Barbarian Weapon of Renown
Overview
All Barbarians of fame have their tale linked to some famous or renowned weapon. This supplemental rule seeks to duplicate this quality of the Barbarian tale. It allows a barbarian to slowly forge or refine an existing blade until it becomes a Weapon of Renown.Naming Conventions
The first requirement is that the Barbarian character choose a name for their weapon. It may start as a simple, ordinary blade, but over time will change.Examples of names and renowned weapons associated with the most famous of Barbarians have been included to illustrate the point.
Conan had his village leveled due to the Renown of Steel Weaponry and the sought after blade was known as "The Father's Sword", later he wielded "The Atlantean". Fafhrd, the barbarian in the Grey Mouser series used a blade that he always named Graywand (no matter how many times it broke or was replaced).
Wulfgar from the Do'Urden Series had Aegis Fang, specifically forged for him by his 'step-father', and this weapon was in turn sought after by a subsequent Barbarian leader, Berkthgar who wielded a two-handed blade that became known as Bankenfuere the Northern Fury.
Game Balance Issue
The problems of the original Barbarian character not scaling well with other characters at later parts of the game arose due to it's limited access to magical items. This has not been addressed in prior implementations of the class. At higher levels when other classes have Staves of Wizardry, Vorpal Swords or Holy Avengers, the Barbarian has been limited. This supplementary rule seeks to address this long term issue.Weapon Enhancement
The Barbarian does not trust magic - this is implicit, and a core part of the character class. In previous iterations the Barbarian gets to use magic items after a certain level is reached, or they get magical items that are non-ferrous, this has now changed. Every Barbarian culture has some form of empowering tradition that can be used to increase the ability of a seemingly ordinary weapon - until it has the same (or greater) power than a magical item.Universal Specifics
Regardless of Tribe, the Barbarian's creation of his Renowned Weapon, involves the destruction of magical weapons to create the raw materials needed for the enhancement (not enchantment) process.Step by Step
1. The weapon that is to receive the enhancement must be forged or prepared, and named.2. Two magical weapons of the same or greater power than the enhancement level sought must be ground down into fine sand/metallic dust. This process takes 1 week per foot (1 week per 30cm of metal to be worn down and collected.
Example: a +1 renowned weapon is sought, so the Barbarian must grind down or dissolve two +1 magical weapons, or higher - it must always be at least two weapons, no matter what the bonus of the blades involved. While this is being done the Barbarian must chant and collect the dust or resulting liquids for later use in the enhancing process.
3. The resulting dust or liquid must be rubbed into the weapon, often with a tribal mixture of some sort, whilst the Barbarian chants.
After it has been mixed with the blood/ichor of a magic using creature or humanoid/demi-human whilst chanting, during a full moon. (This can take up to three nights - over two months for a large weapon.)
4. This mixture is pasted into the markings of runes, etchings, or grooves in the weapon - depending on the tribal method used to prepare it.
Note It does not matter if a weapon is intelligent or has bonus abilities above the normal capacity of a standard bonused weapon - the grinding down has the same effect - it is dust/liquid, and will result only in the enhancement of the barbarian's blade. NOTE: An artifact may have a very different result - if it can be ground down at all.
The Barbarian can apply this method to the enhancement of a second weapon - and/or a replacement weapon, but they will only use this process for their own weaponry - no one else's.
The bonuses gained are non-cumulative. A process is followed to achieve a +1 bonus, the same process using sufficiently powerful weapons must be performed to make the weapon into a +2 weapon. Each bonus must be achieved in sequence. A weapon cannot be enhanced to a +3 weapon immediately by sacrificing two +3 weapons. It must first be enhanced to +1, then to +2, and then to +3. If a cursed weapon is used - then the bonus does not increase and there is a 40% chance (minus the level of the barbarian) that the Weapon of Renown will lose one level of enhancement.
The highest a weapon can be enhanced to is +5.
Once ten weapons have been used to enhance a blade, each subsequent weapon ground down and put into the blade gives it a 1% chance of developing a single, special ability. This can be stacked up to 50% before it must be used. If successful, the following table is consulted to see which power the weapon gains.
01 - 35 Weapon develops a 'taste' for certain enemy types - such as Lycanthropes or Magic Users. (see DMG for such weapons).
36 - 41 Weapon becomes a Vorpal Blade/or Hammer/Axe of Throwing
42 - 50 Anti-magic ability - the weapon can dispel magic if swung in a circle whilst chanting is done by the Barbarian.
51 - 70 Weapon becomes a Defender like weapon +4 defender - able to portion out it's bonus to armor or to hit/damage.
71 - 00 Weapon becomes a Blade of Sharpness/Hammer/Axe of Thunderbolts
Once this special ability is achieved the weapon will not be enhanced further through more enhancement. However the Barbarian must continue to perform this act at least once per month to maintain the effects. It can be allowed to intentionally drop and then a new attempt made. Once a thousand weapons have been ground down for the benefit of the weapon it is considered an Immortally Renowned Weapon, and Barbarians from the same tribe will start singing of it.
Group Specifics
Each Barbarian Group has a specific ritual method for creating their Weapons of Renown. A Weapon of Renown is linked intrinsically to the warrior who wielded them and they will not be passed on to others but rather buried with their master.Silver Damasking (Scalvin Weapons of Renown)
Process
The Scalvin tribes are scattered survivors of slavery - spread across the desert in small groups. They have escaped their masters and aim to remain free. However, it was magic that placed them under the Yoke of others. So magic - is what they seek to destroy. A Scalvin Tribesman creates what will be a Silver Damasked weapon - which comes from the Aubaydi language, meaning 'water'. The resulting design on the blade - is a unique form of wave like patterns that appear etched into the weapon.1. The Scalvin must use a silver blade in keeping with their cultural preference for this metal in weaponry.
2. Two magical weapons must be ground down into fine sand/metallic dust.
3. The dust must be collected into the Barbarian's Weaponising Flask. This is a single specially constructed flask of glassed-sand that is gifted to the Barbarian at or after achieving 2nd level from his tribe. The Bottle is specifically crafted for the task of collecting the dust.
3. The resulting dust must be rubbed into the weapon after it has been mixed with the blood/ichor of any magic using being (Humanoid or otherwise) whilst chanting and during a full moon. (This can take up to three nights - over two months for a large weapon.
Note that the resulting weapon is referred to as a Silver Damasked weapon - which comes from the Aubaydi language, meaning 'water'. The resulting design on the blade - is a unique form of wave like patterns etched into the weapon. These wave like patterns can be used in divination.
It does not matter if a magical weapon that is to be destroyed is intelligent or has bonus abilities above the normal capacity of a standard bonused weapon - the grinding down has the same effect - it is dust, and will result only in an increase in bonuses of the weapon.
Breathblades (Garam Weapons of Renown)
Process
The Garam drink the magic dust of their powdered magical items into their mouths from their Weaponising Flask - in this case it is to be mixed with moon-made alcohol - and spit/spray it out onto their blade, then speak their chants to purify the metal on their blades. The Garam claim that the Weaponising Flask keeps the magical dust in a state of suspension between release and destruction - the alcohol purifies the metal and this is then 'sprayed' onto the weapon. The Garam are known to have purple or lavender eyes - this is progressive - each magical weapon 'spat out' has a 05% chance of shifting the color of the Garam's eyes to a shade of purple . The most senior Garam are said to have piercingly purple eyes.
Necroblades (Carian Weapons of Renown)
Process
These barbarians believe that the souls of those who have been animated by magic after death are infected with that magic, and in slaying the Undead the Barbarian frees them, and their ichor, dust or blood can be used, along with the ground down weapon dust to infuse the Barbarian's own blade. Just like the other Barbarian Tribes (which are related to the Carian) the dust of the weapon and the undead material are kept in their personal Weaponising Flask and in this case also it is unique to the Carians. The resulting blades are known as Necroblades, or Spiritblades.Etched-blade (Scythian Weapons of Renown)
Process
The Scythians are said to be directly descended from Hercules. They commonly use poisoned arrows in combat in honor of that lineage. However, in hand to hand combat the Scythian warrior will use a a non-poisoned Etched Blade, which is semi-magnetic in nature. (Some call them LodeAxes or Hammerlodes if they are different types of weapons from a sword - but basically they are the same changes.)1. The Scythians grind down metallic magical-weaponry and armor to create magical dust which they imbue with a talismanic stone which each carries. The talismanic stone is a magical lodestone/magnet that magnetizes the dust and acts as a weaponising flask for this ethinicity, but also etch circles of power into the blade that they are used upon.
2. This magnetic dust is impregnated elements of the freed energies from releasing the magic and this is then applied to the Etched blade of the warrior.
Results
By using their talismanic stone and a light silken bag Scythian warriors have been witnessed giving 'last rites' to those whom they have slain. This appears to be a form of respect shown to the fallen - but the Scythians know it is just a careful recollecting magical residue that can be used in the manufacturing of their 'Magnetic Etching Powder for the blade.Runeblades (Varangian Weapons of Renown)
Process
Having learned from the dwarves, the Varangian Barbarian Blademasters learned to inscribe runes onto their blades, and sprinkled the dust of ground down magical weapons, mixed with the dust of gems to enhance their blades.1. The relevant runes are inscribed into the weapon and the dust is then poured in along with the ritual to activate the runes.
Manufacturing process
The ritual is outlined differently for each tribe. Anyone viewing it will normally witness what appears to be a careful sharpening and oiling of a blade with an accompanying soft chant. So it is not dramatic.
Significance
A Weapon of Renown and a sign of honor but also replaceable.
Item type
Weapon, Melee
Related ethnicities
Rarity
Unique to each Barbarian.
Weight
various
Dimensions
various
Base Price
high quality non magical weapon - in some instances silver weaponry is needed
Raw materials & Components
The base weapon must be of the highest quality - it needs to be at least forged from Steel or Silver in some instances.
Tools
High quality blades are recommended. The etchings and markings placed on the blades are gently etched in over time and powdered in dust, in some cases ichor or blood is also used.
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