Axe of the Aurora (Patreon)

Weapon (any axe), rare (requires attunement)

A shimmering aurora streaks behind this magic weapon whenever you make an attack with it. A target hit with the weapon takes an extra 1d6 radiant damage from the attack. When you roll a 20 on an attack roll with this weapon, the target must also succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the target takes another 2d6 radiant damage and is affected by the hypnotic pattern spell, which lasts until the end of your next turn or until the target takes any other damage. On a successful save, the radiant damage is halved, and the target isn't affected by the spell.

Aurora Veil. You can use an action while holding the axe to speak its command word and create a swirling, luminescent fog around you in a 20-foot-radius sphere. The fog remains at that location for up to 1 minute, even if you move, or until a wind of moderate or greater speed (at least 10 miles per hour) disperses it. The fog heavily obscures the area, and any creature that enters the fog or starts its turn there (other than you) must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or be affected by the hypnotic pattern spell. The spell ends early for a creature if it takes any damage, and it ends early for all affected creatures if the fog is dispersed. Once a creature succeeds on the saving throw or the spell ends for it, it automatically succeeds on its saving throws against this effect for the next 24 hours. Once this property of the axe has been used, it can't be used again until the next dawn.

The fey Silversmith, youngest of the Court of Sky, pondered a gift for their monarch. First, they drew down the light of the moon and folded it into metal. But before they could present it, they saw the Illustrator's gift: a chart of the moon's phases and tides, a mastery of the celestial body that put their work to shame.

So they read the twinkling of the stars, placing each into a tiny stud, arranged on a leather wrap to which they lent their sheen. Yet by chance, they came across the Jeweler's gift: an incomparable gem, filled with light and inscribed with a map of the stars.

So they mixed their treating oils, spinning in the colors of the sky to make a polish to lend a beautiful sheen to any material. But the Painter's gift caught their eye: a painting of the sky at all times in all places, in peerless hues.

And, baffled thrice by their elder siblings' creations, the Silversmith looked back to the sky. Then with the bright moon, the twinkling stars, and the colorful skies, the Silversmith finally found their muse: the aurora, a thing of wonder to which their siblings paid no mind.

And in that creation was wonder, wonder none other had harnessed.

Wonder none could look away from.