Right now we have the Breaching Gauntlets, a Level 6 hand-slot item that says:Property: Reduce the value of any resistance an enemy has against your attacks by 1.
Power (Daily): Free Action. Use this power when you hit with a weapon attack, but before you deal damage. Reduce the value of any resistance the target has against your attack by 5 (save ends).
But let's give it some juice, eh? You said that this is a very specific weapon, crafted by a demigod? I think it's time to break out the artifact rules...
The Sword of Twin Scales, Heroic Level
Born a slave, in life Surrash the Surehanded made a name for himself as a gladiator. When he bought his freedom he became a champion of the people, and when he retired he oversaw the most widespread and profitable weapon trade since the fall of Nerath. Whether in the arena, on the battlefield, or in the bank, the stout dragonborn espoused the ideals of an even playing field where anyone could excel. It was no surprise that, in death, he sits at the right hand of Kord as an adviser and Exarch. This was his blade, and legend says it still carries his spark of equality.
The Sword of Twin Scales is a +1 longsword.
Enhancement: Attack and damage rolls
Property: Any resistances you possess are reduced by 5. If you possess any immunities, they become resist 10 instead (unaffected by this property's reduction).
Property: Whenever you damage a creature with this weapon, any resistances it possesses are reduced by 5 until the end of the encounter. If the target possesses any immunities, they instead become resist 10 until the end of the encounter. A creature can only be affected by this property once per encounter.
Power (At-Will): Minor action. Change the Sword of Twin Scales into any light or heavy blade you have proficiency with.
Power (Encounter): Free action. Use this power when you become weakened, immobilized, or restrained. You make a saving throw against the triggering effect with a +5 item bonus.
Power (Daily): Minor action. All enemies adjacent to you grant combat advantage to you until the end of your next turn.
Goals of the Sword of Twin Scales
✦ Attach itself to a worthy hero who fights for equality.
✦ Destroy agents of unfairness, from petty thieves to oppressive governments.
✦ Challenge all comers, to better test its chosen hero’s might.
Roleplaying the Sword of Twin Scales
The Sword of Twin Scales believes all fights should be fair fights and frowns upon underhanded tactics, not only from its wielder but his or her allies as well. The Sword pushes its owner to allow prone enemies to stand, avoid targets fighting at a noticeable disadvantage (much lower level, weakened, etc.). While the Sword can’t communicate directly, it nudges its wielder like a dowsing rod to “acceptable targets” and glows red-hot with anger if it senses an unfair fight.
Concordance
Starting Score: 5
Owner gains a level: +1d10
Owner completes a quest to destroy an agent of unfairness or corruption: +1
Owner defeats an enemy three or more levels higher than itself (maximum 1/day): +1
Owner defeats a non-minion enemy that has not been attacked by any ally (maximum 1/day): +1
Owner defeats an enemy while it is weakened, immobilized, or restrained: -1
Owner attacks an enemy during a surprise round: -1
Owner flees from combat: -1
Pleased (16–20)
"Let all who fall to our swords know that there is no excuse but their own weakness."
The Sword of Twin Scales has challenged all comers, and you have been found more than worthy. Its surface crackles with Kord’s lightning, ready for its next fight.Property: The Sword reduces resistances to enemies by 10 instead of 5, and immunities the Sword reduces become resist 5 instead.
Property: Enemies do not gain the +2 bonus to attack rolls when you grant combat advantage to them.
Power (Daily): Minor Action. Until the end of your next turn, you can re-roll missed attack rolls against non-bloodied enemies. You must take the second roll, even if it’s lower.
Satisfied (12–15)
“Our power is unmatched in any arena.”
The Sword of Twin Scales sees promise in you, and your accomplishments have spoken that you are nothing if not just to your foes. Still, there is work to be done, and it pushes you forward.Property: You gain a +1 item bonus to attack rolls against AC.
Power (Encounter): Free Action. Use this power when you grant combat advantage to an enemy. That enemy grants combat advantage to you until the end of your next turn.
Normal (5–11)
“Onward! Against all fair challenges, let none doubt our might!”
The Sword pushes its owner, seeking challenges to its strength and fighting inequality wherever it appears.
Unsatisfied (1–4)
“Though I am weak, this will make my victories all the sweeter.”Special: You grant combat advantage to creatures whose level is lower than yours.
Angered (0 or lower)
“I have been found unworthy.”
The Sword sees its owner as cowardly and iniquitous, pulling away from its hands at inopportune times and urging it to find a worthy wielder.The artifact’s enhancement bonus drops by 1.
Special: Once per day, when you roll a critical hit, make a saving throw. If you fail, the attack misses instead.
Moving On
“We have fought well, and we have triumphed.”
The Sword of Twin Scales sees justice and strength in its wielder’s heart, and moves on to inspire another soul.
When the wielder next gains a level, the Sword vanishes in a crash of lightning, leaving behind a +2 lightning weapon of the same type of light or heavy blade that wielder commonly used the Sword as. Also, the wielder gains a permanent +1 to saving throws against the immobilized, restrained, and weakened conditions. Though the Sword is gone, the Twin Scales still tip towards honorable combat.
If the Sword moves on because it is unsatisfied with the wielder, then the wielder receives a permanent -1 to saving throws against the immobilized, restrained, and weakened conditions, and no weapon appears to replace the Sword when it vanishes.
