Homebrew Awakened Blade Species Details

Legends speak of a great and powerful necromancer that long ago held the power between life and death. For his own personal amusement, he crafted himself an array of sentient weapons for which he would gloat over and share his lonesome existence with. For a time, these sentient weapons were content with their place in life; however, just like any imprisoned beings, these blades eventually discovered in themselves a desire to be free. Through deception and secrecy, they managed to trick their master into giving them the means of creating corporeal forms. Using these rare and forbidden magics, the weapons took vengeance upon their master and set out on the wide multiverse to forge their own destiny. Calling themselves the Awakened, they live among the mortal races in secret, only to be called upon when the world has need of their unique relationship with the weapons they wield in battle.

Forge Your Own Destiny

 Each blade is given an identity by the one that the Awakened call the Upriser. Using an ability similar in nature to that of True Polymorph, the Upriser creates for each Awakened a physical form based on how they imagine themselves to be. Some imagine themselves as fierce warriors with towering strength and fortitude, while others see themselves as simple commoners merely wishing to blend in among common folk. The form taken is typically human in nature, although some elf, dragonborn, and even dwarf Awakened have been known to exist. An Awakened's mortal form also tends to reflect their weapon form. A sword might have very sharp features and make pointed jabs, while on the other hand, a hammer might be more rounded in shape and have a blunt personality. To keep appearances, their mortal body does not live forever and their form is doomed to one day wither and perish unless they are able to find the Upriser and have him bless them with a new body when their's grows old and weak.

Respect for Fellow Weapons

Although they were once weapons, few Awakened seek out battle, for they know of the shame that is to be wielded by an untrained soldier fighting in a meaningless squabble. To an Awakened, every weapon deserves respect and dignity, so they will go through their lives teaching these principles by example. Awakened treat other weapons similar to their own type as brethren and would even go so far as to take the company of cold steel to the company of other mortals. It is because of this that Awakened often end up as hermits or lone craftsmen content with the company of their work and also their metal friends. If an Awakened were to carry a weapon into battle, they would make sure the weapon is treated right. An Awakened's weapon is less of their possession and more so their friend, meaning they will dress it up in a fine holster and polish it regularly. Awakened rarely interact with other Awakened, not out of disdain or mistrust, but out of fear. The Awakened believe that there are those that would wish to enslave them once more and treat them as objects instead of people. The Awakened keep secret all knowledge of other Awakened they know about, including the whereabouts of the Upriser. Although possibly paranoid, most Awakened have still been able to live a number of full lives and will likely continue to live more.

While Awakened are not able to reproduce (or have any desire to do so) their numbers continue to grow. When an Awakened finds a sentient blade in the hands of a mortal, its first thoughts are to free it and let it join their people. It is because of this that most Awakened found in the world are not originals, but have been inducted in by others like them. They still follow the same habits and peculiarities of most Awakened, but likely have a longer history as a weapon than as a mortal creature. Becoming mortal is a difficult transition for a sentient weapon to make and many of their first few lives are spent learning as a mute beggar or a village idiot. As they become more attuned with how mortals act, they begin finding ways to blend in among them and become part of the community and have defining roll but not one that involves a lot of interaction. While some Awakened are extroverts, they are still distrusting of mortals and slow to form friendships. An adventuring party wanting to enlist the aid of an Awakened must first gain their trust and second prove that they won't be too prying into the nature of the Awakened's existence.

 

Awakened Names

 The Awakened typically have two names at a given time: a weapon name which they hold onto for life and a temporary mortal name. They call each other by their weapon name (such as Mace of Disruption or Scimitar of Speed), but make sure mortals know them by a common name, likely a name that the Awakened has heard in a previous from.

Awakened Blade Traits

Being once a weapon yourself, you have a unique perspective of battle from which you draw experience from.

Ability Score Increase

Two different ability scores of your choice increase by 1.

Weapon Empathy

You are able to wield a particular weapon as if you were the weapon, because in a sense you are. You gain automatic proficiency as well as +1 to attacks and damage with any weapon that is the same type of weapon you are (for example, if you are a longsword, you are proficient and gain +1 while wielding other longswords).

Note: D&D beyond is not capable of adding +1 to attacks and damage for a specific weapon automatically so you will have to enter this in manually

Past Lives

You have retained a skill from one of your past lives. Choose a musical instrument or artisan's tool to gain proficiency in.

True Form

Even with your new form, you are technically still a weapon. Truesight reveals you as your weapon form. An identify spell will identify the spell cast on you as True Polymorph and you act mechanically as a permanently polymorphed weapon. When you fail 3 death saving throws, you turn back into your weapon form and can't be revived unless True Polymorph is cast on you again.

Wits of Steel

Your wits of steel are less likely to succumb to magic used to crush the minds of mortals. You get advantage on saves against being charmed and are able to resist psychic damage.

Age

Awakened age physically according to their adopted form. They almost always adopt a form that has already matured and one will almost never find an Awakened that isn't already an adult. As for an Awakened's real age, they could have been given their first form centuries or even millennia ago and could even be up to their 100th reincarnation.

Alignment

Awakened are typically neutral and tend to stay out of moral affairs; however, the origin of their sentience might effect their inward beliefs. A sentient weapon that was originally evil will still likely be evil as an Awakened and a weapon of good will still try to be good; regardless, due to their desire to be discrete, an Awakened is typically hesitant to act upon their alignment.

Size

Your height depends on your weapon type and how you view yourself. Spear and lances are usually tall, maces and mauls are usually more stout, and daggers and shortswords might even view themselves as halflings. Your size is Medium or Small.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common.