Octobow Day 4 - Desert

Sidewinder

Weapon (hand crossbow), rare (requires attunement)

The Sidewinder is named for the Azalia Empire’s desert strike troops, who wield this weapon as both symbol and tool of their craft. These soldiers, famed for their guerrilla tactics beneath the burning sun, rely on a suite of enchanted gear tailored for survival and sabotage in the shifting sands. Among their most trusted arms is the Sidewinder hand crossbow.

Its enchantments serve a dual purpose. In direct sunlight, its bolts ignite with scorching fire, searing through armor and sowing fear in the ranks of their enemies. Yet the true strength of the weapon lies in its conjured sandstorm—a fast-moving veil of dust and grit that blinds, confuses, and divides opposing forces. With this storm at their command, the Sidewinders strike with sudden fury, then before the enemy can regroup, the Sidewinders are already gone, swallowed once more by the golden dunes of the Great Azalia Desert.

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Sunfire Bolts. While you are in direct sunlight, attacks made with this weapon deal an extra 1d6 fire damage on a hit.

Sandstorm Shroud. As a bonus action, you can conjure a 15-foot cube of swirling sandstorm centered on a point within 60 feet of you. The area is heavily obscured and is considered difficult terrain. Any ranged attack that passes through the sandstorm is made with disadvantage. The sandstorm lasts for 1 minute.

As a bonus action on subsequent turns, you can move the sandstorm up to 30 feet to a point of your choice. If you are inside the sandstorm when it moves, or if it passes through your space, you can choose to be pushed along with it. This movement doesn’t provoke opportunity attacks.

Once you use this feature, you cannot use it again until you finish a short or long rest.

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This one took a bit of time, not because it took a long time to make, but because, in the middle of making it, I noticed that we had a 'reptile' prompt in two days and ended up doubting whether to proceed with this idea or change it.

Also, I totally forgot to collect prompts from everyone for the 'patron prompt' section of the prompt list. Since it's too late for Day 5, I'll use the 'Needle/Thread' prompt from the Fantastic Emporium list. However, I'll send a message to curators and archivists to quickly gather prompt suggestions and vote on them later.

NOTE : All files will be added to the Vault at the end of the month/challenge.