Ever Watchful, later known as Vindicator, was the favored weapon of Helm, the deity of guardians and protectors.[1][2]
Description[]
Ever Watchful was a mighty bastard sword that Helm preferred to wield two-handed.[1][3] The sword had the symbol of Helm (a watchful eye with a blue pupil emblazoned on an upright gauntlet) on its hilt. It glowed with silvery flame, and anyone unworthy of wielding it felt a burning sensation when they grasped it.[2]
Powers[]
In the hands of Helm's avatar, the weapon was an incredibly powerful keen bastard sword that was both holy and lawful. It therefore struck hardest against evil and chaotic foes, and such creatures would be weakened should they touch the sword.[4][note 1]
Among mortals who were deemed worthy to wield it, Ever Watchful could be recalled to their hands regardless of where it was.[5] These individuals also had the ability to wreathe themselves in an armor of faith that manifested as luminous grey plate mail. The grey color of both the armor and the sword's flames were said to represent the lawful neutral ideology of Helm's justice: neither evil (black) nor good (white).[6]
History[]
While Helm had wielded many weapons, Ever Watchful was his preference.[1][3] During the Time of Troubles in 1358 DR, Helm killed the goddess of magic, Mystra, although he used his gauntleted fist rather than his sword to do so.[7]
In the Year of Three Streams Blooded, 1384 DR, Helm was killed in an honor-duel with Tyr.[8] His sword, now more often referred to as "Vindicator," arrived on Faerûn that same year in the hands of Gedrin Thalvar after he had a vision of the god's death. Gedrin would go on to wield the blade in the name of justice as a vigilante called "Shadowbane."[2]
Many years later, Gedrin gave the sword to Kalen Dren, who took up Gedrin's Shadowbane mantle and carried the sword[2] until the Year of Deep Water Drifting, 1480 DR, at which point he no longer felt worthy of the blade and gave it to a young paladin named Rhett Hawkwinter. The two would end up passing the sword back and forth until Rhett disappeared in Westgate and the blade was returned to Kalen in pieces.[9][5] Kalen was able to reassemble the sword using divine power, and fearing Rhett dead, journeyed to Westgate to find answers.[5] There, Kalen found a third wielder of the sword, his first apprentice Vaelis, whom he had thought dead.[10]
Reputation[]
Shadowbane wielding Vindicator, aka Ever Watchful.
As the calling card of the holy vigilante Shadowbane, Ever Watchful (known as Vindicator) was an object of both terror and veneration throughout the 15th century DR in both Waterdeep and Westgate.[5][6] It also served as a very tangible reminder that Helm's power still persisted even if the god himself was dead, and therefore may have helped to keep Helmite faith alive until he returned in the Year of the Nether Mountain Scrolls, 1486 DR.[5][11]
Notable Owners[]
- Divine owners
- Helm, the Watcher and God of Guardians
- Mortal owners
- Gedrin "Shadowbane" Thalvar, who received the sword upon having visions of Helm's death in 1384 DR.
- Kalen "Shadowbane" Dren, the second Shadowbane.
- Rhetegast Hawkwinter, the third Shadowbane, who represented "Mercy."
- Vaelis, another heir to the title of Shadowbane, who represented "Vengence."
Appendix[]
Notes[]
- ↑ Ever Watchful was a +4 holy keen lawful bastard sword in Faiths and Pantheons, and was given as a +3 bastard sword in the earlier Faiths & Avatars. It had no formal statistics in 4th edition.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Eric L. Boyd, Erik Mona (May 2002). Faiths and Pantheons. Edited by Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 28. ISBN 0-7869-2759-3.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Erik Scott de Bie (April 2009). Downshadow. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 978-0-7869-5128-4.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). Faiths & Avatars. (TSR, Inc.), p. 68. ISBN 978-0786903849.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd, Erik Mona (May 2002). Faiths and Pantheons. Edited by Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 30. ISBN 0-7869-2759-3.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Erik Scott de Bie (September 2012). Eye of Justice. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 978-0-7869-6135-1.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Erik Scott de Bie (September 2011). Shadowbane. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 978-0-7869-5855-9.
- ↑ Scott Ciencin (April 1989). Shadowdale. (TSR, Inc.), chap. 7, p. 149. ISBN 0-8803-8730-0.
- ↑ Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood (September 2007). The Grand History of the Realms. Edited by Kim Mohan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 159. ISBN 978-0-7869-4731-7.
- ↑ Erik Scott de Bie (September 2011). Shadowbane. (Wizards of the Coast), loc. 548. ISBN 978-0-7869-5935-8.
- ↑ Erik Scott de Bie (September 2012). Eye of Justice. (Wizards of the Coast), loc. 5297. ISBN 978-0-7869-6135-1.
- ↑ Troy Denning (October 2014). The Sentinel. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 0786965436.