Verdant Reaver

The Verdant Reaver is a magical scythe, forged from the lifeblood of the earth and embodying Bandila’s domains of nature, fertility, spring, and ghosts. It is both a weapon and a symbol of the eternal cycle of life and death, growth and decay. The scythe’s design reflects Bandila’s role as a nurturer of life and a guide to the spirits of the dead, merging beauty with lethality.

Physical Appearance

The Blade

• Material:
  The blade of the Verdant Reaver is crafted from Emeraldsteel, an incredibly rare divine alloy imbued with the energy of nature itself. It has a translucent, jade-like appearance, as though it were carved from a single piece of glowing emerald. When exposed to light, the blade refracts shimmering green and gold hues, creating the illusion of sunlight filtering through a canopy of leaves.
• Shape and Design:
  The blade curves gracefully, resembling the crescent moon, with a broad base narrowing to a razor-sharp tip. Along its edge, runic etchings depict the stages of life: seeds sprouting, flowers blooming, leaves withering, and trees crumbling into fertile soil. These runes glow faintly with shifting colors, representing the continuous cycle of seasons and the balance between life and death.
• Living Aura:
  Tiny vines and flowers sprout from the base of the blade, creeping a few inches along its edge. These growths are alive and shift subtly with the wielder’s movements, reinforcing the sense that the weapon is a living extension of nature.

The Handle

• Material:
  The handle is carved from Heartwood of Ygg’Thara, the mythical first tree to grow in the mortal realm. The wood is polished to a dark, lustrous finish, with natural grooves that enhance grip. The surface is warm to the touch, as if imbued with the lifeblood of the earth.
• Length and Shape:
  Measuring 5 feet (1.5 meters) in length, the handle is slightly curved, mimicking the natural arc of a tree branch. It tapers toward the base for balance, allowing for fluid, sweeping motions in combat.
• Decorative Growths:
  Along the handle, small vines, moss patches, and delicate flowers grow and recede rhythmically, reflecting the life energy channeled through the scythe. These blooms vary in color, shifting with the seasons—pink and green for spring, golden and red for autumn.

Ornamentation

• Base of the Handle:
  The bottom of the handle is capped with a seed-shaped pommel made of pure crystal, containing a swirling light within. This light pulses faintly, symbolizing the heartbeat of the earth. When the scythe is in use, the crystal’s glow intensifies, casting soft beams of light that resemble roots spreading through the ground.
• Spectral Lilies:
  A cluster of phantom lilies blooms near the base of the blade. These ghostly flowers emit a faint, silvery-green glow and seem to float slightly above the scythe’s surface. The petals shimmer like moonlight on water, creating an ethereal effect. Their pollen drifts in the air like tiny motes of light, vanishing after a few moments.
• Runic Bands:
  Golden bands encircle the handle at intervals, engraved with ancient runes symbolizing fertility, renewal, and decay. These bands glow faintly when the scythe is held, resonating with the wielder’s life force.

The Weapon in Motion

• Natural Fluidity:
  When swung, the Verdant Reaver moves with a grace that feels almost unnatural, as if the weapon is guiding the wielder’s hand. Its motions leave faint trails of light and ghostly flowers that linger in the air for a moment before fading.
• Ambient Effects:
  The air around the scythe hums softly with energy, carrying the scent of fresh earth and blooming flowers. In moments of stillness, the Verdant Reaver seems to "breathe," with the vines and flowers along the blade shifting gently as if swaying in an unseen breeze.
• Ethereal Glow:
  In low light, the weapon radiates a soft green and silver glow, illuminating the area like moonlight through leaves. In combat, this glow intensifies, and the spectral lilies at the blade’s base emit a hauntingly beautiful song, echoing with the whispers of the spirits tied to the scythe.

History

History of the Verdant Reaver

1. The First Harvest:
   The Verdant Reaver’s first use was during the Age of Overgrowth, when the unchecked fertility of the Terrasphere threatened to overwhelm the mortal plane. Bandila wielded the scythe to trim the wild excess, reaping overgrown forests and decaying lifeforms to restore balance. The places she cut became the first fields and meadows, creating space for new growth.
2. The War of Roots:
   During the War of Roots, when malevolent forces sought to corrupt the Terrasphere, Bandila used the Verdant Reaver to sever the connection between the corrupted land and its source of power. With each swing of the scythe, dark tendrils and blighted trees were cut down, and spectral lilies bloomed in their place, purifying the earth.
3. The Crossroads Pact:
   In the mortal plane’s early days, spirits often wandered aimlessly, unable to find rest. Bandila created the First Crossroads, marking the paths with the Verdant Reaver. These sacred places became conduits for the dead to find their way to Shinlaris. It is said that the spectral lilies at these sites are echoes of the scythe’s power, still guiding souls today.
4. The Reaping of the Forgotten King:
   A legendary tale recounts how Bandila confronted a ghostly tyrant who sought to enslave the spirits of his fallen enemies. With the Verdant Reaver, she severed his connection to his spectral army, scattering the enslaved spirits and striking him down. His ghostly form was absorbed into the scythe, where it remains as a warning to others who would disrupt the natural cycle.

Legacy and Modern Era (1136Q)

1. Dormant in the Terrasphere:
   In the current age, the Verdant Reaver is said to rest in the heart of the Eternal Bloom, a sacred grove hidden deep within the Terrasphere. The grove is guarded by spectral beasts and enchanted plants, ensuring that only a worthy champion can claim the weapon.
2. A Champion’s Tool:
   Legends say the Verdant Reaver will reawaken when the natural cycle is threatened once more. It will choose a mortal who embodies Bandila’s values—someone who understands the balance of growth and decay, and who will wield it with care and wisdom.
3. Connection to Crossroads:
   Mortals who visit crossroads often leave offerings of flowers, seeds, or carved scythes in homage to Bandila and the Verdant Reaver. These offerings are believed to grant travelers safe passage and ensure the spirits of their ancestors are at peace.

Significance

Symbolic Importance

• Guardian of Balance: The Verdant Reaver’s history reflects Bandila’s role as a protector of the natural order, ensuring that growth is tempered by decay and death leads to renewal.
• Tool of Transformation: The weapon’s power lies not just in destruction but in its ability to guide and transform—whether it’s clearing overgrowth, healing the wounded, or guiding lost souls.
• Beacon of Life and Death: The spectral lilies tied to the scythe serve as a constant reminder that life and death are intertwined, and one cannot exist without the other.

Raw materials & Components

1. The Blade:
2. Crafted from Emeraldsteel, a celestial alloy formed by fusing the essence of spring winds and the lifeblood of the earth. The Emeraldsteel was forged in Traeron’s Inferno, whose flames were tempered by Bandila’s tears, each tear representing a life lost to nurture the next generation.
3. The blade was shaped by Illounn, Goddess of The Speculum, whose chaotic influence imbued the weapon with its spectral beauty and ghostly resonance.
4. The Handle:
5. The handle was carved from the Heartwood of Ygg’Thara, the first tree to take root in the Terrasphere. Bandila herself blessed the wood with her essence, ensuring it would remain alive and grow with the seasons, even as a weapon.
6. Phantom Lilies:
7. The ghostly flowers that adorn the scythe were drawn from Shinlaris, the Realm of Eternal Rest. They symbolize the spirits of those who have passed into Bandila’s care, offering guidance and beauty even in death.
8. The Seed of Renewal:
9. The pommel, a glowing crystal seed, was created by Ceaz, Goddess of The Aerate, who gifted it with the winds of vitality and endless potential. This seed anchors the weapon’s energy, representing the constant promise of rebirth.