Aasvogel Shortsword  (aasvogel = carrion bird, or vulture)

Upon inspection this sword is obviously something unique... and a little grotesque.  It's grip is scaly like a bird leg and the pommel ends in a claw clutching a dark ruby with milky veins resembling an animal heart.  The cross guard sprouts some rough feathers but in the center is where, when the sword fights or feeds, emerges it's terrible eye.

Powers/Properties

• +2 weapon - *
• Cause Fear -  Chance to cause fear in the creature you are attacking.  Target must make wisdom saving throw or be frightened.
• Death Sense - Like a circling vulture, the sword knows which creature in a group is closest to death.  It can direct it's wielder to the creature with the lowest remaining HP.
• Enemy Detection -  *, (see Wand of Enemy Detection)  Ability like the Wand but is only active while the sword is feeding.  Sword shrieks an alarm to it's owner when it senses the presence of hostile creature(s).
• Feeds - The sword begs it's owner to plunge it into a corpse for a short rest.  Listen closely and you can hear slurping and crunching from the blade.  The eye opens wide and scans the area for threats that would disturb it's feeding.  Sword must feed daily to have +2 bonus. Being allowed to feed often can strengthen the bond between the sword and it's owner. 
• Monster Empathy -  The Aasvogel Shortsword can communicate with vultures and like scavengers. DM determines how much interaction possible. Harpies revere the sword and will not attack it's owner.

Other notes

If the sword wielder is too much of a pacifist in battle or doesn't allow the blade to consume the dead it will secretly call out to a nearby animal or monster and have that creature carry it away.  On the other hand, if constantly bathed in blood and given multiple corpses per day the sword will be able to communicate more with it's owner and they will begin to work in unison.  Perhaps the DM can then give the sword more powers like having the eye watch the players back making them immune to backstabs or notice a weakness in an opponents armor giving them an advantage on an attack... 

 

Proficiency with a Shortsword allows you to add your proficiency bonus to the attack roll for any attack you make with it.

Notes: Finesse, Light, Vex