Blackblade

Context

This character is an original creation. We often call these “homemades” or “homebrewed” – think home cooking or craft beer.

Many of these characters were created to take part in tabletop role-playing game sessions. Others were invented as a creative writing exercise, often as part of a community event.

This specific character was part of a RPG campaign run by writeups.org contributor Bil.

Background

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Powers and Abilities

Under normal circumstances, Sydney is a kind, gentle, mildly intellectually handicapped man, loved dearly by his brother. However, when in possession of the Black Blade, he is possessed and transformed by the demonic blade.

The Black Blade is actually a form of demonic entity, bound into a cold iron blade over four thousand years ago by an unknown mage. This mage’s direct line ends with Sydney and Jason.

The Blade’s effect

It transforms Sydney into a powerful, supernatural entity with superhuman strength and endurance, and supplants his mind and spirit. Because the Black Blade is tied with the male line Sydney and Jason are descended from, the purifying effects of the Silver Lance do not work. Instead, it acts as its energy blast component.

Among other things, the transformed entity is capable of:

• Cutting dimensional barriers.
• Feeling the effects and presence of magic in its vicinity.
• Deflecting ranged attacks either with the blade, or by force of will.

The blade itself is incredibly sharp, and can be used to cut the spirit instead (Magic blast). The entity also has numerous skills that it uses in Sydney’s body.

Armour

When possessing a host, a mystic armor appears on the host. This armor is summoned from its extradimensional space by the blade, and is sent back as a last ditch effort when the possession is broken.

This armor is far more durable than any known form of steel. It is as ancient as the entity within the sword.

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History

Four thousand years ago, an unknown mage trapped a rampaging demonic entity in a cold iron blade. The blade was a claymore-style, something that would not appear historically until dozens of centuries later, and may have been from another realm.

The only thing otherwise known about the mage is that his direct male lineage currently ends with Sydney and Jason Mendolsson. The blade was hidden, and did not emerge until the present day.

An archaeologist discovered the blade, which decided not to possess him. But the blade became agitated when Sydney, acting as the janitor, passed by its display case in a university museum. It reached out, and enticed him into shattering the case, and taking it, transforming him into Blackblade.

It seeks out its sister sword, another such entity bound into a similar blade, and hopes to ensnare Silverlance with its sister’s power.

Personality

Sydney Mendolsson is a kind, cheerful, mentally handicapped man. He loves doing his job as a janitor, and cares deeply for children and his brother.

However, the Black blade is a cold-hearted, vicious killing machine with no Conscience, and a ruthless cunning. Seemingly random circumstances, usually involving being trapped in some way, also seem to cause the entity to become erratic, bouncing back and forth between reality and memory.

DC Universe History

The entity bound into the Black Blade could be one of the Pre-Dead, forever trapped in the sword. Or, it could be a cousin of sorts to Etrigan, but with far more hatred in its heart.

By William Chamberlin.

Source of Character: Homegrown.