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FARSLAYER
(SW. OF VENGENANCE)

Symbol: target; that is concentric rings

Sound: howl

Remarks: Farslayer when thrown at a foe will travel any distance necessary to reach intended target. Skewers the heart (in case of a demon, the physical object housing the life). No physical or magical barrier (except, of course, SHIELDBREAKER) is effective.

WOUNDHEALER (SW. OF MERCY; SW OF LOVE)

Symbol: open hand

Sound: human breath

Remarks: Actually not a weapon. When plunged into body causes no pain or damage--quite the contrary. Heals any injuries or disease, as long as spark of life remains. Will not raise dead or restore youth. Can be used prophylactically, e.g., a man can hold this Sword embedded in his flesh and jump off a cliff, or face an armed attack, without being hurt more than momentarily. Caused Jord the Smith to regrow his amputated arm, over a period of months.

On the downside, can be used by a torturer to revive his victims, over and over.

WAYFINDER (SW. OF WISDOM)

Symbol: small white arrow--points to pommel

Sound: none. Sword quivers in action.

Remarks: Aims itself physically, geographically, twisting in the hand to point in the direction of whatever goal user asks for. If necessary will point, unerringly, to the proper intermediate goal or destination, person, place, or thing.

SOULCUTTER (TYRANT'S BLADE)

Symbol: none

Sound: none

Remarks: On being drawn from its scabbard, induces utter, incapacitating hopelessness and despair--beginning with the person who draws it, spreading slowly to those nearby, then farther. Under Soulcutter's influence no human activity seems worth the effort. Radius of operation enough to cover a fair-sized battlefield. Whole armies may be induced to throw down their weapons. This Sword will prevail over MINDSWORD when the two are brought into direct conflict.

SIGHTBLINDER (SW. OF STEALTH)

Symbol: human eye

Sound: none

Remarks: When drawn, causes others to see its wielder as someone they desperately fear, or desperately love. Perception may switch from one to the other and back again. The SW. Of STEALTH itself generally becomes invisible in use, thus can be used to strike a treacherous blow.

A secondary and subtler effect is to enhance the user's perception of the true nature of anyone (s)he sees.

STONECUTTER (SW. OF SIEGE)

Symbol: a wedge, splitting a block

Sound: heavy, slow hammering

Remarks: Cuts stone of any kind (diamonds, granite, etc.) neatly and smoothly as cheese. Great for undermining forts, escaping dungeons, setting ambushes. Marvelous sculptor's tool.

DRAGONSLICER (SW. OF HEROES)

Symbol: dragon

Sound: shrilling

Remarks: See DRAGONS. Penetrates easily the thickest armored scales and finds the vital spots of these otherwise almost invulnerable monsters.

Does not guarantee the wielder against death or injury.

SHIELDBREAKER (SW. OF FORCE)

Symbol: hammer

Sound: thudding; slow rhythm when danger threatens, rapid in actual combat.

Remarks: violently trumps any and all other weapons, physical or magical, passive or active. DEMONS and WARBEASTS also count as weapons for this purpose.

One fighter with SW OF FORCE can carve up an army (as long as they keep coming within reach) and survive unscratched. But user may be exhausted, even fatally, being tugged through violent exercise by this SW. Once in action, can't be dropped or turned off until the fight is over.

All other SWORDS are useless as weapons against person armed with this one; e.g., wielder cannot be tracked down by WAYFINDER or deceived by SIGHTBLINDER.

Direct opposition between WOUNDHEALER and SHIELDBREAKER is a special case; please consult with Fred Saberhagen before staging this.

Only one way to beat SW. OF FORCE: SHIELDBREAKER will not harm the flesh of an unarmed person, and wielder can be outwrestled even by someone normally much weaker.

COINSPINNER (SW. OF CHANCE)

Symbol: dice

Sound: none

Remarks: renders bearer incredibly, magically lucky. Anyone attempting harm to user has amazing bad luck, swallowed by an earthquake if necessary to save user.

This SW. is unique in that it moves itself around at random intervals, changing owners now and then, leaving even locked and sealed vaults to reappear in unexpected places.

MINDSWORD (various alternate names; make one up if you like)

Symbol: generic banner

Sound: faint roar as of cheering mob

Remarks: inspires fanatical loyalty, obedience, worship of wielder. Can even cause GODS to fall down and worship humans.

DOOMGIVER (SW. OF JUSTICE)

Symbol: hollow circle

Sound: none

Remarks: anyone attacking user suffers whatever injury (s)he is trying to inflict. Was destroyed by SHIELDBREAKER very early in the series.

TOWNSAVER (SW. OF FURY)

Symbol: crenelated wall

Sound: scream

Remarks: in physical combat very similar in effect to SHIELDBREAKER, but only under limited conditions: when defending some place of human habitation, as a castle, village, house, cave, etc. Also does not defend its wielder against injury.

(End of Swords' list)

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