Soulthief - Equipment

Description
Soulthief is a longsword, a long, single-handed blade with a slightly red tinge to the metal. It's hilt and sheath are made of a black wood-like substance that does not burn or seem to endure wear or damage.

Ability
Soulthief has the ability to grant the wielder the power that gave the blade its name. When damage is dealt to a target, the essence of that target, it's lifeforce, is drawn through the blade into the wielder. The amount of lifeforce stolen this way is proportional to the damage dealt. This not only restores the health of the wielder, closing wounds and restoring vitality, but it also transfers something of the physical nature of the target.

For example, when Muskrat attacked the Xenotaur, his skin changed to a hard leathery texture, took on the tint of the Xenotaur, and made him temporarily immune to their acid.

Original Effect - Voidwrought

Attacking voidwrought actually causes the process to reverse, drawing vitality out of the wielder and turning them slowly into a voidwrought themselves. Only a voidwrought wielding the sword against other voidwrought would experience the normal effect. Curiously, a voidwrought using the sword against the living has not been tried, but Muskrat speculates that it might have the opposite effect.

Current Effect - Voidwrought

After the Voidmancer altered the blade, it could recognize the nature of the target and draw essence into the wielder either way instead of reversing the effect when used against voidwrought. What the Voidmancer did not intend by this was the blade had the power to reverse the effect at the will of the wielder. When freely chosen, the wielder could pour life essence through the sword into a wound created by the sword and actually heal all other damage and restore vitality. Doing so, however, would drain the vitality of the wielder up to the point of unconsciousness but never actual death.

History
Not much is known about the sword known as Soulthief before it was found by Muskrat. It had lain within the confines of Cedijok's temple since before the Sundering. Cedijok used it as a trophy to test those who wandered into his temple. The dark immortal would release several prisoners into the room containing the sword and have them fight to see who would be the last one standing. Thus, his power was slowly restored to him by the deaths of those who failed. Unfortunately for the winner, once all the others were dead, there were no more targets to steal life from and no escape from the room, so they eventually died as well.

When Muskrat found the sword, he fought against a room full of crazed individuals and won. However, Cedijok allowed him to leave seeking to use him against the Voidmancer. Once Muskrat was transported to Maraath'gaal via the death trigger of Tan-Akkabiysh, a giant spider aberration, he and his friends made their way eventually to Norest Isle where the Voidmancer lived. During the trip, he learned of the drawback of using the sword against the voidwrought. Thus, when they encountered a huge, voidwrought Sa'ardrake, he first used his daggers. Eventually, though he felt compelled to use the sword and attacked the drake. The sword drew his lifeforce through it and withered him so much that his forearms fell from his body.

Instead of fighting the Voidwrought as Cedijok planned, Coshek Shamayim healed both Muskrat and Cairith from near death. However, in so doing he changed their natures and tied them to the Void. Both agreed to stay on with Shamayim and serve him.

Muskrat was not aware, but while the Voidmancer healed him, he altered the enchantments on the blade to recognize its target as either voidwrought or not. This ended the reverse effect that was detrimental to the wielder as described above.

After that, Cedijok himself came to Maraath'gaal to confront the Voidmancer for betrayal. He attacked Coshek, but the Voidmancer anticipated the attack and drew Soulthief to intercept the magical attack. Then he used the sword to draw in Cedijok's power and even his owlam turning the Voidmancer into an immortal and weakening Cedijok to the point of near destruction.

Muskrat takes the sword into battle against the Xenotaur on Humus and after achieving Incarnate state as a warrior of the Void - called the Incarnate of Rage - destroys a vast swath of Xenotaur invaders. It is after this battle he names the sword Soulthief.