The Sword of Äphoskú
" 'Äphoskú... where have I heard that name before?' asked the seasoned knight, shooting a searching glance towards his fellow knight. Sûvavym met his gaze from across the fire, his earth-toned eyes swirling with the knowledge that came with being a Sword-sage. As the elder plunged into a slow and croaking story about the legend of Äphoskú, Fenez wished that his friend would just open his mouth and end the suffering he knew he was about to experience with this old man's wandering mind..."
Curses... do exist in the world of Eldûra—but not in the way you may be familiar with. Äphoskú found this out first-hand when he challenged the Creator's plans and tried to fight The Knight in hopes of usurping his position as one of the The Heroes of Avva'ai . He challenged the Knight to one-on-one combat, his ability with the sword as great as the Hero's. Unbeknownst to Äphoskú, the Knight had been injured in a fall before their encounter and was slowed because of it. This gave Äphoskú an unfair advantage but he was unwilling to reschedule for a time when the Knight was healed. Äphoskú disarmed the Knight and he prepares to deal the final blow. But before his blow could land, a stranger intervened, grasping Äphoskú's sword by its blade though remaining uncut by its sharpness. Stunned by this stranger's sudden appearance, the Heroes and Äphoskú freeze, their gazes held by the stranger. The Stranger, dressed in faintly-glowing armour and a deep white hood, wrenched the sword from Äphoskú's grip and took a long step back. As he begins to speak, chastising Äphoskú, he and the Heroes realize just who the Stranger is with dawning horror (Äphoskú) or amazement (the Heroes). The Stranger was, in actually, a Messenger, one of the many heavenly beings utterly loyal to the Creator and tasked with bringing decrees to man when having His voice just boom from up above isn't feasible for the situation. The Messenger delivers the Creator's verdict upon Äphoskú. Despite the traitor's pleading for mercy, a shriek rose high into the air and the world rushed towards him. The cacophony of the judgment drowned out his screams of horror as reality bent and warped around him, folding him and twisting him until all sense of humanity was gone and all that remained was a blade.
"Cursed be thee for thine own pride. / Cursed be thee for thy darkness inside. / By the blade thee saught to defy Me / And by the blade shall thine existance be! / Hubris led thee to this fate, / Led thee as a beast to his mate. / 'The Blade' thee were as wanton man; / As keen with death as any man can. / Blade in death as in life thee will be, / Until your wrongness thee finally sees!"The blade, with Äphoskú's voice, cried out in fear and utter terror as he fell to the ground, unable to move. This is what happened to the imposter-traitor Äphoskú, who thought himself better and sought to replace the Knight: he had been judged and his punishment had been mete out. The Messenger plants Äphoskú's sword point down into the earth, before taking the newly-forged Äphoskú and handing him to the Knight, he commands him to hide him away where no one could find him. He was to remain alone until he was needed, when the world cries out for a hero with a special blade to cut down an enemy seen as unstoppable and unkillable.
Significance
This is the sword that will help a hero defeat an encroaching evil [this aspect is still under construction].
Chalkboard sword image by M.R.R. Shelswell
Item type
Weapon, Melee
Creation Date
7/26/2267 UE
Creator
Rarity
This item is one of a kind.
Dimensions
Blade length: 39in; Hilt length: 9in; Total length: 48in (or 4ft)
Base Price
Priceless
Raw materials & Components
- Pommel: Moon-steel encircling a large white topaz.
- Hilt: Moon-steel, the grip wrapped with dark grey leather.
- Blade: Homlak , studded with small blue topazes along the fuller.
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