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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Helfdan" data-source="post: 892509" data-attributes="member: 11732">The Winter's BlessingHere's the story Kalten Hwakshand relates to his comrades, regarding the mighty blade "Aerbrand":             The craft of sword making has been raised to an art by the falconian smiths, who have combined eastern techniques of folding steel for maximum sharpness with the nordian tempering methods.  One of the most renowned masters of this craft was one Talorn.  Though he died over three centuries past, his fame persists, as a few of his blades still linger as heirlooms of some baronial lines.  Unfortunately his one son had little talent for the forge, and most of his secrets died with him.      His finest work was his last.  As his years drew to a close, the desert paynim to the south were mounting a major offensive against the falconians, to take by force the lands so painstakingly conquered by feremordian expatriates from goblinoids and giant-kin a mere century earlier.  He knew his son was to ride to battle as soon as the snows thawed in the northern baronies.  Thus he decided to forge a blade no nomad could whistand.          In the heart of winter, he fired his forge one last time.  He poured all his skill, faith, and love into the crafting of this broadsword.  He folded the white-hot steel over ten times, and the tempering was done not in water, but in pristine snow.  As he completed his work, he was inspired to etch along both fullers, in purest silver, runes both eldritch and divine.  Even he was not sure of their meaning, but somehow he knew that in the hands of a worthy man, such as his son, their power would be evident.  And he named this, his finest, and final, creation, Aerbrand, the winter’s blessing.      Talorn did not survive the winter, as his son did not survive the war.  Aerbrand was taken back to the archbaron, who gave it a place of honor in his armory.  For the blacksmith’s son had wielded the blade doughtily, and fell while defending his lord during a nighttime black nomad raid on the baronial camp.  The sword then lay untouched for almost two centuries.      It was two hundred years past that Kendrick Hawk’s-hand became champion to the archbaron.  A mighty and pious knight from the northern reaches of the archbarony, he won the sword as grand prize in a tourney.  With this mighty blade and his own selfless courage, he became somewhat of a legend in the archbarony for his exploits against marauding monsters and evil nomads alike – some say he even slew a dragon with Aerbrand.  He eventually gained a fief for himself.  But he was not a savvy politician, and once his youth and vigor left him, he faded into relative obscurity in his small, remote fief.      Aerbrand remained as an heirloom of his house.  But though all his line were warriors, none wielded the sword to the same effect as he did.  The house of Hawkshand was virtually unknown until a few years back, when its youngest heir, on his way to swear fealty to the archbaron, ran afoul of a band of nomads attacking a village.  The youth recklessly led his men-at-arms against the paynim, and after a fierce struggle killed or captured all of them.  Then, inexplicably, Kalten Hawkshand showed mercy to the vile raiders, and released the prisoners after they swore never to raid into the baronies again.  What was to have been a joyous day was a tragic one for the young warrior.  He was knighted by Archbaron Osric himself for his bravery – but in accordance with ancient law, he was immediately exiled as punishment for aiding the enemies of the realm.      After a night of vigil at Tilsman’s fane, the young knight rode out for lands unknown.  He bore the mighty blade Aerbrand, a parting gift from a father who at once seemed heartbroken and proud…  Description:  Aerbrand is a ‘classic’ long sword.  It measures forty-four inches from pommel to point.  The top-shaped pommel and straight crossguard are made of plain brass, and the hilt, long enough for two hands, is wrapped in worn leather.  The razor-sharp blade is lightly etched with silvery runes along both sides, but these are difficult to see given the sheen of the steel itself.  Wielders quickly note it is superbly balanced, and does not seem as heavy as its imposing appearance would suggest.  (The ‘look’ I’m going for is the type of sword wielded by Parn or King Kashue in Lodoss)</blockquote>

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