Swordtember Day 9: Glistening
“These are my friends, see how they glisten. See this one shine, how it smiles in the light, my friends!”
In honor of a beloved Sondheim musical…
The Barber’s Silver Straight-Razors
Wielded by an infamous mad barber, each one of his silvered shaving razors was infused with a portion of his thirst for blood and vengeance. They were supposed to have been destroyed upon his death, but a little corruption and a lot of profit saw most end up in the cupboards of collectors…and copycats.
Each +1 dagger deals slashing damage that counts as silver and magical for the purpose of overcoming resistances.
If the wielder is attuned to the razor, when it is used as part of an attack against a surprised or unsuspecting opponent, it deals critical damage on a natural roll of 19 or 20. In addition, if the wielder is proficient in medicine or barber’s tools, they deal an extra 1d6 sneak attack damage regardless of whether the hit was a crit.
Due to their unwieldy nature, the daggers cannot be thrown.
“Speak to me, friends. Whisper, I'll listen”
Fragments of the mad barber’s spirit inhabit these blades to this day, urging violence, especially upon those who have wronged the wielder or the barber while he was alive. These weapons are cursed. The curse applies only when attuned, but the wielder will not be aware of its nature until…
“Soon you will drip precious rubies…”
When presented with the opportunity to use their power, such as an unsuspecting victim, or anyone requesting a shave, the wielder must restrain their hand from spiling ruby blood to assuage the razor’s thirst.
Make a Wisdom saving throw, on a 5 or less, you must attack them! On a 10 or less you can resist, but you have to visibly strain and struggle to do so, which observers may notice.
You have disadvantage on this saving throw if you, a loved one, or the Mad Barber’s spirit has been wronged in any way by the target.
“Feel how well it fits as it floats across the throats of hypocrites”
After any will save failure or kill made with the blade, their thirst is sated, for a time. This curse will not take effect for 24 hours.
Adventure hook: The mad barber’s ghost has been spotted around town as people start dropping dead with their throats cut. People blame the ghost, but the people being killed are innocents and the deep wounds are exceptionally real…something does not add up!
