This tome appears to be bound in deeply worn leather, engraved with the faded outline of a glowing sword. Its cover is reinforced with ancient, etched bronze strips hammered into a sigil-shield motif. There is no title — only a faint glimmer of a sword-like glyph burned into the hide. Tendrils of lashing weave-threads arc subtly from the spine, and the edge of the pages smell faintly of ozone and blood. The pages within are filled with magically shifting diagrams showing martial stances and flourishes that adapt to the reader's favored weapons. The script changes fluidly between Dwarvish, Elvish, and Celestial, as though teaching to different lineages of combatants simultaneously. Reading the Tome. If you spend 48 hours over a period of 6 days or fewer studying the book’s contents and at the end of that period, you gain the following benefits permanently, and the book loses this magical property for 1d100 days before returning for another reader:
Weapon Mastery Unlock. You learn the secrets of arcane-infused weapon techniques, drawn from the teachings of the 2024 Player's Handbook. Choose two of the following Weapon Mastery properties:
- Examples of Properties:
- Cleave: Hit a creature, make a second attack against another nearby creature within reach.
- Graze: Deal damage equal to your ability modifier even if you miss an attack.
- Nick: Make an additional attack with a second Light weapon as part of the Attack action.
- Push: Push a creature you hit (up to Large) 10 feet away.
- Sap: The enemy you hit has disadvantage on its next attack roll.
- Slow: Reduce an enemy's speed by 10 feet.
- Topple: Force a creature to make a Constitution save or fall prone.
- Vex: Gain advantage on your next attack against a creature you hit.
You may apply one of your chosen masteries to any weapon you wield that would normally have that property. If the weapon lacks that property, it gains it temporarily while wielded by you in exchange you cannot utilize its other property.
Master Weaver. You are now considered a Weapon Master, and may train yourself or othersin the mastery techniques over time. Specifically:
- You may spend 2 uninterrupted monthstraining to teach yourself one new weapon mastery from the list above.
- Alternatively, you may train another willing creature who is proficient with martial weapons in one of the properties you know over 2 months of mentorship.
Training requires daily sparring, magical visualization of technique, and focused weapon drills.
Battle Marked. Upon completing the tome, a faintly glowing, spectral sigil of a sword appears on your shoulder, chest, knee, or toes — only visible in moments of battle or under divination magic. This Battle Mark brands you as a Weapon Master and attracts the attention of extraplanar warrior spirits, such as those from Ysgard, Acheron, or the Nine Hells, who may seek to challenge, test, or recruit you based on your reputation.
- DM’s Note: This mark may serve as a narrative hook to draw in ghosts of warriors’ past, fallen champions, or extraplanar dueling spirits.
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