Ignitar

Shortsword, Rare, requires attunement
This shortsword has a dull grey blade, with a narrow guard. The leather grip is burned and cracked, and a faint smell of smoke lingers around the sword.

Mechanics & Inner Workings

Requires attunement. Ignitar is semi-intelligent and will not attune to anyone attuned to gear that reduces or prevents fire damage.

With a point and sharpened edges, Ignitar can be used to deal slashing or piercing damage (must be declared before attack).

When attuned +1 magic bonus to attack and damage.

2/day as an action Ignitar can be instructed to burn brighter.  For 10 minutes the blade turns white hot and deals an additional 1d8 fire damage on a hit.  While this effect is active the wielder takes 1 fire damage each round from the heat from the blade.  This ability can be deactivated as a bonus action.

Significance

Ignitar is a poweful sword forged to slay ... something bad. It was wielded by ... a range of mighty heroes that it can't quite seem to remember. Anyway, it is itself mighty and powerful, and might consent to be wielded by another hero in the pursuit of justice, or maybe vengeance, possibly glory. Something inspiring that involves setting foes on fire.
Ignitar was unearthed following the years of darkness by Theresa Skullcracker who passed it on to her niece Phillipa when she retired.  Phillipa wielded the sword for several years until her untimely death in the Phelposi Valley to the south east of Chirin-on-Dimar. 

Item type

Weapon, Melee

Ignitar is certain that it is an important weapon, forged to do great things. It's just a little hazy on the details. It will happily work with almost anyone as long as it is being used regularly. If Ignitar feels that it's wielder isn't using it enough, or worse yet if the wielder favours another enchanted weapon, then Ignitar will break the attunement and refuse to work for that wielder.

PREPARE TO BE BURNED TO CINDERS FOUL, foul what are fighting again? No matter, THEY WILL BE REDUCED TO CINDERS