Scales of Irasil

The Scales of Irasil are an ancient pair of holy swords said to only harm those who deserve justice to be brought upon them. A treasure of the Kel-Osmeni Higher House, the swords are priceless and said to carry enough power to level a kingdom. In legend, it is said that Ellervend the Pure, Holy Avenger of Irasil, appeared alongside the magical blades shortly before the The Ruination and used them to bring justice to the broken world in her gods' name. Known and respected worldwide, the two balancing swords are a strong and recognisable symbol of Irasil across most cultures and people.

Description

The Scales of Irasil are a pair of silvered blades. The blades are just under a metre long, are both curved with ancient decorative script running along the length. The runes are inscribed in fine, incredibly small celestial script that speaks of the eternal justice and balance brought by Irasil. The hilt is decorated with a basket-like design of delicate silver, and the grips are dressed with blackened leather. The origins of the leather is unknown, and many legends have since arisen about its source. 
Due to the precious nature of the swords, little research or study has been performed on them, and the swords have been very rarely used. From basic analysis, the swords are brimming with divine magic though the precise nature of the magic is still unclear. The swords seem to have protective wards imbued in their celestial script which prevents the swords from being misused in a way that would oppose the tenets and laws of Irasil and his teachings. It's unclear what the "rules" of the swords' usage are exactly.

History

Legends tell of when Ellervend the Pure appeared in Osmen and began a pilgrimage across the lands to warn the people of the coming The Ruination about a hundred years before it began. When the people failed to listen,it's said that Ellervend took up her blade under the command of Irasil and aided in the destruction of the unjust. 
The swords were buried beneath the rubble of the ancient city of Perisi, where they were uncovered in the early years of the First Age and worshipped for thousands of years. The swords are considered a priceless artifact of the Kel-Osmen Accord, and are guarded fiercely Kel-Osmeni Higher House. Strict worship of Irasil is prevalent in Osmen, and especially so in Kel-Osmen. This strict worship is thought to be a cultural effect of the influence of the swords and their physical reminder of his power. Today, the swords are still used for high-profile executions of extremely depraved convicted criminals, such executions being strictly conducted by a paladin of an oath under Irasil's teachings.

Ellervend's Word Female paladins of Justice oaths by Irasil's name are taught and serve under Ellervend's Word; a document said to have come from the journal of Ellervend herself. These paladins are incredibly well respected and feared in Kel-Osmen, where they carry large curved swords, style their armour and cut their hair to physically represent the visual description of Ellervend the Pure. They call their faction Ellervend's Word, and almost all the paladins that belong to the order are trained in Perisi. They travel the world spreading the word and respect of Irasil, and reminding the masses of the gravity of greed and misbalance. 

Highest Mar-Ren the Silver

Legend tells of the folly of Highest Mar-Ren "The Silver", who was said to have been the first and only Highest in Kel-Osmen bold enough to choose to carry the swords into battle. Mar-Ren was a well-liked leader, well known for his bravery, honesty and forthright attitude toward securing enough land to feed his people well. He had a very good relationship with his citizens, attending regular social events to meet them. Morale in his armies was strong, and he had a personal relationship with most of the higher-ranking members of his forces.
During a lengthy war with Kel-Osmen's longstanding political rivals, Melruna, he took the swords to battle against the advice of his long-time best friend and General, General Toor-Vei. Toor-Vei had warned his friend that the swords were not designed for the battles and squabbles of mortals and that bringing them would be dangerous. Undeterred and angered by his General's insolence, he implied his friend's mind was wavering and demanded that he take charge of the battle himself. Toor-Vei had been right- the swords would not harm soldiers from the opposing army who had simply been following the orders of their leaders, and despite his ferocity, Mar-Ren was quickly overwhelmed and slain. The morale of his men dropped significantly witnessing this slaughter, and many turned and ran. The battle was won by Melruna that day, giving their army a significant foothold along their border and causing havoc amongst the Higher House of Kel-Osmen.