Dawnblade

A silvery blade forged of pure Mithral and imbued with near-otherworldly runic inscriptions and precious gems, Dawnblade is one of the precious few artifacts left behind by the esoteric Former.
Throughout history, Dawnblade has appeared time and time again during moments of crisis to turn the tide in favor of light, order, and natural balance. It's been called a host of names: Sanctelum when wielded by an Antecean general who led the charge to seal the breach into the Abyss during The First Abyssal War, Lann Gleansach when an elven warrior rallied an army of disparate allies against an ancient sorcerer from the days of The Wars of Awakening, and the Holy Avenger when pitted against a vampiric incursion that threatened to plunge Crucible into eternal darkness. 
Curiously, the blade never seems to stick around after it has settled the matter at hand; disappearing for decades or even centuries at a time. Despite this, it always seems to show up exactly where and when it is needed, as if the blade possesses some form of precognition (not entirely impossible, as like all Former artifacts, the weapon houses a sentient spirit that guides the blade towards acts of decency and heroism). As of 1219 EP, Dawnblade found its way into the ownership of the tiefling sorceress Echoless, who would go on to wield it against Cataclysm himself during The Extinction War.

Mechanics & Inner Workings

In addition to being a highly lethal weapon with a cutting edge that can penitrate almost any material, the magic of the blade bolsters the leadership and influence of its wielder as well as acts as a powerful conduit of magic. This works both ways, in that it allows its wielder to direct and focus their own magic through it as well as redirect harmful magic away from its wielder and those nearby. Because of its strong, "light" based motifs, it is particularly effective against "dark" entities like fiends and undead. 
Curiously, the magic of the sword does interact in some strange ways with its mortal wielders; causing blindness in its owner should they ever be any meaningful amount of distance away from the blade.

Significance

The appearance of the Dawnblade is often heralded as both a blessing and an omen, as it signifies the arrival of dark times, but also the possibility of surviving them.

Item type

Weapon, Melee

Creation Date

unknown

Rarity

This blade is entirely unique. Or at the very least, no one has ever discovered a duplicate or another Former artifact like it.