[RosieCotton]

I think it'd end up being too unrealistic or unoriginal, though. I mean...how many "ancient artifact turns out to be magic weapon/portal" stories does the world need?

However, it MIGHT be fun to join the write-a-cheesy-novel-in-a-month club. How did that work, you guys?

[Overtaxed]

http://www.nanowrimo.org/

[Sam Cree]

"I think it'd end up being too unrealistic or unoriginal, though. I mean...how many "ancient artifact turns out to be magic weapon/portal" stories does the world need?"

Well, I sort of like it as realistic, though it can have humor. After all, greatness can always be reduced to ordinary components.

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

how many "ancient artifact turns out to be magic weapon/portal" stories does the world need?

I think it makes a good basis for a novel! Remember, there are no original plots any more... what makes a novel memorable are the quality of the writing, and the characters (IMHO).