The Ballad of Adler Young, Canto 2.5

Try using elfmind on the axe and the corpse. Find that what happened is something very surprising.

Possibly not a good idea. Axes that are sentient are to be avoided, and talking to the dead can be very nasty and dangerous. Psychometry could be used on the axe handle, though.

As for the supply issue, one could always make a run to the local Harris Teeter, Publix or Piggly Wiggly.