Staff of the Torrent Moons

Bloodcrier’s Hammer

Illus. by J. Nelson

STAFF OF THE TORRENT MOONS

Staff of the Torrent Moons is a lajatang, composed of a darkwood shaft with two crescent-shaped blades, forged from a rare blue-tinted metal, attached to either end.

Nonlegacy Game Statistics: Masterwork/+1 lajatang; Cost 2,720 gp; Dmg 1d8+1/1d8; Critical ×2;

Range Increment —; Weight 7 lb.; Type Slashing. The lajatang is an exotic, two-handed, double weapon that can be proficiently wielded by any character with the

Exotic Weapon Proficiency (lajatang) feat. A character can fight with a lajatang as if fighting with two weapons, incurring all the normal attack penalties of using a one-handed weapon and a light weapon. A monk who is proficient with the lajatang can wield it as a special monk weapon.

Each end counts as a separate weapon for the purpose of the flurry of blows ability, similar to how the quarterstaff works. Omen: While carrying Staff of the Torrent Moons, you and your equipment are instantly dried whenever you emerge from a body of water. HISTORY

Inukai Satoru was born to unwedded parents who loved each other deeply.

Shortly after the boy’s birth, however, his father drowned in a flood while saving Satoru’s mother from the deluge. Without much propriety, the eldest son of the local noble family then began to court Satoru’s beautiful mother, and she accepted the noble’s marriage proposal soon after, even with the condition that she must give up her illegitimate son. Still a child, Satoru was less upset with losing his mother than he was at the disrespect the woman showed her former love, acting as if the heroic man never existed.

Satoru was sent to the nearest monastery and became a dedicated student, training almost exclusively with a crescent-bladed weapon chosen for him by his teacher.

That lajatang came to be known as Staff of the Torrent

Moons. (DC 15) Satoru later learned that a neighboring noble was responsible for the flood that killed his father—the noble’s soldiers had sabotaged a nearby dam. With patience, the youngster honed his martial skills and bided his time. At twenty-two years of age, the young warrior purchased a horned mask at a street fair and began hunting the retainers of his father’s murderer. He wore the mask to protect his monastery from any connection with his actions, and its use earned Satoru the name mizubakemono (“river monster”) because he also ambushed his victims from waterways. In fact, the mizubakemono dragged more than a few unfortunates underwater, still kicking and screaming. When word reached Kuemon, the lord of Satoru’s prefecture, that a river monster was inflicting casualties to his rival clan, he didn’t believe the tales. He knew a man was responsible. Kuemon offered a reward to anyone who could prove that a man was the mizubakemono, and Satoru felt the money could benefit his monastery. (DC 20; Inherit the River) Satoru presented himself to Kuemon. The aging lord told Satoru that ever since he started his personal war, the neighboring aristocrat would counter by ordering more raids against their territory, slaughtering untold peasants in retaliation. Satoru was devastated. His selfish desire for revenge was responsible for the loss of innocent lives, and he immeStaff of the Torrent Moons diately offered to sacrifice his holds the power of a own to end the hostilities. When river monster word spread that a monk of the local monastery had turned himself in, Satoru’s mother knew the man was her son. She went to Satoru and urged him to reconsider, but the young man’s bitterness toward the woman wouldn’t allow him to listen. As she made to leave, she revealed a secret she had long held—Kuemon was the one responsible for the perpetuation of hostilities between the rival clans. It was he who secretly ordered villages burned to rouse the peasantry against the adjacent region. In fact, he had been ultimately responsible for the destruction of the dam that had resulted in the death of Satoru’s father. Satoru suddenly realized

Table 3–42: Staff of the Torrent Moons

——————— Personal Costs ———————

Wielder Attack Skill Check Hit Point Skill Point

Level Penalty Penalty Loss Loss Abilities

5th — — — — Obscuring mist at will 6th — — 2 4 +1/+1 lajatang 7th –1 — — — Speed of fin 8th —- –1 — — — 9th — — — 2 River of plenty 10th — — 2 — Water breathing 11th — — — — +2/+2 lajatang 12th — — — 2 Speak with aquatic animals 13th –2 — — — Celestial porpoise companion 14th — — 2 — Shape of carp 1/day 15th — — — 2 Summon fish swarm 5/day 16th — –2 — — Flooding the fields 1/day 17th — — — — +2 axiomatic/+2 holy lajatang 18th — — 2 2 Cure critical wounds 3/day 19th — –3 — 2 Horrid wilting 1/day 20th — — — 2 +3 axiomatic/+3 holy lajatang that his whole life had been guided toward this very moment. He thanked his mother, embraced her, and quickly went to consult the wisest among his monastic peers. The story Satoru had been told was confirmed through their divine insight. (DC 25; Following Through) The next day, Satoru began the ritual of self-sacrifice by laying his weapons on the ground, knowing Kuemon would come to watch. The young monk only pretended to prepare for his coming death. As Kuemon arrived and took his seat, Satoru rose and challenged the old man, revealing all he had been told. Kuemon’s warriors rushed to defend their lord, but Satoru was merciful to them, disabling each with nonlethal blows. As his last guardian went down, Kuemon fell to his knees and begged for mercy. Satoru gave that kindness on the price that Kuemon reveal his crimes to all present, which the aging noble immediately did. Kuemon was then forced to save what little honor remained to him by enacting the self-sacrifice ritual upon himself.

Satoru’s stepfather became the new ruler. He ruled justly, and for the first time in thirty years, peace settled on the land. Before long, Satoru formed the

Twin Tides monastery, which valued accountability and truth above all else. Its members became respected peacekeepers. When Satoru eventually died of old age, he left Staff of the Torrent Moons to be inherited by the most promising student of each generation. (DC 30;

Opposing Corruption) LEGACY RITUALS

Three rituals are required to unlock all the abilities of Staff of the Torrent Moons. A student of the Twin Tides monastery who is entrusted with this weapon receives instruction in how to perform the Inherit the River ritual.

Inherit the River: You are required to defeat in single combat a creature with the water subtype.

Your foe’s Challenge Rating must equal or exceed your character level. Cost: 1,000 gp. Feat Granted: Least

Legacy (Staff of the Torrent Moons). Following Through: You must locate the dependants or family of an honorable opponent you had a hand in slaying. This done, you must help them if they are in need and you are capable of rendering aid.

Cost: 12,000 gp. Feat Granted: Lesser Legacy (Staff of the

Torrent Moons). Opposing Corruption: You must investigate and undermine any governing body that endangers or takes advantage of innocent people. Each time you fail to act in a manner required by this pledge, you lose the two highest-level abilities of Staff of the Torrent

Moons to which you have access. The loss lasts for one day. Cost: 40,000 gp. Feat Granted: Greater Legacy (Staff of the Torrent Moons). WIELDER REQUIREMENTS

Most wielders of Staff of the Torrent Moons are monks, but any martial character can be effective with this weapon.