Illus. by W. England
ITEMS OF LEGACY
CHAPTER 3
DYMONDHEART
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Dymondheart is a longsword shaped from a single piece of darkly oiled and gleaming wood. The grain runs with the length of the blade, and the wood is vibrant, as if still living. Nonlegacy Game Statistics: +1 longsword; Cost 2,315 gp. In the event the blade is damaged, it heals naturally at a rate of 3 hit points per day. Omen: The longsword truly is alive, and it never needs sharpening.
HISTORY
Nearly a thousand years ago, the first of the Nentyarchs raised a living fortress of magical trees over the evil ruins of Dun-Tharos. His aim was to keep the secrets of that demon-worshiping city safely under root and trunk. The blade Dymondheart grew fully formed from the living wood of one of those ancient trees, a gift from the green powers to the first of the Nentyarchs, signifying their patronage and power. The blade was handed down from Nentyarch to Nentyarch. Only the first Nentyarch, however, understood all the weapon’s powers and abilities. Using it, he was able to seal away the tombs beneath his living stronghold for almost a thousand years. (DC 31; Prayer of Ancient Lineage)
Stories exist of items grown rather than forged, including Lyon’s Dagger and the Green Shield, but many of these stories are without basis in fact. Fairly good records support the LEGACY RITUALS actual existence of a sword called DymondThree rituals are required to unlock all the abilities of Dymondheart. heart, however, whose blade is green and Purification of the Tree: You have to plant growing. Such a weapon’s wielder is heir to a tree and arrange for its continual tending. If the strength of growing things. (DC 15) your original tree ever perishes, you must plant a The storied blade Dymondheart was most recently wielded by an elf hunter named Elowyn. new one within one month but need not repeat Reveling in its living nature, Elowyn used the this ritual. If you fail to plant a new tree, you magic of the sword against the machinations lose access to Dymondheart’s two highest-level of a servitor of decay referred to as the Rotting abilities until you do so. Cost: 2,140 gp. Feat Man. Even without extensive knowledge of Granted: Least Legacy (Dymondheart). Rite of Passage: You must prove your mettle the longsword’s true capabilities, Elowyn was alone against a black-hearted treant, one that able to call on a few powers to aid her when has given up its charge to support life in favor she was nearly bested by a demon from the of the pursuit of rot and death. You must defeat Abyss. (DC 18; Purification of the Tree) Dymondheart was a gift given to Elowyn by the creature but can use whatever means are at your disposal. Cost: 13,500 gp. Feat Granted: an elf lord known as the Nentyarch. That title is assumed by the greatest living druid in the Lesser Legacy (Dymondheart). great forests to the east, and many elf druids Prayer of Ancient Lineage: You are have held it over the centuries. The currently required to meditate upon the revealed history of Dymondheart for a period of at least 48 hours, serving Nentyarch wielded the longsword himself when he was younger, having sebringing to mind the ancient wonder of the original Nentyarch’s fortress of living trees. Cost: 38,000 cured it from the tombs of a fallen city called Dun-Tharos, once inhabited by those who trafgp. Feat Granted: Greater Legacy (Dymondheart). ficked with demons. Only the vigilance of an unbroken string of Nentyarchs has kept these WIELDER REQUIREMENTS ruins quiescent under a living boundary of trees. Most wielders of Dymondheart are druids specially A journey down past the roots of the sentinel trained to wield a longsword. Rangers are also drawn to the blade of living wood. trees into the tombs required vast daring, and the Nentyarch’s reward was great—he reclaimed Dymondheart, a sword once wielded by those The weapon of druid Dymondheart Wielder Dymondheart Requirements of his order in the distant past. Reclaiming champions, defends the forest from Base attack bonus +1 the weapon was not easy. Guardians with fell servants of decay Knowledge (history) 2 ranks power beset the Nentyarch, and he barely esSpeak Language (Elven) caped with his life. (DC 25; Rite of Passage)
