Destructive Awoken Creativity
The
Awoken are not the first to create weapons, and many of their own creation are simple or crude. The knowledge of firearms having been discovered from the Forgotten Era and weapons like the Blast Spear being a design utilizing a simple circuit to make a weapon of equal might. However, Shards are the exception to the rule. So effective in their usage of
Ontologite, and extremely dangerous to any who fall into their path.
Mechanic and Usage
Shards utilize a simple circuit housed inside a hilt that can range in size depending on what sort of weapon they are built to emit. A piece of
Green Ontologite is then mounted in sequence with another piece of
Ontologite carrying a different color. This circuit when powered creates a glowing, glass-like monomolecular blade that keeps the rigidity and strength of its metal counterparts. Allowing these blades to feel weightless and pass through nearly any object without resistance. Once power is cut from these hilts, the blade vanishes. For the
Awoken capable of
Electrokinesis, this allows for a truly formidable weapon. The purpose of the second piece of
Ontologite is to allow the shard to utilize the properties of another color. An example would be a Shard with a piece of
Red Ontologite mounted into it, which would allow a user to fire bolts of lighting at opponents.
History
Discovered during the Age of Tyrants, the first Shard was created entirely by accident. A soldier of
Fields Union had stolen an enemies blade, one with a piece of
Green Ontologite mounted into its hilt for decoration as the materials properties were unknown at that time. During a fight against one of the Primordial Awoken the blade broke halfway down its length. With a yell the soldier gave everything he had, powering the blade with his
Electrokinesis causing the
Ontologite to recognize the sword as its circuit, and changing shape to "repair" the blade. When the green monomolecular blade sprung forth it cut effortless through the armor and weapon of the tyrant noble.
At first this was seen as a gift from the gods to defeat the
Awokens oppressors. However, as the many wars drew near their end the Blast Spear was discovered by
We of the Sand, the members of the
Copper Mount Militia figured out the secret to how Shards were made. It was seen as a magical ritual, smithing then breaking swords to create Shards for the
slingers to use when their guns wouldn't suffice. The technique soon being shared with
Fields Union, the long time trading partners of the
Militia.
As the
Awoken entered into the Age of Fables, Shards became most well known for their use by
Ratniks. The many heroes of the age who fought and traveled to learn more about the world. As they worked with the weapons over long periods, repairing, replacing, and constructing them incremental changes were made to the weapon. They learned that a blade did not have to be needlessly wasted in the creation of Shards, and that one could simply create the hilt of a blade to make the
Green Ontologite form the blade. Along with one's own will being a component of how the blade is shaped and its length as a person can focus to extend or shorten the crystalline monomolecular blade.
As
Awoken enter the Age of Discovery, and the mechanics of
Ontologite become more clear to all, these weapons have fallen out of favor. Shards are expensive and require a lot of skill to utilize effectively. As such guns have become far more common among general population of
Awoken. The techniques needed to create them have become a specialized skill found only among tinkerers. However, this has made every Shard ever constructed to be a unique one-off piece. Each with unique qualities that make them valuable. While the base idea of Shards is not too complex, over the course of
Awoken history the creation of shards have gone from meer accidents to religious practices, and finally to an art form in itself. With hilts containing unique features, artistic flourishes, or personal decorations.
A strange but notable phenomena is the use of shards by
Silver Nautilus. As the robots have taking a deep liking to the weapon and have been seen using it both in attacks against
Awoken, and as tools to defend the
Awoken.
Comments
Author's Notes
I love the idea that these can clash, and that they send sparks of electricity when in rain, snow, or sandstorms. Also this article is ROUGH. I gotta come back after Worldember.