Wrapping up this post series with one last modestly-sized magical blade before we move on to new oddities on Friday.
Accusatory Poniard
Description: Unadorned thrusting weapon with a tapering 6" blade made of some dark metal. Magical senses reveal a strong aura of necromancy and divination magics, but none of the common enhancement spells found on most magical weapons. Greater identification spells conjure up the spiritual likeness of the poniard's creator who explains its unusual functions in the tongue of the dead.
Powers: This item lacks any combat magic, although it's certainly sharp enough to do some stabbing in a pinch. If placed in the hand of a dead body, the creature's arm will reanimate, clutch the poniard firmly and point it infallibly in the direction of the creature that slew it, if any. This works on a corpse of any age or type, although it requires several things: an appendage capable of holding the dagger, a limb that is still attached to the torso of the creature, and a creature that acted as the killer. If the victim's manipulatory limbs have all been severed, or it was slain by a trap or accident or similar cause, nothing happens. If the killer has died and passed on to an afterlife, or if they've simply left this plane of existence, the blade will open a gate to whatever dimensional plane the killer (or their soul) currently resides on, 1d4-1 days' travel away from their location. The gate remains open until the dagger has passed through it twice (presumably once in each direction) but will reopen if the dagger is removed from the corpse's grip (a simple strength test required to do so) and then replaced.
The poniard's powers work if pressed into the hand of an undead creature, subject to the restrictions above. Non-sentient undead will be dragged along by the dagger in pursuit of their killer, although they may not do anything beyond being really creepy upon reaching them (depending on their outstanding orders or instincts). Free-willed undead may do as they please, but their arm is effectively out of their control and remains pointed stiffly at their slayer's location as long as they hold the poniard. They can only release or sheathe the dagger by passing whatever test or save your game system offers for resisting mind-controlling magics (max once per hour till you succeed).
Possible Origins: First created through some combination of sheer force of will, divine meddling, and/or unexpected arcane side effects, the first accusatory poniard sprang into being after a murder was committed. The process (or at least the end result) has since been replicated on several occasions, but since creating one involves the death by violence of its maker it's not the sort of item you can commission someone to make. The vast majority of them are found on dead bodies, among bandit loot, or sometimes buried with the victim whose death enchanted them.
Complications: Finding a killer with this item is easy. Finding one while dragging their victim's corpse along is somewhat less so. Turning the victim into a zombie or something might simplify things, or it might make things much worse. Same goes for paring away some limbs to make the corpse easier to transport. Surely the relatives will object to either, right?
Also, if you wind up chasing a plane-hopping murderer the gate stays open while you're hunting. What else might come through in the meantime?
Design Commentary: I wouldn't use one of these in a story where solving a mystery is the main point, but they're neat for a game full of bounty hunting, for grim stories of revenge, or for farcical tales involving dragging a dead body around with you, Weekend At Bernie's style. They're also a potential intro to some planar adventuring at earlier levels than you might normally see.
If these things and their abilities become common knowledge, smarter assassins will adapt accordingly. Expect to find corpses with their hands cut off, or a lot more mysterious disappearances where the body is never found at all.
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