The Dagger of Tarketh One-Eye

-

+3 Long Dagger (Intelligent Item)

Aura moderate evocation and divination; CL 15th
Slot —; Price 18,302 gp; Weight 1 lb.

DESCRIPTION

This finely crafted +3 long dagger bears an ornate handle wrapped in sea-worn leather, its crossguard shaped like a ship’s wheel - though its symmetry gives it an unsettling resemblance to a chaos star. At its center rests a one-eyed pirate skull, said to house the bound soul of the infamous captain Tarketh One-Eye. The blade itself is etched with faint nautical motifs - waves, rigging lines, and a single unblinking eye - which seem to shift subtly when observed for too long.

The Dagger of Tarketh One-Eye is an intelligent chaotic neutral weapon with the following statistics:

Int 12, Wis 8, Cha 10; Ego 7
Senses 60 ft. vision and hearing
Communication telepathy (Common)

The dagger grants its wielder the ability to use detect magic at will. In addition, Tarketh possesses 10 ranks in Spot, using his own ability modifiers to perceive his surroundings independently of the wielder.

Tarketh’s personality is overbearing, vulgar, and relentlessly sarcastic. He frequently engages in crude humor, obscene storytelling, and biting commentary directed at both allies and enemies alike. Though capable of telepathic communication, Tarketh finds it deeply offensive if his wielder does not respond aloud. Should he be ignored in this fashion, he becomes petulant and uncooperative, suppressing all granted abilities - including detect magic - for 1 week.

LORE

Tarketh One-Eye was once the feared captain of the Wayfarer’s Daughter, a corsair vessel whose name became synonymous with bold raids and reckless cruelty. His reputation for audacity was rivaled only by his arrogance - a trait that ultimately proved his undoing. After a string of increasingly brazen offenses, including an ill-advised liaison with the daughter of Governor Maximilien D’Aramitz, Tarketh was captured and sentenced to death.

Facing execution, Tarketh struck a desperate bargain with a powerful wizard. In exchange for revealing the location of his hidden fortune, he demanded that his soul be preserved. The wizard, adhering with meticulous precision to the letter of the agreement, bound Tarketh’s soul into his dagger at the moment of his death. Tarketh’s fury at this interpretation has endured ever since, manifesting as an endless stream of complaints, insults, and crude observations.

Over the years, the dagger has passed through many hands, rarely remaining with any one wielder for long. Some have abandoned it out of frustration, others out of sheer exhaustion. Tarketh’s constant need for engagement, combined with his abrasive personality, has proven too much for most to tolerate. Nevertheless, the dagger remains a valuable companion for those willing to endure its… conversational tendencies.

It is currently in the possession of the wizard Kelwyn, who appears uniquely suited to the dagger’s temperament. The two engage in frequent and spirited exchanges, with Kelwyn referring to Tarketh as his “brother by other parents - and also a dead man in a dagger.”

CONSTRUCTION

Requirements Craft Magic Arms and Armor, trap the soul, suggestion, guidance
Cost 9,152 gp, 732 XP

Kelwyn’s Notes…

Ah… Tarketh.

An insufferable creature. A vulgarian. A man of such staggering poor judgment that even death failed to correct him - which, I must admit, I find rather admirable.

Yes, I keep him close. Not because I must, you understand, but because I have yet to encounter another entity quite so committed to being consistently… himself. There is a reliability in that, however grating it may be. One always knows precisely what to expect - which is to say, noise, complaints, and a level of commentary that would make a dockside drunkard pause for reflection.

And yet… he is useful.

The sight he provides, the constant awareness, the effortless detection of magical nuance - these are not trivial advantages. More importantly, he pays attention. Tirelessly. Intrusively. With all the subtlety of a man who believes silence is a personal failing. It is, in its own way, reassuring to have something at hand that notices everything, even if one must endure a running critique of one’s decisions in return.

There is, of course, the minor social complication.

You see, while Tarketh speaks with great enthusiasm, he does so only to me. To everyone else, there is nothing - no voice, no whisper, no helpful indication that I am, in fact, engaged in a two-sided exchange. From an external perspective, I am simply… conversing with a dagger. Responding, occasionally arguing, at times correcting what appears to be an inanimate object with what I am assured is excessive seriousness.

This has, unsurprisingly, led to certain conclusions.

I do not concern myself with them.

If anything, it serves as a convenient filter. Those inclined to question my composure are rarely worth the effort of explanation, and those who remain… tend to adapt rather quickly. It is remarkable how swiftly “madness” becomes “eccentricity” once it proves consistently correct.

Our arrangement, then, is… functional.

He demands acknowledgment - spoken, no less, as though I were required to participate in some ongoing theatrical performance. I indulge him. It costs me little, and the alternative - a week of sulking silence - is, paradoxically, far more irritating. One becomes accustomed to the noise. To the presence. To the constant, abrasive assurance that one is not alone with one’s thoughts.

I have, on occasion, referred to him as a friend.

He finds this offensive.

Which, I think, rather proves the point.

There is something oddly comforting about a companion who cannot pretend to be anything other than what he is - no hidden motives, no veiled intentions, no carefully curated civility. Just honesty, stripped of all refinement and delivered with enthusiastic disregard for propriety.

Still…

I would not recommend him to everyone.

One must possess a certain tolerance for… conversation.

And perhaps an appreciation for the fact that some voices, however irritating…

…are preferable to silence.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Nieliah Talisman

-
Image
This magical talisman is created by  Pépin Rey  and serves as a direct connection to the benevolent loa known as  Nieliah . Three times per day the user can call upon the loa, and when they do so a 40' area (focused on the talisman) is covered in a glowing pale blue fog that appears to look like rushing water without ever diminishing in volume. The effect lasts for three rounds maximum per use. The user brings special favor upon themselves and their allies while bringing disfavor to their enemies. The user and each of their allies gain a +1 luck bonus on attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saves, and skill checks, while each of their foes takes a -1 penalty on such rolls. Faint enchantment; CL 3; Craft Wonderous Item, Prayer; Price 13,500 gp Lore Among the quieter currents of the bayou’s spiritual tapestry, the loa known as Nieliah is spoken of not in fear, nor in reverence alone, but in relief. Where other spirits demand, bargain, or test, Nieliah is said to balance - ...
Read more

Spoon of Chastisement

-
Image
Spoon of Chastisement Aura faint enchantment; CL 3rd Slot —; Price 1,200 gp; Weight 1 lb Description This unassuming wooden spoon appears worn and well-used, its surface smoothed by time and countless “lessons learned.” It is often found in the possession of stern caretakers, patient matriarchs, and those who believe that discipline is best taught with equal parts love and force of will. Despite its humble appearance, the Spoon of Chastisement functions as a +1 sap (see Dungeon Master’s Guide ). It deals 1d4 points of nonlethal bludgeoning damage on a successful hit. However, the true magic of the spoon reveals itself when it strikes true. On a successful hit, the target must succeed on a Will saving throw (DC 14) or be affected as though by a command spell, issued by the wielder. The command must be a single word and must be something that the target can reasonably understand and perform in a single round. Creatures that successfully save are shaken for 1 round from the su...
Read more

Mystwalker

-
Image
Mystwalker Major Artifact Aura overwhelming conjuration and transmutation; CL 25th Slot ring; Price — (artifact); Weight — DESCRIPTION Mystwalker is a large ring of dark, tarnished silver. Its band is engraved with stylized fleur-de-lis motifs, while its setting holds a small bluish-gray stone carved into the likeness of an unblinking eye. Six claw-like prongs clutch the stone in place, flanked by two tiny skulls. Though inert when stared at directly, the eye often seems to shift and watch its bearer from the edge of vision. Mystwalker is completely immune to all divination effects. It does not register under detect magic, identify, or similar spells. Any creature attempting to divine its properties through magical means is struck with a debilitating migraine, taking a –4 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, and skill checks for 7 days (no save). While worn, Mystwalker grants the bearer immunity to all fear and fear-like effects, including supernatural and magical fear. In addition,...
Read more