ITEMS OF LEGACY
CHAPTER 3
PLANESHIFTER’S KNIFE
Planeshifter’s Knife is a dagger with a spiral hilt and a broad, serrated blade that tapers to a sharp point. Nonlegacy Game Statistics: +1 dagger; Cost 2,302 gp. Omen: Whenever you set the dagger down, it immediately rights itself to balance on the tip of the blade, always at a 90-degree angle to any surface it touches, regardless of gravity. It begins spinning whenever an extraplanar creature is within 5 feet.
Illus. by D. Crabapple
HISTORY
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A young wizard named Arochius Kade, who consistently angered the Enclave of Mages, created Planeshifter’s Knife. Arochius was frequently absent from the Enclave’s parliaments and accused of being reclusive. He resented the Enclave of Mages, knowing full well that they existed only to keep track of and control powerful spellcasters. The benefits of membership, however, were undeniable—access to one of the world’s largest thaumaturgic libraries guarded by vigilant shadow mastiffs. It was accountability that chafed Arochius. The Enclave knew exactly what their members were researching and guided them accordingly. For the youthful mage to break free of their influence, he would have to craft an object with potential surpassing his own power. (DC 15) The Enclave of Mages controlled an information network that stretched across the continents. They introduced themselves to Arochius when his powers first increased beyond normal ken, having observed the mage through scrying devices. An offer of membership was extended, but the recruitment tactics more resembled those of a press gang. The message was clear—the Enclave did not tolerate independents. Arochius wasn’t able to resist the Enclave at the time, but their library eventually revealed knowledge that might help him escape them. Once Planeshifter’s Knife was complete,
he showed the dagger to the Enclave. The members studied the weapon and agreed it was simply a tool for detecting extraplanar creatures. At the time, that was exactly right. (DC 20; The First Ingredient) Arochius told the Enclave his reluctance to attend their gatherings was due to suspicion. He wanted to make sure that none of the council members were extraplanar creatures, in light of their extensive use of shadow mastiffs as guardians. Planeshifter’s Knife dispelled such concerns. Arochius was lauded for his prudence. As he grew in power, Arochius unlocked the dagger’s hidden potential—just as he had planned. Planeshifter’s Knife gave him the ability to move from one plane of existence to another, but only after plunging the dagger into an extraplanar creature. He didn’t hesitate to use the weapon’s abilities. Arochius gathered some of the most valuable tomes from the Enclave’s library, attacked one of the shadow mastiffs, and fled to another reality. Unfortunately, he arrived only seconds before an Enclave recovery team. Having magically tagged each one of their books, the Enclave had no difficulty tracking Arochius and little trouble dispatching the upstart where he stood. His dagger has remained in storage ever since. (DC 25; Over the Threshold)
LEGACY RITUALS
Two rituals are required to unlock all the abilities of Planeshifter’s Knife. The First Ingredient: You must acquire a vial of blood from an extraplanar creature using any means at your disposal. Cost: 3,200 gp. Feat Granted: Least Legacy (Planeshifter’s Knife). Over the Threshold: You have to single-handedly defeat a creature with the extraplanar subtype and a CR equal to or greater than your level (maximum CR 16). Cost: 13,500 gp. Feat Granted: Lesser Legacy (Planeshifter’s Knife).
By spilling the blood of an outsider, Planeshifter’s Knife can cut a path between worlds
