Blade Spirit
Tormented souls of fallen warriors bound to their weapons in undeath
Basic Fantasy Field Guide Omnibus
| Armor Class | 17 (m) |
|---|---|
| Hit Dice | 9 (+8) |
| Number Appearing | 1 |
| Attacks | 3/2 by weapon |
| Damage | By weapon +4 |
| Movement | 30' |
| Save As | Fighter: 9 |
| Morale | 9 |
| XP | 1075 |
| Treasure Type | Special |
Blade Spirits are the tormented souls of fallen warriors, bound to their weapons in undeath. Their bodies take the form of rotting or desiccated corpses, sometimes assembled from various remains, but it is the weapon they carry that holds the undead spirit. This spectral essence animates the body, turning it into a mere puppet wielded by the weapon, forever locked in the pursuit of battle. In this cursed existence, the blade spirit remains forever bound to its weapon, trapped in an eternal cycle of warfare, its haunted presence echoing the martial prowess they possessed in life.
A blade spirit’s attacks are determined by its weapon type, augmented by a +4 bonus. Like most undead, they are impervious to poison, sleep, charm, and hold spells. While a Cleric can attempt to Turn a blade spirit, as if it was a wraith, permanent destruction requires specific conditions, detailed below. Only magical weapons can harm them.
When a blade spirit is defeated, the animated body crumbles, and the possessed weapon enters a dormant state for 1d10 days. Employing a remove curse spell during this period will expel the spirit from the weapon permanently. Otherwise, the spirit begins the process of reconstructing a new body.
A common blade spirit can unleash three weapon attacks every two rounds, striking once during odd-numbered rounds and twice during even-numbered rounds.
Special Abilities
Variants
Greater blade spirits are more formidable manifestations, driven by grander ambitions. They deal heightened damage (+6) and wield magical weapons determined by the GM. They can be Turned by a Cleric akin to a vampire, and only the dispel evil spell possesses the power to truly obliterate them while they are dormant.
A greater blade spirit can unleash two weapon attacks every round.
| Armor Class | 19 (m) |
|---|---|
| Hit Dice | 12 (+10) |
| Number Appearing | 1 |
| Attacks | 2 by weapon |
| Damage | By weapon +6 |
| Movement | 30' |
| Save As | Fighter: 12 |
| Morale | 10 |
| XP | 1875 |
| Treasure Type | Special |