Bloody Arrow of Unlife
| Type | Weapon |
|---|---|
| Discovered By | Galeo Sciurus |
| Discovery Date | 12 February 2009 |
| Discovery Location | Munawai, Dwilight |
| Abilities | Prestige +1 |
| Current Owner | Rauffe de Grenefeld |
The Bloody Arrow of Unlife is a minor enchanted weapon mentioned in the "Song of Ctharon", an epic poem that collects many local legends of the region of Munawai. The arrow supposedly was used by the demon Ghuûlas to slay twelve heroes who were then reanimated to serve as the captains of an undead army. At the end of the poem the hero Ctharon recovers his soul and shatters the arrow, which raises questions about the authenticity of the modern arrow bearing its name.
Reference in the "Song of Ctharon"
The arrow is first mentioned in Chapter IX, Quatrain 6 of the "Song of Ctharon":
THEN Ghuûlas-demon, armed with Fear and Bloody-arrow,
to raise to Unlife, Hero-champions of ten-and-two,
slew under star and sky and tree;
last of all to fall, Ctharon Great.
After Ctharon is killed in battle by Ghuûlas, the demon possesses his body and uses him to perform a ritual that reanimates the slain heroes as undead champions under the control of Ghuûlas. The focus of the ritual is the Bloody Arrow that killed all twelve heroes. The arrowhead is described as "copiously weeping blood" whenever anyone touches the arrow.
In the poem's final chapter, Malinda, the lover of Ctharon, returns from her journey to the Underworld to bring back the hero's soul. Restored to his reason and memories, Ctharon snaps the arrow twice over his knee, breaking the spell and defeating the demon. He then delivers a speech eulogizing the twelve heroes as each of their rotten bodies collapses into true death.
Recovery
The arrow that currently bears the name was recovered from a monster horde by Galeo of House Sciurus while adventuring in Munawai.
Properties
The arrow of legend is not described as having any remarkable properties, other than being the weapon of choice for the demon Ghuûlas. Likewise the modern arrow appears to be a conventional, if well-made, longbow arrow. The head of the modern arrow does not weep blood but it is colored a dull red by some unknown stain that resists any attempt to scour it away.
Because the arrow mentioned in the "Song of Ctharon" is clearly destroyed at the end of the poem, few believe that the modern arrow is the same Bloody Arrow mentioned in that legend. Even so, the arrow's fearsome reputation will attract notice from even the most cynical residents of Munawai (+1 Prestige).