Axe of the Dwarvish Lords
Encyclopedia
In the Dungeons & Dragons
roleplaying game, Axe of the Dwarvish Lords refers to both a powerful magic item and to an adventure module
focusing on the item.
Within the context of the game as an item, the Axe is an artifact, or a unique magical weapon of great power.
, the axe made its first appearance in the small saddle-stapled supplement booklet Eldritch Wizardry
, which was written for the first published edition of D&D. It was later presented in a number of publications belonging to the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (AD&D) edition of that game.
An adventure module Axe of the Dwarvish Lords
involving the Axe and written by long-time Dungeons & Dragons designer Skip Williams
was published under the TSR imprint in 1999, after Wizards of the Coast
had purchased TSR, Inc.
, and revived the long-dormant Greyhawk campaign setting.
The Axe of the Dwarvish Lords is also one of the few magical artifacts described in the new 4th Edition of the Dungeons and Dragons rules. As with previous editions it appears in the pages of the Dungeon Master's Guide.
. Regarding its powers in the game, the item, as a weapon, has all the powers of a sword of sharpness and additionally confers on its user the keen eyesight and senses of the dwarven race, an ability to teleport
at intervals, and a weekly Wish
spell. The artifact's possessor faces certain, inherent disadvantages imposed by the intense magic of the weapon, however. The longer the item is in a person's possession, the more that person's appearance will begin to become dwarf-like (facial hair, shrinking height and increasing girth). The possessor takes additional damage from any attacks and must sacrifice a living human in order to activate the axe for each 24 hour period.
In publications for AD&D, the axe's powers and history were further detailed in the Dungeon Master's Guide, which described its maker as the "first Dwarven King" who forged it with the aid of a deity, but having been lost in the Invoked Devastation, a fictional event that took place in the World of Greyhawk setting. The Book of Artifacts
expands on this history, stating that the Axe was one of "Five Great Tools" forged by the king. In this history the Axe is given the additional name of The Fierce Axe, but the details of the loss of the Axe were changed to a civil war among the dwarves for possession of it. Additionally, the powers of the Axe were changed in these publications. The Dungeon Master's Guide dropped some of the powers ascribed to it in Eldritch Wizardry for a system where each individual dungeon master
would determine them. In Book of Artifacts the powers were again strictly defined, although some were still different than those given in Eldritch Wizardry.
The Axe of the Dwarvish Lords adventure module, written for the second edition rules of AD&D, greatly expanded on the history given in Book of Artifacts, going into great detail regarding the fictional forging of the Axe and the dwarven civil war. The powers of the Axe were also detailed in greater depth and again changed somewhat from previous versions, though the Axe's physical description remained essentially the same.
In the 3rd Edition of Dungeons & Dragons, Epic Level Handbook
,
the Axe is described as it has been in products since Book of Artifacts. Regarding its powers it is described as a dwarven war-axe with a powerful enhancement bonus to increase the chances of successfully hitting an opponent. Additional special abilities of the Axe include a doubled chance of scoring a critical hit, the ability to be thrown by its wielder as if it were a throwing weapon, and an increased chance of successfully hitting and dealing extra damage to goblinoid
opponents. It also stated that any non-dwarf who holds the Axe loses some of their vitality, while a dwarf who holds it gains an improved ability to see in the dark, bonuses to their ability to craft items, and the ability to summon an elder earth elemental.
for the honor of the god Moradin
, and that it was lost after the Invoked Devastation and Rain of Colorless Fire. It was the last of the Five Great Tools; the others were the Brutal Pick, the Earthheart Forge, the Anvil of Songs, and the Shaping Hammer. These other four tools were used to make the fifth. Legend has it that when the Axe is found again, the Age of High Kings will return and the dwarven people will be reunited at last.
who had stolen the powerful weapon and who intends to use it to marshal a massive goblin
army against a dwarven community, while avoiding an agent of the derro
god Diirinka
.
Notable game designer S. John Ross praised the module for delivering an exciting adventure despite "... its tremendous flaws of writing and design."
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
roleplaying game, Axe of the Dwarvish Lords refers to both a powerful magic item and to an adventure module
Adventure (role-playing games)
An adventure is either a published or otherwise written collection of plot, character, and location details used by a gamemaster to manage the plot or story in a role-playing game. Each adventure is based upon a particular gaming genre and is normally designed for use with a specific game or gaming...
focusing on the item.
Within the context of the game as an item, the Axe is an artifact, or a unique magical weapon of great power.
Publication history
Long associated with the World of Greyhawk campaign settingCampaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
, the axe made its first appearance in the small saddle-stapled supplement booklet Eldritch Wizardry
Eldritch Wizardry
Eldritch Wizardry is a supplementary rulebook by Gary Gygax and Brian Blume, written for the original edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, which included a number of significant additions to the core game.-Contents:...
, which was written for the first published edition of D&D. It was later presented in a number of publications belonging to the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (AD&D) edition of that game.
An adventure module Axe of the Dwarvish Lords
involving the Axe and written by long-time Dungeons & Dragons designer Skip Williams
Skip Williams
Ralph Williams, almost always referred to as Skip Williams, is an American game designer. He is married to Penny Williams, who is also involved with the games industry...
was published under the TSR imprint in 1999, after Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
had purchased TSR, Inc.
TSR, Inc.
Blume and Gygax, the remaining owners, incorporated a new company called TSR Hobbies, Inc., with Blume and his father, Melvin Blume, owning the larger share. The former assets of the partnership were transferred to TSR Hobbies, Inc....
, and revived the long-dormant Greyhawk campaign setting.
The Axe of the Dwarvish Lords is also one of the few magical artifacts described in the new 4th Edition of the Dungeons and Dragons rules. As with previous editions it appears in the pages of the Dungeon Master's Guide.
Description and powers
In its earliest form in Eldritch Wizardry, the artifact is described as a short-handled axe backed by a clawed hammer head, with its history being that it was forged far in the D&D world's past by a king of the dwarvesDwarf (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, dwarves are a humanoid race, one of the primary races available for play as player characters...
. Regarding its powers in the game, the item, as a weapon, has all the powers of a sword of sharpness and additionally confers on its user the keen eyesight and senses of the dwarven race, an ability to teleport
Teleportation
Teleportation is the fictional or imagined process by which matter is instantaneously transferred from one place to another.Teleportation may also refer to:*Quantum teleportation, a method of transmitting quantum data...
at intervals, and a weekly Wish
Wish
A wish is a hope or desire for something. Fictionally, wishes can be used as plot devices. In folklore, opportunities for "making a wish" or for wishes to "come true" or "be granted" are themes that are sometimes used.-In literature:...
spell. The artifact's possessor faces certain, inherent disadvantages imposed by the intense magic of the weapon, however. The longer the item is in a person's possession, the more that person's appearance will begin to become dwarf-like (facial hair, shrinking height and increasing girth). The possessor takes additional damage from any attacks and must sacrifice a living human in order to activate the axe for each 24 hour period.
In publications for AD&D, the axe's powers and history were further detailed in the Dungeon Master's Guide, which described its maker as the "first Dwarven King" who forged it with the aid of a deity, but having been lost in the Invoked Devastation, a fictional event that took place in the World of Greyhawk setting. The Book of Artifacts
Book of Artifacts
The Book of Artifacts is a supplemental sourcebook to the core rules of the second edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. This book, published by TSR, Inc. in 1993, details 50 different artifacts, special magic items found within the game at the Dungeon Master's...
expands on this history, stating that the Axe was one of "Five Great Tools" forged by the king. In this history the Axe is given the additional name of The Fierce Axe, but the details of the loss of the Axe were changed to a civil war among the dwarves for possession of it. Additionally, the powers of the Axe were changed in these publications. The Dungeon Master's Guide dropped some of the powers ascribed to it in Eldritch Wizardry for a system where each individual dungeon master
Dungeon Master
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, the Dungeon Master is the game organizer and participant in charge of creating the details and challenges of a given adventure, while maintaining a realistic continuity of events...
would determine them. In Book of Artifacts the powers were again strictly defined, although some were still different than those given in Eldritch Wizardry.
The Axe of the Dwarvish Lords adventure module, written for the second edition rules of AD&D, greatly expanded on the history given in Book of Artifacts, going into great detail regarding the fictional forging of the Axe and the dwarven civil war. The powers of the Axe were also detailed in greater depth and again changed somewhat from previous versions, though the Axe's physical description remained essentially the same.
In the 3rd Edition of Dungeons & Dragons, Epic Level Handbook
Epic Level Handbook
The Epic Level Handbook is a rulebook by Wizards of the Coast for the 3rd edition of Dungeons & Dragons.-Contents:This books contained rules for Dungeons & Dragons 3rd edition characters to attain levels above 20, the limit in the core rulebooks...
,
the Axe is described as it has been in products since Book of Artifacts. Regarding its powers it is described as a dwarven war-axe with a powerful enhancement bonus to increase the chances of successfully hitting an opponent. Additional special abilities of the Axe include a doubled chance of scoring a critical hit, the ability to be thrown by its wielder as if it were a throwing weapon, and an increased chance of successfully hitting and dealing extra damage to goblinoid
Goblinoid
Goblinoids are a category of humanoid legendary creatures related to the goblin. The term originated in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, in which goblins and related creatures are a staple of random encounters. Goblinoids are typically barbaric foes of the various human and...
opponents. It also stated that any non-dwarf who holds the Axe loses some of their vitality, while a dwarf who holds it gains an improved ability to see in the dark, bonuses to their ability to craft items, and the ability to summon an elder earth elemental.
History
The fictional legends within the D&D game state that it was forged by the First King of the dwarvesDwarf (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, dwarves are a humanoid race, one of the primary races available for play as player characters...
for the honor of the god Moradin
Moradin
Moradin is the chief deity in the dwarven pantheon in the Dungeons & Dragons game and is a member of the default D&D pantheon. Moradin's domains are Creation, Earth, Good, Law, and Protection. His titles include Soul Forger, Dwarffather, the All-Father, and the Creator...
, and that it was lost after the Invoked Devastation and Rain of Colorless Fire. It was the last of the Five Great Tools; the others were the Brutal Pick, the Earthheart Forge, the Anvil of Songs, and the Shaping Hammer. These other four tools were used to make the fifth. Legend has it that when the Axe is found again, the Age of High Kings will return and the dwarven people will be reunited at last.
Other uses
Axe of the Dwarvish Lords is also the title of a 1999 Dungeons & Dragons adventure module written by Skip Williams. In the adventure, the player characters must retrieve the artifact from an evil wizardWizard (Dungeons & Dragons)
The wizard is one of the standard character class in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. A wizard uses arcane magic, and is considered less effective in melee combat than other classes.-Creative origins:...
who had stolen the powerful weapon and who intends to use it to marshal a massive goblin
Goblin (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, goblins are a very common and fairly weak race of evil humanoid monsters. Goblins and Kobolds are commonly non-human monsters that low-level player characters will face in combat. In D&D, goblins aren't smaller cousins of orcs, but are a part of...
army against a dwarven community, while avoiding an agent of the derro
Derro (Dungeons & Dragons)
The derro are a fictional species of monstrous humanoids in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. They were first devised for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons First Edition adventure Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth...
god Diirinka
Diirinka
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Diirinka is the derro deity of magic, savants, knowledge, and cruelty. His symbol is a spiral of gray, black, and white...
.
Notable game designer S. John Ross praised the module for delivering an exciting adventure despite "... its tremendous flaws of writing and design."
External links
- http://www.rpg.net/news+reviews/reviews/rev_1645.html
- http://www.rpg.net/news+reviews/reviews/rev_1668.html
- http://www.rpg.net/news+reviews/reviews/rev_2047.html