The Brighthammer

''By the strength of the Brighthammer and your right to rule. I will give my life for you,' - oath of the royal guards

'The Brighthammer' is an object of power, crafted by the finest smith of the Under-Empire long before its fall. Legend tells of its loss during the Age of Strife along with the last High King of Khan Bannun. Shortly after the city collapsed in on itself due to The Cataclysm, though many say that with the disappearance of the king and the artefact, the city had lost the strength it needed to survive.

The Crafting

Created by the master smith 'Halorn Flamehold' as the last great work before his death. Some would say he began it centuries earlier when he thought of the idea and set out in search of the materials required. 

His concept of the great hammer was one before his creation of the first 'Brightsteel' bar and in truth the creation of 'Brightsteel' was merely a stepping stone for this creation. He collected wood from the great world trees of the eastern forest, and fire from the forge of Aedun. He journeyed north to collect the Gems of Taricore from the dragonkins of lost Palatia and gathered great runes from across the dwarven under-empire. 

He crafted it in the forges of Khan Bannun, long before the world engine existed there, using the life of the earth's core and a clever arrangement of lenses to combine sun and starlight into the same metal, as the life giving wood smouldered with the power of the earth. He combined the gems and runes, infusing them with the ancestor spirits and those of earth and fire, air and water, and for days and nights he hammered, welded, bent and shaped the materials by means of magic.

When he stepped out from the forge, a crowd had gathered and he held up 'The Brighthammer', it's size the same as him. The metal of the hammer's head burned with the light of a flaming sun and the deep blue glow of runes shimmered across the fire like frigid starlight.

With a single strike against the stones of the chamber the earth cracked open, ripped apart by primordial magic and a thunderous crash echoed around the chamber, followed by the applause of all those that watched.

History

For many years 'The Brighthammer' held a ceremonial position, gifted to the High King of Khan Bannun as a symbol of his right to rule. Though the hammer itself had to accept the user, the ancestral spirits weighing them worthy of its power, and many a high king had to prove themselves in matters of honour and statecraft, for the ways of battle were largely a thing of the past during the late years of the Age of Enlightenment.

It wasn't until the Age of Desolation and the invasion of 'The Host' that 'The Brighthammer' truly saw action, and it was spectacular. The high kings learnt to wield it with such ferocity and power that those of 'The Host' fled before its might. It bent the four elements to its will, empowering those around with primordial magic, and its presence could heal those of the Light as it was held high and burned like a great sun. Amongst the greater demons and outsiders of 'The Host' it became known as 'Darkbane' for the terror and pain it caused. Many a greater demon fell before it, believing themselves strong enough to defeat the wielder of the great weapon.

It wasn't until a chance encounter in the mountain passes saw a huge army of 'The Host' swarm the cut off dwarf segment giving them enough time to bury them beneath the rocks of the the broken mountain that they finally managed to defeat the great king.

Right to Rule 

He who wields 'The Brighthammer' and is accepted by it can claim kingship of Khan Bannun. All the descendants of the great hold, scattered and leaderless as they are would flock back to the old hold should a ruler come to claim it. Though this day has not yet come to pass, many amongst the The Dwarven Enclave wish desperately for it.


Amongst the children of Khan Bannun the hammer represents a spiritual connection to their ancestors, on account of the way it was crafted. And many descendants wear the mark of the Brighthammer on an emblem of piece of armour in remembrance of who they are and where they come from.

The Lost Treasure

For millennia 'The Brighthammer' has been lost, thought vanished into some distant realm, or buried in a deep cave in the treacherous Frigid Peaks of the north. Many have gone in search of 'The Brighthammer' and few have returned, none with any trace of it. For the world of Venya looked very different long ago and any clues are all but useless, even to the skilled trackers and hunters of dwarf-kind. But prophecy tells us one will come, and they will find it and reclaim the lost past.

The Fate of 'The Brighthammer'

The journey of 'The Brighthammer' is a long one. Though one thing is clear, it has been found amongst the Frigid Peaks of the north, though unusable to those that found it, and in their hands the spark of its light and fire cannot burn. It now appears as huge two-handed mace, as if made of obsidian, and rests in the hands of a captain of the winter fey that have taken up residence there, an ice troll named 'Kalk'.

As of yet word has not spread, for few are aware the winter court of fey have taken up residence in the remote section of the world, and fewer still suspect the hammer has fallen into their hands.

Kaltos Brighthammer

The Last High King of Khan Bannun and last wielder of 'The Brighthammer'. He fought within the northern provinces during the Age of Desolation, standing at the fore of his armies in battle with 'The Host'. He is said to have claimed the lives of many powerful beings in his time, standing tall even in moments of almost certain defeat. He vanished with his battalion during the last years of the great struggle while in the Frigid Peaks, the Brighthammer with him, and was never seen again.

Item type

Weapon, Melee

Expeditions

Many have set out in search of 'The Brighthammer', whether it be a squad of hardened dwarves, or powerful adventurers, though none have found it, or claimed the position it offers. For 'The Brighthammer' along with the lost runes of Khan Bannun are all that is needed to relight the forges of the great city and free it from the darkness that shrouds it, or so the prophecy says. Recently, the rulers of Khan Zorak have put out a decree to reclaim the lost city. Though all dwarves and iron gnomes know that 'The Brighthammer' is a vital part of that great quest.

Article cover image use permitted under pixabay CCL.
Credited artists: jcoope12