At least one gem is required for the hilt to become usable and each gem confers different effects. While holding the hilt you can use a bonus action to activate a gem. Doing so transforms the hilt into the sword corresponding to that gem. When you activate a gem you choose the sword type (Short, Long, Great) it becomes. The sword types follow the same rules and restrictions listed on the Weapons Table (PHB page 149). Regardless of type, each sword has a broad fuller and gradual taper. Each sword deals slashing damage plus additional damage of the activated gem's type as shown in the table. The swords receive a bonus to attack and damage rolls based on the number of gems currently socketed into the hilt as shown in the table. If the sword is active for one minute without being used to attack a creature it deactivates. If the sword deactivates, for any reason, without having been used to make an attack against a creature the hilt is rendered unusable for one hour.

Awakening

     If a gem is used to damage a creature it becomes awakened for 24 hours, or until another gem is awakened. Each gem has its own personality which attempts to influence you while awakened. These personalities are intelligent enough to communicate with you (telepathically), but they lack full sentience. They have no memory beyond their current awakening, and they lack the capacity for complex thought as they rigidly adhere to their singular personality trait. You cannot willingly activate a gem that is, or has already been, awakened until every currently slotted gem has been awakened.

 

Sword Damage Dice

Sword Type	Slashing Damage	Gem Damage
Short	1d6	1d6
Long	1d8	1d8
Great	2d6	1d6

Attack and Damage Bonus

# of Gems	Bonus
2-3	+1
4-5	+2
6	+3

Onyx - “Phylactery Shattered”

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• Damage Type: Necrotic
• On Hit: You may choose to deal an additional 2d8 necrotic damage to the target. You take half the additional damage rolled (rounded down). This damage to yourself cannot be reduced in any way. You take damage based on the roll regardless of the target’s resistances or immunities.
• Appearance: The Onyx sword is made of bone. The fuller of the blade is a pit of pure darkness that consumes the light around it.
• Personality: Neutral Evil. Sadistic.

Active Effects:

    Fueled by Agony: Activating the Onyx Sword forces you to make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw. On a failure you take 2d8 necrotic damage and the next creature hit with the sword takes that damage as well. This damage to you cannot be reduced in any way. You may choose to fail the save, but you must choose before rolling the damage.
    Darkness Prevails: Non magical light cannot escape the Onyx Sword's grasp. The light level in a 20-foot radius is lowered by one. If there was already no light the darkness is converted to magical darkness (as if cast at using a level 2 spell slot).
    The Shadow Knows: You have Truesight up to 20 feet.

Awakened Effect:

The Onyx enjoys your pain. While your current hit point total is greater than half your hit point maximum, any effect that recovers hit points is halved (rounded up) when used on you. Each time you spend a Hit Die to recover hit points, you can make a DC 16 Wisdom or Charisma saving throw to recover full hit points from the spent Hit Die.

1

HILT OF MANY BLADES by OdinTGE

Made with: GM Binder  |  GIMP

P1 Images: smoke it away. by Nokkas  |  Onyx

Thanks To: u/QalarValar for this guide  |  u/AeronDrake for this guide

Awakened Effect:

While out of combat if you
attempt to do anything the
Citrine views as dishonorable
or unjust (DM’s discretion) you
must make a DC 15 Wisdom or
Charisma saving throw. On a
success you are unhindered
and the Citrine is quelled
for 1 hour. On a failure
you are Stunned for one
minute. If you are attacked
the stun ends after the effects
of the attack. If your allies enter
combat you roll initiative with
disadvantage and can make the
saving throw at the end of each
of your turns. A success on one of
these subsequent saving throws ends
the stun but does not quell the gem.