Sword of Mercy

"Long and sharp
like mother's tongue
strong and stern
like father's love

Tradition upheld
Like grandpa bade
Heavy tipped and square
The executioner's blade!"

~Maecodian Children's Rhyme

History

The tradition of the Sword of Mercy goes back to the days when dragons ruled over all men. The kings appointed by the scaled tyrants offered mercy for some criminals if they agreed to bear the stigma of the Sword of Mercy. They would serve as executioners, carrying a longsword squared at the tip; it would not see true battle.
The tradition saw a revival sometime around the Year 150. Maecodians began to offer the same deal to condemned criminals, as the job of executioner was unpleasant and stigmatic.

Execution

If a town does not have an executioner, they may put the word out that they need one. Otherwise, the executioner follows the same pattern. They will kneel the condemned in front of the headsman's block. They will then point at each prominent citizen in attendance and ask if there is any objection to the execution. If all responses come back negative, the executioner follows through with one long stroke and cleanly beheads the condemned.
If any of the prominent citizens disagree, they make their case to the gathered crowd.
If a single stroke fails to kill, the condemned is set free.

Components and tools

The Sword of Mercy is traditionally a steel longsword plated with gold or silver to give it a razor's edge. The tip is square and blunt. The weapon is almost useless in any combat, as a parry or shield is likely to shiver it and it needs to be re-sharpened after every kill.