Calathangas (Magic Sword)

Also called the rat blade and the sting of Xerastos, this unique sword first appeared over 80 winters ago during a plague that swept the Dalelands. It was used by a warrior of Battledale named Rathinor, who eventually fell fighting a band of thieves in the woods, killing and wounding several of them before dying himself. The rogues were never seen again and presumably disbanded.
The blade disappeared for 15 years, until a young and ruthless soldier named Xerastos bought it from a peasant for the price of six sheep. He quickly grew in infamy as the captain of a small but powerful group of adventurers. His enemies feared him no less because of rumors of an awful curse upon his sword than for his prowess with the weapon.
Xerastos met his fate a decade later at the hands of an eager paladin who sought to destroy the blade. The paladin killed the wicked man and intended to return Calathangas to his church, but took ill before completing his quest and disappeared. The weapon has not been seen since.
Calathangas is a short sword with a very sharp, steel blade and a plain hilt set with a white moonstone (worth 250 gp). It is +1 on attack rolls and +3 on damage rolls. Although it is not intelligent, it is evil and inflicts lycanthropy (wererat) upon anyone who so much as holds the blade without passing a saving throw vs. spell: this check must be repeated each week the weapon is used.
In combat, anyone injured by the blade, but not actually killed by it, has a 20% chance of contracting wererat lycanthropy. The sword glows only when rats are within 50' of it: if the wielder desires, he or she can summon and control 2d12 giant rats (30%) or 6d12 normal rats (70%). They arrive in 1d4 rounds if any are nearby. Should the wielder compete with a vampire or other creature for control of the rats, Calathangas succeeds 70% of the time.
Category:Encyclopedia Magica Magic Items
Category:Magic Items
Category:Magic Swords
Category:Magic Weapons