Histories, Myths and Legends of the Twelve Swords of Power
The swords were created by the gods. Each was forged by Hephaestus and the Cyclops. Each sword was imbued with powers from one or more of the gods so that each was supreme in it’s own realm. They were created by the gods to give to their mortal followers and champions to raise them to near godhood. All the swords were forged from an indestructible black adamantite/mithril metal. They are completely black except for a circle on the center of the hilt. The circle has a white ivory background with a black symbol. Each sword has it’s own individual symbol.
Others believe that the swords were created from matter from another, lost, plane.
Still others contend that the swords are made of the purest silver and only the hilts are black. The swords symbol is carved into the blade near the hilt.
There is also said to be a curse upon the swords. When Hephaestus forged the swords only certain gods were invited to imbue their powers into the swords. Some of the other gods felt scorned and laid powerful hexes upon the blades.
Dragonslicer is the sword of heroes. Dragonslicer is the bane of all dragons and dragon-kin. The wielder can slay dragons with a single blow as its touch alone with cause dragons to die. The bearer is also immune to dragon magic and breath weapons. Some mages believe that Dragonslicer employs some sort of special anti-magic that is race specific against dragons. Certain mages have been trying to get their hands on Dragonslicer in order to discover this anti-magic and employ it against other magical races. The symbol of Dragonslicer is either a dragon or a sword cleaving a dragon’s head.
Shieldbreaker is considered by many to be the most powerful of the 12 swords. All the swords are indestructible, but Shieldbreaker may be able to destroy one of the others if they were brought into combat against each other. The wielder of Shieldbreaker becomes the greatest of warriors. Any weapon or armor struck by Shieldbreaker is destroyed and the person is usually slain outright. Shieldbreaker will protect the bearer from blows and missiles leaping out of the scabbard to come to the defense of its wielder. There have been stories of the wielder going berserk in battle like some Norlanders or dwarves, but these stories also come from the north where similar stories abound about other heroic weapons and artifacts. It is said that if you sneak up behind the wielder armed only with a poisoned dagger hidden in a soft bag then you can fool Shieldbreaker and slay the bearer.
Soulcutter is the sword of fear and despair and represents everything that people fear. The wielder can conjure up terrible nightmares and horrible visions that fill even the bravest warriors with fear and dread. The visions have been known to kill people from the shock and terror. The bearer seems to become more susceptible to magic as the great Tyrian emperor Hadrian was slain by a novice wizard. Its symbol is different for everyone who views it. A group of monks attempted to study the sword and went mad. During some of their more lucid moments a few of the monks were able to describe what they saw as the symbol and how what they saw came after them and was hunting them in order to steal their immortal soul.
Woundhealer is the most benign of all the swords. It is the only sword to believe to have fully escaped the curses of the slighted ones. Woundhealer has the ability to heal any wound that it comes in contact with. It is also reputed to work equally well against things like blindness, disease and mental illness. The sword is incapable of physically damaging anyone and is therefore useless as an instrument of war. It is said a priest of Mystra held off an army of undead from destroying his temple using Woundhealer. And even today Woundhealer is held inside this same temple of Mystra. The temple is in the northeast mountains. There are stories of people being brought back to life with Woundhealer, but most scholars discount them. The symbol of Woundhealer is said to be a dove or a pair of cupped hands. Most scholars believe the latter.
Townsaver is the sword of defense and protection. An ancient elven lord once bore Townsaver. He was the lord of a small area on the frontiers of the elven lands when the humans were still Neanderthals. The elves were assaulted by hordes of dog-headed humans. The town was expected to fall quickly to the dog-men and they planned to push into richer areas to loot and pillage. However, with the help of Townsaver, the elven lord was able to push the hordes back into the wastelands from which they came. If the commander of an army carries Townsaver, then no one in the army can be harmed by arrows and javelins. Its symbol is an ancient tower. The Dwarves believe that its symbol is a mountain.
The Mindsword bestows upon its bearer the power to manipulate and control people without being similarly affected. Unfortunately, the bearer relies more and more on the sword and loses their own natural abilities of leadership and good humor. The Mindsword actually has a mind of its own and dominates the wielder. The bearer of the Mindsword is immune to magic and charms. They have the ability to create their own paradigm and instill it upon those around them, thus changing reality. The symbol is either a twinkling gem or a pair of hypnotic eyes.
Many a ranger or woodsman has yearned for Wayfinder at one time or another. While the sword is in your possession you cannot become lost and always know exactly where you are. Also, nothing or no one can stay hidden or lost to the bearer of Wayfinder. Its symbol is a compass which some believe always points north.
Doomsgiver is also known as the sword of truth and fate. The bearer can see people’s auras and tell their future. The bearer of the sword is the master of the past, present and future. The sword detects any hidden objects and the truth of any statements. However, the curse of the swords is believed to be strongest with Doomsgiver. Anyone touching the sword or even getting near it will become cursed and die tragically. The sword is believed to have sunk somewhere between Feltrest and Zahkara when the Crazy Seahorse disappeared into a hurricane.
Coinspinner is the sword of luck and rogues. Its symbol is a pair of dice that always show a ‘seven’. Not only does the user become extremely lucky, but they also seem to acquire a knack for the skills of thieves and pickpockets. While you have the sword on your person you cannot lose ant any games of chance. A young middle-class man walked into a gaming house and won a few rolls of the dice. A nearby noble noticed and wished to try his luck. He ended up losing his lands, money and title to the youngster. The sword is also a rogue at heart and won’t stay in one place or with one person for too long. If you keep Coinspinner in a leaden case then it will be contained until the owner wants to use it again.
Sightblinder is the sword of deceit and illusion. Its symbol is a double-headed coin or a blindfold. Others claim that it is a beautiful woman. It is the only sword that usually isn’t black when it can be seen at all. The sword can create any illusion and they are more realistic than the real thing. Even Illusionist wizards can’t tell the difference. The drawback is that the wielder actually becomes more susceptible to illusions and similar magic. A Sahudese Wizard once owned this sword. He created an illusionary kingdom that was so real he eventually became entrapped within his creation and ignored the real world.
Stonecutter is the sword of siege and conquest. The first King of Tyr carried the sword on his early campaigns and that is why he was so successful with such a small force. The sword cleaves through stone walls and batters down the strongest gates. Kainus the Unconquered carried a mighty sword that was called the Scepter of the Land. It is believed to actually have been Stonecutter. There are many theorized symbols for Stonecutter: a battering ram, a ram’s head, a rams horn or a mighty dwarven warhammer.
Farslayer is often considered the most powerful sword after Shieldbreaker. It is known as the sword of justice and revenge. It will grant untold powers when used to right wrongs and seek revenge. If the proper command words are spoken the sword becomes a ray of death and streaks out toward your enemies heart, instantly slaying them. The sword appeared about 50 years ago when its power was used by an adventurer in Zahkara, but it hasn’t been seen since. Its symbol is the scales of justice.