A venom-forged weapon is a blade (typically a dagger, but sometimes a throwing knife and occasionally a rapier) which is crafted from an alloy of iron and cobalt. The process of manufacturing such weapons is a closely-held secret by those who have mastered it; in addition to the proportion of the two base metals, a weaponsmith must know what additional reagents are necessary to make the combination of metals stable for crafting.

Venom-forged weapons can be identified by their bright blue, mottled blades. The weapons typically have thick leather strapping around their hilts, as even touching the venom-crafted metal for a lengthy period of time can cause illness. A venom-forged blade is not as sturdy as a steel equivalent: over the course of a battle, the blade will chip along its cutting edge or splinter at its point. These types of weapons are also lighter than traditional armaments and balanced differently, making them harder to wield. This is reflected in a penalty of one Unkept Die (-1k0) on all attack rolls made with the weapon, whether it is using an Attack Knack or a Swordsman Knack such as Feint or Tagging. In addition, every time one of these weapons inflicts a Dramatic Wound on an opponent, the penalty to attack rolls increases by another Unkept Die (-1k0). Repairing a venom-forged weapon requires a Finesse + Blacksmith roll against a TN of 15 for each Dramatic Wound inflicted by the weapon. For example, the TN to repair a venom-forged dagger which has inflicted two Dramatic Wounds on an opponent (or opponents), suffering a total penalty of 3 Unkept Dice (-3k0) on all attack rolls, would be 30. Repairs can only be attempted by a blacksmith who knows the secrets of creating venom-forged blades, and failure on this roll ruins the weapon.

However, the toxic amount of cobalt infused in the blade causes particularly painful wounds, and acts as a moderate cardiotoxin that weakens the heart and can quickly lead to injury or a loss of consciousness. The Damage Rating of a venom-forged weapon is increased by one Kept Die (+1k1). Thus, a venom-forged throwing knife has a Damage Rating of 2k2, a venom-forged dagger has a Damage Rating of 2k3, and a venom-forged rapier has a Damage Rating of 3k3. The Damage Rating of the weapon increases as the weapon degrades in combat, adding one Unkept Die (+1k0) for every Dramatic Wound it has inflicted: the jagged edges of the splintering weapon make it even easier for the poisonous cobalt to enter the bloodstream. Repairing the weapon to eliminate attack roll penalties also reduces its Damage Rating accordingly.

The use of venom-forged blades is considered ungentlemanly at best, and illegal at worst. Even in Vodacce, the use of a venom-forged dagger or rapier is one of the few ways a man can be marked as a “cheater” in the Great Game. They are strictly forbidden by both the Swordsman’s Guild and the Duelist’s Guild, and anyone caught using one will be drummed out of his Guild immediately (and, in the former case, a visit from the Razors will be in the ex-Guildsman’s near future).

New Advantage: Venom-Forged Weapon (3, 4, or 5 Points)
You have purchased or been given a rare venom-forged blade. The weapon carries a penalty of one Kept Die (-1k1) on all attack rolls it makes, plus an additional Kept Die penalty for each Dramatic Wound it inflicts. In exchange, the weapon’s Damage Rating is increased by one Kept Die (+1k1). The point costs listed above are for a throwing knife, dagger, or rapier, respectively.

To obtain a venom-forged weapon after character creation, one must find an appropriately-skilled blacksmith and persuade him to create such a weapon. The blacksmith will typically charge 1,500 G for a throwing knife, 2,000 G for a dagger, or 2,500 G for a rapier.

Special thanks to Dr. Danny Schaeffler for his assistance with this entry.