Jigokusaiga

Artwork by Hazmi Thariq

**Jigokusaiga** is a magical polearm in the *Vestige of Ophiuchus* continuity of Nat19. It is a sentient weapon once used by Almyra Elmanda's father, Masumaru. It is currently being wielded by Quintus Valorbilt. As an NPC, it is portrayed by *Logan Laidlaw*.

## Personality

Jigokusaiga is an obstreperous weapon who once held an intense grudge against humankind. After being spirited away to Honokuni and spending a number of years there, his hatred has expanded beyond humanity. He now believes all people are awful in their own way, and as such are all deserving of scorn.

## Role in Plot

After the death of Masumaru, Jigokusaiga stood watch over his grave. When Vogun, Sunder, Quintus, and Lexie entered the area he awoke, telling them to leave. When they would not, Jigokusaiga possessed a nearby corpse and fought the group. Once defeated, Jigokusaiga attempted to take control of Vogun when he was grabbed, but failed. When Almyra arrived, Jigokusaiga questioned her, and after dicussing things with them, Alymyra requested that Vogun take Jigokusaiga with him on his journey to show that not all humans were as bad as though that betrayed her father.

Despite the task given to him, Vogun did not believe that Jigokusaiga was a good fit for him. Instead, he bequethed the blade to Quintus so that Jigokusaiga would have first hand experience with humans. After a bet on who would control Quintus body that he failed, Jigokusaiga agreed to be wielded by the man, for now.

When Quintus was required to stay in hell along with everything he possesed as collateral for Merrihim's contract, which would include Jigokusaiga, Jigokusaiga attacked the judge, Archdevil Fierna, who in turn opened a portal that lead to the Astral Sea. As he disappeared into the vortex, Jigokusaiga screamed "I learned nothing!"

After a long period of time in the Astral Sea, unsure of how long precisely, dodging space whales that had tried to eat him and other creatures, Jigokusaiga found a portal. With the choice of entering a portal that he had no idea where it lead or being stuck in the Astral Sea, Jigokusaiga chose to plummet himself into the portal, ending up in Honokuni. Upon exiting the portal, Jigokusaiga fell to the ground and impaled a savage attacking townsfolk by impaling his heart and immediately possessed him before his body could start to disappear due to Honokuni's curse.

With this new body, Jigokusaiga was praised by the town for protecting them and ended up becoming it's protector for several hundred years. While there, he learned from his experience that everyone was equally awful, overcoming his racism towards by hating everyone equally. Though this did not calm his anger, as part of the reason he stood guard was so he could cut down the people who threatened the town to 'clear up his anger.'

When the members of The Highest Standard who fell into Honokuni arrived there, Jigokusaiga was not happy. The only person he got along with and liked was Wrench. He let the group into the town and took them to the bell tower that they were instructed to ring, then returned to his duties. As the group headed to the tomb of the Sagyo clan, Jigokusaiga was told that he should accompany them by Gaelthas, and aided the group in reaching the area. As they were about to leave the tomb, Mother Tyr confronted them as the Tomb's guardian and final Table member. During the fight, Wrench was killed by Mother Tyr's Divine Word, and in a rare instance of selflessness, Jigokusaiga was enraged. Requesting that his new wielder Kin strike her down for that action.

Jigokusaiga accompanied Kin out of Honokuni, though it is unknown if he returned to the Astral Sea or if he remained in Kin's possession.

## Features

* +1 bonus to attack and damage roles
* As a bonus action, can call upon Jigokusaiga, changing damage type from slashing to fire.
* As long as Jigokusaiga is within 100 ft. of its wielder and its path is unobstructed, you can recall it back to your hand as a bonus action.
* Can cast *burning hands* as an action *(unlimited)*
* Cursed Weapon
	+ Can't break attunement without outside assistance
* Grants a -2 to all charisma checks and saves
* Has advantage against humans
* Heavy, reach weapon *(can be used with one hand)*
* When a creature attuned to it scores a critical hit or reduces a hostile creatures hit points to 0, that creature must make a constitution saving throw *dc15,.* If the creature fails, Jigokusaiga gains a burst of strength and the wielder gains 5 temporary hit points and Jigokusaiga gains a +1 to attack and damage rolls until the next time you take a short or long rest. Can stack up to 3 times.

## Known Wielders

* Masumaru
* Quintus Valorbilt

## Gallery

Jigokusaiga
(Artwork by Hazmi Thariq)Jigokusaiga (Corpse Possession)
(Artwork by Hazmi Thariq)Jigokusaiga (Zugaiken Bound)
(Artwork by Hazmi Thariq)Jigokusaiga (Zugaiken Unbound)
(Artwork by Hazmi Thariq)