Items · Melee Weapons · Magical
The Serpent's Teeth
“Oh the shark has pretty teeth, dear, / And he shows them pearly white. / Just a jack-knife has Macheath / And he keeps it out of sight.” - Bertolt Brecht
Description
These 22 knives are unremarkable, slightly over-long and poorly balanced, making them unsuitable to the used as throwing knives. The knives themselves are of the highest quality, though they lack any ornamentation, crafted from watered steel.
History
Created by the Serpent of Darkness for his closest followers, the knives have seen much use in the ages that followed, disappearing for long stretches at a time, only to resurface when the lands are gripped in an age of strife and massed bloodshed. Ledgend has it that the Serpant, knowing that he would lose in the war with his brother, crafted these knives as a way to escape the prison he knew would be created for him.
Properties
The enchantments on the knives are of a very singular nature, power for those willing to use them. From the moment one first takes up one of these knives a sort of bloodlust sets in, a desire to cause as much physical pain as possible; to maim, murder, mutilate, and maul others. And as one gives into these desires they are rewarded, their strength and stamina increase, they are faster and the world just seems to be sharper, as if they were living in water their whole life, and only now have come to dry land.
But as the knife is left unused, the powers fade away, slowly at first, just a niggling whine at the edge of their consciouness, that they used to be better, but then faster and faster, until they are left feeling crippled, even if they're only at where they had started out at.
The other enchantment is just as singular, to funnel to energies created by the death of a mortal to the Serpent, to strengthen his ravaged body so that one day he might once again roam the Earth, bringing destruction and suffering. This mission is one they've played well since their creation, and one that even the most well-intentioned has played into once they picked up one of these knives and began laying waste to their enemies.
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A useful cursed weapon.
Indeed - these are cursed knives that make sense. I'm assuming that their destruction would cause anguish to their creator.
I like Val's notion, breaking the knives to cause the Serpent injury. I like the idea as a whole as well, each knife adding slowly to the final body count needed to resurrect the Serpent. Well done.
Nice job, though could use a bit more details. Like who is the Serpent of Darkness and more stuff about their history.
This could make for an interesting recurring villain. A knife that continues to find and strengthen a succession of bad guys, with the players not realizing right away that it is the weapon which is the real enemy.