The following is an excerpt from an entry in the Armourie Fantasticum by Archmage Gailluogh Granscen, a tome detailing information on many legendary arms and armor.

The Wraithsclaw

The Wraithsclaw is a relic of immense power with nefarious origins. Though not as ancient as some of the other items mentioned in this book, its power is enough to rival most of them, though a brutal hand is required to wield it effectively.

This unique dagger has not one, but three curved blades, each about eight inches in length. The 3 blades run parallel to each other, affixed to one thick, obsidian hilt. The space between each blade is less than an inch. Wounds inflicted by this dagger are claw-like cuts, three gashes very near each other, which have a very low likelihood of naturally healing well. The intent of the weapon is to kill, either immediately or indirectly from blood-loss or infection; though usually the wielder prefers the former because of the blade’s magical properties.

Once sated with blood from a mortal wound, the dagger grants its user temporary invisibility, making it a very useful tool for covert escape after the dark deed has been done. Conversely, it has often been documented that the blade was used as a tool of infiltration by those who had no objections to murdering an innocent to activate the weapon’s power.

It was commissioned for the legendary assassin Kazal Gra’uum who was as vindictive as he was skilled. Kazal was cruel, with allegiances only to gold and his own lust for blood. This, along with his magic blade, earned him the nickname, “The Dragon’s Ghost.” Though there were many cleaner and more efficient ways of dispatching a mark, Kazal preferred to make a spectacle and took pleasure in the kill as much as he did the compensation.

His dealings were most secretive, and the carnage in his wake, while very public, was difficult to trace. He took great pleasure in taunting those who would enforce the laws or attempt to protect those he targeted. If you were unfortunate enough to find yourself on Gra’uum’s hit list, it typically was not something you had to worry about for long- most never even knew he stalked them and were ushered into the realm beyond still unaware of having encountered him.

It was Kazal himself, and this very blade, that was instrumental in the removal of Emperor Jasaat of Emuria. It is rumored that the rival kingdom of Shalestrow sold almost half its assets to contract Kazal and aim him and his instrument of death against Jasaat. Though the rumor has never been confirmed, Shalestrow did benefit greatly from the emperor’s fall.

Eventually, Kazal was captured by The Emurian Remnant and condemned to spend eternity in The Gravemouth, a prison fortress of Emuria where the incarcerated are kept living indefinitely, through arcane means, to pay for their crimes. Even for one such as Gra’uum, the use of such an extreme facility is considered unduly cruel and barbaric by the majority of the continent, and many fight in the senate over its operation. Still it is believed Kazal remains there to this day, though The Gravemouth will not release a prisoner manifest.

Upon Gra’uum’s seizure, The Wraithsclaw seems to have disappeared and its current whereabouts are unknown to this day. There have been many unsubstantiated rumors concerning the blade’s current location, but likely, if it was found, it has enabled its new owner to remain as hidden as Kazal.