* Restricted Information: Lords of Gathol-Dválin and elite Dwarven Paladins only
Type of Item: Broad Axe
("Pathfinder", in Law Speech)
In: 16, Dx(M): 7, Mr: 6, Wp: 11, Nt: 8, Ft: 18; in SARAN, At: 5
SP: 15
Alignment: N/L, Sacred to SARAN
Bound Demon: True Name: [ ]
Powers:
A + 10
P + 10
DAM + 10
D & RD + 10
Regeneration of Wielder @ 1HP / sec, starting in sec after first take Damage. Only Fire, Acid or Disintegration will prevent Regeneration. The body Regenerates from the largest surviving piece.
Saving Level + (No. of SP Allocated by Wielder), Max. SP Allocatable = PlL, Cumulative with Paladinic Power no. 2. (only works if Wielder has Accepted Ft in SARAN >= 10)
Detection: gives complete perception in sphere around Wielder, at 100% chance of success at 0 ft, decreasing by 1% per ft from brain of Wielder (or from Axe when not wielded).
Speaks & has Telepathic Link to Wielder, irrespective of whether grasped.
Notes:
SP are Allocated (and de-allocated) at will by 1 sec's heavy concentration with indefinite duration. The Allocated SP count towards SP available (e.g. for calculating when one goes below 1/2 SP), but do not count as used (e.g. for the same purpose) as they are not expended. They are not available for use in Spells. If the number of SP used in Magic-Using reduces total SP available to less than the number of SP allocated, the number allocated is reduced accordingly.
Encumbrance: 100
Dválin, called "Strongarm", was the mightiest hero of the Gabilkhazâd there has ever been. Undefeated with the Broad Axe and the greatest Paladin of SARAN, he dared ask Her where or how he might acquire an Axe worthy of both him and Her. She replied that if he really wanted such an Item he would have to come and collect it. Dválin's climb of Mt. Anar is a Legend in itself, but suffice it to say that at last he walked into the High Temple of SARAN in Heaven itself and was then given this Axe.
The Goddess of Law then told him of the Task for which the Axe had been forged and he had been born and trained. This last adventure had been the final test. He was to found a Stronghold on the slopes of Mt. Anar itself, and from there lead his Dwarves on adventures into the Dungeons beneath the Mountain, their Purpose the greater glory and power of the Dwarven race and of SARAN Herself. "My Lady, I obey", said Dválin, and at that he was Teleported to the Great Rift, and he stood on the site of the future Fort. Anchored below was a fair ship with the Golden Sun of SARAN on the sails. This he sailed back to his people's lands to begin his Task.
Gathol-Dválin (Dwarf Hold) was founded in the Year 1383. Many and great were the adventures of Dválin Strongarm, his Axe and the Dwarves of Gathol-Dválin, but at last Dválin met his Doom. In the Year 1510 he stood on the Stairway to Heaven, fighting off the Armies of ZAKEL almost single-handed. He was near beaten but kept going, for he knew Sunrise was near as the Evil/Chaotics were dispersing. Then CAERULAS shot up the Shaft, and Dválin and his Axe were lost, ZAKEL and His Armies stopped. Dválin Strongarm died undefeated.
Many, many years later (in the Year 1910) Dúrin the Reckless, greatest Hero and Paladin of SARAN since Dválin himself, and then Lord of Gathol-Dválin, stormed the Gates of Hell at the head of a Dwarven War Band, slew Cerberus itself and personally stole the Axe of Dválin from the Treasure House of HALKI. He hacked his way back to his party through a virtual army of Balrogs, but he was mortally wounded (by Fire Damage) and beyond the aid of even the Axe itself. He was buried in the Hold and the Dwarves fled over the Sea to great Gabilkhazâd-Dűm to withstand a great Siege by ALTIS and ZAKEL. The intervention of SARAN and ESCUS forced the lifting of the Siege, and a few years later (in the Year 1917) the Dwarves returned to their Hold, rebuilt it and recommenced the Task of the Axe, which was from then borne by the current Lord of Gathol-Dválin.
On 21 IX 2500 the Wave of Terror in Dwarf Hold culminated in the assassination and spectreing (using a Dagger of SOROK) of Lord Dválin XII by the terrorists Mork and Toplop in the Dungeons. The Axe of SARAN was lost, taken by the Forces of Evil.
On 25 XIII 2500 in a Raid on Hell by CAERULAS, Prince Kostof II of Valdran, Harrek, Lord Protector of the North and others, the Axe of Dválin was recovered from the Treasure House of HALKI, at the cost of the loss of the Axe of the Northern Kings to a Sphere of Annihilation. The Axe of Dválin was briefly returned to the Lord of Gathol-Dválin. But on 3 XIV 2500 the Wave of Terror returned briefly to Dwarf Hold, and the Axe of Dválin was stolen again.
On 10 VI 2504 as Dválin XXVII, King of All Dwarves and Liberator of Heaven, prepared for the assault on Hell in the War in the Dungeons, he stated his terms for withdrawing the attack, which included the return of the Axe of Dválin from the Treasure House of HALKI. In response HALKI stated that the Axe was no longer in Hell, and that anyone who could find it in the Dungeons and overcome the traps and guardians might keep it. King Dválin XXVII fell in the Battle of Hell on 17 VII 2504 and the Dwarven Army failed to reach the Treasure House of HALKI. Since then many Dwarven and other adventurers have been Questing for the Axe in the Dungeons.
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