Monday, April 25, 2016

U is for Urumi of Unholy Unction

[over the course of the month of April, I committed to posting a topic for each letter of the alphabet, sequentially, for every day of the week except Sunday. While I was sorely tired of the challenge after only 15 days, I am trying to "stick to it." Our topic this month? Magical weapons for a B/X campaign. All such weapons are +1 to attack and damage rolls unless, unless specifically noted otherwise. Each of these weapons should be considered unique items]

U is for Urumi of Unholy Unction.

The urumi is a long, flexible "whip-sword" used in the martial arts of southern Asia (specifically India and Sri Lanka); it is flexible enough to curl tight or wear as a belt. In B/X terms it has the same cost as a (normal) sword, but the encumbrance value of a dagger. It is light enough to be used by dwarves and halflings (despite its length), but its edge prevents clerics form using the weapon. Urumis are often "dual-wielded" (one in each hand).

Unlike a normal melee weapon, strength plays little part in the use of this finesse weapon. Wielders of an urumi should use their dexterity bonus (or penalty) as an adjustment to their melee attack rolls in place of strength; no damage bonus is added at all (if variable weapon damage is used, the urumi inflicts 1D8 damage). The urumi can be as dangerous to its wielder as to others; on any missed attack roll, the wielder must make a save versus wands or take damage as if struck by the urumi.

The urumi of unholy unction, is an evil weapon crafted to convert individuals to its blasphemous religion. Any opponent struck by the weapon must save versus magic or have their alignment shifted one step towards chaotic (lawful to neutral; neutral to chaotic). A chaotic individual that fails her save becomes a faithful servant of the weapon's demonic deity, and immediately surrenders to the wielder. The wielder of the urumi may take such an individual as a faithful slave and servant, if her allotment of retainers (per charisma) has not yet been exceeded. A remove curse spell restores a victim of the urumi of unholy unction to its natural alignment and/or religious worship. Clerics ensorcelled to serve the evil weapon will not be granted spells by their patron gods.

Yes, some urumi have multiple blades. Not all do.

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