Tower of Ascension

Tower of Ascension

Boondoggle!

Ossavel, the Hunger of Quiet Graves

  • Type: Artifact Longsword. Intelligent (+2)
  • Origin: Forged by a High Lich of Feng
  • Alignment: Chaotic Evil, the Sword is aware but never speaks
  • Attunement: Any non-Lawful Good creature; Evil assassins and killers attune instantly.
  • Appearance: Black-bladed sword with glowing runes, battered copper hilt, and a crossguard bearing Feng's masked symbol

Artifact Overview

A relic of ritual execution and soul-thirsting legacy, Ossavel was forged in silence amongst the lost and tormented souls of The Boneyard during the Shattered Age and carried by high lords in service to Feng, the Ghost-Face Killer. It whispers in stillness, hungers after final breaths, and offers its wielder dread command over the dead.

Excerpt from the Battle of Taru


The fighting had been hard all day. Men and Women fell on both sides. The Githyanki did not cry out when they died. That made it worse.

By nightfall, we had nothing left but broken lines and blood on the planks. The wind had stopped. Even the sea seemed quiet. Then she came. Black Alice. Her face was pale like the dead and she carried a sword I had never seen before. It was dark and cold to look at. It seemed wrong.

She walked straight into them. The Gith. Still living. She cut them down one by one. No sound. No mercy. A minute later, the first one stood back up. Bones clicking. Empty eyes. Then another. Then more.

They turned the tide while we watched.

I don’t know if we won that night. Only that we lived.


Rell Griggs, Sailor on the Sea Bitch, letter to his brother (never sent)


Primary Abilities

Feature Description
Soul Cage Able to traps the soul of the first sentient creature slain daily. Soul can be spoken to telepathically. Once per long rest, consume soul for 20 temp HP per CR or gain advantage on 1 saving throw. Soul can only be freed via a Wish or Miracle spell.
Last Rites of Steel If attuned wielder dies, soul is consumed and cannot be resurrected (except via Wish).
Rise to Serve Humanoids slain rise as skeletons 1 minute later in service the wielder. Bearer can case “Animate Dead” at will as an 8th level spell; Control can be maintained over five hundred Skeletons permanently while attuned.
Unaging Grip The Attuned wielder ceases to age biologically.

Combat Enhancements

Feature Description
Shadowbite Adds +2d6 necrotic damage on all hits. Deal +4d6 necrotic on attacks made with Advantage.
Silencing Strike Target hit makes DC 15 CON save or is affected by *Silence* (self only, 1 min).
Soul Sever Recharge 5–6. On a crit, deal +6d10 necrotic. If target drops to 0 HP, their soul is consumed. This is in addition to the 'Soul Cage' ability

Cursed Traits

Curse Effect
Echoes of the Slain Over time, wielder hears voices or dreams of murders past. May suffer Wis save disadvantage vs. divine magic. May Erode Mental Abilities or Defenses overtime.

Known Bearers

Name Status Notes
Unknown Lich of Feng Believed Deceased Forged Ossavel in a hidden Crypt in The Boneyard; absorbing the dark energy from that place in its forging
Unknown Lord of Feng Deceased Killed by a Champion of Wallhaven, Soul was consumed by Ossavel which was later buried with the Lord in a Tomb in the western Free Lands.
Black Alice Alive Recovered Ossavel from the lord's tomb. Operates out of Corsair's Landing. Nominal Champion of the City but dark whispers surround the sword there.

Associated Cult: Blades of the Drowned

Detail Description
Name Blades of the Drowned
Patron Deity Feng, the Ghost-Face Killer
Headquarters Decentralized, Scattered throughout the Corsair Seas.
Leadership Sister Veil – Matron and keeper of rituals. Eyeless priestess
Doctrine Undersea assassins offering murder to the sea; highly ritualized.
Symbol The Mask of Feng, often the Symbol of the The Triad as well
Rituals The Offering of the Last Word (kills must be silent), Soul trapping
Practices Surgical disfigurement of acolytes’ mouths; silent strikes; soul-trapping blade rites. Removal of Eyes among the senior members. Cult Members believe this will trigger a resurgence of Feng.
Purpose Ritual Assassinations. Reclaim Ossavel; and turn it over to 'The Drowned Mask' a Champion of Feng.

Misc Notes

  • While Ossavel is aligned with Feng, its silence has begun to draw the attention of certain agents of Vinnin as well.
  • The sword appears immune to traditional divination and may “choose” to become inert when under scrutiny.