## Black Sword
![[black sword details.png]]
Ancient artifact found in The Goddess library - the Blade of Maltherion, Lord of the Black Ships.
### Description
Black metal or maybe something resembling obsidian but not flaked. A weapon of terrible and incredible design.
### True Name
**Blade of Maltherion, Lord of the Black Ships**
### Current Location
[[Red Gregory]]'s private collection in The Goddess library.
### The Black Ships
**Entities of myth**, the Black Ships were said to plague the Dwarflands during the Shrouded Epoch:
- Sailed in from the [[Sea of Rust]] amidst hellish storms
- Disappeared just as quickly as they appeared
- Vessels of terrible, incredible design
- Attacked like predators, taking people (sacrifices/tribute?)
### Maltherion
The wielder of this blade and lord of the Black Ships. Could be:
- A Groogleman (like those serving [[Euphustis|Yuvistus]])
- A peer of Yuvistus himself (member of the Dark Council of 13?)
### Connections to Campaign
**Sea of Rust:**
This location appeared in [[Ven]]'s vision (Session 3) with two enormous statues enveloped by storms. The Black Ships sailed from this same location.
**Tribute System:**
The Black Ships took people as tributes, similar to:
- The Grooglemen taking tributes for The Baron in [[Everdour]]
- The tribute system enforced by [[Euphustis|Yuvistus]]
**Timeline:**
The "Shrouded Epoch" suggests this occurred during a time of darkness, possibly connected to the Flamebearer prophecy's "when shadow veils world."
### Sessions
- [[DoJ Session 33]] (discovered in library)