Elenathra, the Star-Crosser

Fearless goddess wandering the night
In your name we bare our hearts
With your grace will our passion take flight
We will keep your song alive
Shrouded safe in soft moonlight

  Elenathra (Literally "Bridge Between the Stars" in Elven) is a magical greatsword forged by Desna, Goddess of Dreams and Stars as a token of favor to her chosen, Vesper DeVir. The blade marks Vesper not only as a champion to the goddess, but also as a savior to the dark elven people and a lodestar for her people to escape the oppressive tyranny of Desna's wayward sister Lolth, the Queen of Arachnids.   The blade was initially a cursed greatsword by the name of Menzotelasan, forged and gifted by Veszaltyrr Oussndar to Vesper during her service as a member of his renewed Black Network. The blade offered its wielder power and precision in combat, but also invoked a bloodthirst directed at enemies who dared strike them; Vesper used this to great effectiveness to eviscerate her foes. She retained the blade even after Veszaltyrr's disappearance following his defeat by Halaster Blackcloak, Mad Mage of the Undermountain, and kept it as her primary armament as she fought for survival in the hostile Undermountain.   After embarking on a quest with her companions Contrast Sundever and "Gold-Eyes" Makoto to learn the truth of Desna's connection to the dark elves, Vesper learned to lay her past to rest in order to embrace a new life and identity under the gentle starlight of the Song of Spheres. Elenathra was then granted to her in a time of great need, as Menzotelasan was infused with holy starlight and divine power - a symbol of Vesper's favor in the eyes of the kind goddess. Desna is a deity not known to select mortal chosen, and thus the blade is a rare and unique item indeed - as well as a portent of great times of change prophesized by the Great Dreamer.   Elenathra is a large greatsword (measuring at nearly 5 and a half feet in length) forged of uncertain, otherworldly metals. The primary bulk of the blade is a black fuller, upon which is etched several dark elven runes. These runes chronicle Vesper's journey throughout life and foretell the redemption of the dark elven people; of particular note are the runes of the family names 'DeVir' and 'Oussndar'. Though the sword is wide and only slightly tapered, it is remarkably light for its size in the hands of an individual attuned to it, barely weighing more than five pounds.   The exterior blade of the sword is a glimmering, lustrous silvery metal that never dulls nor fades, and seems to almost shift in the light like an aurora forged of silver. The blade is remarkably sharp and can draw blood at a slight touch, yet cannot cut without intent - were its wielder to bump into someone by accident, Elenathra would fail to cause even the faintest scratch. Despite this, Vesper still shrouded the blade in traditional ritual bindings during her undertaking of the pilgrimage known as the Tranquil Voyage.   Since its creation, Elenathra has become Vesper's most treasured possession, and serves as her guiding star in her quest to understand her new faith. It is unknown if the blade would respond to another wielder, especially one not favored by Desna. None have yet tried, nor has Vesper seen fit to part from the blade or trust it to anyone but her closest allies. As a new creation, Elenathra has yet to enter any Desna hymns or holy writings, but rumors of its existence spread slowly among the faithful.   Elenathra embodies the virtues of Desna in its abilities. In addition to its deadly sharpness, it also bestows its wielder the ability to bend the luck of allies nearby, gently influencing the outcomes of their efforts in a positive direction. Elenathra also amplifies the personal magnetism and force of personality of its wielder, and protects them against efforts to restrict their movement or imprison them. As the blade increases in power, it becomes capable of searing enemies with brilliant starlight, and fortifies the wielder's defenses against attacks.  

Statblock

  Elenathra, The Star-Crosser - Martial Melee - Greatsword - Artifact - Requires Attunement   The ebon fuller of this blade is surrounded by a glimmering silver blade, that seems to shift in the light as it moves like a metal aurora. Swings of the blade leave impressions of the starry night sky in the air for a few moments, and moths seem to congregate around it in moments of stillness.   Elenathra was created by the goddess Desna to turn the tide in the future of her first children, the dark elves, after centuries of darkness and gloom under the rule of her sister Lolth. Bearing grace upon her champion, Vesper, Desna transformed the cursed blade Menzotelasan into Elenathra, "The Star-Crosser", a beacon of hope for the future of the drow.   Attunement: Elenathra can only be attuned to by a creature of a non-lawful, non-evil alignment. If wielded by a creature not attuned to it, Elenathra functions as a normal greatsword with no additional enchantments.

• A lawful creature that attempts to attune to the blade takes 4d8 radiant damage and is stunned for a minute.
• An evil creature that attempts to attune to the blade takes 6d8 radiant damage and is stunned for a minute.
• A lawful evil that attempts to attune to the blade takes 12d8 radiant damage, is stunned for five minutes, and suffers two levels of exhaustion.

Guiding Star: A creature attuned to Elenathra can use the Help action as a bonus action twice per long rest. When using Help as a bonus action through this feature, its range is extended to 60 feet.   Random Properties: Elenathra has the following random properties:

• While attuned to Elenathra, your Charisma increases by 2, to a maximum of 24.
• While attuned to Elenathra, you can't be blinded, deafened, petrified, or stunned.

Stages: Elenathra is created in a dormant state, and can advance to an awakened and exalted state through criteria determined by the DM. These stages grant bonuses according to how powerful the weapon is, and allows increasingly powerful spellcasting as outlined by the Spellcasting feature. If attunement to the blade is ended, it reverts to its dormant state.

• In its dormant state, Elenathra gains a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with it, and deals an extra 1d8 radiant damage on a successful hit.
• In its awakened state, Elenathra's bonus to attack and damage rolls increases to +2. In addition, it grants a +1 bonus to armor class and resistance to radiant damage to the creature attuned to it.
• In its exalted state, Elenathra's bonus to attack and damage rolls increases to +3. In addition, its extra radiant damage on a successful hit increases to 2d8.

Spellcasting: Elenathra can be used to cast the following spells, requiring no somatic or material components, according to its current stage of power:   Dormant spells:

• Fly twice per long rest, requiring no concentration.

Awakened spells:

• Guiding Bolt at second level, three times per long rest.
• Branding Smite at second level, three times per long rest.

Exalted spells:

• Freedom of Movement once per long rest.