Scorched Earth

**Scorched Earth**, also known by the name **Nightflame**, is a weapon of legend and great power. It is a magical bastard sword that manifests through lunar flames of the Blood Moon, a physical manifestation of the moon's fury and anguish. The blade has seen many wielders including: The Moonlit King, Lycus, Malachi Nightflame, and is currently in Vercingetorix's possession as his primary weapon as a Sword Mage. Due to its godly wielders and the sword's affiliation with the moon, Scorched Earth is considered a relic.

## Scorched Earth

Sprite depicting scorched earth alit with lunar fire.

## General Information

### Type

* Weapon
* Martial/Heavy

## History

### Previous Owner(s)

* Lycus
* Gwynivere Nightflame
* Malikath Nightflame
* The Moonlit King

### Crafted by

* Goerwyr's sorrow and anguish phyiscally manifesting through the moon.

## Base Description

Scorched Earth has an intimidating profile even when not alit with lunar flame. It resembles a thin greatsword in its build with a long, curving cross guard. The base of the blade features asymmetrical spikes of varying length and size with the spikes being placed at random intervals. The remainder of the blade remains straight. The hilt is wrapped in a canvass like cloth in a crisscross pattern to aid in gripping the sword. The steel of the blade is cast in a darkened hue that bears a slight crimson tinge that runs in a rusty color through the blade, like a permanent blood stain.

When wielded, Scorched Earth often erupts into flames of varying color.

## Abilities

### Scorched Earth

Add +1 die of damage to any spells that deal fire or lightning damage.

### Eternal Flameblade

Damage dealt by Scorched Earth can be made into fire damage.

### Goerwyr's Anguish

The blood of enemies slain by Scorched Earth that falls onto earth grows into flowering plants.

## Legendary Lore

Originally bearing the name *Nightflame*, the sword is said to have manifested when Goerwyr was cast from heaven and had the fey portion of his soul ripped away. The god's sorrow and anger manifested in a twisted form that bore a resemblance to the betrothal gift of his wife. Nightflame was originally seen in the hands of Searc Shadiel, bearing a blade of lunar flames. The Moonlit King first bequeathed the blade to the Forest Folk of Anticos with the founder Malikath (Sylvan for *fire*) of the Moth Tribe finding the blade in a hidden grove; so filled with gratitude was the warrior that he took the blade's name as his own becoming Malikath Nightflame.

When Malikath turned against his own kin, corrupted by Searc's machinations, he slayed Idalia Brightseed, and his lover's blood forever stained the sword, adding to the sorrowful legacy of Nightflame. Nightflame disappeared for quite some time before resurfacing in the hands of Oberon Eversummer's mother, Gwynivere, who was secretly the descendent of Malikath. When the blade reappeared in the hands of a mortal, it bore a different name; Scorched Earth.

After slaying the Moonlit King during the events of the Sunless Era, according to the Iron Law, Lycus took the moon that now bears his name. With the moon came the very sword that its fury manifested, and in the hands of the True Chimera, Nightflame took on a much more sinister name; Scorched Earth. After slaying Gwynivere, Oberon Eversummer cast the blade into Castle Nightflame so that the moon's fury could not be exacted out by mortals. Again lost to the centuries, Scorched Earth remained in Lycus' possession until after he had captured Ezara. After injuring her, her bond with Vercingetorix reached through the planes, placing the blade into his possession. According to Verci, it was Scorched Earth that allowed him to escape the Cathedral of Torment.