Shehemesh

A unique model of the Light Saber set of Æther weapons, made to resemble a longsword. The hilt is woven directly from Ebon, concealing the weapon's unique core. When activated, a jet of radiant *'Breath'* shoots out above the sword guard, hot enough to melt steel.

## **History**

During the early times of the Hero Era, the rippling effects brought by the collapse of the Empire and the disillusion of the Coalition were still being felt by most of the world. In Koruthar, these manifested in the degeneration of the Jacobi culture, and its subsequent collapse and devolution into splintered tribal groups.

One of these tribes, the Kelkens, was embroiled in deadly conflict with its neighbors. The only outcome any of them would accept would be their dominance over the region, or death. Unfortunately, the Kelkens were on their back-foot. As the war dragged on and their defeat grew more apparent, the Keklens became desperate. When the gods didn't answer their pleas, they began entreating with alternative powers. Although most of the tribe honored their covenant with the All-Scribe, their chief had no reservations. His family was the first to suffer the consequences of his descent - especially for his grandson, Mettelus, who was forced to flee or risking becoming a sacrifice. After many ups and downs, Mettelus carved his way to a sacred mountain and communed with the gods, pleading for the survival of his tribe. Supposedly, a certain goddess was enchanted by his skill, honed by warfare and adventure, and his beauty, borne from a long line of concubine ancestresses. The goddess caught a ray of light, and looking below, casually picked a whelk from a nearby lake, and bound the light to it. Then, in exchange for Mettelus' hand in marriage, the goddess picked the branches of a special tree, winding them around the whelk, creating the hilt of a sword, which Mettelus named Shehemesh, in her honor.

With Shehemesh, Mettelus not only liberated his people, but went on to conquer a sizable piece of Koruthar, all until he met a young Romulus. After tying in single combat, he would then swear alliance to Romulus, and eventually become one of his closest confidants. The sword became the device of House Kelqen, inherited along the kingdom's title.

## **Abilities**

### **Daybreak**

The hilt, thought made of metal, has no shine or lustre – instead it absorbs and stores sunlight, giving it an unnatural, stone-like appearance. For every eight hours the hilt bathes in sunlight, it stores 1 charge, up to a maximum of 3 charges. Bathing it in intense light instead nets a charge in half the normal time.

As an action, you may expend a charge to release all of the hilt’s stored energy, firing a ray of blinding light in a direction of your choice. The ray is 2 meters in diameter, and travels in great enough intensity for about 80 meters. Any creature within the ray’s path must succeed on a DC 16 Agility saving throw or take 3d6 radiant damage, plus 10 for every charge expended. If this damage reduces the creature to a Condition of 0, it is disintegrated into fine grey dust. If a Medium or smaller non-magical object or structure is within the ray’s path it is disintegrated without a saving throw. If the target is a Large or larger non-magical object or structure, this ray disintegrates a 2-meter cube of it.

### **Melting Strikes**

On a hit, the wielder can choose to break an item the target is wearing or carrying instead of dealing damage. On a critical hit, the wielder can choose to both deal damage and break an item. If it is magic item, it gets a DC 10 Charisma save to resist. If it is not intelligent, it uses its wielder's Charisma bonus. Rare items get a +2 bonus to this save, Very Rare get +4, Legendary get +6, and Artifacts are immune.