Faithful Bastard

The Faithful Bastard is a hand-and-a-half sword made by Master Kento in the 1020s for the Cleric Sen.

Specifications

The handle of the blade is made from redwood, with inlays of turquoise in the shape of two enormous canine pawprints. It has an onyx pommel and copper detailing throughout. The steel blade is on the shorter end for a bastard sword, measuring approximately 42 inches.

Swordmaker's Notes

Sen, gods bless and keep the boy, is something of a walking disaster. He is the only person ever to have stumbled into my territory by mistake and come out worthy of a blade. So many insincere warriors have asked half-hearted questions about my forge and my craft while waiting to slide in some "offhand" comment about their desire for a blade. I ignore these comments, as a rule, and lecture them on gemcraft until they give up and go home. Sen was genuinely so invested in discussing onyx's potential as an emotional sink and the abjurative properties of jade that he spent three weeks at my forge before I asked if he had any interest in fighting for a blade of his own.
But he was a true joy to have as company throughout the making of this sword: intelligent, gentle, diligent, polite, and above all unfailingly curious. He has the heart of a scholar and a healer, not a warrior; however, he fights with such a keen eye for tactics that he soon defeated me in combat far more often than not. Still, there is a sadness and a restlessness to this young man that seems to fuel him on his journey. I wish him peace, wherever he may stumble next.

Weapon Attributes (Gameplay)

• Basics. The Faithful Bastard is a sentient +1 longsword that requires attunement by a worthy bearer of elven heritage. Its magical properties function only for its bearer, and its personal goals reflect the values and personality of its owner. Once the sword has chosen a bearer, it will not choose another one unless its bearer dies, breaks the sword's trust, or is trapped on a different plane of existence from the sword for a minimum of ten years.
• Redwood Defender. The bearer has three superiority die (d8) per long rest to spend on the battlemaster maneuvers Goading Attack and Distracting Strike.
• Boon of Turquoise. As a reaction, the bearer adds 3 to their AC against one melee attack that would hit it. They can apply this ability to allies as well, so long as the ally and their attacker are both within melee range. Allies within 5 feet of the bearer never provoke opportunity attacks from enemies, as long as they stay within 5 feet of the bearer.
• Boon of Onyx. The bearer can cast Calm Emotions a number of times per day up to their proficiency bonus, without expending a spell slot. The bearer is resistant to necrotic damage; if they take necrotic damage during a turn, they can expel half that amount on their next attack.

Item type

Weapon, Melee