Weapon

Varies Rite of the Bloodletter

The Blade of the Bloodletter possesses the following properties:  

Bloodthirsty Strike:

Each time you deal damage to a creature with this spear, the blade absorbs the blood of the target. If the creature is reduced to 0 hit points, you gain temporary hit points equal to half the damage dealt. These temporary hit points last for 1 hour.  

Life-Drinking Blade:

As a bonus action after hitting a creature with the spear, you can siphon their life force. The target must succeed on a DC 18 Constitution saving throw or take an additional 4d8 necrotic damage, healing you for half the damage dealt. This ability can be used 3 times per long rest.  

Sacrificial Empowerment:

If you kill a creature using the blade as part of a ritual sacrifice (defined as a deliberate, ceremonial act dedicated to Balios), you gain one of the following boons for 1 hour:  

• Strength of the Slain: Your Strength and Dexterity scores increase by 4 (to a maximum of 24).

• Veil of Blood: You gain resistance to all damage except radiant.

• Shadow Step: As a bonus action, you can teleport up to 60 feet to an unoccupied space you can see, as long as it is in dim light or darkness.

Once a boon is invoked, you may not use this ability again until you complete a long rest.  

Aura of Bloodlust:

While attuned to the Blade of the Bloodletter, you radiate a sinister aura within 30 feet. Hostile creatures that start their turn in this aura must succeed on a DC 18 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. A frightened creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of its turn, ending the effect on a success. If a creature succeeds on the saving throw, it is immune to the aura for 24 hours.  

Enhanced Properties (Post-Attunement)

Once fully attuned, the Blade of the Bloodletter becomes even more deadly, gaining the following enhanced properties:  

Master of Sacrifice:

When you perform a sacrificial ritual using this blade, you may now select two of the three boons granted by Sacrificial Empowerment instead of one. Your Dexterity and Strength scores can now be increased to a maximum of 26 instead of 24.  

Essence of the Bloodletter:

The necrotic damage dealt by Life-Drinking Blade increases to 6d8 necrotic damage, and you heal for the full amount of damage dealt rather than half. Additionally, you may now use Life-Drinking Blade 5 times per long rest instead of 3.  

Bloodbound Resilience:

You gain immunity to necrotic damage. When you are reduced to 0 hit points, the ruby at the pommel of the spear burns brightly, and you are immediately restored to 1 hit point. This effect can only occur once per long rest.  

Harvest of Souls:

Whenever you kill a humanoid with the spear, you can capture their soul. The captured souls are stored in the ruby of the blade (maximum of 3 souls). As an action, you can expend 1 soul to do one of the following:  

• Summon a Shadow: Summon a Shadow (CR 1/2) that serves you for 1 minute.

• Siphon Vitality: You heal for 3d10 hit points.

• Call of the Sacrificed: You can see and hear the last 10 seconds of the creature's life, allowing you to gain insight into its thoughts or surroundings.

 

Special Ability: Crimson Wrath

Once per long rest, you can activate Crimson Wrath, channeling the full power of the Blade of the Bloodletter.   Activation: As a bonus action, you activate the Crimson Wrath for 1 minute.   Effect: While active, you gain the following benefits:

• All attacks with the spear deal maximum damage instead of rolling dice.

• Creatures reduced to 0 hit points by the spear are obliterated. Their body disintegrates into a red mist, leaving behind no body, items, or soul.

• You gain advantage on attack rolls, and creatures that are frightened automatically fail saving throws against your abilities.

  Backlash: At the end of the effect, you must succeed on a DC 20 Constitution saving throw or take 8d10 necrotic damage.  

Curses

The Blade of the Bloodletter bears the following curses:  

Insatiable Hunger:

Each dawn, you must make a DC 18 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, you are compelled to kill a sentient creature within the next 24 hours. If you fail to do so, you take 5d10 psychic damage, and the blade loses its attack and damage bonus until the hunger is satisfied. Each consecutive failed save increases the psychic damage by 1d10.  

Mark of Sacrifice:

While attuned, you bear the mark of Balios, a faint, glowing sigil of a spear on your hand or forearm. Creatures who serve Balios recognize this mark and may test your resolve. Creatures of strong moral conviction instinctively distrust you, imposing disadvantage on Charisma (Persuasion) checks when interacting with them.

The Blade of the Bloodletter is a wicked sacrificial spear imbued with the unholy essence of Balios, the God of Murder and Sacrifice. Its blade is forged from obsidian black metal that absorbs light, creating a shadowy void in its reflection. The hilt is wrapped in leather, dyed crimson with the blood of past sacrifices, and its blood-red ruby pommel flickers like a pulsing heartbeat. This weapon is a tool of slaughter, a divine instrument designed to fuel the will of Balios through bloodshed and sacrificial offerings.

The spear whispers to its wielder, urging them to spill blood, tempting them with unimaginable power in return. Those who wield it are marked as chosen of Balios, gaining great strength but forever cursed with an unquenchable hunger for slaughter. The deeper the wielder's connection to the spear, the more difficult it becomes to separate their own desires from the bloodthirst of the blade.