%%#item%% # [[Machete of Saint Bart]] >Weapon (Shortsword), Artifact (requires attunement) The machete was the magic weapon [[Saint Bartholomew the Finder]] wielded when exploring [[Ibir]] during the [[Age of Colonization]]. A "replica" of the machete is on display in the [[Brine Rapids#Chapel of St. Bart|Chapel of Saint Bart]], in [[Brine Rapids]]. The replica is just a simple machete, unlike the gem-encrusted depictions in some of the oldest paintings in the chapel. ## Campaign Appearances * [[Welcome Letter]]: The Machete was mentioned as one of the relics the [[Grand Duke Felipe Marino de Fortuna]] wants the [[Scavenger's League of Fortuna]] to recover, alongside the [[Holy Blade of Sir Sebastian Brown]] and the [[Shield of Sir Sebastian Brown]]. * [[Session 3 - The Temple of the Reptile God]]: In the [[Letter to Salima]], [[Dame Carlota Sandragon|DCS]] says that [[The Old Baron|her master]] has the Machete. * [[Session 8 - Brine Rapids]] and [[Session 13 - The Host]]: The party sees an unconvincing replica of the machete in the [[Brine Rapids#Chapel of St. Bart|Chapel of Saint Bart]], in [[Brine Rapids]]. %% This simple, well-worn machete bears a golden hilt that seems to shift between appearing plain and being encrusted with gems depending on the light and the viewer's intentions. The blade, though nicked from hard use, never dulls. The weapon is the physical manifestation of both **Saint Bartholomew the Finder**'s exploratory zeal and **Anhanwera**'s damned deals, containing the conflicted essence of both entities. ## **Properties** While attuned to the machete, you gain a +3 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this magic weapon. The machete has the following additional properties. ### **Finder's Sight** You have advantage on Wisdom (Survival) checks to navigate and on Intelligence (Investigation) checks to locate hidden objects or resources. When you use the machete to clear vegetation in a 10-foot square, it reveals any hidden treasures, mineral deposits, or secrets in that area. ### **Pathfinder's Cut** As an action, you can swing the machete to cut a temporary path through nonmagical difficult terrain. The path is 10 feet wide and up to 1 mile long, lasting for 1 hour. This path can cross water, scale cliffs, or pass through dense forests, but cannot pass through solid rock or active magical barriers. Once this property is used, it can't be used again until the next dawn. ### **Sever the Thread** When you hit a creature with the machete, you can choose to sever one of the following connections instead of dealing damage: - The creature's connection to a location (disadvantage on checks related to that place) - The creature's connection to an object (cannot attune to it or use it effectively) - The creature's connection to a person (disadvantage on Social interactions with them) The severed connection lasts for 24 hours. Once this property is used, it can't be used again until you finish a short or long rest. ## **Random Properties** The Machete of Saint Bart has the following random properties: - 2 minor beneficial properties - 1 major beneficial property - 2 minor detrimental properties - 1 major detrimental property ## **Pact-Bound Curse** The machete is cursed, and attuning to it extends this curse to you. The curse can be broken only by a wish spell or similar magic. **The Toll of Cutting:** Each time you use the Pathfinder's Cut or Sever the Thread properties, you must pay a toll by sacrificing one of the following: - A meaningful memory (you permanently forget an event or person) - A physical possession of great value (at least 1,000 gp worth) - A character level (you lose one level until you complete a long rest) - A promise (you are magically compelled to fulfill a specific task) **Conflicted Will:** The spirits of Saint Bartholomew and Anhanwera within the blade constantly argue. When you make a consequential decision, the DM can require a DC 15 Charisma saving throw. On a failure, the blade influences your choice toward either reckless exploration (St. Bart) or ruthless pragmatism (Anhanwera). ## **Suggested Powers** If the machete is being used by a creature that embraces its nature, the DM can replace the Pathfinder's Cut property with one of the following properties: ### **Trail of Gold (St. Bart's Legacy)** When you use Pathfinder's Cut, the path you create leads directly to the nearest significant source of wealth or power. However, the path also alerts the current guardians of that resource to your approach. ### **Damned Shortcut (Anhanwera's Legacy)** When you use Pathfinder's Cut, the path becomes permanent and can pass through minor magical barriers. However, any creature using the path other than you must make a deal with the blade, becoming indebted to you—and ultimately, to Anhanwera. ## **Destroying the Machete** The Machete of Saint Bart can be destroyed by one of the following means: - Being used to cut a path to the heart of a location sacred to the native spirits of Ibir, then willingly surrendering it to those spirits - Being struck by a weapon forged from the first gold mined by the colonizers of Ibir - Being used to sever the final thread connecting Saint Bartholomew and Anhanwera in the afterlife, causing both spirits to find peace and the blade to crumble to dust %%