Sangria, Blessed Blade of the Glory-Seeker is the legendary longsword of the God Emperor Allest of Unionist Faith, renowned for its glory and use at the hands of a legendary combatant. Initially forged by his direction, Sangria saw only victory in the hands of Allest, until his demise. The blade was taken from Allest's corpse, and paraded as a trophy, until it was stolen for its value. The blade passed many hands before it reached the Regalian Archipelago again, brought to Vultaro by a staunch Unionist. From there, the blade was taken on a Pilgrimage to the Holy City. Sangria is a legendary artifact amongst Unionists, especially those who dedicate themselves to Allest, believing that the blade enacts his will in the modern day.
Lore
Sangria's origins are somewhat well-recorded, as its first appearance in history was in the hands of the God Emperor Allest, who was said to have it forged to unique and (at the time) strange specifications. During Allest's life, it was nearly synonymous with him, and predominantly found use in the subjugation of Nordskag by the God Emperor. After the God Emperor's death, the sword passed along many armies and collectors, some who wished to quickly discard of it as they found, in their hands, it did not live up to the legends of Allest's might. Sangria is a large longsword, the blade has been hammered to rippling, many-folded perfection and tempered so masterfully that its near-opalescent surface shines a distinctly violet color in some angles of light, and a menacing red in others. It was said that those Allest brandished it against would see red upon it if he intended to slay them, and see violet if he were to show them mercy, though this is entirely hearsay as the steel’s color is a purely mundane facet of its metalwork. The cross guard has been wrapped many times over with sacred linens typically reserved for wrapping Unionist dead before their cremation, still smelling faintly of funerary perfumes. Dead within its center is a golden eye, set with a silver pupil, connecting to the red leather-bound handle. From the pommel hangs a rosary composed of many beads carved from knuckle bones: each knuckle bone taken from a person the blade has cut down, severed from their hand with it, and having their name and a prayer for their soul etched into the polished bone.
Artifact Specials
Sangria is a Primal (Unionist God Magic) Artifact. As Sangria is an artifact, there are several rules associated with Artifact Ownership, see Artifact Page. Sangria also provides the following Specials:
Sangria Virtue: Sangria can be used as a mobile curing chamber for Vampirism or Geistdom, requiring the weapon to be inserted into the restrained Target. The weapon cannot be used during the curing process, and can thus be stolen from the body of the person being cured if the owner is not careful. The Curing procedure applies the through the regular process, and when complete, the sword can be taken out without leaving behind a wound.
Sangria Sanctuary: Sangria can designate an alleyway to become a doorway to the pocket dimension of Allest's Sanctuary. Allest's Sanctuary can be opened only by Sangria's wielder. It cannot be attacked while Sangria's wielder is not in it, and if they leave, everyone inside is ejected. If Sangria's Wielder is inside, Gatesmash or similar Abilities can be used on the Sanctuary's front door to break in.
Sangria Herald: Sangria is a legendary weapon of the God Emperor Allest, and as such, grants the wielder a reputation of holiness and piety, unless they are proven not to be those things. They will receive more positive responses from Unionist groups in Progressions, and may even interact with Unionist Clergy in ways that other Progression Orders cannot. They may also apply "Holy" or other "Unionist" Aesthetics and Mutations to themselves.
