Scathe, Sword of Zakharya (za-CAR-ya)

Fabled sword Scathe is a holy relic within the Cult of Istha. The weapon is a two-handed sword forged some three hundred years ago and known to be vested with holy fire magic. It was wielded by the Champion Zakharya of Eschen throughout his life, and since his death in 579 YC, it has been on display within the Shadowless City's Blue Cathedral.

In a Dungeons & Dragons campaign, you can represent Scathe with the following statistics:

• Scathe is a flame tongue greatsword made of black mythril.
• Scathe grants a +2 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with it, deals one extra die of slashing damage and one extra die of fire damage on a critical hit, and can be used as a spellcasting focus.
• Scathe can only be attuned to by a follower of Istha.
• Scathe grants resistance to fire and radiant damage to the creature attuned to it.
• Scathe is an artifact.

Background

Scathe is a powerful magic weapon forged of black mythril. It was made in 400 YC as a gift to the Orlov family, a well-renowned Rozhov Dichotomist noble family in the Oristhanian free city of Eschen. In 520, Zakharya Orlov, the man who would later be known as Champion Zakharya of Eschen, inherited the blade after the death of his father, its previous wielder.

Significance

In 544 YC, a still-unknown enemy summoned a diabolical predator from the Otherworld into the Shadowless City intent upon assassinating the reigning High Priestess of Oristhane, Sythavi of Soringar. The terrible creature slaughtered three Champions of the High Priestess in its murderous rampage through the Shadowless City, after which it managed to reach the High Priestess, undoubtedly about to slaughter her as well. But before it was able to do so, a miracle revived one of the murdered Champions, Zakharya of Eschen, who stood up as his lethal wounds knit themselves back together. Champion Zakharya was one of the High Priestess' closest confidants and most ardent defenders, and it seemed that his faith in her and Istha called him back from an untimely death. The Champion Zakharya raised the greatsword Scathe and slew the beast as it turned its hate-filled eyes on the High Priestess, severing its head in one stroke of the blade.
As the savior of the High Priestess and the recipient of a miracle from Istha, Champion Zakharya would become an icon within the faith over the course of his lifetime. He would serve the High Priestess until her natural death in 579; his own came swiftly after. After his death, his body was entombed beneath the Blue Cathedral among the previous High Priestesses and saints of the Faith, while his greatsword Scathe became one of the Blue Cathedral's most well-known relics. It remains on display there to this day.

Item type

Weapon, Melee

Current Location

The Shadowless City

Owning Organization

Oristhane

Rarity

Unique

Weight

3.3 lbs (1.5 kg)

Dimensions

52 in (1.32m) total length; 43 in (1.09m) blade length