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In the Shadowdim setting, sometimes (though rarely) when a loved one dies tragically, their soul inhabits an item of someone to whom they were especially close in life.

Such a spiritual investiture—a Remnant Bond—transforms a mundane object into a "Soul-Bound Relic."

Upon Exodore Swift's death, Dorn's serrated longsword — already an item of high quality — becomes a Soul-Bound Relic. Since the bond is rooted in their eternal love, the serrated longsword will no longer behave like a cold piece of steel. It becomes a protective, reactive extension of Exie’s will to keep Dorn alive.

Beyond the +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls, Swift (for that is now the sword's name) has these qualities:

1. The Phantom Guard (Defensive) Exie was always watching Dorn’s back in life; in death, her spirit guides the blade to intercept blows. Effect: While wielding (not sheathed) the sword, Dorn gains a +1 bonus to Armor Class.

2. Exie's Vitality (Defensive) Whenever Dorn draws Swift from its scabbard, if it has not been drawn in the past hour, it confers temporary hit points. These do not stack, and only apply if previously bestowed temporary hit points have been depleted.

3. Swift Vengeance (Defensive) Whenever Dorn is wielding Swift and he sustains injury from a beastman, the spirit of Exodore inhabiting the blade lashes out, inflicting 3 hp (or 1 HD) of damage on the offending beastman.

Swift functions only as a mundane, though high quality, sword when anyone other than Dorn wields it. It's powers will scale with Dorn as he becomes more experienced: