The Dagger That Hates the Sun
Mike’s Thoughts from the Barstool
Let me ask ya a question, lad: Do ya prefer to fight in open fields, with the sun kissin’ yer cheeks and a gentle breeze on yer breeches?
Then throw this dagger in the bin. It hates the sun. I don’t mean it loses a bit of edge — I mean it screams when daylight hits it. Makes this awful high-pitched whine, like a banshee stuck in a flute.
It’s a cave knife, make no mistake. Born in dark tunnels and blood-drenched crypts. Give it shadows, cold stone, maybe a drop of sweat, and it’ll hum in yer hand like a bloodhound sniffin’ panic. But take it outside? Midday? Sunshine on the steel?
It sulks. Goes cold. Slips just when ya need it.
Back in the Siege of Marrinhold, I saw a rogue stab a warlock clean through the throat with this thing, and it snapped off at the hilt — only because we were on a cliffside. Same rogue used it the night before in the keep’s cellar and killed two men before they even blinked.
Some blades are forged for glory. This one was forged in a hole and wants to stay there.
If yer the sort that thrives in darkness, we’ve got more where this came from.
If Yer Blade Loves the Shadows More Than You Do…
👉 You’re either a tunnel rat, a sewer saint, or a backstabbing fool with a death wish. Either way, the Tavern Armory is where this nasty piece belongs. Ask about it in the Contact Page — but do it at night.
Fang of the Forgotten Deep
Item Type: Dagger
Rarity: Uncommon
Requires Attunement: No
Forged by: Unknown — believed to have belonged to the Subterrane Blades, a now-extinct clan of deep scouts
Origin Lore
The Fang of the Forgotten Deep is carved from black obsidian, with a jagged edge that always feels slightly damp. It was first found in the pockets of a duergar assassin slumped in a well, his eyes clawed out. The blade’s surface ripples faintly in darkness, but in daylight it becomes brittle and petulant. Some say it was made to kill sunlight-touched bloodlines. Others say it simply hates warmth.
Mechanical Effects
+1 Dagger (Finesse, Light, Thrown)
Shadowdrinker: While indoors, underground, or in magical darkness, the dagger deals an extra 1d4 necrotic damage on hit.
Sunlight Loathing: While in direct sunlight, the dagger loses its magical bonus, cannot deal bonus damage, and imposes disadvantage on attack rolls made with it.
Damp Edge: In humid, damp, or underground environments, it sheds dim shadowy light in a 5 ft. radius — just enough for a rogue to smile.
GM Ready Usage Tip
Use this as a reward in a crypt-dwelling arc, a sewer hunt, or a tunnel crawl. Encourage your party’s rogue to specialize in night raids or subterranean warfare. Punish them for open daylight fights — let the blade chip, sulk, or even vanish. For long campaigns, consider letting the dagger evolve… or multiply.
Dark Places Make the Sharpest Blades
👉 If yer playin’ a surface-lovin’, sunshine-chasin’, ale-spillin’ softie, walk away. But if yer the type who knows how to move through shadow, pair this blade with someone in our Player Builds and NPCs. And if it starts growing roots into yer hand? You know where the Contact page is. Try not to scream.
FAQ
Q: Can this dagger be used effectively in cities?
A: If you stick to alleys, basements, and cellars — aye. But stroll down the boulevard at noon with it? You’ll be tossin’ it in a ditch.
Q: Does magical light count as sunlight?
A: Nope. It’s picky. Only pure sunlight saps its bite. Light spells might make it grumble, but not go limp.
Q: Can the blade be upgraded?
A: I've seen it fused with a shadow elemental once. That thing crawled when it should've stabbed. So aye, but be careful what ya ask for.
