Holy Avengers are legendary swords that were smelted to empower paladins in battle against fiend and undead.
Description[]
Fan art of Holy Avenger, by Hunter Rogerson.[art 2]
Appearance[]
The holy avenger wielded by Kima is a beautiful platinum greatsword, surprisingly light and extremely well-balanced. When swung, the weight adjusts and shifts to the tip of the blade to give it an even stronger cut.[4]
It has a series of small symbols carved along the base of the blade on each side. The handle comes to a gradual upward curve. It looks ornamental, like something in a temple as part of a centerpiece, but is weighted properly for a greatsword.[5] The carved runes are in Celestial, and speak of creation, devotion, the power of a deity's love, and the unity between god and creation—a very religious and holy text across the blade on both sides.[6]
Properties[]
The wielder gets a +3 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this magic weapon. When it hits a fiend or an undead, the creature takes an extra 2d10 radiant damage. When drawn, it creates an aura in a 10-foot radius around you in which the wielder and all creatures friendly to them have advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.[7] If the wielder has 17 or more levels in the paladin class, the radius of the aura increases to 30 feet.[1]
History[]
Zerxus Ilerez wielded a Holy Avenger longsword in the Age of Arcanum leading into the Calamity.[8] It was disenchanted when Asmodeus was summoned nearby.[9]
In 811 PD, Vox Machina found a Holy Avenger greatsword buried under a pile of gold in Vorugal's hoard.[10] Grog loved it and managed to fit it into his Bag of Holding, but Percival recognized that it was meant for a paladin,[11] and Grog gave it to Kima.[12]
Years later in 836 PD, the Mighty Nein approached Allura and Kima for aid against Lucien, the Tombtakers, and the looming threat of the Somnovem. Kima loaned the greatsword to Yasha, stressing that it was only a loan and that she expected it to be returned to her.[13]
By the beginning of 837 PD, Yasha returned the Holy Avenger to Kima.[14]
Notable uses[]
- Kima wielded the blade against Xanthas in the battle at Fort Daxio.[15]
- The sword saw use again against both Thordak[16] and Raishan.[17]
- While Vox Machina battled and defeated Vecna, Kima wandered the streets of Vasselheim destroying things she didn't like.[18]
- Yasha wielded the blade in her battle to prove herself to Kord[19] as well in Cognouza against a vision of Zuala created by the Neo-Somnovem.[20]
Trivia[]
- Typically a holy avenger requires attunement by a paladin, but Yasha was permitted to earn it, as it made sense thematically for a Path of the Zealot barbarian.[21]
- After Travis Willingham rolled a natural 20 for Fjord to persuade Kima to let Yasha borrow the precious Holy Avenger, Mercer remarked that it was a low-probability "'You can certainly try' moment" that incredibly worked.[22]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 See D&D: Dungeon Master's Guide (2014), 5th ed., p. 174.
- ↑ See "The Elephant in the Room" (1x72) at 1:35:31.
- ↑ See "The Elephant in the Room" (1x72) at 1:35:31.
- ↑ See "The Neverending Day" (2x125) at 1:53:49.
- ↑ See "The Elephant in the Room" (1x72) at 1:02:14.
- ↑ See "The Elephant in the Room" (1x72) at 1:21:38.
- ↑ See "The Elephant in the Room" (1x72) at 1:35:31.
- ↑ See "Blood and Shadow" (E3x03) at 2:11:13.
- ↑ See "Fire and Ruin" (E3x04) at 26:10.
- ↑ See "The Elephant in the Room" (1x72) at 1:01:45.
- ↑ See "The Elephant in the Room" (1x72) at 1:21:58.
- ↑ See "The Elephant in the Room" (1x72) at 1:22:18.
- ↑ See "The Neverending Day" (2x125) from 1:52:42 through 1:54:05.
- ↑ See "The Mighty Nein Reunited Part 2" (Sx74) at 27:42.
- ↑ See "Clash at Daxio" (1x77) at 2:44:08.
- ↑ See "Thordak" (1x79) at 3:40:06.
- ↑ See "Raishan" (1x80) at 1:49:01.
- ↑ See "The Chapter Closes" (1x115) at 1:17:54.
- ↑ See "Into the Eye" (2x131) at 0:24:28.
- ↑ See "Long May He Reign" (2x140) at 1:05:05.
- ↑ See "Talks Machina #156: Discussing Up to C2E129 - Between a Ball and a Hot Place" (TMx156) at 0:55:48.
- ↑ See "The Neverending Day" (2x125) at 2:07:46.
Art:
- ↑ Fan art of Holy Avenger, by Inkarat (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Holy Avenger, by Hunter Rogerson (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Yasha with the Holy Avenger, by @ambikyu (source). Used with permission.