"A sentence spoken is a duty fulfilled. One swing, one end."
Description
The Adamantine Executioner’s Blade is a brutal and unyielding instrument of finality, its razor-thin adamantine edge honed to a level where it can cleave through flesh, bone, and armor with merciless ease. The surface of the axe is darkly polished, gleaming with an eerie luster under any light. Engraved upon the blade are ancient runes of judgment, said to carry the weight of every life it has claimed.
The haft is wrapped in darkened leather, reinforced with iron rings, and is weighted perfectly for balance, ensuring that every strike lands with deadly precision. At the head of the axe, near the socket, is a blood-groove that never stains, allowing the weapon to remain pristine no matter how many executions it has seen.
Legend states that this weapon was forged for royal executioners, bound by oath to carry out the will of kings, but in the wrong hands, it has become a weapon of terror and absolute power.
Magical Properties and Features
- Sentinel’s Judgement: When attacking a helpless or restrained creature (such as those incapacitated, stunned, paralyzed, or unconscious), the attack is automatically a critical hit.
- Headsman’s Might: On a critical hit, roll an additional 2d12 slashing damage.
- Final Mercy: Once per long rest, when the wielder lands a critical hit, they may choose to spare the creature instead of killing it. The target drops to 1 HP rather than being reduced to 0 HP, and they gain the Frightened condition for 1 minute.
Weapon Bonuses
- Attribute Bonus: None
- Magic Bonus: None
- Skill Bonus: Advantage on Strength (Athletics) checks when attempting to grapple a target before striking.
- Proficiency Bonus: None
Drawbacks and Risks
- Axe of Oaths: If the wielder uses the Final Mercy ability, they must make a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or suffer nightmares of those they have spared, causing them to take 1d8 psychic damage every dawn until they finish a long rest in consecrated ground.
Lore and History
Among the royal executioners of the March of Draeven, there exists an unspoken rule: “A single stroke, a clean death.” This blade was the instrument of such duties—delivering swift, merciful ends to traitors and war criminals. Yet, over time, it was stolen, wielded by mercenaries, warlords, and war priests, its unyielding nature making it a feared artifact in battle.
Additional Roleplay Features
- Weight of Judgment: The wielder always knows whether a creature they are about to strike has committed an act of betrayal, treason, or murder within the past year.
- Executioner’s Grip: When wielded with two hands, the wielder gains advantage on Strength (Athletics) checks to grapple a target before striking.
- Unstoppable Edge: The axe ignores resistance to slashing damage.
Weapon Information
- Weapon Type: Greataxe
- Weight: 12 lbs
- Market Value: 4,500 gp
- Black Market Value: 8,000 gp
Summary of Weapon
The Adamantine Executioner’s Blade is a weapon forged for the hands of royal executioners but has since fallen into the grasp of warriors who walk the line between justice and slaughter. Crafted from pure adamantine, it delivers deadly finality with every swing, ensuring that no strike is wasted. The blade ignores resistance, its Sentinel’s Judgment ability making executions a certainty, while Final Mercy offers a chilling alternative to death. The axe carries a deep connection to the concept of judgment, weighing not only the sins of its victims but also the conscience of its wielder.
“A single strike, an end to all things. Mercy or death, the choice is yours.”
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: Advantage: Athletics, Damage, Buff, Combat, Heavy, Two-Handed, Cleave
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