Two Archaeological Discoveries (and associated treasure-items).

Two significant and interesting Bronze Age discoveries have recently come to light in Asia:

First, archaeologists in Siberia recently discovered a 3,900 year old suit of bone armor (take THAT rust monsters!)



The Bronze Age suit of armor was in good condition, considering, and apparently belonged to an elite warrior.  The provenance of the armor is unclear, as it does not match local culture, but is similar to items found over 600 miles away.  That said, it may have been a trade item, gift, or war spoils.

Regardless, it was a valuable and intricate piece of craftsmanship, requiring much care in fashioning and maintenance.

Secondly, to the south and east, a teenager in China found a 3,000-year-old bronze short sword or dagger in a riverbed.  He and his father opted to the proper thing, and turned it over to historical authorities, turning down offers to sell the relic to collectors.  The blade is a product of either the Shang or Zhou dynasties, and likely was an official's status symbol.

Items below:



The Bone Armor of Sozqshy:

A powerful relic-armor fabricated from the skeletons of several powerful undead and blessed by a minor deity of rebirth.  Although the armor itself is not particularly physically protective, it is proof against level-draining undead, and has been long sought-after by numerous holy men in their campaigns against the soulless ones.

AC 6/14

The armor nullifies the level drain abilities of high-HD undead (wights and above).

The armor also imparts a +2 to saves vs. other undead effects (paralyzation, fear, charm, etc.), and allows any mundane weapon wielded by the wearer to act as a magic weapon against undead in combat (but does not grant to-hit or damage bonuses).

The armor is wearable by clerics and paladins only.

***

Sword of Our Fathers:

A nondescript bronze short thrusting sword. The sword had the ignoble genesis as the assassination weapon of Deliath Idene, the Seer of Roser. Deliath was struck down just as she was reaching the soul of a deceased noble to resolve a bitter inheritance feud between his twin sons.  A portion of her itinerant soul was affixed to the sword upon her death, allowing it to gain a portion of her power.  The sword was in the possession of a false oracle for several years, the true source of his 'seeing.'  He was found out, and the sword discarded during a frantic river crossing to escape an angry mob.

When found, the sword will be corroded and without a handle. Without detect magic or similar methods, the sword will appear as a mundane discarded weapon of poor to fair quality. Upon restoration (polishing and replacement of the handle and scabbard with materials of at least 100 gp value), the sword's capabilities will make themselves known to the bearer.

Normal/+2 vs undead (no DR penalty by weapon type, if applicable).

The true power of the sword is that it grants communion with the dead once per month, similar to the Cleric spell.  Three questions are allowed; however, the quality and complexity of the response is inversely related to the proximity of the relationship:

Immediate relative > close friend > distant relative > acquaintance > stranger

However, once that individual has been contacted, they may not be contacted again via the Sword (although they may still be contacted through seances or other methods).