Azuredge, Slayer of the Netherborn (Magic Axe)

Azuredge is a medium-sized battle axe forged of silver, electrum, and steel alloys, its handle cast from solid steel and wrapped at the haft in blue dragon skin. There is a star sapphire set into the pommel. It is as effective as a pure silver weapon and is magically enchanted with a number of powers, the least of which cause the edges of the axehead to shimmer a deep blue at all times. The axe has six runes carved into it, one along each edge on either side of the axe and one rune at the center of each side of the axe. At various times, the runes flash with blue radiance (apparently when their powers are active). Smaller runes are also carved into the handle, but these are only noticeable under close scrutiny. Though the wide, double-edged axe appears quite heavy and unwieldy, it is light and well-balanced in the hands of its chosen wielder.
Azuredge's origins are even more tightly tied to the City of Splendors than some suspect. A little over 300 years ago, Aghairon was marshalling his power as the premier wizard of Waterdeep under the just, though violent, rule of Lady Lauroun, Warlord of Waterdeep. Aghairon saw the last honorable Warlord of Waterdeep fall in battle, her body pierced by a score of orcish arrows. Teleporting her from the field, he performed her last request, “to ensure that she would always be able to aid the defense of the City of Splendors.” Having been preparing a magical axe to present to her, Aghairon's magic bound a piece of Lauroun's fleeting spirit to the weapon, making her forever an intelligent, soulful presence in an item capable of fulfilling her last request. Though its memory is not fully Lauroun's, Azuredge remembers her creation and history as a weapon.
Though powerful and eager to be used in the city's defense. Azuredge waited six long years before her initial use. Upon Aghairon's establishment of the Masked Lords' Rule, the blue axe was given to Kherris-a warrior. Lord of Waterdeep, and great-grandfather of Baeron-to dispatch the heinous other-planar creatures that emerged outside the city. Coining from the ruins of Halaster's tower, these were the first dangers visited on Waterdeep from Undermountain. Legends tell of a battle late one night, when a flood of ghastly creatures spilled out of Undermountain, intent on the city herself. Aghairon's magic slowed them but did not stop them all: many reached the city walls only to meet a tall, cloaked Lord holding the glistening, blue axe. Azuredge sent all the fiends back to their makers, its glowing blue radiance keeping the evils from Waterdeep.
The axe was not seen again by Waterdhavians until the time of Baeron, the next open Lord of Waterdeep over 200 years later. After Baeron's passing (many swore they saw the axe disappear from his belt on the funeral pyre), the axe is not mentioned in any history of the city until Berrygon, a warrior/blacksmith from South Ward, wielded it against Bane's forces during their invasion of Waterdeep at the Time of Troubles. With Berrygon's fall, his final companion, the wizardess Caryn, risked a spell to teleport the axe to safety, sending it to Blackstaff Tower. Khelben kept watch over Azuredge, and added enchantments that allow him to watch over the wielder of the axe as well as to provide the magical effects for her reappearance. Khelben and Piergeiron do not interfere with Azuredge and her protection of the city, but they plan on keeping tabs on the axe and her chosen companions, making sure they do not stray from the Lords' path, whether for Waterdeep's good or not.
Enchanted as it was (“to be as worthy a weapon as its wielder”), Azuredge's powers wax and wane with each new wielder. The blue axe's full powers and abilities are listed and activated as follows:
* The blue axe does not have any combat bonuses for attack or damage, but its magical construction allows it to hit creatures only affected by silver or magical weapons (even those only affected by +3 weapons). Its damage cannot be regenerated save by normal rest, making it an effective weapon against trolls.
* Immediately upon gaining the use of her, the wielder can command Azuredge to generate light (as the 1st-level spell).
* After reaching 4th level (or wielding her for a year), Azuredge can be thrown at targets a number of times per day equal to the level of the fighter wielding her (a 6th-level paladin =6 throws per day). Other than that, and the lack of combat bonuses, this power is identical to an axe of hurling (double damage when thrown).
* At 8th level and above, the wielder can use Azuredge against undead and creatures from the lower planes as if she were a mace of disruption. This power is coupled with Azuredge's ability to detect evil planar beings and undead, those creatures she was forged to slay; whenever in the presence of undead or evil beings from outside the Prime Material Plane, Azuredge glows brightly (whether her wielder wishes her to or not) with cold azure flames enveloping the axehead (illuminating a 40' radius).
* Azuredge is an intelligent weapon (Intelligence 14, Ego 12) with a female identity, hence the references to the weapon as “she.” With sentience, she is the one who chooses her wielder (magically sticking to surfaces like sovereign glue until she is touched by one she deems worthy); she also has a limited detect alignment ability she uses on her wielders, which aids her in her choice (she chooses only good, most often chaotic, heroes). She chooses a wielder only after the passing of her previous wielder. She can communicate by speech or telepathy, though she rarely communicates until the wielder is at least 12th level (any communication before to this is more apt to be heard as whispers or words in a dream). She can also resist identification magic at will, relinquishing only the information she wishes.
Category:Encyclopedia Magica Magic Items
Category:Magic Items
Category:Magic Axe
Category:Magic Weapons