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Ergdusch
Master of Realmslore
Germany
1720 Posts |
 Posted - 12 Aug 2010 : 11:35:04
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Blades of Cormyr
I was pondering on (important) weapons in Cormyr and spontaniously decided to post some of the info I re-read. For most scribes well-versed in Cormyrian lore these tid-bits are nothing new, for others it might. Anyhow, sharing this with you never hurts.
From Volo's Guide to Cormyr, p.11:
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The Swords of State
Four blades are revered in Cormyr and cared for carefully at Court. Thieves should be warned that war wizards can trace their whereabouts and that stealing one draws a succession of grimly determined Cormyreans willing to do anything to get it back! These hallowed blades are Ansrivarr, Symylazarr, Orblyn, and Rissar.
Ansrivarr is the battered, ancient blade of the Obarskyr line. It symbolizes the realm of Cormyr itself.
Symylazarr, also known as the Fount of Honor, is the sword on which all nobles swear fealty to the Crown and with which all knights are dubbed.
Orblyn, the Edge of Justice, is used to execute nobles found guilty of capital crimes and to detect falsehood in court sessions. Persons giving evidence must do so with their hands on Orblyn's naked blade, which flashes at any untruth spoken because of its permanent detect lie ability.
Rissar is the small and bejewelled blade with which all royal marriage vows are made. The couple clasps it together while they speak their vows. Rissar's point also serves to spill blood in all blood vows undertaken at Court, such as the bond of loyalty to the Crown undertaken by every war wizard. It is rumored that the drops of blood sworn war wizards shed in this ceremony are carefully kept in vials by Vangerdahast, whom tales hold can work deadly magic on treacherous war wizards from afar by means of the precious droplets!
All four blades, when not in use, lie on velvet-covered plinths under crystal domes, each in a separate chamber at the Royal Court in Suzail, and the public can view them without charge. The swords are only displaced from these four great chambers when they are in use or when folk of royal blood have died. (Such nobles are laid in state on the biers normally reserved for the swords.) Visitors are urged to go and see these landmarks. Children go up to the blades on display and whisper their wishes (as do unrequited lovers) to the swords, for legend in Cormyr holds that the blades hear all told to them in confidence and act to aid the truly worthy of heart.
Another, if not important but still well known, Blade in Corymr is the Vigilant Blade, which can be found in the quiet farming community of Espar. There one will find the Sentinel Rock, an impressive shrine to Helm. To further quote from Volo'S Guide of Cormyr, p. 140:
quote:
The god's altar, adorned with a sword of dancing that animates by itself to defend any faithful of Helm who are present as well as all offerings left at the altar, is located in a cave in the heart of the rock itself. Pilgrims have been known to journey here to touch the Vigilant Blade, which won't attack a true worshiper of Helm, and ask for the god's blessing on their ventures, unborn children, and the like.
A rumor surrounds Hultail a certain local legend known as the Ring of Swords. Volo's Guide to Cormyr, p. 189 has the following info:
quote:
Another colorful local legend concerns the Ring of Swords,: nine black blades that rise, dripping, from the lake and flash out at Hultail's foes. It is said only a worshiper of Tempus can call them forth, and once each blade slays something, they all sink down again and cannot be found or called forth until at least nine days have passed?
[Spoiler warning for any possible players:]
According to Elminster footnotes: This one's true, but anyone who knows the word of activation can call the swords up. No, I'm not giving it here, but it's graven in stone somewhere in Hultail, for those who care to go looking. They act as nine separate blade barriers. They fly up to half a mile from Hultail's docks and continue to strike until each blade has dealt 66 points of damage, claimed a life, or all the foes of Hultail are gone, whichever befalls first. I don't know why Tempus enacted this here. I suspect there was once a temple to him where the docks now stand.
Further I recall the weapons from the legendary set of Four from Cormyr. This name referres to four magic items forged centuries ago by King Azoun's ancestors. Each is an item of power in its own right and the power of all four items when brought together is almost on par with that of an artifact. The items are: the Seal of Iron (a bronze disk), Fireblood (a gem) and to weapons, which are discribed below, quoted from the adventure of the same name (TRS 9531), p. 4 et seq.:
quote:
Deathsend: So named because it was used to finish off a foe defeated in combat, this is a dagger made of the finest steel, with a slightly golden glow to the blade. Aside from being a dagger +4, it can also determine, when pointed at an enemy, if the victim is a dishonorable, treacherous soul who deserves death, at least as determined by the rules of fair play as set up by beings of lawful
good alignment. Deathsend will not allow itself to be used as a thrown weapon or in a backstab attempt; any such attack made with the dagger will automatically fail.
Silveredge: This bastard sword is a sword of sharpness. Finely worked detailing adorns the blade and handle, showing scenes of kings fighting giants and dragons. The blade's edges are trimmed with silver, hence the name, and the entire sword shines with a sky-blue glow. Silveredge is found in a leather scabbard. The scabbard has a smaller compartment where Deathsend is kept, plus a circular indentation where the Seal of Iron fits. The pommel contains an empty recess, where Fireblood is meant to be placed.
First I wanted to add this to my Thread Looking for all about Cormyr. But than I decied to make a seperate thread on this topic to have a better overview of the discussion. So, if anyone else recalls weapons linked to Cormyr in some way or another, please share your knowledge with me and other interested scribes.
Ergdusch
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"Das Gras weht im Wind, wenn der Wind weht." |
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Knight of the Gate
Senior Scribe
USA
624 Posts |
Posted - 12 Aug 2010 : 18:45:54
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| Illbratha, Mistress of battle is a Cormyrian blade. |
How can life be so bountiful, providing such sublime rewards for mediocrity? -Umberto Ecco |
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Ergdusch
Master of Realmslore
Germany
1720 Posts |
Posted - 13 Aug 2010 : 10:00:41
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quote:
Originally posted by Knight of the Gate
Illbratha, Mistress of battle is a Cormyrian blade.
I recall this weapon only from the Baldurs Gate II - Shadows of Amn PC game:
+1 short sword with the ability to cast Mirror Image once per day
Do you have any other source for this weapon aside from the PC game? |
"Das Gras weht im Wind, wenn der Wind weht." |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36968 Posts |
Posted - 13 Aug 2010 : 12:14:56
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quote:
Originally posted by Ergdusch
quote:
Originally posted by Knight of the Gate
Illbratha, Mistress of battle is a Cormyrian blade.
I recall this weapon only from the Baldurs Gate II - Shadows of Amn PC game:
+1 short sword with the ability to cast Mirror Image once per day
Do you have any other source for this weapon aside from the PC game?
Lands of Intrigue, Player's Guide to Faerūn, Sea of Fallen Stars, and FR4 The Magister. That's just from a check of my hard drive. |
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Ergdusch
Master of Realmslore
Germany
1720 Posts |
Posted - 13 Aug 2010 : 14:58:45
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Lands of Intrigue, Player's Guide to Faerūn, Sea of Fallen Stars, and FR4 The Magister. That's just from a check of my hard drive.
Impressive!
Thanks Wooly. I'll check on those to find me some Cormyr-information.
Ergdusch |
"Das Gras weht im Wind, wenn der Wind weht." |
Edited by - Ergdusch on 13 Aug 2010 14:59:48 |
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Ergdusch
Master of Realmslore
Germany
1720 Posts |
Posted - 13 Aug 2010 : 16:38:06
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I've found the references.
Most extensive information on Ilbratha, Mistress of Battle can be found in Sea of Fallen Stars, p. 19 & 22 et seq. To quote:
Ilbratha, "Mistress of Battle"
Ilbratha is a bronze short sword with a row of six matched bloodstones set into the helve of the blade on its left face. Each bloodstone is worth 70 gp; as an undamaged set of stones, they might bring 500-600 gp if sold shrewdly. Ilbratha does not glow and bears no inscription. It gives a +1 bonus on attack and damage rolls. When grasped by a fighter of any alignment, its powers are communicated telepathically to the holder. This is a feature of its manufacture; the blade is not sentient.
[...]Ilbratha was created by unknown hands in Cormyr at the behest of then-Crown Prince Azoun I in the Year of the Woeful Resurrection (375 DR). He bore it once into war against the advances of the greedy Prince Ashar Tornamn, who sought to expand the Shoon Imperium north to the High Moor. With both a powerful army and a powerful blade to lend power to his charge, Azoun forced the Tethyrian prince all the way back to Ithmong before returning to Cormyr with his triumphant army.
Fourteen summers later, Azoun, having carried the blade constantly but wielding it rarely, bore it with him on a trade mission to the Vilhon Reach, where Ilbratha slew Dima the Djinni-Lord of the Chondalwood. The Cormyrean prince's flagship Valashar's Bane sank in a storm at the Neck later that year (the Year of the Wooded Altar, 389 DR) [...]
There is even more to this blade in Sea of Fallen Stars. So, whoever is interested should have a look for himself into that sourcebook.
The Magister, p. 57 et seq. has almost identical information as can be found in Sea of Fallen Stars.
In Lands of Intrigue I found the following additional info on the blade:
- Ilbratha was crafted by the end of the year 335 DR (Year of Seven Stones).
- There is some info on the use of it by King Azoun I against Valashar and Ashar's March the following year (336 DR).
- A ruined garrison bares the name of the sword who helped bring it down, Fort Ilbratha.
The weapon's abilities can also be found in Sea of Fallen Stars but I will quote the statistics from the most recent sourcebook, the Player's Guide to Fearun, p. 126:quote:
Ilbratha: This +1 long sword was forgedat the behest of King Azoun I of Cormyr, but it was subsequently lost in a storm at sea. In addition to its enchantment bonus, Ilbratha allows its wielder to use jump three times per day, blink once per day, and mirror image once a day with the proper command words. It also rings like struck chimes when it touches spell effects or magic items.
Faint transmutation; CL 5th; Craft Magic Arms and Armor, blink, jump, mirror image; Price 31,115 gp; Cost 15,715gp + 1,232 XP.
There you have it. Thanks again, Knight of the Gate for bringing this particular blade to my attention and Wooly for pointing me into the right directions.
If any of you can think of other important cormyrian weapons, please speak up!
Ergdusch
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"Das Gras weht im Wind, wenn der Wind weht." |
Edited by - Ergdusch on 13 Aug 2010 16:39:14 |
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Blades of Cormyr
