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the Dreadblade Almetheia

Level 4 Soulsteel Reaver Daiklave

Before the Fallen Emperor of Silver Leaves first left on his mission to deal with the Father of Darkness through diplomacy or other avenues, he had already been given a blade of power by his Deathlord, the Princess Clothed in Charred Flesh. A graceful curving blade of silver-gray soulsteel, the Dreadblade served the Fallen Emperor well as he mastered the art of the blade at the Tutleage of his elders and then set off on his first and most crucial task.

The Dreadblade served the Fallen Emperor well, through many difficulties and battles, as he traversed the Underworld and then the dry lands of Creation. He fought Hungry Ghosts, fallen spirits bent on mischief, and Labryinthine spirits who hungered for the warmth of his body and the essence of his living blood. He killed pirates, bandits, monsters and Wyld-twisted beasts throughout the Southeast. In the Dunes of the South, even more threats awaited him, and the Dreadblade tasted the blood of Barbarians, a small band of Deserters from some lost army, and even an Outcaste Dragon-Blooded. Slowly, the Fallen Emperor noticed, the Blade began to awaken.

It's small moans and gentle cries became a bit of constant company and though they disturbed him ever so slightly at first he soon grew accustomed to the blades voice. Together they survived the 'diplomacy' of the Father of Darkness, pushed away and forced to discover other ways to fulfill their mission. So it was that they met Nyoko, and slowly, the history that the Fallen Emperor had always been denied slowly unveiled itself.

Balthasar was his name, and he had not merely come up whole from the Void. He had a name, a wife, children. A history...

It was not until Chiaroscuro that the Fallen Emperor...that Balthasar...learned the full measure of the secrets the Dreadblade had to offer. Maybe he had, in some dark part of his soul, suspected it before then. Yet it was in Chiaroscuro that the Blade first began to sing, and it was the blood of the ones who had betrayed you that spoke to it. It was in the City of Glass that you learned the name of your Blade.

Almetheia.

Your Wife.

She has grown more potent, since then, your wife. She had fed upon Hundreds of Souls, and you have given her what measure of your own you can bear, and so she grows more mighty and more powerful in your hands. She sings now, especially in battle, her voice growing more haunting and beautiful with every drop of blood that falls upon her blade.

Other Powers of the Dreadblade Almetheia

• Beautiful Voice: Whenever Almetheia is used in combat or at a cost of 1 mote, the Blade begins to sing an enchanting and coldly beautiful sonnet. The language is one more of instinct and emotion than words, but those who hear it are none the less touched. The Dreadblade can add +1 to the bonus of any stunt that utilizes the song in some fashion. This is only a bonus dice; it has no effect on mote or willpower regeneration.
• Battle Song: The Dreadblade's songs have grown more potent as it grows in power, and Balthasar has learned to utilize them more impressively. With the expenditure of 6 motes of Essence as a Reflexive action, Almetheia begins to intone a particularly potent song. The effects of the song last for the rest of the scene, though the essence is not commited. Only one song can be active at a time.
  • Tragic Dirge: This basic song always seems to be vaguely familiar to whomever hears it, though oddly sad and touching. Everyone within 15 yards has their Valor and Conviction score lowered by 1.
  • Hollow Requiem of Tears: This song seems fairly mundane to most, but it awakens in Balthasar a rage and a glory that he cannot ignore. While this song is in effect, Balthasar has +3 bonus dice to all rolls that involve violenting imposing his will on others. Similarly, he gains a +3 bonus to his Strength score. However, while Almetheia sings this song, Balthasar's Compassion and Temperance are lowered to 1.
  • Hungry Blades Refrain: The blades voice becomes soft, beckoning, and seductive, leaving those who hear it defenseless against Almetheia's hunger. Anyone who is successful hit in combat looses either Balthasar's Essence in motes or a willpower point. This is cumulative with the normal benefits of soulsteel.
  • Piercing Screams of Agony: The blades gentle voice goes violent, as it screams and howls with high piercing notes. Everyone except Balthasar within 15 yards finds these sounds distracting and painful, and suffers a +2 difficulty penality to most rolls requiring mental concentration or coordination. This includes most combat rolls, and does not care if the affected individuals are friend or foe.
  • The Dreadblade can master a maximum of 8 songs, and will learn more as it is used more and more in combat. Once the blade is ready to grow in power, however, Balthasar must guide and shephard his wife in these matters -- providing her with volition and will sufficient to compose more potent songs. This requires a Charisma + Lore roll, with a difficulty equal of 4, and a number of successes needed equal to the number of songs the blade currently knows.
• Balthasar's Blade: The Dreadblade Almetheia is Balthasar's. It is possible, with stunts and impressive Charisma + Lore rolls, that another Abyssal might be able to tame the blade or even other kinds of Exalts entirely. However, by default, the blade is simply a particularly hungry Reaper Daiklave in most hands.
• Hearthstone Socket: The Dreadblade has a large circular hole at the very base of the blade, just above the crossguard, which functions as a Hearthstone socket.

The Dreadblade Almetheia is a Soulsteel Reaper Daiklave, and an Abyssal or other Exalt who has fully attuned to it gains the following benefits to the weapon's stats: +1 accuracy, and the blade drains motes of Essence equal to the wielders Essence score.

Commitment Cost: 5 motes