Difference between revisions of "The Sword of Kas"
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|name=The Sword of Kas | |name=The Sword of Kas | ||
|base=two-handed sword | |base=two-handed sword | ||
| − | |bonusversus=<ul><li>[[cross-aligned]]</li><li> | + | |bonusversus=<ul><li>[[cross-aligned]]</li><li>non-[[poison resistance|poison resistant]]</li><li>[[lich]]es</li><li>[[Vecna]]</li></ul> |
| − | |smalldmg=1d12 ( | + | |smalldmg=1d12+3 (from material) '''x2/x3''' |
| − | |largedmg=3d6 ( | + | |largedmg=3d6+3 (from material) '''x2/x3''' |
|tohit='''+1d10''' | |tohit='''+1d10''' | ||
|skill=two-handed sword | |skill=two-handed sword | ||
| Line 26: | Line 26: | ||
==Description== | ==Description== | ||
| − | The Sword of Kas has | + | The Sword of Kas has +1d10 [[to-hit]] and is permanently coated in [[poison]], dealing extra poison damage against monsters without [[poison resistance]]; it also deals double damage versus [[cross-aligned]] monsters and [[Lich (monster class)|liches]], and will deal three times the damage when used specifically against [[Vecna]]. While wielded, it grants [[stoning resistance]] and sets the wielder's [[strength]] to 25 - it is additionally [[bloodthirsty]] similar to [[Stormbringer]], meaning that you will attack any monster you walk into while wielding it. |
==Strategy== | ==Strategy== | ||
| Line 34: | Line 34: | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
| − | The Sword of Kas | + | The Sword of Kas first appears in EvilHack 0.7.0, where it is added alongside Kas as part of the second of three commits related to Vecna's Domain.<ref>[https://github.com/k21971/EvilHack/commit/59f3575fb1130f3cf051663f81bc851106f4a928 EvilHack commit 59f3575 - "New branch: Vecna's domain (part one)."]</ref><ref>[https://github.com/k21971/EvilHack/commit/f0d135255a6060adbe82a095efdcfc402218866e EvilHack commit f0d1352 - "New branch: Vecna's domain (part two) - artifacts, Kas (unique monster)."]</ref><ref>[https://github.com/k21971/EvilHack/commit/919cd959f737dd6791411dfda7e93c0ddb1c6756 EvilHack commit 919cd95 - "New branch: Vecna's domain (part three) - levels, minor tweaks."]</ref> |
==Origin== | ==Origin== | ||
| Line 40: | Line 40: | ||
In the Greyhawk setting of ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'', the Sword of Kas was given by Vecna to his then-right-hand-man and most trusted lieutenant, Kas the Bloody-Handed; Kas would later turn against Vecna and (temporarily) destroy him using the sword. As details of Kas's service and subsequent betrayal vary with the edition, so too do the origins of the sword: In the 1st edition's ''Dungeon Master's Guide'', Vecna only procured the sword for his chief lieutenant; one telling in much later editions has Vecna creating the Sword of Kas himself and imbuing it with a "portion of his consciousness". As alluded to by the [[encyclopedia]] entry, some sources indicate that Kas may have been goaded into betrayal by the whispers of the Sword itself. | In the Greyhawk setting of ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'', the Sword of Kas was given by Vecna to his then-right-hand-man and most trusted lieutenant, Kas the Bloody-Handed; Kas would later turn against Vecna and (temporarily) destroy him using the sword. As details of Kas's service and subsequent betrayal vary with the edition, so too do the origins of the sword: In the 1st edition's ''Dungeon Master's Guide'', Vecna only procured the sword for his chief lieutenant; one telling in much later editions has Vecna creating the Sword of Kas himself and imbuing it with a "portion of his consciousness". As alluded to by the [[encyclopedia]] entry, some sources indicate that Kas may have been goaded into betrayal by the whispers of the Sword itself. | ||
| − | Regardless, the Sword is is consistently tied to Vecna and his other relics, specifically | + | Regardless, the Sword is is consistently tied to Vecna and his other relics, specifically [[The Hand of Vecna (EvilHack)|Vecna's hand]] [[The Eye of Vecna|and his eye]]. Both relics and the Sword were the only remaining objects in the area after their fight, with Vecna destroyed for the time being and Kas being flung across many Planes by the resulting destruction. Its appearance, properties and hit dice have also varied between editions - the Sword as it appears in EvilHack is something of an amalgamation (e.g., the 25 strength comes from the +10 strength bonus it granted to the wielder in 3rd Edition).<ref>[https://github.com/k21971/EvilHack/blob/0.7.1/include/artilist.h#L206 include/artilist in EvilHack 0.7.1, line 206]</ref><ref>[https://screenrant.com/dungeons-and-dragons-powerful-items-where-to-find/ ScreenRant - Dungeons & Dragons: 20 Powerful Items That Are Impossible To Find (And Where To Find Them)]</ref> |
==Encyclopedia entry== | ==Encyclopedia entry== | ||
| Line 55: | Line 55: | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
| − | <!--{{variant-36x} | + | <!--{{variant-36x}}--> |
| − | [[Category:EvilHack | + | [[Category:EvilHack artifacts|Sword of Kas]] |
Latest revision as of 03:08, 6 March 2024
) The Sword of Kas 
| |
|---|---|
| Base item | two-handed sword |
| Damage vs. small | 1d12+3 (from material) x2/x3 |
| Damage vs. large | 3d6+3 (from material) x2/x3 |
| To-hit bonus | +1d10 |
| Bonus versus | |
| Weapon skill | two-handed sword |
| Size | two-handed |
| Affiliation | |
| When carried |
none |
| When wielded |
|
| When invoked |
none |
| Base price | 15000 zm |
| Weight | 103 |
| Material | gemstone |
The Sword of Kas is an intelligent artifact weapon that appears in EvilHack. It is chaotic-aligned, and its base item is a two-handed sword made of gemstone.
Generation
The Sword of Kas is always generated in the possession of Kas within Vecna's Domain. It cannot be wished for; if left in bones, it will revert to a 'mundane' gemstone two-handed sword.
Due to its generation method, it does not increase the artifact count for purposes of wishing.
Description
The Sword of Kas has +1d10 to-hit and is permanently coated in poison, dealing extra poison damage against monsters without poison resistance; it also deals double damage versus cross-aligned monsters and liches, and will deal three times the damage when used specifically against Vecna. While wielded, it grants stoning resistance and sets the wielder's strength to 25 - it is additionally bloodthirsty similar to Stormbringer, meaning that you will attack any monster you walk into while wielding it.
Strategy
The Sword of Kas is often a vital part of most players' kits for dealing with Vecna - keep in mind that lawful characters take alignment penalties for using poisoned weapons, while Priests of any kind suffer a -30 to-hit penalty from trying to use it on top of potentially angering their god.
A character capable of defeating Kas is one that has usually completed their quest - in the event you are lawful and have not yet done so, it is usually best to refrain from wielding the Sword on anything more than a very-sparingly basis.
History
The Sword of Kas first appears in EvilHack 0.7.0, where it is added alongside Kas as part of the second of three commits related to Vecna's Domain.[1][2][3]
Origin
In the Greyhawk setting of Dungeons & Dragons, the Sword of Kas was given by Vecna to his then-right-hand-man and most trusted lieutenant, Kas the Bloody-Handed; Kas would later turn against Vecna and (temporarily) destroy him using the sword. As details of Kas's service and subsequent betrayal vary with the edition, so too do the origins of the sword: In the 1st edition's Dungeon Master's Guide, Vecna only procured the sword for his chief lieutenant; one telling in much later editions has Vecna creating the Sword of Kas himself and imbuing it with a "portion of his consciousness". As alluded to by the encyclopedia entry, some sources indicate that Kas may have been goaded into betrayal by the whispers of the Sword itself.
Regardless, the Sword is is consistently tied to Vecna and his other relics, specifically Vecna's hand and his eye. Both relics and the Sword were the only remaining objects in the area after their fight, with Vecna destroyed for the time being and Kas being flung across many Planes by the resulting destruction. Its appearance, properties and hit dice have also varied between editions - the Sword as it appears in EvilHack is something of an amalgamation (e.g., the 25 strength comes from the +10 strength bonus it granted to the wielder in 3rd Edition).[4][5]
Encyclopedia entry
Kas and the Sword share the same encyclopedia entry:
Kas the Bloody-Handed was the most trusted lieutenant of the
despotic lich Vecna, and wielder of the Sword of Kas.
After many years of loyal service to Vecna, Kas eventually
betrayed his master. It is said that the sword itself whispered
to Kas, convincing him to slay his master and usurp his power.
References
- ↑ EvilHack commit 59f3575 - "New branch: Vecna's domain (part one)."
- ↑ EvilHack commit f0d1352 - "New branch: Vecna's domain (part two) - artifacts, Kas (unique monster)."
- ↑ EvilHack commit 919cd95 - "New branch: Vecna's domain (part three) - levels, minor tweaks."
- ↑ include/artilist in EvilHack 0.7.1, line 206
- ↑ ScreenRant - Dungeons & Dragons: 20 Powerful Items That Are Impossible To Find (And Where To Find Them)
