Damascus

Mantle of the Sun God Dern

Forged in the fires of divine smithies, a golden axe was created, granted to the god Dern to give to his chosen champion. While lacking a name, the weapon did not lack sharpness, its edge honed to perfection, a level of craftsmanship beyond what mere mortals could comprehend. Whoever wielded such a weapon would be granted divine power, that on par with a demi-god, the power of sun in the hands of Dern's champion.
Decades later, the immaculate weapon would be found resting on a bed of crushed velvet, displayed for all to see and honor such a weapon of divine precision. Within days, such a weapon would be entombed with its wielder, buried in the Tomb of Damascus, a place that shared the name of the first Human King and the weapon he was granted by the god Dern. Both required a ceremonious end befitting of the gods for what they had accomplished, laid to rest with great honor and reverence for what they had done in the name of the Sun God.
The weapon Damascus shares its name with Damascus, the first Human King that was blessed by the god Dern. The large golden axe that never dulled and had magical powers was rarely separated from its wielder, an extension of the man’s body instead of simply just a weapon to be used. It was a thing of magnificence, a mantle granted by the gods with divine powers that few could dare match.
With the death of Damascus came the entombing of his weapon at his side. Laid to rest ceremoniously, it was believed that the weapon would never return, left alongside the King in eternity. Yet this was far from the truth, as the weapon disappeared from the tomb. The weapon could not have been stolen as the magic of such a divine axe allowed it to only be wielded by those descended from Damascus.

Mechanics & Inner Workings

As a divine weapon, Damascus harnesses the power of the gods. Serving as the mantle of the god Dern, the golden axe has similar powers to that of the Sun God, often utilizing heat, blinding light, and immense power channeled through the blade of the immaculate weapon.
What powers the wielder gains or their level of empowerment is determined by their relation to the sun. The closer one is to the sun distance-wise or the closer it is to noon, the more the weapon empowers its wielder. At the height of its power, Damascus grants the wielder power on par with that of a demi-god of great strength. With this power, one can mimic the legendary attacks of Dern that have been written in history and lore.
Other perks of wielding Damascus outside of the immense power come in the form of resistences and immunities. One cannot be poisoned or cursed while wielding the golden axe, nor can they be affected by water or ice-based attacks. These abilities and immunities only occur when one is actively holding the weapon, no benefits remain once the weapon has been released.

Significance

The divine axe Damascus has great significance to the Humans of the Great Plains as it is a gift of the all-mighty Dern granted to his mortal children. Granted to the first Human King, the golden axe was meant to be a mantle gifted by Dern to one worthy of a small amount of the god's power. It was not a mantle or weapon to be taken lightly and required a worthy soul to hold such immense power.
Because of the usage of the weapon by the first Human King, the weapon eventually bore the same name as Damascus. The ties between the person and the weapon were so strong, it was believed that the mantle should be buried alongside Damascus in his tomb, a place of honor where neither would be disturbed.

Handle of Damascus

Handle of Damascus by Image via Midjourney, created by Riverfang

The golden axe Damascus is a divine weapon with intricate engravings that cover nearly every inch of the weapon. Because of the weapon's magical properties, these engravings have not worn with use, remaining as prominent as the day the weapon was created.

Item type

Weapon, Melee

Creation Date

Unknown

Related ethnicities

• Human Culture

Current Geographic Location

Unknown

Current Holder

Unknown