The Greatsword of Rhus
Attributes
The Greatsword of Rhus is a magical two-handed sword, its hilt, guard and parts of the blade all decorated with dragon bone, and the grip being wrapped in rope made of hobgoblin beards and elven hair.
Having a hatred for men, the Greatsword of Rhus will refuse to be wielded by a man, and if forced will confer a penalty of -8 to all saving throws to the wielder until released.
Attack and Damage: 1d10+1, +3 vs men or male humanoids.
Alignment: Neutral
Ego: 6
Intelligence: 8
Communication: None
Special Powers: The Gronk Bonk - For a single attack (ever) the sword will make a guaranteed hit (count as a critical hit if you use those in your game) and will deal the maximum possible damage.
History and Wielders of the Greatsword of Rhus
The greatsword comes originally from, well, the isle of Rhus in the Wolves Upon the Coast campaign, specifically the one that I played in that was run by Nathan in 2024. My character Thorgo got it from the princesses of Rhus as we were trying to get some better gear for our long and drawn out fight against the merfolk that were slowly destroying Rhus.
Once that campaign ended Nathan started the Devil's World Heroes campaign, in which I also played and the first character I created ended up just being Thorgo again, so he of course also came with the greatsword of Rhus. He then promptly died in session 1, and the sword was taken up by another PC. Eventually a recurring joke became that it is cursed, until eventually Ollie's character Masketta successfully lived to the end of the campaign while wielding it, declaring that the sword simply would get its male wielders killed. We also made it into an actual magical sword in this campaign (until that point, it was in fact just a simple greatsword) by infusing it with dragon bones.
Eventually this was made into an actual part of the sword's effect by Tina the Titanic's player in my current Stonehell campaign, because I decided to add the Greatsword of Rhus as a magic item.
And so, below I now list, in order, the wielders of note of the Greatsword of Rhus, the slayer of men. Keep in mind other characters might have used the sword from time to time, but these are the ones who I associate with the weapon.
1. Erwin/Thorgo
Thorgo (whos personal name was Erwin, but he did not share that with anyone, out of fear that it might lead to someone once more having control over him) was a former slave who first acquired the greatsword on the island of Rhus. He used the sword in many deeds and slaying many a merfolk with it. Eventually, after dying to some druids on the isle of Albann, Thorgo found himself in a strange and colorful new world. Joined by new companions he delved into the blue ruins near the city of Zaxon, where he was slain by a giant grease worm.
2. Gronk Boblin
Gronk Boblin, who came from the Woods and was beloved by all, was the second to wield the Greatsword of Rhus, and also achieved great glory and mighty deeds while wielding the blade. Eventually he was slain in the desperate fight against demonic tree Zaqqum. In honor of their fallen comrade, leader and friend the Big Boys commissioned Zaxon's bonesmith to enchant the blade, and give it its power of the Gronk Bonk, the ability to hit true when it would really matter.
3. Gronkbot
As the Big Boys were fleeing the collapsing Blue Ruins after the death of the evil tree Zaqqum, they discovered a robot who joined them in their travels. In honor of the fallen Gronk, the little robot was dubbed Gronkbot and was given his namesake's weapon. Thus Gronkbot became the third wielder of the Greatsword of Rhus, and while rumors about the sword's supposed curse to slay all who wielded it did not come true for a while, it eventually did happen. As the Big Boys were exploring the wilderness a smilodon attacked the party, ripping Gronkbot to pieces (which the group dutifully collected with plans to repair him later). Thus it was solidified - the Greatsword of Rhus would seemingly lead to the death of all who wielded it.
4. Masketta
Along with the Big Boys was also an enigmatic woman named Masketta, so called for her white mask that covered her face. Undeterred by the party's warnings she took up the Greatsword of Rhus and was the fourth wielder and the one who finally broke the supposed curse. As she used the sword to help slay Darkelf, the evil tyrant who had plunged Elfland into war and death, Masketta declared that the Greatsword only slayed men who wielded it (Gronkbot, of course, being assigned a masculine personality after the man it was named for), and she successfully completed her adventures while still living.
5. Tina the Titanic
The Greatsword of Rhus however did not rest easily, and being an item that traveled through worlds to get Zaxon, it soon vanished and found its way into the bowels of Stonehell. And it is within that infamous dungeon that it was discovered by the Crownless Company, and soon after claimed as the personal weapon of Tina the Titanic, the company's founder and leader. Thus she became the fifth and current wielder of the blade.
While many foes were slain by her hand using the Greatsword, the most truly noteworthy deed was the slaughter of the woman-hating elves and hobgoblins which had come into Stonehell from their own dimension. Furious at the disrespect of these invaders, Tina lead the Crownless Company to successfully kill all she could find and close the portal to the Summerlands.
This slaughter of misogynists awakened something within the Greatsword of Rhus, it seemingly remembering the declaration and words of Masketta from its past, and as Tina brought the sword to the fortress-city of Zorb to be enchanted as commemoration of the great victory, it now achieved its current power and potential.
Tina the Titanic remains the current wielder and holder of the Greatsword of Rhus, but I have no doubt others in the future will still find and wield this blade. A sword, after all, is a tool for killing and it will not tolerate rest and peace for too long.