Soulseeker (Magic Sword)

From the volcanoes of the Great Sand Sea come large amounts of lava, some of which has large chunks of obsidian in it. The desert nomads have learned the art of flint snapping and have used obsidian tips on their spears for centuries. Highly skilled artisans are able to make large blades for daggers-Soulseeker is such a blade.
A war fought deep in the Underdark's caverns resulted in the destruction of many of the evil creatures involved. The remains of some of the vilest fiends were melted into a magical lava flow, forming an especially large hunk of obsidian. One of the great blade makers used this piece of obsidian to make Soulseeker. The name is derived from the fact that the fiend's flesh in the blade is constantly seeking a soul for itself. This blade has killed many times and still seeks more souls.
The blade traveled from the Great Sand Sea to the trading cities. A blade collector in Waterdeep sent for the dagger, but Soulseeker never reached its destination because it was stolen from the trading caravan. The last known rumor is that the blade is in the hands of Waterdeep's black market, perhaps having made its way to the city of Skullport. Soulseeker has a 30-inch, glassy black obsidian blade that is approximately 4 inches wide at the guard. The blade was made using flint snapping and has a slow taper, reaching down to the point. The handle is fossilized ivory, the guard is gold with inlaid onyx runes, and the butt cap is also of gold and onyx. The blade travels in a silk lined case made of ebony, with golden hinges and a cover that is a thin sheet of translucent obsidian.
Soulseeker is +2 on attack rolls and +5 on damage rolls. It can soul steal on a failed saving throw vs. death magic, detect evil/good in a 60' radius, detect invisible objects in a 10' radius, and detect magic in a 30' radius. It has an Intelligence of 17, an Ego of 11, and its alignment is chaotic evil. Soulseeker is able to communicate in Common.
This blade has one of the sharpest edges known. Obsidian edges are prized by nomadic healers for use in surgical procedures. The strongest power of Soulseeker lies in the stealing of souls. Anyone who is hit by the blade with a natural 20 must save vs. death magic or lose his or her soul to the blade, dying at once. If the victim dies from a hit by the blade, the character's soul is automatically taken into the blade, and resurrection becomes impossible. Only a wish spell will bring back a soul and permit resurrection. Those of alignments other than that of the blade suffer 1d6 points of damage every round they touch any part of this weapon, unless they are victims and suffer damage as detailed otherwise.
Soulseeker makes no pretense of its true goals, but it is remarkably seductive to any chaotic-evil being that grasps its hilt. It always tries to control its owner, urging the user to slay victims at every possible turn, seeking all souls possible, though it will encourage stealth and duplicity to keep the killing spree going as long as it can. Soulseeker especially seeks victims of high level or high social standing, gladly stealing the soul of a great wizard, mayor, priest, or general. Soulseeker saves against attacks as rock +2 and can be destroyed in any number of ways. Two good-aligned churches, one assassins' guild, and four adventuring parties are currently seeking this weapon to destroy it-or to use it.
Category:Encyclopedia Magica Magic Items
Category:Magic Items
Category:Magic Swords
Category:Magic Weapons