Before anyone mentions it, I'm well aware that September is done and dusted. I said it before on this blog, life comes at you pretty fast. That said, I have an easy one for you this time.
No, this isn't a magical item. It's not even a piece of polished metal. It's a purely mundane thing that only requires some glass, oil, and powdered silver. I present to you the mirror sword.
Thanks to modern technology, we have the ability to create flawless-looking mirrors. As the mirror is one-sided, a second mirror to set in the hilt back-to-back with the first would be needed, as well. A mirror on one side, you're also able to check your own makeup in the other, and the razor-sharp edge of glass good for one or two solid cuts.
Doing this using the technology typically seen in Dungeons and Dragons is much harder. Glassmaking wasn't the same level of refinement back during the Middle Ages like it is today. Still, magic is a thing, so making this mirror-finish can still be possible.
The numbers as I see it, however, don't look good. We can make a shortsword out of glass, as a longsword or rapier would be too heavy to support itself without giving out. Plus, the blade will break very easily if it suffers a blunt shock. I'm thinking 1d8 for damage with a very keen edge, granting critical strikes on natural 18, 19, and 20. The keen effect also allows for triple damage, but such a blow will also sunder the weapon. Any target struck such will be bleeding 1d3 at the start of their turn, and while magical healing will stop the bleeding, the glass still needs to be mechanically removed. Failure to do so will result in the victim of a glass "spiking" resume bleeding with physical exertion again. (Physical exertion is any attack, Dashing, or needing to roll any skill checks that involve physical activity.)
Impressive? Well, the flip side of that coin is also an extended fumble range. A natural 1, 2, or 3 on attack will break the blade, no damage to anything. The blade can also be more easily sundered compared to other weapons, and a Disarming Attack, if successful, will destroy the weapon outright. Still, in the hands of a very dangerous Rogue (I'm looking at you, Assassin), this weapon can easily spell death for any target, suspecting or not.
