The Crimson Blade of the Butcher of Togashi

Guild of Technomancers Rokugan Shadowlands Expedition Log No. 15.225.63

We have found a most unusual weapon inside an abandoned castle. It was located inside the Lord's Chamber secured by what appeared to sealing wards attached to a cabinet on the left wall. We took the whole thing and opened it in our warded research facility. After breaking the seals and opening the cabinet we were met with the strong coppery scent of blood yet we could not find a single trace of blood inside the cabinet.

There was only a single object inside. A katana sword that was on a wooden stand. The hilt felt wet when our swordmaster gripped it. It was then we realized it was covered in blood. Removing the blade from the scabbard revealed where the strong smell of blood was coming from. The blade was covered in so much blood that it was a dark red color. It even dripped onto the floor when the swordmaster held it.

We attempted to wash the blood off the blade but no matter how much we tried, it would just reappear minutes later. Though while the blade was clean for those few minutes, there was a noticeable red tint to the metal. The smell also didn't go away either. Despite the fact that the blood should have dulled and rusted the blade by now, it is still as sharp as the day it was finished.

So far there is nothing else unusual about this katana. Even outside the warding sigils that encompass the facility the weapon shows no signs of being cursed. It just keeps bleeding and reeks of blood. So much so that causes others to avoid whoever is carrying it. But other then that, it functions just like any other katana sword.--

Guild of Technomancers Rokugan Artifact Research Log No. 13.024.19

After consulting with the loremasters in the Celestial Archives about our find, they found some information that shed some light on this bloody katana. According to legend, this is the Crimson Blade of the Butcher of Togashi. This weapon is cursed to remain forever bloody by a village elder whom Lord Akodo Senzo slaughtered along with the entire village of Togashi using it.

This incident occured 60 years ago and was started over a series of insulting jokes made at Akodo Senzo's expense by a group of kids in the Togashi Village. When the lord caught wind of this it apparently enraged him so much that he went on a rampage and after killing everyone in the village, he was detained by the local Emerald Magistrate. As a result of this massacre, Lord Akodo Senzo was charged with murder and banished to the Shadowlands for life. His family name along with all records were sealed and expunged from the rolls.

After assigning the sword to Nakasumi and sending him off to do battle with a band of renegade ronin he came back covered in blood but the sword was surprisingly free of it and no longer smelled. However, 24 hours later the sword started bleeding again and it once more, reeked of blood.

Based off these facts we have deduced that the curse works as follows:

It must quenched in blood at least once a day in order for the negative effects to be kept at bay. As for exactly how much blood, what type of blood, and how the blood is introduced to the blade to meet its requirements needs further research. But it is confirmed that killing others works.

If it has not been satisfied with blood in time, it will cause blood leak out of the blade and onto the wielder and the ground. It will also emit a strong stench of blood too. In Rokugani society, this kind of thing is extremely taboo and will result in being ostricised by most people except the lowest of society. As such this blade is extremely unsuitable for anyone to carry except the lowest of the low in society.

If there are any other ill effects, that remains to be seen.--

Guild of Technomancers Rokugan Artifact Research Log No. 13.024.20

Further tests on the Crimson Blade revealed that it is completely unbreakable. After trying to snap it, chip it, crush it, melt it, shatter it, smash it, etc. The blade still remained in its pristine condition. And we tried as hard as we could to damage it with every method we could think of.

Another interesting feature is that when being used in combat, the wielder cannot be disarmed. All of our known disarming techniques have failed to remove the sword from the wielder's grip. If it were not for the curse, this sword would be perfect for any samurai or lord to use.

So far we have not discovered any additional negative effects from this sword. Considering the different types of cursed objects we have handled and analyzed before, this is probably the least harmful one we have encountered.--