The Legend of Gothmog
Gothmog, Lord of Balrogs, was a Maia corrupted by Morgoth, the first Dark Lord. Unlike his brethren who were seduced by promises of power, Gothmog reveled in destruction and violence. He became Morgoth's most ruthless lieutenant, a whirlwind of shadow and flame that tore through countless battlefields during the First Age.
Gothmog wielded a mighty black axe, forged in the fires of Utumno, Morgoth's first fortress. The weapon became an extension of his rage, its blade burning with a malevolent fire that could sear flesh and melt steel. Gothmog reveled in the screams of his victims, their fear and pain fueling his dark spirit.
His most infamous act was the slaying of Fingon, the High King of the Noldor Elves. In a desperate last stand, Fingon challenged Gothmog to single combat, but the Balrog's black axe proved too much for the Elf King. As Gothmog cleaved Fingon's helm with his axe, a white flame erupted – a flicker of Fingon's noble spirit defying even in death. This event became a legend whispered among Elves and Men, a testament to both Fingon's bravery and Gothmog's horrifying cruelty.
After Gothmog's defeat by the hands of the Elf-lord Ecthelion of Gondolin, his Axe was lost to time.
Item Description
This black Greataxe was wielded by Gothmog, Lord of Balrogs, during the First Age of Middle Earth. It radiates an aura of menace and is imbued with Gothmog's dark essence.
After attuning to the axe, you gain a +3 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with it, and have advantage with melee attack rolls made with this weapon against creatures frightened of you.
While attuned, and are carrying this Greataxe on your person. You can use a reaction to call on its power to grant you Balrogs Fire for 1 minute. While you benefit from this property you are immune to fire damage. This property can't be used again until the dawn of the next day.
The Axe of Gothmog has 3 charges of Gothmog's Fury. Once attuned, when you hit a creature with this weapon, you can expend 1 charge as part of the attack. The target must make a DC 18 Constitution saving throw, taking 10d6 fire damage on a failed save and becomes frightened of you for one hour, or half as much on a successful one and does not become frightened. The weapon permanently loses this property after it has no charges.
The axe is cursed, and a faint echo of Gothmog's malice lingers within. Whenever you use the Gothmog's Fury property of the axe, you become filled with a Fury similar to Gothmog's. For 1 minute, you are filled with a blind rage and can not tell friend from foe. You attempt to destroy all living things within sight. At the end of this time you suffer one level of exhaustion.
Proficiency with a Greataxe 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.
Cleave. If you hit a creature with a melee attack roll using this weapon, you can make a melee attack roll with the weapon against a second creature within 5 feet of the first that is also within your reach. On a hit, the second creature takes the weapon’s damage, but don’t add your ability modifier to that damage unless that modifier is negative. You can make this extra attack only once per turn.
Notes: Immunity: Fire, Advantage: Melee Attacks, Frightened, Charmed, The target must make a DC 18 Constitution saving throw, taking 10d6 fire damage on a failed save and becomes frightened of you for one hour, or half as much on a successful one and does not become frightened. This property can't be used again until the next dawn. The weapon permanently loses this property after it has no charges., This weapon can not be attuned to creatures immune to the charmed or frightened conditions. During a short rest the creature must roll a DC 17 Wisdom Saving throw. On a successful save: The creature successfully attunes to the axe. On a failed save: The creature takes 4d6 fire damage and becomes frightened of the axe. They are not attuned to the axe and cannot attempt to attune to it again until after taking a long rest., Damage, Combat, Heavy, Two-Handed, Cleave
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