Long ago, those who later became known as the Seldarine were one with those who became known as the Dark Seldarine. Corellon Larethion the eldest of them all had taken Araushnee, for so Lolth was known in those dim days, as their consort. Among their offspring was gentle Eilistraee, who was dark of skin like her mother, as is now known as the Dark Maiden.
Eilistraee grew in knowledge and grace and goodness, and she delighted in the crafting of great items. The greatest of these was a bow that she formed from a branch of Yggdrasil. She named it "Arshæthniel," which means "Leaf-Splitter" in the oldest sylvan tongues, and she hunted the glades of all the planes with it, but she never used it to take a sentient life, for she was gentle and good.
When Araushnee betrayed Corellon, a great battle broke out between Gruumsh and his followers on one side (secretly aided by Araushnee) and the proto-Seldarine on the other. Eilistraee arrived to the battle late and her arrival turned the tide of battle against Gruumsh. She took up Arshæthniel for the first time against a sentient creature, taking aim at Gruumsh himself, who was in mortal combat with Corellon. Araushnee then used her arts to divert the arrow flying from Arshæthniel, so that it struck Corellon, rather than Gruumsh, laying the Eldest low, but not quite slaying him.
Eilistraee, seeing what sorrow her shot had wrought, was overcome by grief and guilt, and she dropped Arshæthniel on the battlefield as she sank to her knees in regret. She was taken into custody as a traitor (though later exonerated), and her bow lay on the bloodstained earth unattended, where one of Gruumsh's foul servants took it up and bore it away. Indeed, Arshæthniel has never been seen by either Seldarine or Dark Seldarine again, for Gruumsh sent it to the fortress of Iroguumsh upon the Infinite Battlefield, where Ilneval set his spawn, the demigod Uulneval, to guard it.
To attune to this item is different than attuning to most magical item. Whomever would like to attune to it must enter their reverie and meditate on the bow, carrying out no other activity or action for 1d20 days, at the end of which, the bow will accept their mastery. Attempting to use this bow without attuning to it causes the bow string to backlash against the wielder [Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, the creature attempting to wield it. Hit: 21 (6d6) slashing damage.]
Arshæthniel is a +3 weapon longbow.
Powers
On the first successful hit of each round the wielder may choose to invoke Eilistraee's power. It is not mandatory that this ability be used, but it may only be used on the first successful hit of the combat round. The shooter need not declare the invocation until after it has been determined whether the shot hits its target. If invoked, in addition to the bow's normal damage and magical bonus, the target must make a DC 23 WIS saving throw, which ignores all proficiencies, resistances, and immunities (including Legendary Resistances), but which does not ignore their normal WIS bonus. On a failed save, the target suffers 6d6 radiant damage (which also ignores resistances or immunities).
Side Effects
The very last time Eilistraee used this bow, it was unintentionally used against her own father. She was instantly overcome with grief and guild, and that remorse has infused her bow. As a result, the first time in each combat that a shot from this bow hits a sentient target (INT greater than 4), the wielder re-experiences the trauma that the Dark Maiden felt in that moment. The shooter must succeed on a DC 21 WIS saving throw (shooter is entitled to all proficiencies and bonuses) or be stunned until the end of their turn in the next combat round, as they experience a catatonic reverie of shame, guilt and remorse.
Restrictions
- Arshæthniel is partially sentient and will not allow itself to be used against any of the Seldarine, against any elf except for a drow, or any Eladrin.
- nyone attuned to Arshæthniel must immediately attack Lolth (Araushnee), or any of her followers as soon as their nature or identity is apparent.
Proficiency with a Longbow 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.
Slow. If you hit a creature with this weapon and deal damage to it, you can reduce its Speed by 10 feet until the start of your next turn. If the creature is hit more than once by weapons that have this property, the Speed reduction doesn’t exceed 10 feet.
Notes: Bonus: Magic, Damage: Radiant, Stunned, Seldarine, Eladrin or Elf (Half-Elves cannot attune to it), Damage, Combat, Ammunition, Heavy, Range, Two-Handed, Slow
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