Forged from silvery-blue elven steel, Arael’Tel’Quessir is an elegant longsword whose narrow blade appears almost weightless. Ancient Espruar runes flow along its fuller, becoming visible only beneath moonlight or in the presence of fiends, undead, or desecrated magic.
Its crossguard resembles a pair of outstretched eagle wings, while its pommel holds a moonstone said to contain a single tear shed by Sehanine Moonbow. When drawn by a worthy champion, the weapon produces a clear musical tone resembling a distant elven choir.
The sword’s name translates approximately as “Holy Sword of the People.”
Magic Weapon
You gain a +3 bonus to attack rolls and damage rolls made with this weapon.
Arael’Tel’Quessir possesses the Finesse property. Although it is a longsword, you may use your Strength or Dexterity modifier for its attack and damage rolls.
When you hit a Fiend or Undead with this weapon, the creature takes an additional 2d10 Radiant damage.
Aura of the Seldarine
While you hold the drawn sword, you and friendly creatures within 10 feet of you have Advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
If you have at least 17 levels in the Paladin class, the aura’s radius increases to 30 feet.
The aura appears as faint silver leaves, stars, and crescent-shaped motes drifting around those under its protection.
Moonfire
Arael’Tel’Quessir’s Radiant damage manifests as silver-blue moonfire. This light burns creatures corrupted by undeath or the Lower Planes but gives off no heat.
When you deal Radiant damage to a Fiend or Undead with this weapon, that creature cannot benefit from Invisibility until the start of your next turn. During that time, it sheds Dim Light in a 5-foot radius.
Grace of the Tel’Quessir
While attuned to the sword, you gain proficiency in the Elvish language. If you already speak Elvish, you instead gain Advantage on Intelligence checks concerning elven history, religion, magical traditions, and ruins.
In addition, magical sleep cannot put you to sleep while the sword is on your person.
Moonlit Passage
As a Bonus Action while holding the sword, you can teleport up to 30 feet to an unoccupied space you can see. You appear in a brief swirl of silver leaves and moonlight.
After teleporting, you have Advantage on the next attack roll you make with Arael’Tel’Quessir before the end of the current turn.
Once this property has been used, it cannot be used again until the next dawn.
Sacred Purpose
The sword was created to oppose creatures that corrupt elven souls, despoil elven lands, or enslave the spirits of the dead.
When an Undead or Fiend within 120 feet desecrates an elven shrine, tomb, mythal, or sacred grove, the moonstone in the sword’s pommel glows with bright silver light. The sword does not reveal the creature’s exact location, but its wielder instinctively knows the direction of the desecration.
Sentience
Arael’Tel’Quessir is a sentient lawful good weapon with the following mental ability scores:
Intelligence 14, Wisdom 18, Charisma 18
The sword has hearing and Darkvision out to 120 feet. It communicates telepathically with its attuned wielder and can speak, read, and understand Common, Elvish, Celestial, and Sylvan.
Its voice is calm and melodic, though it becomes cold and commanding in the presence of servants of Lolth, Malar, Moander, or the demon lord Malkizid.
Personality
The sword considers itself a guardian of all elvenkind, regardless of whether an elf is a sun elf, moon elf, wood elf, sea elf, wild elf, star elf, or drow who has rejected the evil of Lolth.
It values mercy, patience, artistic beauty, and personal freedom. It despises needless cruelty and refuses to accept the belief that any people are irredeemably evil.
The sword urges its wielder to:
- Protect elven settlements and sacred places.
- Destroy undead created from elven remains.
- Defend innocent drow who seek freedom from Lolth.
- Recover stolen elven relics.
- Preserve ancient knowledge rather than allowing it to be destroyed.
- Show mercy to enemies who sincerely seek redemption.
Arael’Tel’Quessir may enter into conflict with a wielder who knowingly destroys elven history, abandons innocent people, or uses the blade to enforce tyranny.
Forgotten Realms History
Arael’Tel’Quessir was forged during the final centuries of ancient Cormanthyr, before the raising of the mythal over Myth Drannor. Its creators were priests of Corellon Larethian, Sehanine Moonbow, and Labelas Enoreth working alongside the finest swordsmiths of House Amaratharr.
The blade was intended for Ser Alarion Silverspear, an elven paladin charged with guarding the hidden roads leading into the Elven Court. Alarion carried the sword against yugoloth mercenaries, corrupted fey, and early servants of the fallen solar Malkizid.
During the Weeping War, the sword passed between several defenders of Myth Drannor. Its last known wielder, Lady Vaeressa Moonmantle, disappeared while leading refugees through a collapsing portal beneath the city.
Elven historians disagree about what happened afterward. Some claim the sword was carried to Evermeet. Others believe it remained buried beneath Myth Drannor, sealed within a moonlit sanctuary untouched by the city’s destruction.
Priests of Sehanine teach that Arael’Tel’Quessir does not remain lost accidentally. The blade disappears when the Tel’Quessir no longer need it and returns when an elven people face a threat that cannot be defeated by armies alone.
Suggested Adventure Hooks
The sword may lie within a forgotten vault beneath Myth Drannor, guarded by the spirits of knights who died during the Weeping War.
A corrupted baelnorn might possess the blade, believing that no living champion is worthy to inherit it.
Agents of House Dlardrageth could seek to destroy the sword because its moonfire can permanently reveal their fiendish nature.
A priestess of Eilistraee may receive a vision commanding her to recover the blade before servants of Lolth find it.
The sword might choose a non-elven paladin, creating conflict with isolationist elves who believe the relic belongs only to the Tel’Quessir.
Optional Worthiness Requirement
For a more story-focused campaign, Arael’Tel’Quessir will not immediately reveal its full power.
A creature attempting to attune to the sword must be accepted by it. The creature need not be an elf, but it must demonstrate genuine loyalty to the protection of elvenkind and opposition to fiends, undead, and tyranny.
An unworthy creature can carry the sword, but it functions only as a nonmagical longsword until the blade willingly accepts that creature.
Proficiency with a Longsword allows you to add your proficiency bonus to the attack roll for any attack you make with it.
This weapon has the following mastery property. To use this property, you must have a feature that lets you use it.
Sap. If you hit a creature with this weapon, that creature has Disadvantage on its next attack roll before the start of your next turn.
Notes: Bonus: Melee Weapon Attacks, Damage: Melee Weapon Attacks, Advantage: Spell Attacks, Language: Elvish, a paladin, Versatile, Sap
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