The Short Sword of Mask +4 is an enchanted and magical short sword available in Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition and Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal.
Aquisition[]
In order to acquire this sword, it must be purchased from Sister Garlena atop the Watcher's Keep structure - Sister Garlena's merchandise cannot be stolen/shoplifted.
Sister Garlena will only open her store to the party once they have agreed to undertake the Watcher's Keep (Quest) initiated via Odren.
Description Short Sword of Mask +4[]
| “ | This blade is highly prized by those who serve the Shadowlord, as well as any who engage in shadowy business. | ” |
Gameplay[]
This blade is a +4 enchanted weapon, that inflicts 1d6+4 Piercing damage, and a 4-point THAC0 bonus, with a reach range of 1-foot and a weapon Speed Factor of 0.
With any successful hit, there is a 15% probability of the target being exposed to the following:
- An Entangle visual overlay effect on the victim's sprite.
- Current movement modifier is set to zero.
- A 2-point general Armor Class penalty.
- An audible sound effect is played, and another when the effect duration expires.
The effects have a duration of 4 rounds, can be removed with any applicable Dispel Magic effect, and are subject to Magic resistance - there is no saving throw.
Any successful instance of these effects is additive, and each instance of the entangling has its own 4-round duration timer, but multiple instances will overlap, and therefore the Armor Class penalty can become significant, and the movement reduction for the victim may last well over four rounds, depending on how many instances of the effects landed.
This entangling effect is difficult to defend against without magic resistance, as it isn't subject to Spell protections type defenses, or Power level immunities such as a lich or Rakshasa innately possess.
Some creatures are protected against the Entangle spell, (such as a Dragon with its DRAGRING.ITM) - but this sword will most likely still be able to impart its movement modifier reduction and Armor Class penalty to even those creatures, because the blade is not casting a spell on the victim, it is applying effects directly.
Creatures that are currently buffed with a Free Action (spell) or Potion of Freedom won't be affected by the sword's movement modifier reduction.
This sword is also upgradable in the Throne of Bhaal portion of the game, possibly from chapter 9.
The upgraded sword[]
In the Pocket Plane (area), speak with Cespenar the imp butler when the party has taken possession of the Heart of the Damned component, and have at least 5,000 gold.
Cespenar can create an improved Short Sword of Mask.
Upgraded description[]
| “ | Combined with the Heart of the Damned into a single lethal weapon, this deadly blade is the preferred tool of assassins and thieves. | ” |
Gameplay - upgraded sword[]
This improved blade, Short Sword of Mask +5 is a +5 enchanted weapon, that inflicts 1d6+5 Piercing damage, and a 5-point THAC0 bonus, with a reach range of 1-foot and a weapon Speed Factor of 0.
Each successful hit with the blade on a creature will have the game engine checking for one of two potential effects - each one has a 15% probability of occurring, as determined by a d100 random number generation "roll".
1-15% - the entangling effect described in the original sword of mask, or.
16-30% - a Level drain effect lowering the victim's experience level by one, as follows:
- Drains 1-level.
- A lighting graphic effect renders upon the victim.
- A text is displayed, reading "One Level Drained".
Unlike the entangling effect, the level draining isn't affected by magic resistance and can't be dispelled - basically, only immunity to that status effect will protect the struck creature.
Notes[]
Both blade's entangling effects "stack" with other entangling effects, such as the Entangle (spell) of from Wild Surge effects #11 and #69.
Legend[]
- b = before the upgrade
- a = After the upgrade.