"Do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. Love only that which they protect."
-Faramir
Iron Thane Weapons
Iron Thane Weapons are weapons forged by dwarves through unique resources seen throughout the Nine Worlds and bonded by the runes. They were created after the First Ragnarok through an alliance of gods and mortals, who suffered the deepest casualties of the war, as a means to overcome the worlds' ending. They are weapons bonded to the power of those who wield them, thus requiring great levels of vitality to use and why they're almost impossible to dual wield or have possession of more than two. Through countless wars, battles, and duels, these weapons have found themselves scattered throughout the world and some of even lost. Only 10 were forged on the same day by the dwarves. 60 more were forged after these events, yet only 39 have yet to be lost in darkness.
Weapons of the Iron Thanes
1.) Gungnir
2.) Tyrfing
3.) Mjölnir
4.) Gram
5.) Perundril
6.) Wyrdspire
7.) Excalibur
8.) Crystal Staff
9.) Lævateinn
10.) Ichaiaval
11.) Angurvadal
12.) Dáinsleif
13.) Hǫfuð
14.) Næġling
15.) Skofnung
16.) Sumarbrand
17.) Aeglos
18.) Gambanteinn
19.) Andúril
20.) Eldúrstal
21.) Lobera
22.) Grond
23.) Abendrot
24.) Myndasól
25.) Meistari
26.) Anguirel
27.) Ragnarök
28.) Anglachel
29.) Balmung
30.) Erilaz
31.) Andraste
32.) Athem
33.) Einmyria
34.) Andruil
35.) Claiomh Solais
36.) Almace
37.) Ulfberht
38.) Hrunting
2.) Tyrfing
3.) Mjölnir
4.) Gram
5.) Perundril
6.) Wyrdspire
7.) Excalibur
8.) Crystal Staff
9.) Lævateinn
10.) Ichaiaval
11.) Angurvadal
12.) Dáinsleif
13.) Hǫfuð
14.) Næġling
15.) Skofnung
16.) Sumarbrand
17.) Aeglos
18.) Gambanteinn
19.) Andúril
20.) Eldúrstal
21.) Lobera
22.) Grond
23.) Abendrot
24.) Myndasól
25.) Meistari
26.) Anguirel
27.) Ragnarök
28.) Anglachel
29.) Balmung
30.) Erilaz
31.) Andraste
32.) Athem
33.) Einmyria
34.) Andruil
35.) Claiomh Solais
36.) Almace
37.) Ulfberht
38.) Hrunting
Abendrot - Evening Flag of the High King
"You left me with this weapon, the afterglow of your brilliance. Odin told me everything. He says you were born with its power in your blood. It breaks my heart knowing the fate you held on your shoulders all this time, long after your farewell. I hope I brought you happiness in a life of tragedy. You did for me. You showed me how to be a better man and I swore to make it my duty to follow your example. . . .
I'm still trying."
- Osmund the High King
The strongest and most magical of the Iron Thane weapons, Abendrot is a tragic symbol of power. The long-sword is beautiful. The tip of the blade is a crimson, bleeding into the body of the blade where it brightens into a vivid orange. Further down below, reddish hues meld into a haze of violet near the base of the cruceiform guard, where the entire blade itself is granted its dusk, twilight glow. It is said this was the blade wielded by Ansemund to slay the Titans in the First Age, but its luster was lost. It is a weapon tied to the wielder's life-force and when their life-force dies, so too does the weapon. Its regular form is that of the Sword of Dawn, Morgenim; a cerulean blade that shimmers with a white, cloud-like aura.
Gungnir - Flashing Spear of the Old God
"I wot that I hung from the wind-tossed tree for nights all nine. Wounded by spear, bespoken to Odin, a bespoken sacrifice to myself for myself. Upon that tree which none telleth from what roots it doth rise. Blood fallen from my wound through spear, raining to the waters of ground from which the dews of the Ashen Tree does pour. Down to the deepest depths I peered, until I spied the runes. Then I was fertilized and became wise; I truly grew and thrived. From a word to a word I was led to a word, from a work to a work I was led to a work. With a roaring cry I seized them up, thence to the ground I fell wailing."
-Odin recounting to Wulfric the Warrior on how he gained the full power of Gungnir
Gungnir is the Iron Thane spear wielded by Osmund and was once wielded by Odin. With the death of Frigga, Odin's daughter, and the deaths of his sons, there was no heir to the spear save for Frigga's husband, Wulfric the Warrior. Wulfric the Warrior took up the mantle of Allfather, King of Asgard, and Guardian of Valhalla with Gungnir in hand before renaming himself Osmund the High King.
Gungnir is a spear forged by the dwarves as one of the original 10 Iron Thane weapons made after the First Ragnarok as a means of overcoming the worlds' ending. The Sons of Ivaldi led by Dvalinn forged the spear from wood by the Yggdrasil's branch, carving all the runes onto its tip and throughout its pole. The metal arrowhead at its head is a tooth from the Valknjoggr that guards Valhalla, a dragon that is also made of Yggdrasil's wood and Ymir's nails. The tooth and pole were bonded through the vaporizing force of Bifrost and was tempered by the 11 poisonous rivers of the Elivagar which flow into Ginnungagap.
Gungnir is so sturdy and balanced that it has perfect accuracy no matter the skill of its wielder, meaning the spear will always hit its target upon being thrown. Along with that, the spear possesses a perfect piercing, meaning the spear WILL go through the target and anything in its way to return back to its owner. These are the only two natural abilities of Gungnir, but they are the most powerful. The perfect accuracy ability only activates upon being thrown and it will follow the target at unnatural speeds. It appears almost as if the spear is destined to hit its target.
The true abilities of Gungnir are only revealed when one possesses the Blood of Odin. The Blood of Odin is an ability gained through great sacrifice in order to unlock the runes sleeping within Gungnir. One must impale themselves against the World Tree with Gungnir for nine days and nine nights, hanging there whilst paying a sacrifice. Then once that sacrifice is paid, the Runes of Wisdom and Power will reveal themselves. This process is what unlocked the runes seen within Gungnir for Odin and Osmund, the Ether dews of Yggdrasil coating the spear while the blood of their wounds ran through these runes and the spear itself. Odin sacrificed himself to destiny, creating his eventual doom to Agmund when he could once use Seidr to prevent this. Osmund sacrificed his vitality, losing his immortality and dooming him to grow old and weak through time.
Once one awakens the full power of Gungnir, ALL the runes are now usable through Gungnir as a medium. There is no backlash to Gungnir nor is there any backlash to the wielder so long as they're careful. These runes can be triggered remotely, they can be stacked, and can be mixed together. This is what makes Gungnir one of the strongest Iron Thane Weapons, but the sacrifice for acquiring this is eventual doom.
Gungnir is a spear forged by the dwarves as one of the original 10 Iron Thane weapons made after the First Ragnarok as a means of overcoming the worlds' ending. The Sons of Ivaldi led by Dvalinn forged the spear from wood by the Yggdrasil's branch, carving all the runes onto its tip and throughout its pole. The metal arrowhead at its head is a tooth from the Valknjoggr that guards Valhalla, a dragon that is also made of Yggdrasil's wood and Ymir's nails. The tooth and pole were bonded through the vaporizing force of Bifrost and was tempered by the 11 poisonous rivers of the Elivagar which flow into Ginnungagap.
Gungnir is so sturdy and balanced that it has perfect accuracy no matter the skill of its wielder, meaning the spear will always hit its target upon being thrown. Along with that, the spear possesses a perfect piercing, meaning the spear WILL go through the target and anything in its way to return back to its owner. These are the only two natural abilities of Gungnir, but they are the most powerful. The perfect accuracy ability only activates upon being thrown and it will follow the target at unnatural speeds. It appears almost as if the spear is destined to hit its target.
The true abilities of Gungnir are only revealed when one possesses the Blood of Odin. The Blood of Odin is an ability gained through great sacrifice in order to unlock the runes sleeping within Gungnir. One must impale themselves against the World Tree with Gungnir for nine days and nine nights, hanging there whilst paying a sacrifice. Then once that sacrifice is paid, the Runes of Wisdom and Power will reveal themselves. This process is what unlocked the runes seen within Gungnir for Odin and Osmund, the Ether dews of Yggdrasil coating the spear while the blood of their wounds ran through these runes and the spear itself. Odin sacrificed himself to destiny, creating his eventual doom to Agmund when he could once use Seidr to prevent this. Osmund sacrificed his vitality, losing his immortality and dooming him to grow old and weak through time.
Once one awakens the full power of Gungnir, ALL the runes are now usable through Gungnir as a medium. There is no backlash to Gungnir nor is there any backlash to the wielder so long as they're careful. These runes can be triggered remotely, they can be stacked, and can be mixed together. This is what makes Gungnir one of the strongest Iron Thane Weapons, but the sacrifice for acquiring this is eventual doom.
Ragnarök - Mighty Blade of the Great Death
"It sates itself on the life-blood of fated men, paints red the powers' homes with crimson gore. Black become the sun's beams in the summers that follow, weathers all treacherous. Do you still seek to know? And what?"
-The Norns to Cyrus
Ragnarok is a double-edged blade, both literally and figuratively. The blade is a long-sword, entirely black, its shadow only broken by the glowing red runes running down the two edges of the blade like bloody flames. Upon the guard is a glowing eye, pulsating with a crimson glow and a black slit cutting through its core. The eye wanders restlessly, searching around for its prey. Horns split out north from the sides of the eye, blood dripping from its tips. The hilt itself spans a foot of length, breathing in and out with live hunger. Ragnarok is alive.
This weapon was forged without the consent of the dwarves and is not among the original Iron Thane Weapons. Instead, the weapon was forged during the time of the Jotunn Empire by the Jotunn, Utgard-Loki, as an experiment. Utgard-Loki sought to create a weapon capable of killing Agmund himself and to create a weapon that would be the opposite of all the other Iron Thane Weapons in their conviction to protect the Nine Worlds. This weapon would destroy the Nine Worlds. To this end, Utgard-Loki spent months gathering the scattered power of Agmund's destructive energy, bonding it and forging them into a blade. In the battlefield of the Jotunn Civil War, he stole the Othur Heiko from Gibborim's corpse and then stole the Aldarrok Heiko from Surtr's corpse. He bonded both to the sword and this created the mighty blade seen today. Utgard-Loki could not wield the blade and only four have come to wield it: Osmund, Ryuu, Aldegund, and Aegon. Today, only Aldegund and Aegon possess the ability to summon the blade.
Unlike most weapons, the blade is summoned through a simple incantation: "Conjure Fate." It possesses its own Heiko and its own unique rune, among three other Runes. The particular Heiko it possesses is the Aldarrok Heiko empowered by the Othur Heiko. The blade scales with the more powerful it becomes. In a normal state, unfrenzied, the blade would severely damage anything it cuts or batters...even if such a thing it harms does not normally possess the ability to grow weak. Two strikes and the thing it cuts will be destroyed into oblivion, exploding into a black wave that consumes everything around it in the blast, chaining. To cut a person down into oblivion would cause an explosion and everything behind them would explode for several miles before the power fades. Mountains would be razed, forests obliterated, and entrenched valleys would form upon such an explosion.The blade is only tamed by its master and adheres to no one but him.
The three runes it possesses are the Aegishjalmr (Helm of Awe), Eiwaz (Rune of Death), and Ansuz (Rune of Odin) combined to create the Aedra Rune (Rune of Resounding Despair). Activating the Aedra Rune creates a crimson aura around you that begins to destroy everything around you in a span of 8 meters (26ft), just like the Aegishjalmr except with constant tremendous damage that damages you as well. You can move almost instantly within this space, striking with shock and awe that it's truly suicide to come within your presence. Furthermore, there is nothing that does damage to you from your opponent aside from Nether, Aether, and Ether and the like (although these all would take damage the moment they enter your space and be weaker than usual), just like the regular Aegishjalmr. The key difference with the regular Aegishjalmr is how it combines with the Ansuz Rune. When you gaze at your opponent and they are within your vision, the Aedra Aura immediately focuses upon them like a tunnel connecting the both of you, making them take instant damage just as they would be if they were within your space...that is because it connects both of your fates (although it no longer ensures the first attack will hit). Naturally, being within your space, you can instantly strike them like you would with the Aegishjalmr radius no matter how far their distance so long as they are within your gaze. Finally, the Eiwaz Rune. The blade becomes embued with the Eiwaz Rune and striking an opponent signifies certain death, immediately destroying that which it strikes into oblivion. Releasing the Eiwaz Rune into your aura, would cause everything around you to die and allow you to destroy concepts...although doing this would mean certain death for you as well even if you do this for just one second.
This weapon was forged without the consent of the dwarves and is not among the original Iron Thane Weapons. Instead, the weapon was forged during the time of the Jotunn Empire by the Jotunn, Utgard-Loki, as an experiment. Utgard-Loki sought to create a weapon capable of killing Agmund himself and to create a weapon that would be the opposite of all the other Iron Thane Weapons in their conviction to protect the Nine Worlds. This weapon would destroy the Nine Worlds. To this end, Utgard-Loki spent months gathering the scattered power of Agmund's destructive energy, bonding it and forging them into a blade. In the battlefield of the Jotunn Civil War, he stole the Othur Heiko from Gibborim's corpse and then stole the Aldarrok Heiko from Surtr's corpse. He bonded both to the sword and this created the mighty blade seen today. Utgard-Loki could not wield the blade and only four have come to wield it: Osmund, Ryuu, Aldegund, and Aegon. Today, only Aldegund and Aegon possess the ability to summon the blade.
Unlike most weapons, the blade is summoned through a simple incantation: "Conjure Fate." It possesses its own Heiko and its own unique rune, among three other Runes. The particular Heiko it possesses is the Aldarrok Heiko empowered by the Othur Heiko. The blade scales with the more powerful it becomes. In a normal state, unfrenzied, the blade would severely damage anything it cuts or batters...even if such a thing it harms does not normally possess the ability to grow weak. Two strikes and the thing it cuts will be destroyed into oblivion, exploding into a black wave that consumes everything around it in the blast, chaining. To cut a person down into oblivion would cause an explosion and everything behind them would explode for several miles before the power fades. Mountains would be razed, forests obliterated, and entrenched valleys would form upon such an explosion.The blade is only tamed by its master and adheres to no one but him.
The three runes it possesses are the Aegishjalmr (Helm of Awe), Eiwaz (Rune of Death), and Ansuz (Rune of Odin) combined to create the Aedra Rune (Rune of Resounding Despair). Activating the Aedra Rune creates a crimson aura around you that begins to destroy everything around you in a span of 8 meters (26ft), just like the Aegishjalmr except with constant tremendous damage that damages you as well. You can move almost instantly within this space, striking with shock and awe that it's truly suicide to come within your presence. Furthermore, there is nothing that does damage to you from your opponent aside from Nether, Aether, and Ether and the like (although these all would take damage the moment they enter your space and be weaker than usual), just like the regular Aegishjalmr. The key difference with the regular Aegishjalmr is how it combines with the Ansuz Rune. When you gaze at your opponent and they are within your vision, the Aedra Aura immediately focuses upon them like a tunnel connecting the both of you, making them take instant damage just as they would be if they were within your space...that is because it connects both of your fates (although it no longer ensures the first attack will hit). Naturally, being within your space, you can instantly strike them like you would with the Aegishjalmr radius no matter how far their distance so long as they are within your gaze. Finally, the Eiwaz Rune. The blade becomes embued with the Eiwaz Rune and striking an opponent signifies certain death, immediately destroying that which it strikes into oblivion. Releasing the Eiwaz Rune into your aura, would cause everything around you to die and allow you to destroy concepts...although doing this would mean certain death for you as well even if you do this for just one second.
Balmung - Greatsword of the Broken God
"In an icy land marked by snow-capped hills and glacier fed lakes, the last king of the esteemed Nibelung family was laid to rest. That fateful day when a bloodline of honored men and women came to a close in endless war. That day when the night skies caught the freezing beauty of the sword King Siegfried took with him across the river Fasolt. We watched his ship drown into the cold depths of the river, thence Balmung and the Nibelung were no more."
-Accounts of the valkyrie, Brynhild.
Balmung was forged for the powerful and influential Nibelung family as a gift from Odin. The Nibelung family lived in the northern kingdom of Forochel, defending Midgard from Hrimthursar and Bergrisar that lived in the outer world for thousands of years. Due to their valor, the gods rewarded them with three swords: Balmung, Nothung, and Gram. The last owner of Balmung was the chief of the Nibelung family, Siegfried. During the wars between gods and giants, Siegfried made his name known as the strongest the Nibelung had ever seen. He used Balmung to perfection and became known as the God of Conquest among his people. In his hubris, Siegfried faced the Earth Jotunn, Thrym, in personal combat. It is then when the mortality of men was proven, where Siegfried was slain and his sword broken. Balmung was once lost, but once again found by Lyanna the War God floating through Jotunnheim. She reclaimed it and returned it to her father Osmund, remaining among the treasures of Valhalla until it finds a worthy owner.
Balmung is a greatsword whose blade shines with a freezing, lethal beauty. The hilt and guard are cold to the touch, made of pure silver taken from the caverns of Niflheim. Due to Balmung's exposure to Frost and Earth Jotunn, it holds immunity to these two elements. The wielder of Balmung will never freeze or be stagnated by any means so long as they hold Balmung in their possession and the blade can cut through any earth or metal regardless of its hardness. What the Frost Jotunn perk means is the wielder is immune to cold or any ability that slows them down so long as they wield the blade.
Those were just skills the blade gained from exposure to the battlefield, Balmung possesses natural abilities from its inception. Balmung's key ability is in the two runes it has inscribed onto the hilt: Isa (Rune of Ice) and Dagaz (Rune of Dawn). The blade bleeds a cold light that grows stronger the more you move, your sweat freezing and lowering the temperature of Balmung (Isa). With a swing, Balmung releases a wave of blue light (Dagaz) that instead of vaporizing opponents, freezes opponents in a purifying frost. Once an object is frozen and purified, it shatters to return to the blade as aurora lights. The more you move, the stronger these dancing blue lights are and the faster they release. This ability stacks up nicely with the other ability it possessed where you could not be frozen or stagnated without your will, although that does not mean an opponent cannot bind you or seal you.
Balmung is a greatsword whose blade shines with a freezing, lethal beauty. The hilt and guard are cold to the touch, made of pure silver taken from the caverns of Niflheim. Due to Balmung's exposure to Frost and Earth Jotunn, it holds immunity to these two elements. The wielder of Balmung will never freeze or be stagnated by any means so long as they hold Balmung in their possession and the blade can cut through any earth or metal regardless of its hardness. What the Frost Jotunn perk means is the wielder is immune to cold or any ability that slows them down so long as they wield the blade.
Those were just skills the blade gained from exposure to the battlefield, Balmung possesses natural abilities from its inception. Balmung's key ability is in the two runes it has inscribed onto the hilt: Isa (Rune of Ice) and Dagaz (Rune of Dawn). The blade bleeds a cold light that grows stronger the more you move, your sweat freezing and lowering the temperature of Balmung (Isa). With a swing, Balmung releases a wave of blue light (Dagaz) that instead of vaporizing opponents, freezes opponents in a purifying frost. Once an object is frozen and purified, it shatters to return to the blade as aurora lights. The more you move, the stronger these dancing blue lights are and the faster they release. This ability stacks up nicely with the other ability it possessed where you could not be frozen or stagnated without your will, although that does not mean an opponent cannot bind you or seal you.
Andraste - Shield of Promised Victory
"Magisters and Templars! We must now take leave! Boldly must we employ our fate and convert all in the barbaric lands to our cause for we are Her disciples! Here I hold in my grasp her shield and it is through her eyes that we will see a new dawn! This is what she has promised me and what I now promise you! For liberty! For fortune! For Andraste!"
-Cassandra's call to arms for the disciples of Andraste
Andraste is a shield made to resemble the minor Eternal, Andraste. The Eternal is one of the few worshipped like a god, possessing a strong religious faith in the southern lands of Trinovantes, Jotunnheim, where the Trinovantian Empire reigns supreme over many kingdoms. Andraste met her end during the war between the Eternals after Ansemund's split, dying at the hands of Adamas Thanatos. The shield is made entirely from Crucible Steel found in the blistering heat of Muspellheim, taken from the armor she once wore to battle.
The shield is adorned with ornate markings of gold flowing elegantly to resemble Andraste's golden hair, from which her noble face is plastered at the center of the shield in a state of slumber. When the dwarves forged this particular shield, they engraved only two runes over and over again into the markings of her hair and individually onto each of her eyes: Algiz (Rune of Sanctuary) and Teiwaz (Rune of Tyr). The two runes combine to give the shield the ability to withstand absolutely any force that strikes it, making it indomitable. The power of the shield is so great that not even Gungnir can pass through the shield.
The shield is responsive to her followers when one recites Incant of Victory, "Here I hold in my grasp your sanctum! Dear Lady of Restitution, raise your hand toward heaven so the legions of the righteous may fall upon this world!"
When one does this, the face on the shield opens her eyes and it activates the full power of Andraste by granting vast levels of defense for all allies, coating them in a golden aura that is almost impenetrable so long as you continue to withstand any force with Andraste. The shield itself becomes more offensive as well, turning the indomitable shield into an unstoppable force when you use it for shield bashing. Although, doing this will create a 5 second delay when it returns to being the indomitable shield and the opponent can take advantage of that window of time to strike.
The shield is adorned with ornate markings of gold flowing elegantly to resemble Andraste's golden hair, from which her noble face is plastered at the center of the shield in a state of slumber. When the dwarves forged this particular shield, they engraved only two runes over and over again into the markings of her hair and individually onto each of her eyes: Algiz (Rune of Sanctuary) and Teiwaz (Rune of Tyr). The two runes combine to give the shield the ability to withstand absolutely any force that strikes it, making it indomitable. The power of the shield is so great that not even Gungnir can pass through the shield.
The shield is responsive to her followers when one recites Incant of Victory, "Here I hold in my grasp your sanctum! Dear Lady of Restitution, raise your hand toward heaven so the legions of the righteous may fall upon this world!"
When one does this, the face on the shield opens her eyes and it activates the full power of Andraste by granting vast levels of defense for all allies, coating them in a golden aura that is almost impenetrable so long as you continue to withstand any force with Andraste. The shield itself becomes more offensive as well, turning the indomitable shield into an unstoppable force when you use it for shield bashing. Although, doing this will create a 5 second delay when it returns to being the indomitable shield and the opponent can take advantage of that window of time to strike.
Erilaz - Swordstaff of Runemasters
"I, master of the runes, conceal here runes of power. Incessantly plagued by maleficence, doomed to insidious death is he who breaks this monument. A prophecy of destruction for he who seeks heedless power. A sacrifice for grievous wisdom he may come to honor."
-Runestone's words carved by Odin for Harald Wartooth after the Battle of Bråvalla
Erilaz was the swordstaff wielded by Harald Wartooth, King of Bråviken; a kingdom deep into the north that fought alongside the Nibelung family of Forochel. He was a man much like Odin and admired by Odin, fighting Frost Jotunn and Earth Jotunn alike and never dying. According to legend, Harald was growing old and this instilled his deepest fear of not being able to die in combat so he could ascend to Valhalla and would instead go to Helheim for eternity. This was true for Harald was quite impossible to kill even in his old age due to the weapon he wielded, Erilaz. In his fear, he bid Siegfried, King of Forochel, to help him go to Valhalla as a favor. Thus they came to the conclusion to have a great war together between their kingdoms. Heroes from all Nine Worlds heard of this coming battle and even the gods grew interest to see what would come about from the fated war. For seven years, the two kingdoms prepared their forces for the battle. The Battle of Bråvalla finally came to be as hundreds of thousands of soldiers slayed one another for Valhalla. Harald Wartooth killed every foe that crossed him in the battlefield, not faltering in his old fury. Finally, Odin grew tired of the battle and showed himself on the battlefield to challenge Harald in combat. The two fought and alas Harald was slain by the hand of the God of War himself. Siegfried immediately ended the battle upon Harald's death and quickly prepared his ship so Harald could swiftly arise to Valhalla.
Erilaz appears much like a spear, but possesses no piercing power due to its unique appearance. It's more accurate to describe it as a swordstaff, for its incredibly long hilt and twin blades at the very end facing opposite ways. Erilaz holds a sky blue and silvery appearance throughout the cross-guard and hilt, gold lacing between the fuller and rain guard. The swordstaff was forged from Crucible Steel, a steel that never degrades and instead grows stronger the older it is while also being immune to elemental and magical forces.
Taking that concept to heed, there are many runes inscribed upon Erilaz: Gibo (Rune of Divine Interaction), Thurisaz (Rune of Thor), Kaunaz (Rune of Fire), Dagaz (Rune of Dawn), and Inguz (Rune of Fertility). In other words, Erilaz is a holy swordstaff as every one of the runes possesses positive energy. Erilaz is a versatile weapon, capable of releasing the elements out as ranged attacks due to the property it has as a staff or coating the entire weapon in a specific rune. Gibo plays a key role in the swordstaff as Gibo is what allows one to mix runes together. If one mixes Gibo with Dagaz, it can release a light that immediately binds Gibo to everything the light touches, allowing one to strike with any of the other runes instantly. When all runes are combined, it activates the full power of Erilaz, giving the sword a pale glow. It receives sealing properties relating to Inguz and making it immune to the effects of other runes. Should anyone be sliced by Erilaz from then on, their abilities would be shut down as the passive nature of Inguz possesses them. This effect is not permanent, but the effect lasts for at least a day.
Erilaz appears much like a spear, but possesses no piercing power due to its unique appearance. It's more accurate to describe it as a swordstaff, for its incredibly long hilt and twin blades at the very end facing opposite ways. Erilaz holds a sky blue and silvery appearance throughout the cross-guard and hilt, gold lacing between the fuller and rain guard. The swordstaff was forged from Crucible Steel, a steel that never degrades and instead grows stronger the older it is while also being immune to elemental and magical forces.
Taking that concept to heed, there are many runes inscribed upon Erilaz: Gibo (Rune of Divine Interaction), Thurisaz (Rune of Thor), Kaunaz (Rune of Fire), Dagaz (Rune of Dawn), and Inguz (Rune of Fertility). In other words, Erilaz is a holy swordstaff as every one of the runes possesses positive energy. Erilaz is a versatile weapon, capable of releasing the elements out as ranged attacks due to the property it has as a staff or coating the entire weapon in a specific rune. Gibo plays a key role in the swordstaff as Gibo is what allows one to mix runes together. If one mixes Gibo with Dagaz, it can release a light that immediately binds Gibo to everything the light touches, allowing one to strike with any of the other runes instantly. When all runes are combined, it activates the full power of Erilaz, giving the sword a pale glow. It receives sealing properties relating to Inguz and making it immune to the effects of other runes. Should anyone be sliced by Erilaz from then on, their abilities would be shut down as the passive nature of Inguz possesses them. This effect is not permanent, but the effect lasts for at least a day.
Athem - Breathing Staff of Life
"Surrounded from all sides, still I fought on. Spears and arrows pierced my back as I lay to waste all who stood before me until the strength of my ancestors faded from me. I looked to clouds up high and I saw a burning chariot....There was a beautiful, fierce woman riding it and she called to me....Then I knew I had taken my last breath of mortal life and arose to hall up high - immortal."
-Stories of the Einherjar
Athem was once the staff of the former valkyrie chieftain, Hilda. Hilda's end came during the final battle of the Jotunn Civil War, when Odin and his warriors of Valhalla rode into the battlefield to face Agmund. Her death came protecting the einherjar and the other valkyries, whose death would have been permanent if not for Athem's power to revive the dead. She was slain alongside Asa-Thor by none other than Karkaras the Red Maw, Agmund's Fylgja, but not before they managed to take him down as well.
Athem is a staff of pure gold whose end resembles that of a red leaf. It was made directly from the Tree of Glasir, a golden tree within Glasir's Grove outside of Valhalla that is said to be the most beautiful among gods and men due to its powerful connection to Aether. The staff possesses only three runes: Eiwaz (Rune of Death), Fehu (Rune of Frey), and Dagaz (Rune of Dawn). These two runes are combined to remove the deadly capabilities of Eiwaz and create the ability to restore and empower life. Those who wield Athem are capable of commanding all life around them by releasing a wave of copper energy that takes command of the life it passes through and increases their power by tenfold. This staff's effects on the dead are also seen with how it handles the undead, instantly purifying them when the life you command comes into contact with them. If allies died while you have already flourished Athem's power, you can revive them with ease and they would be revived with even more power than they had before...this is the same for the life you command that is destroyed (I.E: if you're manipulating a tree and its wood is destroyed, you can restore it instantly through the copper energy and it would return with even more strength).
Athem is a staff of pure gold whose end resembles that of a red leaf. It was made directly from the Tree of Glasir, a golden tree within Glasir's Grove outside of Valhalla that is said to be the most beautiful among gods and men due to its powerful connection to Aether. The staff possesses only three runes: Eiwaz (Rune of Death), Fehu (Rune of Frey), and Dagaz (Rune of Dawn). These two runes are combined to remove the deadly capabilities of Eiwaz and create the ability to restore and empower life. Those who wield Athem are capable of commanding all life around them by releasing a wave of copper energy that takes command of the life it passes through and increases their power by tenfold. This staff's effects on the dead are also seen with how it handles the undead, instantly purifying them when the life you command comes into contact with them. If allies died while you have already flourished Athem's power, you can revive them with ease and they would be revived with even more power than they had before...this is the same for the life you command that is destroyed (I.E: if you're manipulating a tree and its wood is destroyed, you can restore it instantly through the copper energy and it would return with even more strength).
Einmyria - Branch of the Ashen Tree
"Never shall I lower my eyes before any challenge or foe. Never shall I bend my knees before any foreign lord or chieftain. Never shall I bow my head before any god or man. Ever shall I bend my back in service to my folk! Ever do I see the line of my people! Ever do they call to me! Ever will I understand fury, joy, and sacrifice! Odin as my witness, this oath I will keep for this day and until my last day!"
- Oath of the Yggdrasil
Yggdrasil was rather mundane in its event, with the usual happenings occurring between the three Titans Vedfolnir, Ratatosk, and Nidhogg. Ratatosk the mischievous squirrel carried words of slander between the noble eagle, Vedfolnir, perched atop Yggdrasil and the macabre dragon, Nidhogg, curled beneath Yggdrasil's roots. Nidhogg would gnaw at the roots in his anger from the insults Ratatosk carried, hoping that he will cause Yggdrasil to fall and topple the eagle. Vedfolnir would meanwhile swing his wings in fury, causing branches of Yggdrasil to fly down from the mighty winds in the hopes that one would impale the dragon beneath the World Tree. Things were dull, then came Osmund to impale himself against the World Tree with Gungnir and acquire the wisdom of the runes. His golden blood dripped below, hitting the branches and the leaves while the runes glowed against his skin and the spear within his stomach. When he fell after those nine nights, the branches and its leaves glowed with a beautiful gold. Then those branches ripped free from Yggdrasil, caused by Vedfolnir's bedlam winds. Some fell to depths never to be seen again, but one fell in Midgard to find the individual that would wield its power.
Einmyria acts like a wand, a wand in the shape of a branch with golden stems and leaves that shine like the morning sun after a night of heavy rain. Einmyria is unlike the other Iron Thane weapons in that it was never intentional to create it, rather it was accidental. It came to be a weapon of the Iron Thanes because of the runes it possesses: all of them. Einmyria has all the runes within its power to be used much like Gungnir, but the problem lies in how it is not intended to be a vessel for the runes. It is made from the wood of Yggdrasil, correct, but to wield the runes in combat constantly is a feat only true weapons can handle. Therefore, Einmyria can only use any rune so long as it possesses leaves on the branch. At most, only nine leaves can be on the branch. Each leaf has a use of at most two depending on the power of that rune (minor runes will only use up half of that leaf, major runes will use up and require ALL of that leaf). This means you can only get a total of 18 runes through before they will regenerate. The leaves have a regeneration cooldown of 10 minutes, which starts immediately when that leaf is used up. Another added bonus that Einmyria has is its ranged capabilities caused by Gibo (Rune of Divine Interaction), which has it that pointing the wand at an opponent and releasing the power of a rune will cause instant interaction between the wand and them so long as they are in the wands direction. In the right hands of an individual who values control and pacing oneself, Einmyria can be the most deadly Iron Thane weapon second only to Gungnir.
Einmyria acts like a wand, a wand in the shape of a branch with golden stems and leaves that shine like the morning sun after a night of heavy rain. Einmyria is unlike the other Iron Thane weapons in that it was never intentional to create it, rather it was accidental. It came to be a weapon of the Iron Thanes because of the runes it possesses: all of them. Einmyria has all the runes within its power to be used much like Gungnir, but the problem lies in how it is not intended to be a vessel for the runes. It is made from the wood of Yggdrasil, correct, but to wield the runes in combat constantly is a feat only true weapons can handle. Therefore, Einmyria can only use any rune so long as it possesses leaves on the branch. At most, only nine leaves can be on the branch. Each leaf has a use of at most two depending on the power of that rune (minor runes will only use up half of that leaf, major runes will use up and require ALL of that leaf). This means you can only get a total of 18 runes through before they will regenerate. The leaves have a regeneration cooldown of 10 minutes, which starts immediately when that leaf is used up. Another added bonus that Einmyria has is its ranged capabilities caused by Gibo (Rune of Divine Interaction), which has it that pointing the wand at an opponent and releasing the power of a rune will cause instant interaction between the wand and them so long as they are in the wands direction. In the right hands of an individual who values control and pacing oneself, Einmyria can be the most deadly Iron Thane weapon second only to Gungnir.
Skofnung - Burial Sword of the Berserkers
"Thought the gates that stand between the mortal world and the Immortal Realm of Valhalla are now closed to me, still I would rather die having glimpsed eternity than never to have stirred from the cold furrow of mortal life. I embrace death without regret as I have embraced life without fear."
-Hrólfr Kraki's final words
The most fatalistic weapon to ever be forged aside from Ragnarok, Skofnung is a weapon that will end battles the moment they begin. It was once wielded by the legendary Midgardian King, Hrólfr Kraki, before the rise of the Jotunn Empire. He was a man that gave the Jotunn Empire trouble by slaying the Jotunn Knights who came for his kingdom. Finally, only he and his 12 faithful berserker guardians stood before the onslaught of Jotunn. As each berserker fell, their loyal souls were imbued into the Skofnung blade and further amplifying its power. Hrólfr Kraki stood over an army of dead Jotunn on bloodied ground until Agmund himself came before the infallible king. Knowing he would die, Hrólfr Kraki uttered his final words and attacked Agmund. His blade could not cut the Wraith King, but the blade of the Wraith King could cut him. So Hrólfr Kraki was slain and not only did Skofnung become Agmund's, but so too did the northern kingdoms.
Skofnung is bloodied all over, the hilt made of wolf fur, bloodied, the guard made of rusty steel, bloodied, and the blade made of Crucible Steel (a steel that never degrades and instead grows stronger the older it is while also being immune to elemental and magical forces), bloodied. It's bloodied due to being embued by Hrólfr Kraki's soul and his 12 loyal berserker guard, who died brutal deaths, and the vicious way the sword itself kills. Any cut by the blade will not heal. Instead, the cut will grow until the opponent is just a pool of blood. This is because Skofnung was originally created with Eiwaz, the Rune of Death. The rate at which the cut grows is dependent on the state the wielder is in, as they can channel the power of the 12 berserkers within the sword. The wielder can cut themselves with the blade and grow stronger as the rage of 12 berserkers takes hold of them, all physical traits surpassing that of any mortal and becoming immune to pain themselves. In a normal state, a single cut will consume the opponent in 12 minutes. In the berserker state, a single cut will consume the opponent in 1 minute.
However, seeing as the berserker state requires cutting oneself with Skofnung, that means the cut will also grow on the wielder. This would be certain death for both the wielder and the opponent if not for the Skofnung Stone that is mounted at the pummel of the sword. The Skofnung Stone touches the person who is wounded by Skofnung's blade, the cut will immediately repair itself. This is the only way to heal from Skofnung's curse. The opponent, once cut, only has one option: kill the master of Skofnung and claim the weapon as theirs.
Skofnung is bloodied all over, the hilt made of wolf fur, bloodied, the guard made of rusty steel, bloodied, and the blade made of Crucible Steel (a steel that never degrades and instead grows stronger the older it is while also being immune to elemental and magical forces), bloodied. It's bloodied due to being embued by Hrólfr Kraki's soul and his 12 loyal berserker guard, who died brutal deaths, and the vicious way the sword itself kills. Any cut by the blade will not heal. Instead, the cut will grow until the opponent is just a pool of blood. This is because Skofnung was originally created with Eiwaz, the Rune of Death. The rate at which the cut grows is dependent on the state the wielder is in, as they can channel the power of the 12 berserkers within the sword. The wielder can cut themselves with the blade and grow stronger as the rage of 12 berserkers takes hold of them, all physical traits surpassing that of any mortal and becoming immune to pain themselves. In a normal state, a single cut will consume the opponent in 12 minutes. In the berserker state, a single cut will consume the opponent in 1 minute.
However, seeing as the berserker state requires cutting oneself with Skofnung, that means the cut will also grow on the wielder. This would be certain death for both the wielder and the opponent if not for the Skofnung Stone that is mounted at the pummel of the sword. The Skofnung Stone touches the person who is wounded by Skofnung's blade, the cut will immediately repair itself. This is the only way to heal from Skofnung's curse. The opponent, once cut, only has one option: kill the master of Skofnung and claim the weapon as theirs.
Andruil - Lance of Blood and Force
"Witness my deeds as they will be worthy of song for all sagas to come."
- Frigga
Despite what the name suggests, Andruil is actually wielded like a bow and arrow. Andruil is the giant, bronze arrow of a bow that manifests itself from light and air. Andruil will return back into the quiver instantly if they fail to hit their mark. It was once wielded by the god/Jotunn Queen Frigga in her youth when she would join in Odin's Wild Hunt. During this time, Frigga was known as the goddess of the hunt as she would kill great beasts with this arrow in powerful showings. Aside from being forged from one of Audhumbla's horns, Andruil was created with three runes: Ehwaz (Rune of the Horse), Vegvisir (Rune of the Wayfinder), and Lása (Rune of Binding).
All three runes combined form the most powerful arrow to grace the Nine Worlds. Ehwaz allows Andruil to sail through any plane to strike its target and Vegvisir allows the wielder to see through any plane of reality to strike that opponent (this does NOT mean Andruil has homing capabilities). Andruil requires great levels of physical discipline due to the key component in its power: the Lasa Rune. The power of the arrow is dependent on how long you charge the arrow. With a fast release, Andruil will stun opponents momentarily then disappear back into your quiver. With normal release, opponents hit by Andruil will be impaled and unable to move or summon energy so long as Andruil is impaled within them. With the most powerful release draining all of your physical power to release an arrow that seals an enemy or enemies with the power of an entire world of one of the Nine Worlds. Again, the power of that sealing capability scales with how long you charge Andruil and just how physically powerful you are, this is also true for the speed of that arrow.
All three runes combined form the most powerful arrow to grace the Nine Worlds. Ehwaz allows Andruil to sail through any plane to strike its target and Vegvisir allows the wielder to see through any plane of reality to strike that opponent (this does NOT mean Andruil has homing capabilities). Andruil requires great levels of physical discipline due to the key component in its power: the Lasa Rune. The power of the arrow is dependent on how long you charge the arrow. With a fast release, Andruil will stun opponents momentarily then disappear back into your quiver. With normal release, opponents hit by Andruil will be impaled and unable to move or summon energy so long as Andruil is impaled within them. With the most powerful release draining all of your physical power to release an arrow that seals an enemy or enemies with the power of an entire world of one of the Nine Worlds. Again, the power of that sealing capability scales with how long you charge Andruil and just how physically powerful you are, this is also true for the speed of that arrow.
Næġling - Blade of the Ancient One
"The Age of Heroes is dead, Wiglaf. The New God has killed it. We men are the monsters now. Humanity is left with nothing but weeping martyrs, fear, and shame."
- Beowulf
Naegling is an ancient blade forged from the bark of Eydask, the Tree of Ruin in Nastrond, as an instrument of ruin. It is tempered by the Vanir Element Chaos. It once resided in the far reaches of the north, where temperatures get so cold that metals degrade and become brittle. Only one man traveled into the heart of this land: Beowulf. Knowing whatever he took would serve him futility, he traveled the northern reach almost naked and without any weapons. As the blizzards grew more intense across vast plains, he saw a phantasmal blue glow far beneath him under a frozen lake. With his hands, he broke the lake and plunged into the harsh cold waters to retrieve that which caught his eye until his hands came across the unnatural sword. He pierced the surface with the blade and when he came up, the icy storm was gone and replaced by a peaceful snow. Beowulf faced countless monsters with this sword and it is with this sword that he faced the dragon that brought about his doom. Naegling would shatter against the dragon, but not because of the strength of the serpent's hide, but because of the might of Beowulf's hand. When Beowulf's funeral pyre lit ablaze with all his prized treasures, Naegling sunk beneath the waves along with him. Over time as the blade repaired itself, the land around it grew to impenetrable sleet just as it as when Beowulf first retrieved it.
Naegling's blade glows with a phantasmal blue steel, the hilt and guard an old grey like smoke. Despite the recurring theme of snow and ice that revolves around Naegling, that is not an ability of Naegling and is just an effect of its power. Naegling is an entropic force that brings ruin to what is around it. The three runes it uses to achieve this are Eiwaz (Rune of Death), Hagalaz (Rune of Air), and Isa (Rune of Ice). When Naegling is unsheathed, entropy begins to take hold upon everything around it, dramatically weakening any powers. The closer things come to Naegling, the further it weakens until it meets the blade, where it shatters. Even Crucible Steel is vulnerable to Naegling's power, although it is a bit resistant to its effects. All that is pierced by Naegling fractures into shards of a unique metallic chaos that glitters with a dusk light, returning to the blade and making it heavier but with more entropic power. With enough force, Naegling itself can shatter and release a devastating wave that stretches horizons to kill everything in its path. After the explosion, Naegling will reform itself out of the shattered metallic shards it creates. Be warned, this can harm you and turn you into one of those shards if you're caught in that explosion.
Naegling's blade glows with a phantasmal blue steel, the hilt and guard an old grey like smoke. Despite the recurring theme of snow and ice that revolves around Naegling, that is not an ability of Naegling and is just an effect of its power. Naegling is an entropic force that brings ruin to what is around it. The three runes it uses to achieve this are Eiwaz (Rune of Death), Hagalaz (Rune of Air), and Isa (Rune of Ice). When Naegling is unsheathed, entropy begins to take hold upon everything around it, dramatically weakening any powers. The closer things come to Naegling, the further it weakens until it meets the blade, where it shatters. Even Crucible Steel is vulnerable to Naegling's power, although it is a bit resistant to its effects. All that is pierced by Naegling fractures into shards of a unique metallic chaos that glitters with a dusk light, returning to the blade and making it heavier but with more entropic power. With enough force, Naegling itself can shatter and release a devastating wave that stretches horizons to kill everything in its path. After the explosion, Naegling will reform itself out of the shattered metallic shards it creates. Be warned, this can harm you and turn you into one of those shards if you're caught in that explosion.
Aeglos - Cold Spear of the High King
"Gil-galad wields a well-made spear/The Impure will fear my point of ice/When he sees me, in fear of death/He will know my name: Aeglos."
-Translation of the inscription on the blade
In the immortal lands of Alfheim, the hero Gil-galad wielded his fearsome spear, Aeglos. During the Age of Heroes when the Iron Thane weapons fell upon the strongest in the Nine, Gil-galad stood as a noble figure among the elves of Noldor. The wars of that age brought about battles between the trolls, orcs, dark elves, and dwarves of Svartalfheim and the angels, elves, fairies, and demigods of Alfheim. Gil-galad defeated unnumbered foes with Aeglos all the way until darkness fell across his land when Agmund and his Jotunn armies came. Gil-galad rode to Jotunnheim to challenge Agmund himself in Asagrim, capital of the Jotunn Empire. Like many who face Agmund, he died in combat and Aeglos remained there in the ruins of Asagrim after the Jotunn Empire met its later ruin.
Aeglos is a forked spear with two pronged blades facing one another stretching out to one point. The pole is black with a golden lacing of cloth spiraling up into its glowing white blades. Aeglos is a spear that requires skill with a spear to wield. Along with being made of Crucible Steel, whatever the spear's point strikes is instantly frozen with the power of absolute zero. There is an isolated force between the two pronged blades that turns what it touches to absolute zero, immediately removing all energy signatures and sealing away all passive energies. Aeglos achieves this through the use of the Isa Rune (Rune of Ice) and Inguz Rune (Rune of Fertility). Objects frozen will possess the marking of the Isa Rune atop its icy tomb (the shape of a pillar) and there is no escaping from the entombment from within. This ice it forms has the properties of Crucible Steel, where it is immune to magic and elemental forces, meaning it requires significant physical power to break the entombment. Catching a blade or anything within the two prongs so it falls between it instantly shatters that object, with the shards having no energy signatures to allow itself to repair. Along with the two runes, it possesses a last rune: Dagaz (Rune of Dawn). When Aeglos is thrown, Dagaz gives the spear the ability to fly at objects at the speed of light.
Aeglos is a forked spear with two pronged blades facing one another stretching out to one point. The pole is black with a golden lacing of cloth spiraling up into its glowing white blades. Aeglos is a spear that requires skill with a spear to wield. Along with being made of Crucible Steel, whatever the spear's point strikes is instantly frozen with the power of absolute zero. There is an isolated force between the two pronged blades that turns what it touches to absolute zero, immediately removing all energy signatures and sealing away all passive energies. Aeglos achieves this through the use of the Isa Rune (Rune of Ice) and Inguz Rune (Rune of Fertility). Objects frozen will possess the marking of the Isa Rune atop its icy tomb (the shape of a pillar) and there is no escaping from the entombment from within. This ice it forms has the properties of Crucible Steel, where it is immune to magic and elemental forces, meaning it requires significant physical power to break the entombment. Catching a blade or anything within the two prongs so it falls between it instantly shatters that object, with the shards having no energy signatures to allow itself to repair. Along with the two runes, it possesses a last rune: Dagaz (Rune of Dawn). When Aeglos is thrown, Dagaz gives the spear the ability to fly at objects at the speed of light.