of ujnort went by us, riding like there was a dragon behind them. Two elves, a couple of dwarves and a troll, all in white with a gold bird on their shields and cloaks, looked like some sort of eagle or something coming up out of a fire. Damn if they weren't riding some horses we'd been told weren't for sale. About brought up my gahad, it did. Lucky for her that lying sorry excuse for a horsetrader wasn't there right then. Hadn't seen them before in the city. Must have been hiding. Outfits like that would have been hard to miss. Not more than an hour after that, dwarf came along on a carpet, swooped down and wanted to know if we'd seen these Name-Givers. Sent him off on their trail. Hope they get what they're running from. Probably them what stole the sword. If we weren't in such a hurry, I'd ride after them myself. Caused us a lot of trouble, they did, and got a big price on their heads. Not that I feel sorry for that young snot got his sword stolen, mind you. Nasty people, running Iopos. Nasty city. Glad to be quit of it.

Got to get some sleep. Only a couple of hours before we have to ride out again. Raggok-worshipping Yellow Talons. Like to see the last of them too. Any luck, they'll get hung up in the city like we did.

GM Text

Pathfinder, a Named sword, has been stolen from Favim, a younger scion of the Denairastas clan. The blade has been in the family since before the Scourge, and is traditionally held by the person second in line to the leadership of the clan. As such, Pathfinder acts as a badge of office. Favim's position is shaky without the sword. The populace may not accept him as heir when his older brother accedes to rule, unless he can pass the sword on to his successor. While the Holders of Trust could force acceptance of Favim as heir, the Denairastas clan would rather not have to put forth that much effort. They're willing to pay a large sum for the return of the blade. Of course, anybody bringing it in is likely to be thought in league with the original thieves, and be put to the question...

Pathfinder is a hand-and-a-half sword of high quality, with a plain wire-wrapped hilt. A single blue gem has been set between the quillons as a nod to aesthetics.

Pathfinder
Maximum Threads: 6
Spell Defense: 25

Thread Ranks

1 Cost: 200
Key Knowledge: Name of sword
Effect: Like a Ring of Accuracy, Pathfinder increases the Damage and Attack steps. At this Thread rank, add +1 to the Damage step.

2
Cost: 300
Key Knowledge: None
Effect: +2 to damage step

3
Cost: 500
Key Knowledge: Name of first wielder
Effect: +2 to damage step, +1 to attack step

4
Cost: 800
Deed: The wielder must invest 2 points of blood magic in bonding the sword to himself. The ritual for this is very specific, and must be done properly for the deed to work. The deed is worth 400 Legend Points.
Effect: +3 to damage step, +2 to attack step. Sword can lead its wielder through normal terrain to any place that the wielder has previously been, within two days' ride. The wielder will feel the rightness of the path when holding the sword.

5
Cost: 1300
Key Knowledge: Name of the weaponsmith who created the blade
Effect: +4 to damage step, +3 to attack step. Pathfinder can lead its wielder out of magically confusing terrain, such as kaers devised by Artificer. No warning of traps will be given. The shortest and most direct route will always be indicated. Pathfinder can also locate any possession or former possession of its wielder, within four days' ride.

6
Cost: 2100
Key Knowledge: Before the Scourge, Pathfinder was involved in saving the city of Iopos from a Horror. The popular legend of how this happened is false. The true story must be uncovered.
Deed: The wielder must find and enact an ancient ritual, at a prescribed site, forswearing all other blades. If the wielder uses any weapon other than Pathfinder, all threads and connections to Pathfinder are lost. While the lower ranks can be regained, the oath cannot be renewed. The ritual costs 5 points of Blood Magic, and is worth 1000 Legend Points.
Effect: +5 to damage step, +4 to attack step. Wielder may fly at a speed of DEX+8 for up to ten hours, at a cost of 2 Strain per hour. This ability may not be used more than once per week.

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1	Cost: 200 Key Knowledge: Name of sword Effect: Like a Ring of Accuracy, Pathfinder increases the Damage and Attack steps. At this Thread rank, add +1 to the Damage step.
2	Cost: 300 Key Knowledge: None Effect: +2 to damage step
3	Cost: 500 Key Knowledge: Name of first wielder Effect: +2 to damage step, +1 to attack step
4	Cost: 800 Deed: The wielder must invest 2 points of blood magic in bonding the sword to himself. The ritual for this is very specific, and must be done properly for the deed to work. The deed is worth 400 Legend Points. Effect: +3 to damage step, +2 to attack step. Sword can lead its wielder through normal terrain to any place that the wielder has previously been, within two days' ride. The wielder will feel the rightness of the path when holding the sword.
5	Cost: 1300 Key Knowledge: Name of the weaponsmith who created the blade Effect: +4 to damage step, +3 to attack step. Pathfinder can lead its wielder out of magically confusing terrain, such as kaers devised by Artificer. No warning of traps will be given. The shortest and most direct route will always be indicated. Pathfinder can also locate any possession or former possession of its wielder, within four days' ride.
6	Cost: 2100 Key Knowledge: Before the Scourge, Pathfinder was involved in saving the city of Iopos from a Horror. The popular legend of how this happened is false. The true story must be uncovered. Deed: The wielder must find and enact an ancient ritual, at a prescribed site, forswearing all other blades. If the wielder uses any weapon other than Pathfinder, all threads and connections to Pathfinder are lost. While the lower ranks can be regained, the oath cannot be renewed. The ritual costs 5 points of Blood Magic, and is worth 1000 Legend Points. Effect: +5 to damage step, +4 to attack step. Wielder may fly at a speed of DEX+8 for up to ten hours, at a cost of 2 Strain per hour. This ability may not be used more than once per week.