Dayel 22 03 06

Dayel watched the sickening flames die down as the cube melted to nothing. Where the disgusting creature had been now lay an assortment of coins, gems and a sword. He collected the coins and jewels, and then picked up the sword. While it was a bastard sword, like his own, (a heavy one handed sword), it felt light in his hand. He looked closer at the hilt. It contained rune-like carvings, the like of which he had never seen before. This was an ancient weapon, he realised.

Suddenly, he felt a presence nearby, as if someone had just walked up to him, but he could not directly place it. Then he heard a voice, which seemed to come from all around him..."it is me, you fool. Thank the gods I am free from that creature,". With a shock, he realised the voice was INSIDE HIS HEAD, and that it had come not from someone else in the tunnel, but from the sword itself! He dropped it in fear, and immediately the presence was gone.

Relief washed over him, and with a growing sense of excitement, he wondered whether this might be one of the fabled weapons imbued with magic so strong that the weapon itself gained sentience... a Vorpal Blade.

He picked it up again, and once again the presence returned..."yes, yes, I am a talking sword" an irritated voice seemed to say. "please get used to it, or this simply won't work for either of us..."