Winter Wonder Items 2019 - Day 14
Hey, Gang! Welcome to the third #WinterWonderItems. Every day in December, I will be drafting up a 5e Dungeons and Dragons magic item! Ranging from silly trinkets to grand artifacts, there's plenty of goodies for heroes and villains!
The Iron Giant's Legacy
Long ago, a ferocious fire giant queen known as the Iron Giant ruled a vast and mighty kingdom. Determined to bring order to the lesser creatures of the Mundane, she waged war for centuries across the lands of Valeria, conquering kingdoms and peoples and enforcing them to aid in her conquest. Her ultimate goal was to show Annam All-Father that the fire giants belonged at the top of the Ordning.
She was brought down in single combat by a mortal, unexpectedly and unceremoniously, resulting in a number of smaller skirmishes across the lands until the last of her forces were routed. Her reign is still felt today across the sands of Aysun's Endless Desert and the once tranquil peninsula called Linmoor. It was she who instilled values of industrialization upon them, resulting in mass deforestation and blighted fields of wasted land.
Tårn Sverdet
Weapon (greatsword), legendary (requires attunement)
This legendary greatsword is named Tårn Sverdet, translating roughly to “Mountain Sword” in common. It was the blade of the Iron Giant and used this towering sword in the name of the giant god of fire, Surtr to sunder kingdoms and show the power of the fire giants, and those who knew its power rightfully trembled in fear at its overwhelming size and scalding flames.
The mortal that struck down the Iron Giant claimed the sword as their prize and used it in defiance of the once mighty queen.
Ultra Heavy. This greatsword was meant to be held by a giant, and requires a minimum Strength score of 24 to wield, otherwise it is too heavy to use effectively. If you are attuned to the Iron Giant's Mitt, you do not need to meet the 24 Strength requirement.
Ultra Greatsword. This greatsword is so huge that it deals more damage than a typical greatsword. A creature that can properly wield the blade deals 6d6 slashing damage when making an attack roll with it.
Ultra Reach. This weapon adds 10 feet to your reach when you attack with it, as well as when determining your reach for opportunity attacks with it.
Flames of Surtr. You are immune to fire damage while holding Tårn Sverdet. As a bonus action, you can speak the command word and expend 5 hit dice to swathe the blade in a fiery inferno for 1 minute. For the duration, whenever it deals damage to a creature, the greatsword radiates a burst of immolating flames in a 30-foot-radius sphere. Each creature in that area takes 3d6 fire damage.
Iron Giant’s Mitt
Wonderous item (gauntlet), legendary (requires attunement)
This huge iron gauntlet is said to have once been the hand of an ancient fire giant queen, her name forgotten to history. It was said that she could wield weapons thrice as tall as she, or any other giant for that matter.
All of Valeria feared her wrath and her blade, for she was known to sunder kingdoms at a whim. That is until one day a mortal chopped off her hand and took it as a prize. The hand shrunk in size and the mortal wore it as their gauntlet.
Attunement. To attune to this gauntlet, you must have a Strength score of 18, and you must prove you have the fortitude of Fire Giants. You must hold the Iron Giant's Mitt and stand in a pit of fire for one hour. If you take damage from the flames during this time, the mitt deems you unworty. If you are able to withstand the flames for the full hour, the mitt shrinks to fit your hand, and you become attuned.
Might of Giants. While wearing this lone gauntlet, your main weapon hand is able to wield any two-handed melee weapon with one hand.
Additionally, if you are a Small creature, your main weapon hand is able to wield Heavy weapons with no penalty.
Heavy Blows. If you score a critical hit with the weapon held by the Iron Giant's Mitt, you may choose to either knock the target prone or push it 10 feet away from you.
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Oversized Weapons
Giants and other large monsters use weapons that have been forged to be sized appropriately for them. A giant's greatsword is going to be much larger than a human's! These oversized weapons might be claimed by adventurers during their travels. The following guidelines could be applied to a weapon to determine how they function at larger sizes.
Oversized Weapons
| Size | Reach | Damage Dice | Strength | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Large | +5 ft | x2 | Str 18 | x2 |
| Huge | +10 ft | x3 | Str 22 | x4 |
| Gargantuan | +15 ft | x4 | Str 26 | x8 |
Finesse, Light, Thrown, and Versatile weapon properties can only be used by a creature of the proper size, regardless of a smaller creature's Strength score.
A weapon's range does not change at larger sizes. For example, a longbow will always have a range of 150/600 ft. despite being Large or bigger.
Oversized weapons that use ammunition require specific projectiles made for that weapon, but your DM may allow a Huge longbow to use normal sized spears or javalins as arrows, or a Gargantuan sling to launch boulders.
Oversized Weapon Examples
Here are a few examples of oversized weapons using the template above.
Large Spear. The Large spear deals 2d6 piercing damage, weighs 6 lbs, has a reach of 10 feet, a Thrown (range 20/60), is versatile (2d8), and requires a Strength of 18 for a Medium or smaller creature to wield. Additionally, its Thrown and Versatile weapon properties can only be used by a Large or bigger creature.
Huge Greatsword. The Huge greatsword deals 6d6 slashing damage, weighs 24 lbs, has a reach of 15 feet, and requires a Strength of 24 for a Medium or smaller creature to wield.
Huge Scimitar. The Huge scimitar deals 3d6 slashing damage, weighs 12 lbs, has a reach of 15 feet, has the finesse property, has the light property, and requires a Strength of 24 for a Medium or smaller creature to wield. Additionally, its Finesse and Light properties can only be used by a Huge or larger creature.
Gargantuan Longbow. The Gargantuan longbow deals 4d8 piercing damage, weighs 16 lbs, has a range of (150/600), is Heavy, is Two-Handed, and requires a Strength of 26 for a Medium or smaller creature to wield.
Thanks a Bunch!!
You can follow me @ZachJamesGames on Twitter for the daily updates. I'll also be keeping a thread going in r/UnearthedArcana, updating daily with new links. If you use these in your game, let me know what you think!
These templates were made using the Homebrewery by Scott Tolksdorf. Thanks for your hard work, Scott! And thank you to reddit user u/AeronDrake for your threads on styling in the Homebrewery.
The lovely art is provided by my good friend Josephine! You can follow her on Instagram or Twitter. Thank you!
If you would like to support me or #WinterWonderItems, I have a Ko-Fi, but likes/shares/showing your pals is even better because more folks can get in on the fun!
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