Vorpal

Vorpal was a magical quality for slashing weapons that increased the chance of the weapon severing an opponent's head.

Creation
A powerful spellcaster needed the spells keen edge and circle of death to add this magic quality to a weapon.

Vorpal weapons were historically forged out of arandur, a blueish-green metal found streaking rock in vitreous glass. The metal was famous for its ability to hold the finest edge even after heavy use. The secret of working arandur was originally known to gnomes, but subsequently, elves of Evereska and Evermeet became proficient with the strange metal.

Effects
Certain spells, such as bless weapon could not be cast on a vorpal weapon.

Notable Vorpal Weapons

 * Maleffluent, the intelligent battleaxe of Lord Chardath Spulzeer.
 * Stonesplitter, the enchanted vorpal battleaxe and a spade of colossal excavation, that belonged to Lenzmin Tier, an agent of King Azoun Obarskyr IV in the mid-14 century DR.
 * Sword of Horus:, the sword that was wielded by the avatar of Horus-Re. The blade that held a +5 enchantment and had all properties of a holy avenger, luck blade, and a vorpal sword.
 * Sword of the solars, one of the exotic bastard swords from the Upper planes once wielded by an unnamed fallen solar, magically sealed underneath the lands of Thar.

Individuals

 * Alusair Obarskyr: the regent of Cormyr from 1371 DR to 1384 DR and a daughter of Azoun Obarskyr IV.
 * Errtu: the balor nemesis of Drizzt Do'Urden who crossed blades with the drow hero on several occasions and imprisoned and tortured Wulfgar in the Abyss for almost a decade.
 * Murial: a bodyguard and an apprentice of Halaster Blackcloak.
 * Th'kalar: a molydeus who served Szass Tam, guarding the Devouring Chambers under his Citadel circa 1368 DR.

Races & Sentient Creatures

 * Aurumachs commonly wielded vorpal swords.

Appearances

 * Adventures
 * The Throne of Bloodstone • Nightmare Keep • Curse of the Azure Bonds • A Dozen and One Adventures • Reunion • The Runes of Chaos • Four from Cormyr • Hellgate Keep
 * Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus
 * Novels
 * Finder's Bane
 * Bladesinger • Twilight Falling • Midnight's Mask • Shadowrealm • The Pirate King
 * Video Games
 * Pools of Darkness • Baldur's Gate series (Shadows of Amn • Throne of Bhaal) • Neverwinter Nights series (Neverwinter Nights • Neverwinter Nights 2 • Neverwinter Nights: Tyrants of the Moonsea) •
 * Card Games
 * AD&D Trading Cards • Adventures in the Forgotten Realms
 * Card Games
 * AD&D Trading Cards • Adventures in the Forgotten Realms