Items · Melee Weapons · Combat
Weapon at hand
A pilgrim's protection, an assassin's friend, a weapon of no great power. A weapon of surprise.
A walking stick, of oaken wood, the handle iron-bound. Looks very unassuming. There is nothing special about it. Slightly curved as these sticks usually are.
The true appearence is that of a sword, a common broad sword. This appearence is but seldom seen, for it at all times maintains its facade. While the sword has no great powers it can be still very dangerous. One may look as a simple pilgrim and still be armed. There are obvious evil uses. In most cases, the wearer is considered unarmed, and so can access many places where a weapon is not accepted, so this makes it an interesting weapon for assassins.
Those that can see through illusions can see the sword through its guise, if somewhat unclear.
Fighting with the sword may look silly to the audience, and may mislead your opponent into using wrong tactics. A sword can stab and cut, things a wooden stick should be not useful for (even a very hard one, as this seems). Ask you local DM for possible bonuses. These are not listed for strongly depending on a given situation, and being void once your enemy knows it is a sword.
History: Rarely mentioned, as it is not a legendary weapon. Still, an occasional assassination with a weapon like this is known of, and smarter guards of important people may not be fooled...
Seldom created, the process is relatively easy compared to other enchanted weapons. There exist probably more of this kind.
Magical Properties:
Basically the only power it has is that of illusion: it masks its true look into a boring average walking stick. This illusion has multiple layers, so a simple _Dispel Magic_ will not help. More castings or more power will uncover the swords true look. In a few days, the illusion will 'regrow', looking the usual way again. Truly powerful effects could destroy its magic, making it an ordinary sword.
While the sword has no special bonuses, it is magical, and may thus harm certain creatures as other magical weapons. It may have also special effects on illusory creatures and illusions.
The sword does not protect the wearer, nor anyone else, if its blade is touched. If you do not use the handle, you may cut yourself just as with any other sword.
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A great item with only one small point to iron out. There should be some kind of magic holding the sword's edge sharp and true or at least keeping it from wear. Using the sword point for the tip of a walking stick tends to wear the point out.
Good point about the point.
If we go for weaker magic, there has to be none effect like this. If you use it as a walking stick, it will be sharp as one. You have to sharpen it regularly (or look stupid, if you ask a smith to sharpen it for you).
Or just add a minor protective power, as you suggest.
For a shortsword and a rapier, these are valid points. However do realize that for medium-sized figures, a walking cane would be of longsword size.
Now in general you do not use the point of a longsword, but instead most people tend to slash their oponents using the side of the blade. Therefor, it is not to problametic if the point becomes dull and blunt. It is the sides you use for fighting.
Hmmm, you know what would look realy silly? Lets just put the walking cane in a scabard ;+))
Certainly. But still, a masked assassin might prefer to use the point, and maybe have not enough space or time to swing the sword, just stab.
A good actor might actually fake it: put very little pressure on the sword, but still look like you are. Especially, if you combine this with poison to be sure.
This brings me to another forgotten topic: sound. Metal sounds different from wood, right? I guess as an illusion-enchanted item, this is taken care of. But a Dispel Magic may really do something: temporary cancel this effect. The guards may not notice it... and the wearer too...
There are quite a few illusion spells that take care of sounds, one a simple as to make the impact of the metal sound like an impact of wood would almost be weak enough to call a cantrip. If it's on all the time, in a sword fight the weapon will sound like a club. Disconcerting, but accurate.
Depending on the game you are playing, you will find that glamers that influence vision are lower level spells then the illusions used to change tactility (feeling) and sound.
But then again..... If you are the GM, it is your ruling.
Well, if I was the original mage that originally created this weapon then included in the package deal would be rememdies that take care of all the above mentioned concerns. If I am going to take the time to enchant an item I would have probably thought on it for a good deal of time and already had all the details worked out.
The one detail I couldn't remedy is perhaps the mischance of somebody stumbling into and slicing their pants/leg. Ooops.
So the sound is masked, agreed. And yes, the blade is not protected from slashing by accident... watch your own feet by the way!
But there is something else yet...
Situations can happen where one person hits another with a club, without wanting to kill or harm badly (a master his lazy student, for example). What if through misplacing (or Evil intent), the walking stick or whatever is replaced with this item? A single hit could kill the unlucky, or at least seriously harm him/her. If arranged well, this may be a way to kill someone, or frame for murder. Things can turn ugly around this one...
Far be it from me to bump only my own items...
This is one of those items that are not epic, nor overly special, but a solid functional thing that someone in a game world would create (and create a couple of them). Like the generic +2 weapon, the hidden weapon, would be in mages portfolio of possible enchantments.
Actually a weapon that would work for this is a longbow. If unstrung, it can function as a walking staff. Once strung, it still can work as one, but just not as well.
Simple yet sweet.
I see one problem however. With the idea of it being used to switch with a real club as mention earlier. The weilder would know what it was when they picked it up. If not then they would not be able to determine who to cut or slash or pierce with it. As soon as someone not familiar with it They would see the ruse.
You trip and fall and it tumbles from your hand. A passerby helps you up and picks up the ctick cutting their hand and seeing the weapon. What would happen then I wonder?
Good question.
Much would depend of course on the mastery of its creator. A powerful variant could make people touch intuitively the flat sides of the blade, and mask the cold feeling of steel, etc, etc.
However, as I imagine a 'common' weapon at hand, those that already know it and are somewhat attuned, will be able to see the sword inside of the stick, if unclear. Now comes the random person, a finds there is something weird about that stick (cutting itself, or being fought with).
_My_ take on would be this: if a person has a chance to take a careful look at the stick, with all the suspicion, even better if it can be touched, it could see through the illusion to a small degree and get a glimpse of the sword. This would not persist, but could recognize it later easier. If the person does not have a chance for a careful evaluation of it (for example in combat when it is wildly swung here and there) the sword will stay hidden.
But that is my take on, you may choose your own.
(Oh, and: accidentally picking up a stick, a hero may choose it if there is nothing else to defend with, and find it surprisingly durable. Could be fate. :) )