Sun Swords of Soleclea
by John CalvinLate in the 2400 century BC, rebels in the Taymoran City state of Claohs (modern day Ierendi City) crafted dozens of magical swords to fight against the vampire queen Durjas and her minions. They succeeded in their quest near the turn of the century, killing Durjas and capturing the city, which they renamed Soleclea after their patron Immortal Sol (Ixion).
These short swords are just under arm length, and decorated with a bull’s head and horns forming the hilt of the blade, and a golden sun shaped disk at the pommel. Although forged of bronze, the weapons have been strengthened by magic, many of them surviving throughout the ages and even into modern times.
Sun Swords are short swords and can be wielded by clerics of Sol (Ixion) without any penalty.
Sun Sword
A handful of Sun Swords have survived in their original state, and might be found buried with warriors and heroes from the Five Shires and into the borders of Thyatis and beyond. They have the following powers:
Sword +1, +2 vs vampires
Turn Undead (1/day): Once per day the sword can be used to turn undead as if the wielder were a cleric of half their level. If the wielder is a cleric, they receive one extra turn attempt at their current level. The power cannot be used again until after a full rest.
Vampire Bane: A vampire reduced to 0 hit points or below by this weapon, cannot assume gaseous form, and instead is instantly destroyed in a flash of fire.
Other Variants
Some Sun Swords have gained or been infused with additional powers over the centuries and millennia since their original use, especially those carried continuously by heroes across the ages.
Exalted Sun Sword
Many of these swords were used by folk throughout the Taymoran era to fight against the oppression of their undead masters. As innumerable vampires were slain by them the swords grew stronger.
Flaming Sword +2, +3 vs vampires
Greater Turn Undead (3/day): Three times per day the sword can be used to turn undead as if the wielder were a cleric of equal level. The power cannot be used again until after a full rest.
Vampire Bane: A vampire reduced to 0 hit points or below by this weapon, cannot assume gaseous form, and instead is instantly destroyed in a flash of fire.
Flaming: The sword erupts into flames upon command of the wielder, dealing an extra 1d4 fire damage on any hit (or 1d6 fire damage to undead).
Blazing Sun Sword
Some Sun Swords found their way out of Taymora, seeing battle against other forms of undead, most notably in Intua and Nithia.
Flaming Sword +1, +2 vs undead
Sunbeam: While flaming the sword sheds light in a 60 foot radius around the wielder. The light can be directed up to 120 feet in a single direction (45 deg. arc) as long as the wielder maintains concentration.
Burning Pitch (3/day): Three times per day the blade can be commanded to produce burning pitch which causes flaming splash damage if an opponent is hit that turn. On a missed attack the charge is still expended, but the pitch burns off harmlessly.
Flaming: The sword erupts into flames upon command of the wielder, dealing an extra 1d4 fire damage on any hit (or 1d6 fire damage to undead).
Named Swords
A few of these swords have gained fame and notoriety over the ages as weapons wielded by great heroes.
Sunriser
One of the first Swords of Soleclea forged, Sunriser was wielded by the hero Tabira of Sol during the final battle with Durjas, Queen of Claohs, and Fifth Daughter of Tayma. Though many of his companions were slain in that onslaught, Tabira was victorious, using Sunriser to vanquish Durjas for good. For over a century Sunriser became the symbol of freedom in war torn Taymora, until it was lost in the sacking of Soleclea circa BC 2000.
At some point the sword resurfaced in the lands of Intua where it was used to good effect against dark creatures dwelling beneath the surface of their lands. Lost in the depths, Sunriser was eventually found by Atrautzin, and tales say it helped lead him to the surface world where he united the Clans. When the clans fell to humanoid invasions, the sword was lost once again.
For a time Sunriser surfaced in the Great Waste, and was used by followers of Ixion there to oppose humanoid tribes rising to power in that region. Eventually the sword found its way down the coast of the Serpent Peninsula to the mystics of Tanakumba, where it remains to this day.
Sunriser is an intelligent sword who communicates with its wielder through telepathic emotion. It’s pommel is a half circle in the shape of the sun rising over the horizon, and bull’s horns of the hilt are inlaid with filigree gold and silver. Sunriser glows with an intense inner light at daybreak, which steadily fades as night approaches. The light cannot be put out, but is restrained when the sword is at rest in a scabbard. Sunriser’s constant desire is to oppose tyranny and root out liars and deceivers (whom it despises).
Flaming sword +3, +4 vs undead
Hear the Truth: Anyone possessing Sunriser has advantage on all skill checks used to determine if someone is telling the truth.
Righteous Dawn (1/day): Once per day Sunriser can be used to cast sunlight from its pommel.
True Sight (3/day): Three times per day, Sunriser can grant its wielder true sight, revealing the true appearance of any shapechanger or creature within sight, using illusions or magic to alter their appearance. In combat Sunriser prefers to attack those creatures first, and if not allowed to do so will cause all other attacks to be made at disadvantage.