Acumen

Weapon (rapier), legendary (requires attunement by a non-shapeshifter)

Elven smiths created Acumen out of a unique alloy of mithril and adamantine, making it both light and impossibly strong. This alloy should splinter apart according to dwarven smiths, but somehow Acumen persists. Its slightly curved blade and flowing guard indicate elven manufacture from at least 1000 years ago. A spherical tiger eye gem serves as its pommel, the pupil seemingly following anyone who looks at it from any direction. The Alfinwald High Circle of Mages imbued it with the ability to break illusions and force shapeshifters back to their natural form, and disciples of the Morning Star steeped it in their god's holy light.

Prior to attunement, Acumen grants its wielder a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this weapon, and it will glow with pale blue starlight when mentally commanded to do so. If the wielder is targeted by an illusion or polymorph spell, Acumen will immediately attempt to dispel the effect as a dispel magic spell cast at 4th level (for 5th level spells and above, roll a d20 against a DC of 6 + the spell's level to dispel).

When attuned, the bonus to attack and damage rolls made with Acumen rises to +2. It also deals an extra 1d6 radiant damage to any target it hits. It will not attune to a creature that shapeshifts naturally, nor to a creature currently under the effects of an illusion spell or polymorph. It also has the following additional properties.

Pierce the Veil. Acumen allows its wielder to see things in their true form, granting the wielder the ability to use a bonus action to cast true seeing once per day, or see invisibility up to three times per day.

Revert to True Form. With a touch or successful attack, Acumen will instantly attempt to magically dispel any effect that masks the true form of a creature, object, or area. Most of the time this functions as a dispel magic spell cast at 4th level (against 5th level spells and above, roll a d20 against a DC of 6 + the spell's level to dispel). For natural shapeshifters and druids using Wild Shape, roll a Charisma saving throw against a DC of 17. On a failed roll, the altered form immediately ends, returning the creature to its natural form. For permanent effects, Acumen can only suppress the effect for an hour at a time.

Sentience. Acumen is a sentient true neutral weapon with an Intelligence of 8, a Wisdom of 10, and a Charisma of 18. It has hearing and darkvision out to a range of 60 feet. Within that range it can also detect any being, object, or area not in its true form, whether through illusion, polymorph, a druid's Wild Shape ability, or any similar effect. It communicates empathically by sending a tingling sensation through the wielder's hand and glowing brighter as it gets closer to the detected deception. For particularly strong effects, the tiger eye in the pommel may steal a glance in the direction of the effect.

Personality. Acumen's only purpose involves revealing the true reality of a situation by penetrating illusions and forcing creatures back to their natural forms. It doesn't have any sort of political or moral agenda beyond that purpose. It rarely comes into conflict with its wielder, but it has been known to break and refuse attunement with illusionists, forest gnomes, and others who use illusion spells on themselves often. The wielder can override the Revert to True Form property and accept illusion or polymorph spells, but it requires a bonus action and a Charisma (Persuasion) check against DC 16. Acumen will eventually run out of patience if this happens repeatedly, and may refuse to attune with the wielder because of it.

Tor-Sariel carries Acumen as her personal blade for centuries. The Morning Star's Voice gifted it to her, as it fits with her mission of uncovering the Deepspeakers and their imprisoned patron godling. Sariel usually keeps it in a ring of storing, ready to use with just a snap of her fingers, but she will wear it openly when attending governmental functions to prevent surprises.

Note: The Revert to True Form property immediately dispels both invisibility and greater invisibility on a hit. This is by design. The elves who made Acumen really don't like being deceived.

Part of T.W.Wombat's #City23 project. See the Fellport Index for all entries.