The Tale of the Swords of the
Ancients And Other Blades of Power
A Mythology
By
Kit Rae
Of Luciendar
and Morthoseth, the third and fourth swords
After the banishment of the Dark One and the defeat of his
army in the ten thousand and twenty-sixth year of the Fifth Age, there was
peace in Ammon for a time, but ere long one of the Dark OneÕs concubines bore
his child in the depths of Lokonia; for VaelenÕs army did not cleanse all of
those dark tunnels of evil. The child was named Vardor in the tongue of the
Ancients, by the sorcerer Navros, and was taken east across the sea of
Valesthia to the land of Dagorlund where he could be hidden from the eyes of
the West. Navros, knowing that only the Dark One or one of his bloodline could
command the Barumen, reared Vardor and taught him the dark arts and the lore of
the Swords of the Ancients. Though he was of man and not truly a descendant of the
Ancients, his heart was black like his fatherÕs. Indeed whatever remained of
the Dark OneÕs power in Ammon now seemed to take presence in his only
offspring.
The sorcerer Navros, knowing that Vardor would need the
strength of the Ten Swords to gain power, searched the realms far and wide
until at last he found Valermos, the sword of fire, and Morthoseth, the sword of the shadows, hidden away in the Southern
Realm of Loringel by the Dark One long ago. Vardor, who when grown used
MorthosethÕs dark power to take his form as that of a shadow, desired to
consume the world and re-make it in his own twisted vision; and he also desired
to destroy all of the creatures brought forth by the Ancient Ones. He grew in
power and soon became master over the Barumen remnants, defeated Black Legion
soldiers of the Dark One, and bred them into a fierce new army. They too, by
MorthosethÕs power, were given the form of shadows, visible only unto themselves,
and each commanded a company of assassins and spies. Vardor decreed this Shadow
Army to go, taking Morthoseth, secretly West across the sea of Valesthia to
Lumenia, to recruit the weak and lure them to his cause. Though Vardor gave
Morthoseth to his army, he kept the sword Valermos for himself.
VardorÕs shadows, by the power of Morthoseth, came to Men in
troubled dreams and inflicted his will upon them. Elves were stronger of mind
and could not be so influenced, but Men were far easier to corrupt. The Shadows
convinced Men that since the world was created out of the dark, then there must
be some good in VardorÕs darkness; and to this end he caused many to follow and
worship him. These Men were sent out into the lands to find the scattered bands
of the Black Legion and reunite them into VardorÕs new army. Over time the
Shadows became the largest army ever amassed in Ammon, more terrible than his
fatherÕs Black Legion. The Barumen Axemen were brought into service once again
to lead VardorÕs attacks, and with that host Vardor planned his war on the
kingdomÕs of the Great Realm, and he designed to bring men and elves to their
knees under his rule.
King Aethelred, chosen to replace Vaelen as ruler of Lumenia
after her passing many years before, soon heard rumors of the Shadow ArmyÕs
treachery. He thence sent his two sons, Barlodir and Borloth out into the land
to uncover the overseer of this new threat to the Middle Kingdom and make known
the enemyÕs location. Barlodir, the elder of the kingÕs sons, was given charge
of their quest and he sent his younger brother into the Outlands with a small
force while he himself took a company of soldiers and journeyed North to the
kingdom of Deylund to consult with its ruler, Luthol. Borloth, who was jealous
of his older brotherÕs favor in the kingÕs eyes, secretly loathed him and
desired his lady, Althea, whom Barlodir was destined to wed. Borloth, driven by
dark dreams, did not have the love of the kingdom or its lands in his heart,
but instead desired its power and possessions.
Ere long Borloth was lured to one of the Shadow LordÕs
agents and, through deceit and promises, VardorÕs host caused him to betray
Lumenia. In exchange for his treason, Borloth was given the sword Morthoseth by
VardorÕs servant, the sorcerer Navros, and Borloth disclosed the secret
entrance to the kingÕs citadel. By this device Vardor commanded a regiment of
his Barumen lay siege to it.
Though strongly fortified, the fortress could not withstand an attack
from within and soon was overwhelmed by the Shadow Army; and the king was slain
by Borloth with Morthoseth. That blade was one of the Ten Swords of Ammon and
Borloth used its power to hold influence over LumeniaÕs army and caused it to
suppress the peoples under a harsh rule, imprisoning them to the realm. Soon
after Borloth declared himself King of the middle realm. The lady Althea was
enslaved in the dungeon of the citadel, never to be set free until she agreed
to reject Barlodir and become betrothed to Borloth as his queen.
Soon Barlodir heard the terrible word that his brother now
held the throne and of his treacherous deeds; and of the death of his father,
whom Barlodir had greatly loved. Borloth had spread word throughout the land
that he had saved the kingdom from evil by ridding it of his father, whom he
claimed was in league with dark powers of the underworld. Barlodir knew these
to be lies, for in his heart he perceived his brotherÕs true nature and he
vowed to avenge his fatherÕs death, free his lady, and reclaim the throne.
Having only a small company of men and few weapons with which to fight his
brotherÕs army, his predicament was hopeless. Seeking guidance, he journeyed to
the Dead City at the foot of the Eastern Mountains to consult the oracle and
sorcerer Methuscia, whom had aided his father in the past.
Methuscia, was once the most beautiful and
wisest creature in all of Ammon, a lady in white with eyes of shimmering pearl
who was wise with the knowledge of the world. She was born with oracular sight
and the powers of a sorcerer. In ages past she had offended one of the
Ancients, of whom she was a descendent, and was set upon with a terrible curse.
Any male who looked upon her would see her beauty for only an instant and then
be stricken with fear and death by her true appearance, which was so hideous
that it froze men, as if they were stone, for an eternity. Thus, the only
companions she had were the female slaves kept imprisoned in her palace of
stone ghosts, and her
sorcerer guardians, ten sons whom she had spawned in
earlier days, whoÕs eyes had been plucked out when newborn, lest her sight turn
them to stone.
She tempted the creatures of Ammon now with her
wisdom and if any male could survive her presence and not look directly upon
her she would grant him an oracle, and she was lonely and greatly desired their
company.
Thereafter entering the city, Methuscia tested BarlodirÕs
men not to look at her, but her voice was that of an enchantress and several
could not resist but to look upon the face of that beautiful voice; and those
that did perished. Barlodir, however, was strong and resisted the temptation.
He refused to gaze upon her. Instead he looked upon the frozen faces of his
dead companions who had failed the test. Upon hearing BarlodirÕs dilemma
Methuscia instructed him to seek Luciendar, the
Sword of Light which reveals that which is hidden and shows the true nature of
creatures, in the isle of Eldinyed of the Southern lands of Amunach. Only with
that enchanted sword, one of the Ten Swords, would he be able to slay the
Shadow Army. Methuscia warned him however that whatever gains he would make by
wielding the sword, he would also lose something of equal value to him; for
each of the Ten Swords claimed a price from those whom they served. Methuscia
beckoned Barlodir to stay longer but he hastened and his party left the Dead
City without looking back.
For many moons they traveled, encountering numerous perils
including servants of the Shadow Lord, but none could stay them and Barlodir
marched on. Into the Southern realm of Amunach they came and waded through the
dreaded Balach Marsh until finally reaching the shore of Lake Eldinyed. The
company constructed a rough seacraft and crossed the misty water to the isle
whereupon they came to an ancient temple. An evil presence was in the air, and
upon entering the aged shrine they found it guarded by a Baelin: an age-old
breed of immense beasts created by the Dark One almost six thousand years
before.
Many foul creatures were bred by the Dark One to
do his bidding and wage his wars, and the fiercest of these were the Baelin,
great fanged beasts the size of dragons that were unlike any animal yet seen in
Ammon. They were black furred creatures with bony armor and spines like a
reptile. If one bite from these black horrors did not defeat an enemy then the
paralyzing poison within its fangs would render the attacker defenseless. The
Dark One bred thousands of Baelin and placed them in the front lines of his
army and they won him many victories, as they were very brutal and ruthless,
capable of defeating innumerable soldiers in battle without being slain. The Baelin
were also used by the Dark One as guardians of his magical talismans and
treasure hoards, which he had hidden throughout the world. A Baelin could live
for thousands of years and many remained in service to the Dark One even long
after his death. It is said that no one other than the Dark One himself or one
of his generals could command a Baelin. To this day the remaining Baelin still
obey the last command of their master.
Barlodir had been told many terrible tales of
these ferocious beasts and their deeds throughout the ages of Ammon, but he did
not show fear now that he at last faced one, for Barlodir was also a mighty
warrior having defeated many a foe. With his great battleaxe he fought and slew
the creature, though the battle was long and BarlodirÕs wounds were many and
deep, non were caused by those dread paralyzing fangs, which Barlodir had hewed
from the great beasts head. While he lay in healing for many days thereafter, his company
scoured the temple labyrinths until they had found the sword Luciendar. It was
graved on the hilt with many sacred writings in the tongue of the Ancients.
Whence the wielder spoke these words aloud he became invisible to his enemy;
but the sword also held a lighted crystal in its clawed pommel, which gave the
user vision to detect others that were also unseen or shadowed.
When fully healed, Barlodir took the teeth of
the Baelin and forged a rare weapon of the old tradition, a Fang of Baelin. In the days of old
when one of the great beasts was slain the fangs were removed and used as
weapons, for they possessed great strength and paralyzing power. The handle for
these fangs was formed from parts of the BaelinÕs armor and bones, for they
held the unique ability to bind and grow themselves together, even after death.
With the great armored plates of the beastÕs underbelly, Barlodir crafted a
shield of impenetrable might.
BarlodirÕs company journeyed back to the Kingdom of Lumenia
and returned to the citadel, after having been away from it for nine moons. By
taking the sword Luciendar and speaking the words graved upon its hilt, the
Shadow Army was revealed to them; and the company breached the citadelÕs gates.
A fierce battle ensued, with many of BarlodirÕs former soldiers abandoning
their dark master and returning to his side. The Barumen soldiers were slain,
but BarlodirÕs men also were slain and much blood was spilled in the great
halls. Barlodir then sought for his lady Althea, and upon entering the dungeons
below, Barlodir learned of her holding place, not in a cell, but at a secret
chantry of Borloth and the sorcerer Navros; and he made his way to her by the
sound of her cries. Unseen by the shadowed Barumen soldiers, he at last found
her, bound to an altar. Navros, holding a SorcererÕs
Dagger above Althea, was in the midst of performing some dark
sacrificial ritual upon her and he meant to sacrifice her thus empowering one
of his dark spells; and Borloth was there, in the shadows, waiting for his
brother.
Borloth, who anticipated Barlodir, commanded the shadowed Barumen
to waylay him; but Barlodir, by once again speaking the sword LuciendarÕs
ancient words, became invisible and charged the shadow soldiers, for he could
see them by LuciendarÕs light which shown from its crystal pommel. Borloth,
however, also held one of the Ten Swords and his brother was made visible to
him by it and he did Barlodir a grievous wound. The two brothers assailed one
another and Borloth, under the mad spell of the sword Morthoseth, bested his
brother, striking the sword from his hands. Barlodir, however, held one other
weapon, the Fang of Baelin, and with it he paralyzed his brother with its
poison blades, but Borloth would not let go the hilts of Morthoseth, and the
poisonÕs effect was but brief on him. Recovering Luciendar, Barlodir then hewed
his brotherÕs hands from his body, even as they still grasped Morthoseth; but
from behind, Barlodir was struck down with a Talisman
blade wielded by the sorcerer Navros, who then escaped the citadel. The Talisman, with a hilt fashioned in the shape of
the Nasek, dreaded flying serpents of the Eastern land of Nasnandos, was forged
with the black, venomous blood of those ancient beasts and no mortal could
survive its strike. Thus BarlodirÕs life ended, yet, by not allowing his
brother to ever wield the Sword of the Shadows again, Borloth lost all of his
power and was soon overtaken and imprisoned by the peoples of the Kingdom of
Lumenia. The lady Althea and the other captives were set free, but as the
oracle Methuscia had foretold, BarlodirÕs life was lost as payment for that
freedom.
The
Tale of the Swords of the Ancients and Other Blades of Power and its previous versions, The
Swords of the Ancients and its abridged excerpts, and other forms, are ©1997 and ©2005 by Kit
Rae. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced, stored in a
retrieval system, or transmitted in any other form, or by any means,
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, computer networking, or
otherwise without prior permission in writing by the copyright holder(s).