Alkaili (Al-kal-ee)

The first time I ever saw this blade I was 4. It was laying in the middle of my nursery, glittering like everything beautiful in the entire world. My hand itched to hold it, and no one was there to tell me no.

— Nimue

Alkaili is the long lost and forgotten sister blade of alcalla. Where alcalla stands for growth, unitity, and life, Alkaili is the opposite. Death strides behind this blade, fitting perfectly in their hand.

Beauty in a Blade

without challenge, this blade is the most beautiful you have ever seen. Without a doubt, this blade looks to have been crafted by the deities themselves, or by an even stronger Zii if one exists.

The Hilt

Alkaili's hilt when extended is about 1 foot in length, wrapped in rich, dark purple and onyx stained strips of leather, each twisted and knotted in an intricate pattern up the hit to provide a better grip. This goes from the pommel all the way up to the guard where the strips are wrapped twice more for security then tucked and sealed away.
The guard is fashioned out of black steel and diluted Sym along the embellishments. The entire thing is smoothed and covered with intricate and surprisingly sturdy designs that weave and wind down to create something worthy of praise. Here there are crystals and gems of all kinds, sparkling like starlight.

The Blade

The blade itself is slightly curved, formed out of the same black steel to make the guard. Some of the twisted and ornate iron workings stretch up the blade, almost as if it's growing, slowly consuming the rest of the blade. Along the center ridge, 4 dragon scales are pressed into the iron, looking almost like black diamonds.
Both edges are deadly sharp, the inner with a slightly serrated edge designed for ripping flesh from bone.

Item type

Weapon, Other

Death Bringer

the most haunting thing about this blade is not its beauty, nor is it the deadly nature it can be used in, but the curse it gives to all who wield it. At this point, all who wield the blade die in horrible ways. perhaps not immediately, but soon. To most who have access to it, Alkaili is a last resort, with it, success is assured but at the cost of your own life.

Where Did it Come From

just like alcalla, no one is really sure. It's just like it appeared one day and has been wreaking havoc on the world ever since.
This doesn't mean people don't have theories.
Some people think it's the personification of Death itself, brought in a blade only deaths true vessel can use. Some say it was crafted by the Ice Queen made it herself, the last piece in her plan of world domination that was prematurely thwarted by her disappearance. Some say it's all a hoax, that it's just some normal blade the true terror is the one wielding it.

The Truth

I know the truth only because I dreamt it back before I knew what my dreams were. to the best of my knowledge, I am the only one who knows this, so I write it in confidence.
This blade was created by Aria and her sisters unwittingly with the keeper spell. It was made as the other side of the coin, the counter to her token of life, alcalla, the mark of death. None of them ever saw it, it being "gifted" directly to Nimue when she first accepted who she is.