Val CHA Cost Roll Notes 18 DEX 24 13- OCV: 6/DCV: 6 20 INT 10 13- PER Roll 13- 20 EGO 20 13- ECV: 7 4 SPD 12 Phases: 3, 6, 9, 12 Total Characteristics Cost: 66 Cost Powers & Skills 180 Black Blade and Soul Drain: HKA 2d6, Penetrating (+1/2), Affects Desolid (+1/2), Reduced Endurance (0 END;+1/2), Useable By Other (+1/4); OAF (-1) plus Transfer 6d6 (BODY to END Reserve), Can Transfer Maximum Of 125 Points, Affects Desolid (+1/2), Continuous (+1), Reduced Endurance (0 END;+1/2); OAF (-1), Linked (-1/4) 45 Soul Energy: Aid STR, CON, PD, ED, REC, END, STUN 3d6 (+2), Can Add A Maximum Of 20 Points, Delayed Return Rate (points fade at the rate of 5 Per 1 Hour; +1), Invisible To Sight Group (+1/2), Variable Effect (+2); OAF (-1), Costs Endurance (-1/2), Others Only (-1/2), END 13 25 Soul Energy: END Reserve: 500 END; OAF (-1) 25 Self Will: TK (25 STR), Invisible Power Effects (+1/2), Reduced Endurance (0 END;+1/2); OAF (-1), No Range (-1/2), Only To Move Self (-1/2) Skills 9 Combat Skill Levels: +3 with Hand-To-Hand, Useable By Other (+1/4), OAF (-1) 284 Total Powers & Skills Cost 350 Total Character Cost 150+ Disadvantages 10 Distinctive Features: Large, Rune Carved Black Sword (C) 20 Psychological Limitation: Bloodthirsty, Likes To Kill (Especially Those Elric Doesn't Want To Die) (VC, S) 15 Psychological Limitation: Intensely Evil (C, S) 15 Psychological Limitation: Protective Of Elric (C, S) 20 Reputation: Stormbringer, stealer of souls, (Ext) 14- 120 Stealer of Souls Bonus 350 Total Disadvantage Points
Background/History: I figure that Stormbringer is one of the items that no two people will agree on how to write-up. The following write-up is partially based upon the design for "Souldrinker" (a really blatant Stormbringer rip-off) given in HERO System Almanac 1. As with my design for Katsumi Liqueur's sword Grospolina, I've used the artifact rules from Fantasy Hero 1st Edition to create this weapon.
Stormbringer itself is a powerful weapon, possibly the most powerful hand-to-hand weapon ever handed out to a character in fantasy fiction (Although Morgaine's sword Changeling comes close.). It is a sentient being, and only appears as a sword in this world (and most others). Stormbringer has duplicates throughout the Multiverse, as well as "brother" swords (one is named Mournblade and is used by Elric's cousin Prince Yyrkoon).
Personality/Motivation: Stormbringer is evil by nature , and enjoys killing, especially if it hasn't been "fed" recently. The sword can move under it's own volition, and has directed itself into killing Elric's friends and allies. Only occasionally has Elric been able to pull the weapon away.
At the end of the last Elric novel (in the cycle) Stormbringer informs Elric's corpse "I was far more evil then you ever were."
Powers/Tactics: Stormbringer drains the soul from its target, a power that's a little hard to define. As a sword, it seems to function normally, although Stormbringer has shown itself capable of penetrating armor quite easily. When ever it hits (and injures an opponent), the Body Transfer will kick in, feeding the sword's END reserve which is used to fuel Stormbringer's Aid. Got that? This represents Stormbringer's draining of one's soul, and transferring a little of that energy to Elric. The "Affects Desolid" advantage is there to allow Stormbringer to affect ghosts, spirits, and certain extradimensional beings.
Appearance: Stormbringer is a great black battle blade, five feet long and covered with runes carved deep into the blade. Moorcock consistently describes it as "huge," and Elric uses it both with one hand and with two. Note Elric is described as wearing Stormbringer at his waist... I have a hand-and-a-half sword that I use in SCA fighting that measures about 5' in length and there is no way one can wear such a weapon at the waist. So... either Elric is really tall, or Moorcock hasn't fully considered what he's written.
Designer's Notes: There have been scads of Stormbringer rip-offs in RPG's, starting with Blackrazor in the Advanced Dungeons and Dragons module White Plume Mountain. Then there was The Singing Sword in ICE's Rolemaster Companion (1986) and Souldrinker in HERO System Almanac I (1993). Stormbringer itself showed in the 1st Edition of Deities and Demigods as well as in Chaosium's Stormbringer RPG (also known as Elric!)