Illus. by M. Phillippi
ITEMS OF LEGACY
CHAPTER 3
MINDSPLINTER
120
Mindsplinter is a steel morningstar, the spiked head of which is fashioned to resemble the face of demon screaming upward. Nonlegacy Game Statistics: +1 morningstar; Cost 2,308 gp. Mindsplinter grants you a +1 resistance bonus on saves against sonic attacks. Omen: When you wield the weapon in battle, it emits a high-pitched sound that is inaudible to humanoids but disturbing to animals that have acute hearing.
HISTORY
Melaki was born to troglodytes that had high expectations for each of their hatchlings. He and his siblings would not grow up simply to defend their people—they would become their tribe’s mightiest members. One of them would rise to be chief. To prove their strength both to their parents and to the tribe, Melaki, his brothers, and his sisters were sent to the surface at the age of culling, with no means of protection other than their claws and teeth. They were not to return unless they did so with weapons forged of steel, taken from the corpses of the softskins. When Melaki finally returned, he did so with Mindsplinter. (DC 15) On the surface, any playfulness that existed between Melaki and his siblings as hatchlings was gone. They were now fierce rivals out to pursue any opportunity for tribal advancement. Melaki was no exception. He shadowed his eldest brother, the strongest and first to hatch, watching as he clawed his way through a camp of sleeping humans. After half of them were dead, the remaining two roused themselves to fight. Still unbalanced and surprised, the humans perished quickly, but not before one stabbed the attacking troglodyte with a spear. At that instant, Melaki struck, picking up one of the dropped weapons and murdering his brother while the elder was still catching his breath. Melaki collected all the metal armor and weapons, keeping the morningstar he had picked up for himself. He dragged everything home to a triumphant welcome. His was the best single-handed gathering of steel in generations of troglodytes. (DC 20; Nothing Personal)
Melaki had his pick of mates, so he chose the strongest and most attractive female among his people. The tribe agreed. The two were suited to each other. Melaki was being groomed by the priests of Laogzed to become the next chieftain, but his rite of passage required yet another ritual. Before Melaki could ascend to the role of tribal leader, the existing chieftain, his father, had to flee or be defeated in combat. The young would-be chieftain did not intend to let his father decide which course to take. He attacked. Cruelly, Melaki played with his sire for the better part of an hour, finally allowing Mindsplinter to do what it did best. (DC 25; Unseat the Highest) Melaki felt his troglodytes had grown complacent underground, so he frequently pushed them into combat even when resources were low. The acquisitions of steel were great and casualties commensurately high, but this problem of attrition was easily solved in Melaki’s mind—the females would simply have to lay more eggs. When food became scarce, the oldest priest suggested that it might be wise for the tribe to conserve their strength. Melaki crushed the cleric’s skull for offering such unsolicited and craven council. The old troglodyte had friends, though, and these young warriors immediately attacked Melaki. All were slain.
A troglodyte chieftain once prized Mindsplinter
