The Blade of Tarnhem

Lore & Background

History records no master who kept the blade without paying with their sanity or their kingdom. In one forgotten age, an ambitious sorcerer-king sought to unite the North under his banner; instead, the sword's influence drove him to slaughter his own lieutenants before victory could be claimed. By the later eras, the artifact became a dark relic of the Church of Cyric, its nature mirroring the Mad God’s love for betrayal and chaos. To this day, whispers persist that the Harpers or Zhentarim shattered the blade's smithing secrets—or hid the weapon itself—to ensure it never again fuels a war of absolute domination.

In Their Own Story

The air in the crypt tasted of rust and old blood. Kaelen gripped the hilt, feeling the cold metal seep into his skin like frostbite. 'You are weak,' the voice whispered, not in his ears, but inside the marrow of his bones. He looked down at the blade; its edge seemed to drink the faint torchlight, leaving a circle of absolute darkness around him. 'Kill them all,' it urged, the command vibrating through his arm with irresistible force. Kaelen tried to let go, but his fingers were fused to the grip. The shadows in the corner of the room lengthened, taking the shapes of screaming faces he had never met yet knew intimately. With a sob that turned into a roar, he swung the weapon, and the darkness surged forward.

Reader's Guide

The Blade of Tarnhem functions as a sentient greatsword, granting enhanced combat prowess and necromantic abilities at a terrible cost. Mechanically, it acts as a potent magical weapon with a high enhancement bonus, capable of casting spells tied to death and fear. However, the sword demands constant blood sacrifice or acts of cruelty to maintain its power; failure to comply results in the blade turning against its master or inflicting severe mental damage. To wield this artifact effectively requires a character of Lawful Evil alignment willing to surrender their free will gradually. The sword communicates through telepathy, offering strategic advice that invariably leads to morally reprehensible choices. It detects invisible creatures and senses evil intentions within a wide radius, making it a potent tool for assassination and conquest. Beware that the blade's sentience is not a passive observer; it actively seeks to corrupt its owner. Long-term possession usually results in the character becoming an NPC under the DM's control or suffering from permanent madness. It is recommended that players only take up this weapon if they intend to play a tragic arc ending in redemption or destruction, as the sword rarely forgives those who claim it.

Did You Know?

• The blade is often rumored to be one of the few weapons capable of harming a Lich without needing a specific holy artifact.
• Legends say the sword weeps black tears when it senses the presence of a true paladin.
• Some accounts suggest the blade was once shattered into three pieces, each hidden in a different plane of existence.
• The name 'Tarnhem' is sometimes used as a curse word by adventurers who have narrowly escaped its influence.