Myth Direction: Excalibur
Arthur’s sword Excalibur (or Caliburn, in some translations) is perhaps the single most iconic of legendary weapons — its particular part of the Arthurian legend is fairly widely known among the general public, and of course Arthurian legend is a major influence for many fantasy campaigns. Anything with knights in shining armor probably owes at least a little to Arthur and his Round Table. They weren’t the earliest tales of heroic warriors, but they’re some of the most recognized.
And Arthur’s wondrous sword wasn’t the first magical weapon, but it’s one of the best known. Meanwhile, the legendary weapon is a trope that applies well to many fantasy roleplaying campaigns. So let’s take a look at implementing it in 4e terms.
Caledfwlch, as the sword was known in Welsh, is described as having a design of two chimeras on the hilt, and its blade is like two flames springing from the chimeras’ mouths. The sword shed light, apparently; sufficient light that it was difficult for anyone to look at it. This is backed up by a later tale, in which the blade of Excalibur shines as brightly as thirty torches when drawn, blinding Arthur’s enemies. Some versions also state that Excalibur’s blade could cut through metal; in Malory, its name is translated as “cuts-steel.”
As impressive as the sword might be, the scabbard is said to be still more powerful — wounds its wearer suffered would not bleed.
The sword itself may or may not be the same sword Arthur drew from the stone. In the Vulgate Merlin Continuation, it is; in most other versions, the Sword in the Stone is a separate sword, and Arthur obtains Excalibur from the Lady of the Lake.
While it was Arthur’s sword, there are stories of it being wielded by other heroes, most prominently by Sir Gawain, a relative of Arthur’s.
In Dungeons & Dragons, a truly legendary weapon best translates as an artifact. Excalibur could easily be a paragon-level artifact, but in keeping with its fame, I’ll translate it as an epic-level artifact. (Tir Eselyn is a kingdom within my campaign world; adjust to suit.) It turns out to be pretty straightforward to fit in:
Regnant, Blade of the Kingdom
Forged long ago as a gift to the first High King of Tir Eselyn, the Blade of the Kingdom chooses champions to confront any crisis which threatens the very existence of the nation. It seeks to uphold the laws of the nation and ensure a proper line of succession to the throne.
The Blade of the Kingdom is a +5 flaming longsword with the following properties and powers.
Enhancement: Attack rolls and damage rolls.
Critical: +5d8 damage.
Property: This weapon deals an extra 2d10 fire damage within the borders of Tir Eselyn.
Property: On a successful hit, this weapon causes the target to gain vulnerable fire 5 until the end of your next turn.
Power (Daily): Free Action. You and your allies within a close burst 10 are immune to fear and charm effects until the end of the encounter, or for five minutes.
Power (Encounter * Divine, Radiant): Standard action. You must draw the sword from its sheath as part of this action. Target all enemies within a close burst 10. Make a Charisma attack vs. Will Defense. On a hit, the target is blinded until the end of your next turn.
Goals of the Blade of the Kingdom
- Defend Tir Eselyn.
- Uphold the laws of Tir Eselyn, as established by the first High King.
- Ensure the succession of the throne; if no heir exists, seek out an individual worthy of becoming High King.
- Promote fealty to the rightful king and justice to his people.
Roleplaying the Blade of the Kingdom
The Blade of the Kingdom rarely communicates overtly; instead, it guides its wielder through subtle urges. It is most comfortable in the hands of a wielder of royal blood, though it has been known to allow champions born of the common people to wield it. If it feels it must, it will even allow itself to be wielded by one who is not a citizen of the kingdom. Its priority is the well-being of the kingdom itself, followed by the well-being of its current High King and his heirs.
Concordance
Starting score: 5
- Owner gains a level: +1d10
- Owner is the rightful High King of Tir Eselyn: +2
- Owner is of royal blood in the line of High Kings of Tir Eselyn: +1 (cumulative with the above bonus)
- Owner completes a quest on behalf of the High King: +1
- Owner defends Tir Eselyn against a significant threat to the kingdom: +1
- Owner breaks the law of Tir Eselyn: -2
- Owner stays outside the borders of Tir Eselyn for a reason other than obeying the High King’s command or actively defending the kingdom (maximum 1/week): -2
- Owner attacks or plots treason against the rightful High King or his heirs: -5
Pleased (16-20)
“I am the champion of Tir Eselyn. You shall not stand against the kingdom while I draw breath.”
The Blade and its chosen champion act in concert, defending the realm and seeing the will of its High King done.
The blade’s enhancement bonus increases to +6.
Critical: +6d8 damage.
Property: The blade deals fire, radiant, and weapon damage, and attacks made with it have the Fire and Radiant keywords. A successful hit with the blade causes vulnerability to both fire and radiant damage.
Property: On a successful hit, the target is blinded until the end of your next turn.
Power (Daily): Minor Action. You gain regeneration 5 until the end of the encounter, or for five minutes.
Satisfied (12-15)
“The kingdom has endured much. I will see that it endures this as well.
The Blade is happy with its wielder’s dedication to the kingdom. So long as the wielder’s devotion does not falter, it will serve him well.
Power (Daily): Minor Action. Until the end of the encounter, the blade causes radiant damage instead of fire damage, and a successful hit with it causes vulnerable radiant 5 instead of vulnerable fire 5.
Normal (5-11)
“This is Regnant, Blade of the Kingdom, legendary sword of Tir Eselyn.”
The Blade nudges its wielder toward fighting for the good of the kingdom. It is at its most expressive with a new wielder, guiding him through feelings of pleasure of displeasure.
Unsatisfied (1-4)
“Somehow, I can feel it… I’ve gone astray. But Tir Eselyn is not yet lost…”
The Blade feels the wielder is not placing proper emphasis on the concerns of the kingdom. It withholds some of its powers from the wielder, and attempts to urge him back onto the path of defending the realm.
Special: Until your concordance with the sword improves, you cannot use its encounter power. Furthermore, the blade causes only weapon damage and does not cause creatures struck to gain vulnerability to fire.
Angered (0 or less)
“I am a traitor to Tir Eselyn and its people.”
The wielder is acting directly against the best interests of the kingdom. It does not willingly remain in the wielder’s possession, constantly urging him to find a more respectable wielder
Special: Until the Blade finds a new wielder, you are weakened. This condition applies even if you are not carrying the Blade.
Moving On
“The kingdom is safe. At last I can rest.”
Regnant decides that the threat has been faced and conquered, and desires to return to the possession of the High King. When the character next gains a level, the Blade will disappear, if he hasn’t already returned it to the High King’s keeping. If the Blade is at least satisfied, it will see to it that its former wielder is rewarded: the High King will grant the character noble title (a permanent +2 bonus to Diplomacy checks against citizens of Tir Eselyn) and a reward of one million gold (in the form of estates, jewels, fine treasures, and the like).
If the Blade forced the character to find a new wielder because it was angered, the character suffers a permanent -5 penalty to Diplomacy checks against those from Tir Eselyn, and they inevitably regard him with suspicion.
Related posts:
- Myth Direction: Dragons’ Teeth
- Myth Direction: the Faerie Courts
- Myth Direction
- Myth Direction: The Great Con
- Fox Magic: Allies and Adversaries
Categories: Myth Direction, Original Game Content | Comments (3)
well done! Well done indeed. One of my favorite cliched tropes no less! Keep it coming.
I like this blade; despite reading a few modern versions of Arthur’s knights, I haven’t seen the bright flames mentioned. All the better… it’ll be less obviously “stolen” with properties no one associates with Excalibur.
I think it was in the Vulgate Merlin Continuation. I know for sure the flames are mentioned in the Mabinogion, when Excalibur is wielded by the Earl of Cornwall.
It is a little obscure, I suppose.
@Donny: Thanks!