Legion Killer

This artifact is a massive crossbow, almost too heavy to be wielded by one person. Its heavy lath is made from a curved piece of mithril-laced blue steel fitted with a heavy string woven from the hair of a giant. The crossbow's stock is cut from a single slab of oak, its grain shot through with glittering shards of some crystalline stone. A complex crank (obviously of Dwarf manufacture) provides a mechanism for cocking the device. Legion Killer is enchanted with Epic combat and alteration magic. A Great test of divination magic will reveal the command word required to activate its unique power.

Legion Killer has the following characteristics:

• Its mechanism is so powerful that it takes two full rounds to cock the weapon.
• Once cocked, Legion Killer self-loads with a magically created quarrel of steel-tipped oak fletched with slabs of clear stone crystal. The weapon has Superb accuracy and range bonuses, and each quarrel that hits inflicts Good damage before vanishing the round after it strikes home.
• Once loaded, Legion Killer begins projecting a magical charge into the fitted quarrel. The accumulated charge causes the quarrel to split into multiple missiles when fired, each bolt striking a unique target within the weapon's field of fire. The number of quarrels created increases with the duration of the charge, each round doubling the number of quarrels created: two after one round, four after two rounds, eight after three rounds, and so forth, to a maximum of 1024 quarrels after ten rounds.

The Crossbow of the Black Crow

This heavy crossbow features a stock of rich burled wood tinted with black stain that reveals its intricate grain patterns. The bow and trigger mechanism is made from blackened steel, which glistens with an unearthly sheen. The bow string is a strand of brassy metal that merges seamlessly with the bow ends. The arms of the bow are inscribed with fine lines that form a faint pattern of widespread wings. The stock is plain, decorated only by the natural patterns of the wood. If examined for magical properties the Crossbow of the Black Crow radiates Great alteration and combat magic and Good divination magic. A Great test of divination magic will reveal the item's magical properties:

• The Black Crow functions as a Great quality weapon, receiving Great bonuses to both accuracy and range.
• The Crossbow is self-loading. It fires magical quarrels that inflict normal damage, then vanish after striking their target. The Crossbow reloads itself instantly, and can be fired once per round.
• Crow Bolt - The wielder can fire this special shot at will. Once launched the bolt sprouts wings and begins circling. The wielder can direct the flight of this bolt, which moves at Great speed. They can also observe the area around the Crow Bolt simply by closing their eyes and concentrating. The bolt will remain aloft so long as desired, though it will never stray more than 1 mile from its controller. The other functions of the Crossbow are lost while the Crow Bolt is in flight.
• After possessing the Black Crow for at least one month, the owner gains a crow familiar. This creature will share knowledge and senses with its owner, serving as guard, spy or scout. Should the familiar be slain it is permanently lost until the Crossbow changes ownership.

Magic Missile!

No, not that Magic Missile. Arrows and quarrels often get the short end of the stick when it comes to magical properties, usually stuck with a simple accuracy or damage enhancement. Here are a few unique missiles for your reading pleasure. All missiles share the following characteristics:

•  Each missile radiates Good alteration or evocation magic.
•  A Good test of divination magic will reveal the missile's power and command word, which must be spoken when the missile is fired.
•  Each missile can be activated once per day, recharging each morning at sunrise. Missiles fired without activating them perform as normal weapons. Missiles activated before firing gain a Good bonus to accuracy.
•  Missiles are almost unbreakable (Superb toughness) and immune to most forms of elemental or magical damage (Superb resistance).

The Missiles:

• Iron Fist - This missile has a broad iron point, shaped to resemble a closed fist. Its shaft is made from polished black oak, and it is fletched with eagle feathers. When its power is invoked this missile does normal damage and knocks the target back five feet along the flight path.
• Needle's Point - This missile has a slim, silver point fitted to a blue-dyed ash shaft. It is fletched with the feathers of a stirge. When its power is invoked this missile pierces the target, doing maximum damage, then continues its flight, striking additional targets and doing maximum damage. Needle's Point can strike up to six targets in this fashion before it loses its enchantment.
• Splinter - This missile is tipped with a razor sharp obsidian point fitted to a shaft of polished bamboo fletched with hummingbird wings. When it's power is activated it splits into six individual missiles, each targeting a separate foe, beginning with those nearest the original target. Each missile does normal damage. Duplicate missiles fade after striking, leaving only the original Splinter intact.

Starfall

Legend says this bow was created from the heart of a fallen star, which, given its unusual appearance, may be true. This longbow measures about six feet from tip to tip. The grip is made from a single stone, an unknown black mineral shot through with a radiating pattern of bluish crystals that shine with an inner glow under the light of the moon. Each arm of the bow is formed from a seemingly delicate spire of this same blue crystal that seems to grow naturally from the grip. The bow is strung with a delicate wire of silvery metal that appears to sprout directly from the bow itself.

If examined for magical properties Starfall radiates Epic evocation magic and Great combat magic. A Superb test of divination magic will reveal its magical characteristics:

• Starfall has Legendary toughness and should be considered unbreakable for most purposes.
• The weapon acts as a Great quality longbow in terms of accuracy and damage.
• Starshot - When the appropriate command word is spoken and an arrow is shot skyward, it will explode with a loud report leaving a brilliant, glowing star hovering in the sky above. This light provides dusk-like illumination in a quarter-mile radius for up to one hour, and can be extinguished with a word by the owner. This power can be used thrice per day. The arrow used is consumed in the process.
• Meteor - Using this power causes the next arrow fired from the bow to transform itself into a fist-sized globule of dense, bluish crystal that streaks to the target at great speed, leaving a trail of glowing vapors behind it. On impact the crystal explodes with Superb force, harming all within a ten foot radius of the point of impact. It also leaves behind a cloud of noxious fumes in the same area, causing all within to choke and be partially blinded for three rounds (Good test of resistance to avoid these effects). This power can be invoked thrice per day. It consumes the arrow used.
• Glitterswarm - When this power is invoked the next arrow fired from the bow strikes as a normal attack. Upon impact a cloud of brilliant blue sparks burst from the arrow, swarming over everything within a 20 foot radius of the impact point. These sparks emit dazzling light (Good resistance check or be blinded), and burn anything they touch, inflicting Average fire damage and lighting flammable materials in the area of effect. The sparks last five rounds. This power can be invoked thrice per day. The arrow used is not consumed by this power.

Plainsman's Bow

This composite recurve bow is clearly designed for use on horseback. It is fashioned from a lamination of pale yellow horn and dark brown wood. Its grip is wrapped with a thin but tough layer of hide, dyed a deep green color. Each bow tip is carved with the image of a falcon's head, whose gaping beak serves to hold the horsehide bowstring. Each arm of the bow is painted with a fine pattern of feathers rendered in a rich brown color.

Examining the weapon for magical properties will reveal Great damage and accuracy enchantment and Good alteration magic at work. A Great test of divination magic will reveal the bow's magical properties:

• Requires Great bow skill and Good strength to wield properly. Though magical in nature the bow has an extremely heavy draw. Only a skilled archer can make use of this weapon.
• The bow has a Great bonus to accuracy and damage and negates any penalties to bow use for mounted combat.
• Rabbit's Eye Shot - Thrice per day the wielder can invoke this power to gain an Epic bonus to accuracy and a Great bonus to range, allowing them to hit the smallest of targets at extreme range with ease.
• Charging Ram - This potent shot strikes with the force of a battering ram. If successful any target up to human-sized is knocked from its feet (or mount if riding) and is stunned for one to four rounds. The attack also does normal damage. This power can be invoked thrice per day.
• Falcon's Stoop - When this power is invoked, razor sharp talons sprout from the arrow upon impact, inflicting triple normal damage and causing a Good bleeding effect. Pulling this arrow free inflicts a second wound causing normal damage. This power can be used thrice per day.