Pestilent Scimitar
The Pestilent Scimitar is a Legendary cursed blade that Cain buys to serve as an off-hand weapon and to reinforce the Pestilence damage available through his bond with Vala.
History
A weapon for Dark Elven forms
While seeking an off-hand blade compatible with both Five Tiger Spear and Dark Elven Blade Form, Cain is shown two level-200 Legendary scimitars by a dwarven smith. He selects the rusty, yellow-oozing Pestilent Scimitar because its disease effect complements Vala's passive Pestilence and should be especially useful against large groups. The weapon is based on a recipe found in Plague Demon dungeons and requires a sufficiently advanced smith to produce. Cain purchases it for 1,100 gold. (Chapter 175)
Battlefield use
Cain subsequently pairs the scimitar with his spear in several battles. Its size scales with his demonic form during the Gnome siege, and he later draws the pair for a duel with a much higher-level Gnoll commander, whose resistance limits the damage Cain can inflict. During a later clash with attacking soldiers, Cain's scimitar strike accompanies Pestilence spreading through their formation and breaking their attack, though the wider disease effect also draws on his Vala-derived powers. He still carries and uses the blade in his fight against the Golden Ape. (Chapters 232, 262, 370, and 458)
Abilities and properties
- The blade increases all Pestilence damage by 100 percent and causes Pestilence on a successful hit. (Chapter 175)
- Its listed direct damage is 250 percent of the wielder's Constitution. (Chapter 175)
- Cain can use it as the off-hand component of his spear-and-blade fighting forms, and it enlarges with his transformed body. (Chapters 175 and 232)
- The weapon does not eliminate level-based resistance: a substantially stronger opponent can withstand much of Cain's damage. The large-area spread seen in battle is not established as the scimitar's work alone. (Chapters 262 and 370)