This is an entry for the Vault's Vault Outfitters Contest.
Item Stats:
Attack Bonus vs. Orc +1
Damage Bonus vs. Orc 1d6
Enhancement Bonus +1
Material: Metal (Cold Iron)
On Hit: Doom DC=14 100% / 5 Round
Lore:
The legends of a Northman named Habrux are still told among the Uthgardt, and his name is still on the tongues of wise storytellers from Icewind Dale to Amn.
The most famous story of Habrux's adventures begins with his travels south, adventures that had led him to Calimshan. There, the barbarian who had spent most of his life in the frozen north had been struck by the rich spices, the never-ending heat, and the vibrant color of the land. When his adventures led him to rescuing an enslaved water genasi, Habrux immediately fell in love with the exotic creature, and she with him, and they were married shortly after the rescue.
Deciding that it was time to hang up his adventuring gear and enjoy the waning years of his life, Habrux retired from the adventuring life.
In 1235, the largest force of orcs ever assembled on the surface of Toril swept through Faerun in a bloody and seemingly unstoppable rampage. The orcs besieged Waterdeep, and threatened to overrun much of the south of Faerun.
Upon hearing of his homeland's plight, Habrux sought to return to the battlefield and push the marching horde back. Habrux's wife, knowing the battle was a losing one, pled with Habrux to remain in the safety of Calimshan's well-defended walls. Habrux life-long
hatred of the orcs and an irresistible desire to return to the battlefield, pushed him to ignore his wife, and he returned to his home, joining the forces of Waterdeep in their defense of their now-overwhelmed city.
There, as a sergeant, Habrux led his men into battle with the ferocity of a man half his age. The battles he won, however, could not turn the unebbing tide of orcs flowing from the northlands. As the story goes, Habrux final stand was in Kryptgarden Forest, where his squad was ambushed by a battallion of orcs tasked with ending Habrux's victories near Waterdeep.
Habrux and his allies fought with savagery, Habrux's axe, empowered by his frenzy, cleaved the advancing orcs into two. Charged by
the barbarian's frenzy, the allies rallied and the battletide shifted to the favor of the Waterdhavian defenders. When a squad of orcish archers joined the battle, Habrux was pierced by arrows, but his rage did not end. Indeed, the pain seemed to fuel the fires of his battle frenzy. After an hour of intense battle, it had become obvious that the defenders had won the day, the piles of fallen orcs were used for cover by the allies, and an acre of woodland had been cleared by the ferocity of the siege.
The orcs, sensing their defeat, retreated. Habrux and his men would have victory, but not without a cost. With the orcs gone, and
victory on the horizon, Habrux fell prone; dead from the wounds inflicted by the arrows.
Habrux's victory served to bolster morale in Waterdeep, and eventually the city would win its long war against the orcs. When the war was ended in 1241, Waterdeep's Lords returned Habrux's remains with an honorable contingent to his waiting wife in Calimshan.
Upon seeing her dead husband, arms crossed on the axe that had served him so well in his final stand, it is said that the water genasi widow cried for weeks on end over the corpse. Nothing is known as to what happened to Habrux's widow, or what her name was, but
Calimshan mystics believed that the Genasi had been so entrenched in despair that she had become one with the axe.
The axe, newly enchanted with the grief and memory of Habrux's widow, was given as a gift to the Lords of Waterdeep; an apology from Calimshan for joining in the war effort against the orcs at such a late point.
Posted by TheStoryteller01 at 2008-08-04 10:26:13 Voted 10.00 on 08/04/08
A great story indeed and worth a solid 9: "Outstanding, a Must Read".
And since there's even a finely-crafted blueprint for a magical weapon coming with the story it earns a 10 altogether ^^ _________________________ In case you find my grammar/spelling weird sometimes -----> native german speaker ;-)
Thanks guys. I actually started with the story by researching the history of The North. Once I had the story down, I thought about what types of properties that sort of axe would bestow on its user. I'm glad everyone liked it! :D _________________________ Smorpheus' Toolset Visual Index Link
Posted by Skunkeen at 2008-07-27 15:13:10 Voted 10.00 on 07/27/08
congrats
Posted by Gruizzer at 2008-07-27 10:56:11 Voted 9.75 on 07/27/08
Congratulations on the win with this Axe! I love the back story!! _________________________ aka Ashercon
Join us at the NWN Podcast Link
Posted by Eat2surf at 2008-07-27 10:53:27 Voted 10.00 on 07/27/08
A good lesson in fantasy weapon building. Did you start with the story?? or write the story to match the weapon? _________________________ Enjoy!
Here's a Link to The City of Torencia prefab.
Check out this Link to my Jack and the Beanstalk module... Do you have what it takes to be Jack?!
oh.. and my entry in the NWN2 area contest.. Treasure Island! : Link
Posted by nicethugbert at 2008-06-18 04:52:48 Voted 10.00 on 06/18/08
10 - A Masterpiece, Genuinely Groundbreaking 9 - Outstanding, a Must Have 8 - Excellent, Recommended to Anyone 7 - Very Good, Deserves a Look 6 - Good, Qualified Recommendation 5 - Fair, Solid yet Unremarkable 4 - Some Merit, Requires Improvements 3 - Poor Execution, Potential Unrealized 2 - Very Little Appeal 1 - Not Recommended to Anyone
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at 2008-08-04 10:26:13
at 2008-07-27 15:13:10
