Bound-Blades; The Elfin Magic.

Elves called it the Aether. Mankind saw it as the void. Dwarfs knew it to be madness.

— Unknown

Discontent has always been an Elvish virtue. Like many Elder Races, the Elves believed that destiny held something far greater than the mundane world. Something beyond the limitations of Xùyì awaited. Unlike the Dwarfs, who became fascinated with death, and the Orcs, who obsessed over divine truths, the Elves refused to believe that Xùyì was all that existed. Gazing into the stars did not make them show reverence to the gods. Instead, they began to wonder if there were other worlds, other realities much like Xùyì, that could be explored.

Conquered.

Concocting rituals to see beyond this world was incredibly time-consuming, the lifelong work of magi who could live for a thousand years. Yet the results were awe-inspiring, driving them forward. In their haste to uncover another world, the Elves made a rift in the Fourth Heaven. Although they could not enter therein, for their souls were too strong to be absorbed before death, the Elves managed to find a loophole in this. Carefully, with tremendous effort, the Elves convinced Dwarfs to aid them in binding a fragment of their souls to their weapons.

The spell was exquisite, something never before witnessed in this world. It gave the Elves an advantage over the other Elder Races and brought them closer to their goals. Yet it would mark their undoing.

Elves have always aspired for perfection. These blades, likewise, were forged to show the perfection that an Elf is capable of. The moment an Elf is born, their blade begins the process of the forge. During the first fifty years of their life, an Elf's weapon would be crafted for them, according to the council of Elders and Soothsayers; those who saw long-forgotten ages, and witnessed what the fates held for the child.

The Elf children grew up with tales of what they would receive. Forbidden from seeing their own weapon until their coming of age, and never warned of the way the blades would become connected to them, the children never knew the dangers that came with the thing they craved most. It was always kept a closely guarded secret, even after their souls were severed.

During their coming-of-age ceremony, the Elves would be gifted their blades, momentarily allowed to bask in the wonders set before them. Each blade was masterfully crafted, encapsulating the Elf's destiny through its intricate designs. Then, the Elves would have their unique marks placed upon the palms of their sword hands, and after wetting the blade with their own blood, bind a fraction of themselves to the swords.

With the final ritual complete, these weapons would sear into their afterlife, lost among the gods. Yet, due to their pride and ignorance, the Elves never realized that they had entered the wrong Heaven. These blades would become corrupted by the False Haven, carried by the impish creatures of the Lawless Courts.

Effect

A sword is summoned from one of the heavens, appearing suddenly before the caster. Traditionally, the weapon has always been a sword or spear imbued with a corrupted Elf Soul, allowing the point to aid in the spell's speed and effectiveness. This tradition has been compromised in the modern age. Blunt weapons are successfully bound within heaven, though they often return to this world in a dangerous trajectory. The souls of other races have been used to bind themselves to these blades as the secrets of the Elves have been gradually discovered.

Side/Secondary Effects

Elves claim this spell, much like most of their other unique creations, has no harmful effects. Elves are notorious liars.

Those of Elvish descent are relatively safe while performing this spell for the first time. Binding a weapon to the soul removes a portion of the caster's life. Due to the longevity of Elves, alongside their resistance to the effects of magic, the binding leaves them in a relatively normal state. Other races immediately feel the effects. The caster is rushed by lethargy, suddenly uncoordinated, and feeling as though a part of them is missing. They look as though they've aged significantly. The weariness of losing a part of themselves is difficult to hide. However, those who perform this spell cannot enter the afterlife, nor can they reincarnate.

The tattoo must be reworked immediately if the palm becomes scarred or the hand is damaged significantly. The markings are still usable for the spell, but the design is intricate. Every line and every dot correlates to how the blade will appear and, more importantly, when. The time needed to summon the blade is three heartbeats, based solely on convenience. Elves, naturally, can slow down their heartbeats. In the best scenario, it reveals the Elf is less calm than they may force themselves to appear if their sword appears quicker than three heartbeats. At worst, the blade may enter the world before the Elf can grasp the hilt or come at the Elf in a deadly fashion.

If the symbols are correct, the spells will summon a weapon into the material world at a slow enough speed that an Elf can flawlessly grasp its handle, the blood tethering both the caster and the weapon, with the element of the winds as the bridge. Incorrectly placing the symbols can cause any number of errors to unfold. The blade may appear at an unmaintainable speed or fall limply to the ground each time it's summoned into the mortal world. Although a rare occasion for a blade, there have been instances of the sword appearing, spinning wildly out of control, slashing through those gathered behind the Elf as the summoner makes a nimble escape.

Manifestation

Blood, accompanied by the forbidden words, is required for the spell to work. The blood must be smeared over the tattoo evenly, though it doesn't matter whose blood it is, and the words spoken without break. Enemies that have encountered these tattoos before will use poisons or attempt to quickly eliminate their target in a way that doesn't induce bleeding. The sword hand becomes a target for most foes.

A slight ripple manifests in the air before the caster, like a stone cast into still waters. A choking smell of smoke fills the air, overpowered by a pungent, rotting stench. Warmth suddenly fills the nearby air as flames are briefly revealed. Often, voices accompany the sword's arrival, chittering or surprised screams. Sometimes, there are shrieks and pained howls as the sword flies through the degenerate inhabitants of that Heaven.

The chances of a denizen of that Heaven appearing are slim. However, there have been instances of those unnatural creatures being summoned by accident, still gripping the blade tightly as it's hurled into this world.

Material Components

• A swirling, complex mark upon the palm of the dominant hand.
• Fresh blood

Gestures & Ritual

• Smear the palm with blood.
• Hold out the hand as though waiting to catch something, fingers pointed up
• Recite to oath, preferably in Elfin.

Related School

Divinatin and Conjuration.

Related Element

Air and Aether.

Effect Duration

Varies

Effect Casting Time

Three heartbeats.

Level

Apprentice of Theology

Applied Restriction

• This spell requires blood and air to function.
• This spell is weakened in the darkness and is ineffective beyond the dark.
• The undead are unable to perform this spell. Those who performed the rituals as mortals no longer benefit from this boon.
• This spell is jealously guarded by the Elves.