Enliven Blade

This is one of the few widely acknowledged rituals that can be performed unconsciously. It is known that proper care and attention from a wielder – and taking the lives of sentient beings – can leave traces on the shadow-self of a weapon (which need not be bladed, although historically most enlivened weapons have been swords). A tool or weapon being well-cared-for for a long time may leave it a little lighter in the hand, a little more durable, than its materials might suggest. A weapon taking many lives may leave it a little more quick to wound and kill than most. But the combination of these factors can result in something more. Given enough time an enlivened weapon can become magical, become sentient, even gain the power of speech. Some cultures revere these strange beings, even giving them rank in society and listening to their advice. Others fear them, and bury them deep. (Why did you think there were so many magical swords hidden away in tombs?)

As an inadvertent ritual, this “spell” requires no roll and thus has no difficulty score. Someone taking good care of a weapon or tool gains a point of fatigue in the act; someone taking a sentient life gains a point of strain in the act, and these may accumulate to the weapon. For every hundred such points accumulated, as long as at least one is from a life being taken, a weapon’s Intellect, Intuition, or Presence score may increase (choose randomly). It will gain awareness (IQ, Int) and power (Pre) in accordance with its ability scores.