Holy Avenger

Lore & Background

The sword possesses a keen intellect and a strong personality, often described as stern yet protective. It rejects any attempt to be wielded by those tainted by evil or neutrality, rendering itself inert or even hostile in such hands. In the annals of D&D history, it is frequently cited alongside other great weapons like the Sword of Kas, representing the ultimate triumph of light over darkness. Its presence on a battlefield often inspires allies and strikes fear into the hearts of fiends, serving as a physical manifestation of the divine mandate.

In Their Own Story

The caverns of the Underdark were silent save for the dripping of water until Kaelen drew the blade from his scabbard. Instantly, the Holy Avenger hummed, casting a warm, golden light that pushed back the encroaching shadows. The goblin cultists shrieked as their skin sizzled in the radiant glow, their undead allies crumbling into dust where they stood. Kaelen felt the sword's voice whispering in his mind, urging him forward with a clarity he had never known before; tonight, the darkness would not prevail.

Reader's Guide

Mechanically, the Holy Avenger is typically a +3 magic longsword that grants its wielder significant advantages against specific fiendish and undead creatures. When attacking these targets, the sword often deals extra radiant damage or ensures critical hits on lower rolls, depending on the edition rules. The item's most defining feature is its sentience. It possesses high intelligence and a lawful good alignment, effectively acting as a companion to the wielder. If the user performs an act contrary to this alignment, the sword may refuse to function or attempt to break free from their grip. In terms of lore origins, it is usually found in ancient temples or awarded by deities as a reward for great service. Restrictions are strict; only a paladin or cleric with a good alignment can truly bond with it, making it useless to rogue or evil characters regardless of their skill.

Did You Know?

• The gargoyle was one of the first monsters introduced in the earliest edition of the game, in the Dungeons & Dragons 'white box' set (1974), where it was described as a reptilian bipedal beast, Chaotic in alignment.
• The kopoacinth, an aquatic version of the gargoyle, first appeared in the 1975 Dungeons & Dragons supplement, Blackmoor by Dave Arneson.
• The marlgoyle, a more horrid form of gargoyle, first appears in the module Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth (1982), and later appears in Monster Manual II (1983) as the margoyle.
• The Greyhawk campaign setting module Gargoyle (1989) featured the gargoyle (of the Tors), where player characters are hired by a pair of gargoyles to find their stolen wings.
• Four variant gargoyles appeared in the 'Dragon's Bestiary' column of Dragon #223 (November 1995), including the archer, the grandfather plaque, the spouter, and the stone lion.