In Lord of the Rings canon, elvish swords glow brightly when an orc is near. And Uruk-hai are just a kind of orc.
In the campaign I'm running, orcs and Uruk-hai are allowed as player characters. One of the PCs is an Uruk who found and grabbed an elvish sword in a dungeon.
How would you manage the situation?
The options I see are:
- The sword will always glow brightly when held by this PC (and of course cause problems when trying to hide).
- The sword will get accustomed to its new master and slowly stop glowing for him, but continue doing so for any other orcs that get near.
- Ignore that the sword should glow.
- Use my power as Game Master to make sure the sword gets destroyed or stolen during an adventure.
EDIT
Given the answers and comments received, and before I comment on anything myself or chose an answer.
(By the way, very good answers and comments up to now)
The Uruk at hand is not an evil character. Campaign takes place around 1000 Fourth Age and most Uruk-hai tribes, free from the will of Sauron, have indeed found their own way. Some warring against Good, some extint, some just stealing and surviving and some have collectively found a redemption path, working as mercenaries for the Restored Kingdom of Gondor (which includes Mordor and some lands to its north now). Now, 1000 years after LotR, the PC belongs to the last group and is strong, sturdy, ruthless and brutal, but not evil. His small team (half the group) is almost as if it were its tribe (a Mormenumenadan, a Rohir and an East Man), and the Mayor from the City is his Master.