Twelve Swords of Power
Encyclopedia
The Twelve Swords of Power, Swords of Power, or swords featured in the epic Fred Saberhagen
sci-fi/fantasy series, Books of the Swords
. They are the central focus of the novels, and are often considered unique characters themselves.
universe. They intended to use the Swords to play a game, pitting nations of mortals against one another, to relieve their boredom. By making the Swords and scattering them throughout the land, the gods hoped to derive amusement as men and women sought them out and lorded power over each other.
Vulcan forged the Swords in the Ludus Mountains, in the hinterlands of the domain of Duke Fraktin. He conscripted
mortal men from the nearby village of Treefall as assistants. Starting with meteor
ic iron and a powerful earth-fire, Vulcan completed each Sword by quenching it in human blood, sacrificing his unwilling assistants one by one. Only one man survived the forging process, the smith Jord, who lost one arm to the quenching process. While the gods never intended for Jord to be gifted with a Sword, Vulcan gave him Townsaver, which became the first of the mysterious Swords revealed to humanity, to someday pass to his own son.
However, Vulcan forged too well; the Swords' powers worked as well on the gods themselves as on mortals.
The Swords are all physically identical in design. Each Sword has a bright, double-edged blade a meter long, that is a centimeter at its thickest, and has a simple black hilt
with straight crossbar. The steel of the blade is mottled, with a subtle translucent pattern that seems to extend to impossible depths. The hilt is an unknown black material, hard but also comfortable. The Swords are all surgically sharp and resistant to all forms of damage. They never rust, dull, tarnish, or soil. Only the Sword Shieldbreaker can damage or destroy a Sword.
The overall construction of the blade is described as simple and elegant, not ornate or flashy, despite the illustrations featured on some of the paperback copies of the book covers. The first printing of the hardback Book of Swords bears an approximate image of the Swords' appearance. (Compare the originals (800k image) to the paperbacks (60kb image)) Whether the inaccurate cover illustrations are the result of poor research on the artist's part or some other motivation is unclear. The later printings are consistent with a description of wooden swordcases used to hold Woundhealer (white), by the Temple of Ardneh, and Soulcutter (black), by the Silver Queen.
A Sword can only be distinguished from its companions by a unique white symbol etched into one side of its hilt. In addition to each Sword's magical properties, all can also serve as peerless conventional blades, due to their perfect balance, extreme sharpness, and indestructible nature.
There are four exceptions to these general rules. Woundhealer is incapable of killing, though its blade will cut anything but living flesh as well as any other Sword. Soulcutter lacks a distinguishing hilt symbol. Soulcutter's blade has no luster and was never used as a weapon, though both of these effects are likely psychological side effects of the Sword's dark power. Similarly, the Mindsword is described as being impossibly bright and shiny, potentially another psychological effect. Shieldbreaker is useless as a weapon against an unarmed opponent.
It is suggested at times that it can be dangerous to hold two Swords at one time—at least one person is known to have been knocked unconscious simply from holding two, without drawing on their powers. On the other hand, a number of characters wielded two at once with little adverse effect. Wizards who studied the Swords theorized that certain more sensitive personalities seem less able to resist the effects of wielding two Swords, and that some Swords seem to "tolerate" each other better than others. While dual-wielding, the wielder is described variously as feeling euphoric, or as if he/she were having an out-of-body experience.
Coinspinner gives its holder good luck, and brings misfortune on anyone trying to harm or hinder its current possessor. However, the Sword of Chance is the most unpredictable of all the Swords, having the habit of leaving its owner when they need it most.
Coinspinner's verse in The Song of Swords describes its power as follows:
Coinspinner seems to be endowed with a limited form of intelligence. Should one take one's eyes off of it, Coinspinner can teleport
to a new destination and a new owner. The Sword is capable of generating distractions to achieve this purpose.
While a person holds Coinspinner, even if it remains sheathed in a scabbard
, they are blessed with supernatural good luck. If they play poker
, every hand wins. If they walk a tightrope, they would not fall, and if they did fall, one can be sure that the fall would somehow not harm them, and result in a personal profit.
A secondary use of the Sword is that it can function similar to Wayfinder, by pointing the user in the general direction of something they are searching for. It apparently does not home as strongly as Wayfinder, nor does it lead its possessor to interim goals required for successfully reaching the object of their desire. However, with the luck of Coinspinner, it is likely the user would be able to deal with any difficulty they meet with while en route.
Often Coinspinner will create a rebound effect of bad luck to its former owner after it leaves. It is not uncommon for Coinspinner to leave its master for his arch rival, with disastrous results. Therefore, Coinspinner serves as a wild card, making total control of the Swords of Power an impossible proposition. Because of this unpredictability, Coinspinner has often been the target of destruction for Shieldbreaker by those who wish to control all of the Swords.
Doomgiver is one of the least understood of all the Swords. Its verse in The Song of Swords hints at its powers, and is as follows:
Doomgiver is poorly understood because of the ambiguity of its verse, and because Doomgiver was rarely used in canon. It was observed to turn any attack directed toward it back to the source. If an arrow is fired at the wielder of the Sword of Justice, the arrow would turn around in mid-flight and fatally strike the archer. It also in general redirects maliciousness directed toward the one who holds it. For example, the goddess Aphrodite
was entranced by her own power when she tried to seduce one who held Doomgiver. The Dark King Vilkata similarly hesitated to confront the Sword when it was defending the city of Tashigang, fearing that all the evil he or his followers had ever wielded against anyone in the city would be suddenly returned against him.
In "Blind Man's Blade", Doomgiver had bats eat themselves, had a demon folded painfully into its own gut. Doomgiver prevails over Soulcutter in that same book, turning its despair back at the Gods, and it is also hinted at Doomgiver's power would prove superior to the other Swords, including being able to turn Farslayer back at the one who threw it, that Sightblinder's holder would see a terrible apparition while remaining vulnerable, that the Mindsword holder should worship Doomgiver's holder, and Coinspinner's master would suffer excruciating bad luck. Likewise, in that same book, when Mars tried to take Doomgiver away from the man who held it, in the name of the council of Gods, Doomgiver exacted its retaliation, and took all the Swords of the Gods away from them, except, of course, Shieldbreaker, which is immune to Doomgiver's powers.
The Sword may have had other properties only hinted at in its verse, but it was destroyed early on in the series by Shieldbreaker, making many facets of its power and use unclear.
Dragonslicer's verse in The Song of Swords describes its power as follows:
Dragonslicer is one of the few Swords that is wholly benevolent in nature. In the Books of the Swords
universe, Dragons are non-sentient
predatory creatures that can grow to a hundred meters in length or more. The larger forms are capable of ravaging entire countrysides, and their hides are impervious to conventional weapons. Dragonslicer guides its user into the right place to deliver a fatal blow to any dragon, and can cut through dragon scale (and limbs, and tails, etc.) as easily as soft butter. However, care must still be taken, for Dragonslicer does not actually magically protect its wielder against a dragon's various means of attack.
When not employed against dragons, it is simply a sharp, well balanced, and well crafted blade that is proof against most damage, but offers no magical advantage. Thus, it is one of the least feared of the Swords—at least by humanity. While Dragonslicer only features occasionally in the Swords saga, by the end of the series dragons are largely extinct thanks to this weapon.
circles in the form of a bullseye
or target engraved upon its hilt.
Farslayer's verse in The Song of Swords describes its power as follows:
Farslayer is relatively straightforward in operation. The possessor must simply swing the blade around and think of the person whom they wish to kill, then release the sword. It is customary for the wielder to chant the second line of the Swords verse, "For thy heart...", as above, while they are spinning the Blade. This appears to be unnecessary for the proper function of Farslayer.
After launching, the Sword flies from the hand of its master, creating a shrieking rainbow-colored streak through the sky, terminating in the heart of the intended target. Nothing can be done to hide from Farslayer. The sword is intelligent enough to know exactly how to kill its target, including demons and gods. Farslayer will pass through any substance that is placed between it and its target. Assassinations have taken place with the target in houses, fortified castle
s, even in cave
s hundreds of feet under ground. Distance from the target is also no obstacle. Only Shieldbreaker and Woundhealer offer sure defense from the Sword of Vengeance, though characters theorized that Doomgiver might present a defense.
Once Farslayer reaches its target, it remains there. Typically, the deceased is surrounded by friends with thoughts of vengeance and who are the new owners of Farslayer. This is of course a major drawback, and makes employing Farslayer a risky proposition. This sequence is played out in a version of the Hatfield-McCoy feud over the course of the events contained in The Fourth Book of Lost Swords: Farslayer's Story.
engraved in white on its hilt.
The Mindsword's verse in The Song of Swords describes its power as follows:
The Mindsword is one of the more overtly evil of the Swords, as it is difficult to imagine a good cause Skulltwister would be associated with. The Mindsword, when drawn, compels absolute and fanatical devotion to the person holding it. It flashes brightly as if catching the sun, and emits the faint roar of a cheering mob, which cannot be blocked out by covering ears or averting eyes. All who are in visual or aural range are affected. Not even the gods of the Swords universe are immune to its power.
The strength of the devotion is such that one under the Mindsword's power would even throw their life away if so ordered. There is no possibility of resisting or recovery, except for the passage of time. When removed from the Mindsword's presence, a person will gradually begin to lose the unnatural loyalty they felt toward the Sword's bearer and show signs of skepticism and then increasing rebelliousness before finally regaining their own mind. It takes around a week to fully recover, depending on the relationship between the target and the wielder, the wielder's own personal charisma, and the psychological resistance of the target.
The Blade seems to have another, lesser property as well—wounds made from its edge fester, preventing healing and possibly leading to fever and delirium.
Other Swords provide some protection from the mind-control effect of the Mindsword, by virtue of their hold on the user's psyche
. Sightblinder offers some resistance, although it still takes a great deal of willpower from the affected wielder and allows them only enough presence of mind to escape. Wayfinder also provides some protection. While it does not protect its wielder from the fanatical devotion, it allows them to maintain their sense of reason. For example, Wayfinder's wielder would not follow orders from Mindsword's wielder if those orders were blatantly suicidal or foolish. Soulcutter will trump the Mindsword's power, but in this case the cure can be worse than the disease. Shieldbreaker offers absolute immunity when employed.
Although this was never demonstrated in the books, some characters speculated that Doomgiver might also provide protection against the Mindsword. Woundhealer successfully healed the poisoned wound from the Sword of Glory.
The Mindsword is one of the few Swords that is always "on" whether or not it is held by someone. At one point in the series, the Sword was left unsheathed on an icy mountain. Locals worshiped the mountain itself as a god, apparently under the effect of the Sword. Sheathing the Sword (or otherwise concealing its blade) will prevent the blade from functioning, though mind control once established will remain in effect.
The Sword of Glory is one of the most sought after of all the Twelve. Tyrants want it to dominate others, and good men want it locked up where it can do no harm, or destroyed if possible.
When drawn, it offers absolute protection against all armed enemy attacks, including mêlée
, ranged, and magical. It interprets demonic or assault with natural weapons such as the teeth, claws, and beaks of predators as an armed attack. When any weapon is brought to bear against Shieldbreaker, it emits a rhythmic throbbing or hammering sound, that steadily increases in volume and speed as it is used in combat. When Shieldbreaker comes into contact with a weapon, that weapon is destroyed, shattering into many fragments with explosive force. Usually, this severely hurts or even kills the opponent who was wielding that weapon. Hostile incoming magic is automatically negated, but this effect is harmless to the caster.
Once it is drawn in combat, Shieldbreaker will not allow the user to let go of it until combat is over, a property which is shared by Townsaver. The sword actually takes control over its wielder's sword arm, automatically blocking all incoming attacks and striking back in return, imparting superhuman speed and strength as required.
Its verse in The Song of Swords is as follows:
While Shieldbreaker is unbeatable in armed combat, it does have a weakness, as hinted at by the verse. Literally, none (read no weapon) stands to Shieldbreaker. The Sword of Force is useless against unarmed foes, passing harmlessly through them. Meanwhile, the wielder of Shieldbreaker has greatly diminished strength while the Sword is functioning, as the Sword draws power from the rest of the wielder's body into his sword-arm. Even a god could be out-wrestled by a determined and unarmed foe.
Since this weakness was discovered, many showdowns involving Shieldbreaker end up in elaborate games of chicken
involving dropping, picking up and repeated feint
s with the Sword and conventional arms. The Tasavaltan military plan for retrieving Shieldbreaker, should it be lost, is to confront the wielder with four men, two armed, two not. While the two armed men stand at a safe distance to defend against armed defenders, the two unarmed men quickly subdue and kill the wielder.
Counters have been developed, including using a conventional sword to dispatch unarmed opponents while holding Shieldbreaker with one's off arm, though this requires some skill in swordplay and one must account for the personal strength the Sword saps. Shieldbreaker is also a popular choice for dual Sword wielding if the wielder can withstand the strain, since any other Sword will greatly offset Shieldbreaker's weakness, with the exception of Woundhealer, and Shieldbreaker will offset some of the weaknesses of other Swords. Perhaps the strongest value of dual-wielding with Shieldbreaker is that most of the other Swords' principal weakness is that they can be defeated by Shieldbreaker.
Shieldbreaker can destroy other Swords as easily as conventional ones, even Swords whose own power would seem to counteract the "Widowmaker". Indeed, by the end of the series, Shieldbreaker had been used to destroy all but one of the other Swords. When a Sword is destroyed in this fashion, it leaves behind only the vanquished Sword's black hilt. The lone exception is Woundhealer, which obliterated Shieldbreaker in the Last Book of Lost Swords: Shieldbreaker's Story.
Sightblinder's verse in The Song of Swords describes its power as follows:
Sightblinder's powers are twofold. First, it alters the appearance of its possessor. This is not via a traditional cloaking device
or holographic projection, but it alters how outside agents perceive the person carrying the Sword of Stealth. When a person looks at someone holding Sightblinder, they believe they are looking at either someone they love and trust implicitly, or someone they fear.
The illusion
is complete, regardless of how perceptive or skilled in magic
the target may be. One may see Sightblinder as a parent, sibling, lover, god, or leader. The effect is so convincing that the target has trouble doubting the identity of the person they are looking at, even if it is changing from moment to moment. Sightblinder will disguise its bearer's voice if required. Sightblinder disguises itself as well, appearing as a cane, a scepter, another Sword, or even as nothing at all, depending on what would enhance the illusion.
The consistency of the illusion varies. In some situations involving multiple targets, every person will see something different. At other times, all present see the same thing. The illusion may switch from a person one fears to a person one loves and back again over the space of a single encounter (as when a dragon flew off, impaled with the blade), or it may remain the same over a long period of time (in the case of Mark impersonating a senior officer of the Dark King over a period of several days and with a large number of people). The series never establishes how an image is kept consistent—though it appears that the intelligence or consistency of purpose of the wielder plays a role.
In practice, the effect is similar to the Mindsword in that the target will obey the wielder. Unlike the Mindsword, the subject will not totally disregard their base inhibitions and are unlikely to throw their life away for the illusion, unless that is what they are naturally inclined to do.
A drawback to use of the Sword is that it makes sneaking around impossible. When one appears as a fearsome god, demon, or an intimate relation, they do not easily escape notice. Indeed, the Sword is best used boldly.
A secondary effect of Sightblinder is that it enhances the perceptions of the person carrying it. Their eyesight and hearing are supernaturally keen. It also allows its bearer to see through other illusionary magic and effects, no matter what the origin or strength. It offers some protection from the Mindsword by allowing its user to see the true nature of the other Sword's possessor. Sightblinder's bearer intuitively can tell when a person is being honest or deceitful.
As powerful as Sightblinder's illusions are, it cannot fool the one who carries Shieldbreaker. Farslayer is not fooled by the illusion. Some characters in the series speculated that Doomgiver would be able to reverse the effects of Sightblinder onto its own wielder, but this has not been seen in practice.
Soulcutter's verse in The Song of Swords describes its power as follows:
When drawn, the Tyrant's Blade projects a field of total apathy that spreads to cover a fair-sized battlefield. Any creature caught within Soulcutter's sphere of influence immediately loses all interest in life and slumps to the ground in a state of profound depression
. They are incapable of movement and take no notice of hunger, thirst, or exposure
to elements. They will eventually die of deprivation
if the Sword of Despair is not sheathed.
The critical drawback is that not even Soulcutter's wielder is spared this effect. In fact, once they draw the weapon, they cannot find the motivation to sheathe the Sword, making the choice to use the Sword of Despair the last one they make. If by some extreme intervention, like a person bearing Shieldbreaker entering the scene and covering the cursed Blade, Soulcutter's possessor will have aged at an extremely advanced rate, and still suffer severe long-term depression. Woundhealer can dispel most of the lingering mental effects, and some (but not all) of the physical deterioration.
Because of the horrific effects of the Sword, and the personal cost to the one employing it, Soulcutter is rarely drawn. Instead, it is used as a threat, where the mere knowledge that one possesses the Tyrant's Blade deters attack. Most actual uses have been out of extreme desperation or as an act of last defense. Soulcutter has also been drawn to counteract the Mindsword's influence, and it should be noted that Soulcutter "prevailed" in the sense that while the fanaticism of the Mindsword's wielder and his followers were somewhat shielded from the worst of Soulcutter's effects, eventually even they were defeated by despair.
For the bulk of the series, Soulcutter is hidden away by the god-like Emperor in an extremely remote location. Even when asked, the Emperor refuses to permit Soulcutter to become active again, citing its extreme danger to all involved.
Shieldbreaker and Soulcutter together would render a person for all intents and purposes invincible. Indeed, this very scenario occurs at the climax of the series, and is defeated only by the ability of Woundhealer to "heal" Soulcutter's damage immediately.
Stonecutter's verse in The Song of Swords describes its power as follows:
Stonecutter's use, like Dragonslicer, is highly specialized. It carves any stone of whatever thickness or density as easily as soft butter. When it is being used to this end, it emits a distinct hammering sound (like the sound of a chisel chipping away stone), which is louder or softer depending on the scale of its use.
As its verse suggests, Stonecutter can be used to topple castle walls, but it can and has been used by artists to sculpt fine art (or even to cut fine gemstones). Like all of its fellow Swords, the Sword of Siege makes an excellent conventional blade in addition to its magical properties. It also appears to be the only sword besides Dragonslicer that does not have a major drawback or any known weaknesses.
Townsaver's power is defending unarmed people in a fixed position. When its wielder draws it for this purpose, the blade emits a screaming sound and takes over control from the user, moving his arms with superhuman speed and power to defeat any attackers. It is not an overstatement to say that Townsaver can singlehandedly defeat an entire army.
Townsaver's verse in The Song of Swords hints at its power and peril, and is as follows:
Unfortunately, unlike many of its fellow Swords, such as Shieldbreaker, it does nothing to protect the actual wielder. In fact, it will use the wielder's body to deflect and absorb ranged attacks and other blows, if it is practical to do so and if the action will result in the protection of the people it is trying to defend. Townsaver will keep its wielder alive until the battle is over. If the user has sustained serious wounds during the battle, they can and often do die.
In addition, Townsaver will not allow its user to drop or relinquish its power once the battle has been engaged. The user is totally committed once Townsaver is drawn. It will take no action to defend the user if he stands alone.
Of course, countermeasures have been developed to offset Townsaver's weaknesses somewhat. Giving the user strong armor is one that has been used with success. Since it is not the user's speed and power driving the weapon, it is possible to burden the wielder with heavy armor that would ordinarily be a fatal encumbrance.
The Song of Swords also hints explicitly at the destiny for the Sword. While the phrase is typically taken to mean that the wielder is unlikely to survive a battle, when Mark's half-brother Kenn dies wielding it early in the series, Mark takes Townsaver and leaves his village to find his destiny.
Townsaver was destroyed when its wielder confronted the god Vulcan, who was wielding Shieldbreaker during a siege. The God was heard to mutter "that was Townsaver by its cry...curse all humans who destroy my property!" (Third Book of Swords).
Wayfinder's verse in The Song of Swords describes its power as follows:
Wayfinder's chief power is guiding its bearer to whatever it is they seek. Not only will it lead one to their ultimate goal, it will also intelligently guide them to things that are required to successfully accomplish its mission. Wayfinder seems to do better and be more kind to its user when the request is broad and general, and less so the more specific the user is. Its main drawback is that while it picks routes that will eventually lead its master to success, it never picks the safest route, if one exists. It is the opinion of many of the past owners of the Sword that it actually picks the worst, most dangerous path for its user to follow. Thus the Sword does indeed "add unto their risk."
Wayfinder's other weakness is that it only will lead someone to one thing at a time. Many times, the wielder will change his mind or have confused priorities that cloud the usefulness of the weapon.
For example, if one were to seek great wealth, Wayfinder might lead one to a bank vault. But before doing so, it would lead one to the world's best safe cracker, and then the equipment he would need to break into the vault. If the safe cracker would need some sort of special compensation to cooperate, it would help one find that as well. Also, because of Wayfinder's tendency to seek risky paths, it would most likely lead one to a heavily guarded and protected vault. When it is operating in this type of "seeker" mode, it quivers when it is being pointed in the right general direction, also subtly steering its possessor's arms as a kind of divining rod.
In addition, Wayfinder can also act as the ultimate Magic 8-ball
, answering questions such as, "Which of these plates of food is poisoned?" or "Which of these men is lying to me?" It is unnecessary to vocalize these questions; a mental query is sufficient. Just like when it is in seeker mode, it indicates the correct answer by quivering when its blade is pointing in the correct direction. This is the chief reason Wayfinder is also dubbed the "Sword of Wisdom".
Woundhealer's verse in The Song of Swords describes its power as follows:
Woundhealer is the only Sword incapable of killing, though it can cut and hack inanimate matter as well as any of the other Swords. Instead, when living flesh is pierced with the Blade, it has a powerful healing effect. The Sword can knit broken bones, heal disease, fix genetic disorder
s, regenerate
lost limbs, and repair mental or psychological problems (including the effects of Soulcutter). Properly employed, it can enable its user to sustain extensive damage without dying. Its healing effect can prevent amputation of entire limbs if the Sword is in active use; the blade heals the wound before the attack can complete its path across the limb, and before the wound can start to bleed.
The sensation of Woundhealer cutting or piercing an individual is described as a sort of exquisite pain. When in action, Woundhealer emits a sound similar to a human sigh. Woundhealer works on any living thing, human or animal. It is not known to restore the dead to life
.
Woundhealer is not explicitly stated to project a healing aura
. In most cases, the blade must come into contact and break the skin of the person being healed. Woundhealer can be self administered. The time of effect depends on the severity of injury or sickness, and proximity of the Blade to the problem area. While Woundhealer can eventually repair a broken leg by being stuck into the patient's heart, the healing is instantaneous when it is sliced through the affected limb. At one point, a character plunged the Blade into his chest, rode his horse off a high cliff
, survived the fall, used the sword to heal both himself and his horse, and rode away. In another incident, though it took several weeks, it completely regenerated the lost arm of Jord the Smith after a single application.
At least one short story in An Armory of Swords seems to suggest that Woundhealer does project an air of good health. That is, while it does no actual healing unless actively employed, long-term proximity to the blade will make a person healthier than otherwise. This is only implied, though, and not stated.
Woundhealer is the only Sword that has survived an encounter with Shieldbreaker, although the circumstances were unusual. The Sword was plunged into the heart of Prince Mark, the son of the god-like Emperor, at the time Mark's opponent attacked with Shieldbreaker. Instead of destroying Woundhealer, Shieldbreaker was obliterated. The result was explained as occurring because Woundhealer was combined with the strongest weapon of all, the human heart. Many readers were dissatisfied with this outcome and explanation, which served as the climax of the entire Book of Swords series. It is unclear whether the outcome would have been the same if the tactic was tried by a character of less distinctive lineage, or by an evil character. Another possibility is that since Woundhealer is incapable of harming anyone, it is hardly a weapon, despite its appearance. Under this definition Shieldbreaker's ability to cancel and destroy all other weapons would not apply. Finally, there is the possibility that Shieldbreaker, having been hurled at its victim and so not otherwise being wielded, considered Mark to be its owner after piercing his flesh. As a result, it became a weapon threatening its own wielder and, as a consequence of its powers, destroyed itself. Under this theory, Woundhealer's only role was in keeping its bearer alive during this process. This last possibility is unlikely, as Vulcan the Smith once wounded himself with Shieldbreaker while fighting unarmed opponents.
At the end of the Swords series, Woundhealer is the only one of the Twelve remaining in existence, the rest having been destroyed by Shieldbreaker.
It also is called the Sword of Love. At one point the Sword was thrust through the heart of two people. While the two remained in love for the rest of their lives, it is unknown whether the Sword was responsible.
Fred Saberhagen
Fred Thomas Saberhagen was an American science fiction and fantasy author most famous for his Berserker series of science fiction short stories and S.F...
sci-fi/fantasy series, Books of the Swords
Books of the Swords
The Book of Swords Series is collectively a science fiction/fantasy novel series written by Fred Saberhagen. Its central theme revolves around twelve magical Swords forged by the gods, each endowed with a particular power or gift, and how various people acquire and use them...
. They are the central focus of the novels, and are often considered unique characters themselves.
Common features
The Swords were created by Vulcan at the behest of the other gods of the Books of the SwordsBooks of the Swords
The Book of Swords Series is collectively a science fiction/fantasy novel series written by Fred Saberhagen. Its central theme revolves around twelve magical Swords forged by the gods, each endowed with a particular power or gift, and how various people acquire and use them...
universe. They intended to use the Swords to play a game, pitting nations of mortals against one another, to relieve their boredom. By making the Swords and scattering them throughout the land, the gods hoped to derive amusement as men and women sought them out and lorded power over each other.
Vulcan forged the Swords in the Ludus Mountains, in the hinterlands of the domain of Duke Fraktin. He conscripted
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
mortal men from the nearby village of Treefall as assistants. Starting with meteor
METEOR
METEOR is a metric for the evaluation of machine translation output. The metric is based on the harmonic mean of unigram precision and recall, with recall weighted higher than precision...
ic iron and a powerful earth-fire, Vulcan completed each Sword by quenching it in human blood, sacrificing his unwilling assistants one by one. Only one man survived the forging process, the smith Jord, who lost one arm to the quenching process. While the gods never intended for Jord to be gifted with a Sword, Vulcan gave him Townsaver, which became the first of the mysterious Swords revealed to humanity, to someday pass to his own son.
However, Vulcan forged too well; the Swords' powers worked as well on the gods themselves as on mortals.
The Swords are all physically identical in design. Each Sword has a bright, double-edged blade a meter long, that is a centimeter at its thickest, and has a simple black hilt
Hilt
The hilt of a sword is its handle, consisting of a guard,grip and pommel. The guard may contain a crossguard or quillons. A ricasso may also be present, but this is rarely the case...
with straight crossbar. The steel of the blade is mottled, with a subtle translucent pattern that seems to extend to impossible depths. The hilt is an unknown black material, hard but also comfortable. The Swords are all surgically sharp and resistant to all forms of damage. They never rust, dull, tarnish, or soil. Only the Sword Shieldbreaker can damage or destroy a Sword.
The overall construction of the blade is described as simple and elegant, not ornate or flashy, despite the illustrations featured on some of the paperback copies of the book covers. The first printing of the hardback Book of Swords bears an approximate image of the Swords' appearance. (Compare the originals (800k image) to the paperbacks (60kb image)) Whether the inaccurate cover illustrations are the result of poor research on the artist's part or some other motivation is unclear. The later printings are consistent with a description of wooden swordcases used to hold Woundhealer (white), by the Temple of Ardneh, and Soulcutter (black), by the Silver Queen.
A Sword can only be distinguished from its companions by a unique white symbol etched into one side of its hilt. In addition to each Sword's magical properties, all can also serve as peerless conventional blades, due to their perfect balance, extreme sharpness, and indestructible nature.
There are four exceptions to these general rules. Woundhealer is incapable of killing, though its blade will cut anything but living flesh as well as any other Sword. Soulcutter lacks a distinguishing hilt symbol. Soulcutter's blade has no luster and was never used as a weapon, though both of these effects are likely psychological side effects of the Sword's dark power. Similarly, the Mindsword is described as being impossibly bright and shiny, potentially another psychological effect. Shieldbreaker is useless as a weapon against an unarmed opponent.
It is suggested at times that it can be dangerous to hold two Swords at one time—at least one person is known to have been knocked unconscious simply from holding two, without drawing on their powers. On the other hand, a number of characters wielded two at once with little adverse effect. Wizards who studied the Swords theorized that certain more sensitive personalities seem less able to resist the effects of wielding two Swords, and that some Swords seem to "tolerate" each other better than others. While dual-wielding, the wielder is described variously as feeling euphoric, or as if he/she were having an out-of-body experience.
Coinspinner
Coinspinner is also called the Sword of Chance, and less frequently, the Sword of Fortune. It has a pair of dice engraved in white on its hilt.Coinspinner gives its holder good luck, and brings misfortune on anyone trying to harm or hinder its current possessor. However, the Sword of Chance is the most unpredictable of all the Swords, having the habit of leaving its owner when they need it most.
Coinspinner's verse in The Song of Swords describes its power as follows:
- Who holds Coinspinner knows good odds
- Whichever move he make.
- But the Sword of Chance, to please the gods
- Slips from him like a snake.
Coinspinner seems to be endowed with a limited form of intelligence. Should one take one's eyes off of it, Coinspinner can teleport
Teleportation
Teleportation is the fictional or imagined process by which matter is instantaneously transferred from one place to another.Teleportation may also refer to:*Quantum teleportation, a method of transmitting quantum data...
to a new destination and a new owner. The Sword is capable of generating distractions to achieve this purpose.
While a person holds Coinspinner, even if it remains sheathed in a scabbard
Scabbard
A scabbard is a sheath for holding a sword, knife, or other large blade. Scabbards have been made of many materials over the millennia, including leather, wood, and metals such as brass or steel.-Types of scabbards:...
, they are blessed with supernatural good luck. If they play poker
Poker
Poker is a family of card games that share betting rules and usually hand rankings. Poker games differ in how the cards are dealt, how hands may be formed, whether the high or low hand wins the pot in a showdown , limits on bet sizes, and how many rounds of betting are allowed.In most modern poker...
, every hand wins. If they walk a tightrope, they would not fall, and if they did fall, one can be sure that the fall would somehow not harm them, and result in a personal profit.
A secondary use of the Sword is that it can function similar to Wayfinder, by pointing the user in the general direction of something they are searching for. It apparently does not home as strongly as Wayfinder, nor does it lead its possessor to interim goals required for successfully reaching the object of their desire. However, with the luck of Coinspinner, it is likely the user would be able to deal with any difficulty they meet with while en route.
Often Coinspinner will create a rebound effect of bad luck to its former owner after it leaves. It is not uncommon for Coinspinner to leave its master for his arch rival, with disastrous results. Therefore, Coinspinner serves as a wild card, making total control of the Swords of Power an impossible proposition. Because of this unpredictability, Coinspinner has often been the target of destruction for Shieldbreaker by those who wish to control all of the Swords.
Doomgiver
Doomgiver is also called the Sword of Justice. It has a hollow circle engraved in white upon its hilt.Doomgiver is one of the least understood of all the Swords. Its verse in The Song of Swords hints at its powers, and is as follows:
- The Sword of Justice balances the pans
- Of right and wrong, and foul and fair.
- Eye for an eye, Doomgiver scans
- The fate of all folk everywhere.
Doomgiver is poorly understood because of the ambiguity of its verse, and because Doomgiver was rarely used in canon. It was observed to turn any attack directed toward it back to the source. If an arrow is fired at the wielder of the Sword of Justice, the arrow would turn around in mid-flight and fatally strike the archer. It also in general redirects maliciousness directed toward the one who holds it. For example, the goddess Aphrodite
Aphrodite
Aphrodite is the Greek goddess of love, beauty, pleasure, and procreation.Her Roman equivalent is the goddess .Historically, her cult in Greece was imported from, or influenced by, the cult of Astarte in Phoenicia....
was entranced by her own power when she tried to seduce one who held Doomgiver. The Dark King Vilkata similarly hesitated to confront the Sword when it was defending the city of Tashigang, fearing that all the evil he or his followers had ever wielded against anyone in the city would be suddenly returned against him.
In "Blind Man's Blade", Doomgiver had bats eat themselves, had a demon folded painfully into its own gut. Doomgiver prevails over Soulcutter in that same book, turning its despair back at the Gods, and it is also hinted at Doomgiver's power would prove superior to the other Swords, including being able to turn Farslayer back at the one who threw it, that Sightblinder's holder would see a terrible apparition while remaining vulnerable, that the Mindsword holder should worship Doomgiver's holder, and Coinspinner's master would suffer excruciating bad luck. Likewise, in that same book, when Mars tried to take Doomgiver away from the man who held it, in the name of the council of Gods, Doomgiver exacted its retaliation, and took all the Swords of the Gods away from them, except, of course, Shieldbreaker, which is immune to Doomgiver's powers.
The Sword may have had other properties only hinted at in its verse, but it was destroyed early on in the series by Shieldbreaker, making many facets of its power and use unclear.
Dragonslicer
Dragonslicer is also called the Sword of Heroes. It has a stylized dragon engraved in white on its hilt.Dragonslicer's verse in The Song of Swords describes its power as follows:
- Dragonslicer, Dragonslicer, how d'you slay?
- Reaching for the heart in behind the scales.
- Dragonslicer, Dragonslicer, where d'you stay?
- In the belly of the giant that my blade impales.
Dragonslicer is one of the few Swords that is wholly benevolent in nature. In the Books of the Swords
Books of the Swords
The Book of Swords Series is collectively a science fiction/fantasy novel series written by Fred Saberhagen. Its central theme revolves around twelve magical Swords forged by the gods, each endowed with a particular power or gift, and how various people acquire and use them...
universe, Dragons are non-sentient
Sentience
Sentience is the ability to feel, perceive or be conscious, or to have subjective experiences. Eighteenth century philosophers used the concept to distinguish the ability to think from the ability to feel . In modern western philosophy, sentience is the ability to have sensations or experiences...
predatory creatures that can grow to a hundred meters in length or more. The larger forms are capable of ravaging entire countrysides, and their hides are impervious to conventional weapons. Dragonslicer guides its user into the right place to deliver a fatal blow to any dragon, and can cut through dragon scale (and limbs, and tails, etc.) as easily as soft butter. However, care must still be taken, for Dragonslicer does not actually magically protect its wielder against a dragon's various means of attack.
When not employed against dragons, it is simply a sharp, well balanced, and well crafted blade that is proof against most damage, but offers no magical advantage. Thus, it is one of the least feared of the Swords—at least by humanity. While Dragonslicer only features occasionally in the Swords saga, by the end of the series dragons are largely extinct thanks to this weapon.
Farslayer
Farslayer is also called the Sword of Vengeance. It has a series of concentricConcentric
Concentric objects share the same center, axis or origin with one inside the other. Circles, tubes, cylindrical shafts, disks, and spheres may be concentric to one another...
circles in the form of a bullseye
Bullseye (target)
The bullseye, or bull's-eye, is the centre of a target , and by extension the name given to any shot that hits the bullseye...
or target engraved upon its hilt.
Farslayer's verse in The Song of Swords describes its power as follows:
- Farslayer howls across the world
- For thy heart, for thy heart, who hast wronged me!
- Vengeance is his who casts the blade
- Yet he will in the end no triumph see.
Farslayer is relatively straightforward in operation. The possessor must simply swing the blade around and think of the person whom they wish to kill, then release the sword. It is customary for the wielder to chant the second line of the Swords verse, "For thy heart...", as above, while they are spinning the Blade. This appears to be unnecessary for the proper function of Farslayer.
After launching, the Sword flies from the hand of its master, creating a shrieking rainbow-colored streak through the sky, terminating in the heart of the intended target. Nothing can be done to hide from Farslayer. The sword is intelligent enough to know exactly how to kill its target, including demons and gods. Farslayer will pass through any substance that is placed between it and its target. Assassinations have taken place with the target in houses, fortified castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
s, even in cave
Cave
A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The term applies to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness. The word cave also includes smaller spaces like rock shelters, sea caves, and grottos.Speleology is the science of exploration and study...
s hundreds of feet under ground. Distance from the target is also no obstacle. Only Shieldbreaker and Woundhealer offer sure defense from the Sword of Vengeance, though characters theorized that Doomgiver might present a defense.
Once Farslayer reaches its target, it remains there. Typically, the deceased is surrounded by friends with thoughts of vengeance and who are the new owners of Farslayer. This is of course a major drawback, and makes employing Farslayer a risky proposition. This sequence is played out in a version of the Hatfield-McCoy feud over the course of the events contained in The Fourth Book of Lost Swords: Farslayer's Story.
Mindsword
The Mindsword is also known as the Sword of Glory, or by the pejorative Skulltwister, the Sword of Madness. It has a flying bannerBanner
A banner is a flag or other piece of cloth bearing a symbol, logo, slogan or other message. Banner-making is an ancient craft.The word derives from late Latin bandum, a cloth out of which a flag is made...
engraved in white on its hilt.
The Mindsword's verse in The Song of Swords describes its power as follows:
- The Mindsword spun in the dawn's gray light
- And men and demons knelt down before.
- The Mindsword flashed in the midday bright
- Gods joined the dance, and the march to war.
- It spun in the twilight dim as well
- And gods and men marched off to hell.
The Mindsword is one of the more overtly evil of the Swords, as it is difficult to imagine a good cause Skulltwister would be associated with. The Mindsword, when drawn, compels absolute and fanatical devotion to the person holding it. It flashes brightly as if catching the sun, and emits the faint roar of a cheering mob, which cannot be blocked out by covering ears or averting eyes. All who are in visual or aural range are affected. Not even the gods of the Swords universe are immune to its power.
The strength of the devotion is such that one under the Mindsword's power would even throw their life away if so ordered. There is no possibility of resisting or recovery, except for the passage of time. When removed from the Mindsword's presence, a person will gradually begin to lose the unnatural loyalty they felt toward the Sword's bearer and show signs of skepticism and then increasing rebelliousness before finally regaining their own mind. It takes around a week to fully recover, depending on the relationship between the target and the wielder, the wielder's own personal charisma, and the psychological resistance of the target.
The Blade seems to have another, lesser property as well—wounds made from its edge fester, preventing healing and possibly leading to fever and delirium.
Other Swords provide some protection from the mind-control effect of the Mindsword, by virtue of their hold on the user's psyche
Psyche (psychology)
The word psyche has a long history of use in psychology and philosophy, dating back to ancient times, and has been one of the fundamental concepts for understanding human nature from a scientific point of view. The English word soul is sometimes used synonymously, especially in older...
. Sightblinder offers some resistance, although it still takes a great deal of willpower from the affected wielder and allows them only enough presence of mind to escape. Wayfinder also provides some protection. While it does not protect its wielder from the fanatical devotion, it allows them to maintain their sense of reason. For example, Wayfinder's wielder would not follow orders from Mindsword's wielder if those orders were blatantly suicidal or foolish. Soulcutter will trump the Mindsword's power, but in this case the cure can be worse than the disease. Shieldbreaker offers absolute immunity when employed.
Although this was never demonstrated in the books, some characters speculated that Doomgiver might also provide protection against the Mindsword. Woundhealer successfully healed the poisoned wound from the Sword of Glory.
The Mindsword is one of the few Swords that is always "on" whether or not it is held by someone. At one point in the series, the Sword was left unsheathed on an icy mountain. Locals worshiped the mountain itself as a god, apparently under the effect of the Sword. Sheathing the Sword (or otherwise concealing its blade) will prevent the blade from functioning, though mind control once established will remain in effect.
The Sword of Glory is one of the most sought after of all the Twelve. Tyrants want it to dominate others, and good men want it locked up where it can do no harm, or destroyed if possible.
Shieldbreaker
Shieldbreaker is also called the Sword of Force, and occasionally "the Widowmaker". It has a hammer engraved in white on its hilt. It is arguably the most powerful of all Swords.When drawn, it offers absolute protection against all armed enemy attacks, including mêlée
Mêlée
Melee , generally refers to disorganized close combat involving a group of fighters. A melee ensues when groups become locked together in combat with no regard to group tactics or fighting as an organized unit; each participant fights as an individual....
, ranged, and magical. It interprets demonic or assault with natural weapons such as the teeth, claws, and beaks of predators as an armed attack. When any weapon is brought to bear against Shieldbreaker, it emits a rhythmic throbbing or hammering sound, that steadily increases in volume and speed as it is used in combat. When Shieldbreaker comes into contact with a weapon, that weapon is destroyed, shattering into many fragments with explosive force. Usually, this severely hurts or even kills the opponent who was wielding that weapon. Hostile incoming magic is automatically negated, but this effect is harmless to the caster.
Once it is drawn in combat, Shieldbreaker will not allow the user to let go of it until combat is over, a property which is shared by Townsaver. The sword actually takes control over its wielder's sword arm, automatically blocking all incoming attacks and striking back in return, imparting superhuman speed and strength as required.
Its verse in The Song of Swords is as follows:
- I shatter Swords and splinter spears;
- None stands to Shieldbreaker.
- My point's the fount of orphan's tears
- My edge the widowmaker.
While Shieldbreaker is unbeatable in armed combat, it does have a weakness, as hinted at by the verse. Literally, none (read no weapon) stands to Shieldbreaker. The Sword of Force is useless against unarmed foes, passing harmlessly through them. Meanwhile, the wielder of Shieldbreaker has greatly diminished strength while the Sword is functioning, as the Sword draws power from the rest of the wielder's body into his sword-arm. Even a god could be out-wrestled by a determined and unarmed foe.
Since this weakness was discovered, many showdowns involving Shieldbreaker end up in elaborate games of chicken
Chicken (game)
The game of chicken, also known as the hawk-dove or snowdrift game, is an influential model of conflict for two players in game theory...
involving dropping, picking up and repeated feint
Feint
Feint is a French term that entered English from the discipline of fencing. Feints are maneuvers designed to distract or mislead, done by giving the impression that a certain maneuver will take place, while in fact another, or even none, will...
s with the Sword and conventional arms. The Tasavaltan military plan for retrieving Shieldbreaker, should it be lost, is to confront the wielder with four men, two armed, two not. While the two armed men stand at a safe distance to defend against armed defenders, the two unarmed men quickly subdue and kill the wielder.
Counters have been developed, including using a conventional sword to dispatch unarmed opponents while holding Shieldbreaker with one's off arm, though this requires some skill in swordplay and one must account for the personal strength the Sword saps. Shieldbreaker is also a popular choice for dual Sword wielding if the wielder can withstand the strain, since any other Sword will greatly offset Shieldbreaker's weakness, with the exception of Woundhealer, and Shieldbreaker will offset some of the weaknesses of other Swords. Perhaps the strongest value of dual-wielding with Shieldbreaker is that most of the other Swords' principal weakness is that they can be defeated by Shieldbreaker.
Shieldbreaker can destroy other Swords as easily as conventional ones, even Swords whose own power would seem to counteract the "Widowmaker". Indeed, by the end of the series, Shieldbreaker had been used to destroy all but one of the other Swords. When a Sword is destroyed in this fashion, it leaves behind only the vanquished Sword's black hilt. The lone exception is Woundhealer, which obliterated Shieldbreaker in the Last Book of Lost Swords: Shieldbreaker's Story.
Sightblinder
Sightblinder is also called the Sword of Stealth, and less commonly, the Sword of Deception. It bears a stylized human eye engraved in white upon its hilt.Sightblinder's verse in The Song of Swords describes its power as follows:
- The Sword of Stealth is given to
- One lowly and despised.
- Sightblinder's gifts: his eyes are keen
- His nature is disguised.
Sightblinder's powers are twofold. First, it alters the appearance of its possessor. This is not via a traditional cloaking device
Cloaking device
Cloaking devices are advanced stealth technologies still in development that will cause objects, such as spaceships or individuals, to be partially or wholly invisible to parts of the electromagnetic spectrum...
or holographic projection, but it alters how outside agents perceive the person carrying the Sword of Stealth. When a person looks at someone holding Sightblinder, they believe they are looking at either someone they love and trust implicitly, or someone they fear.
The illusion
Illusion
An illusion is a distortion of the senses, revealing how the brain normally organizes and interprets sensory stimulation. While illusions distort reality, they are generally shared by most people....
is complete, regardless of how perceptive or skilled in magic
Magic (illusion)
Magic is a performing art that entertains audiences by staging tricks or creating illusions of seemingly impossible or supernatural feats using natural means...
the target may be. One may see Sightblinder as a parent, sibling, lover, god, or leader. The effect is so convincing that the target has trouble doubting the identity of the person they are looking at, even if it is changing from moment to moment. Sightblinder will disguise its bearer's voice if required. Sightblinder disguises itself as well, appearing as a cane, a scepter, another Sword, or even as nothing at all, depending on what would enhance the illusion.
The consistency of the illusion varies. In some situations involving multiple targets, every person will see something different. At other times, all present see the same thing. The illusion may switch from a person one fears to a person one loves and back again over the space of a single encounter (as when a dragon flew off, impaled with the blade), or it may remain the same over a long period of time (in the case of Mark impersonating a senior officer of the Dark King over a period of several days and with a large number of people). The series never establishes how an image is kept consistent—though it appears that the intelligence or consistency of purpose of the wielder plays a role.
In practice, the effect is similar to the Mindsword in that the target will obey the wielder. Unlike the Mindsword, the subject will not totally disregard their base inhibitions and are unlikely to throw their life away for the illusion, unless that is what they are naturally inclined to do.
A drawback to use of the Sword is that it makes sneaking around impossible. When one appears as a fearsome god, demon, or an intimate relation, they do not easily escape notice. Indeed, the Sword is best used boldly.
A secondary effect of Sightblinder is that it enhances the perceptions of the person carrying it. Their eyesight and hearing are supernaturally keen. It also allows its bearer to see through other illusionary magic and effects, no matter what the origin or strength. It offers some protection from the Mindsword by allowing its user to see the true nature of the other Sword's possessor. Sightblinder's bearer intuitively can tell when a person is being honest or deceitful.
As powerful as Sightblinder's illusions are, it cannot fool the one who carries Shieldbreaker. Farslayer is not fooled by the illusion. Some characters in the series speculated that Doomgiver would be able to reverse the effects of Sightblinder onto its own wielder, but this has not been seen in practice.
Soulcutter
Soulcutter is also called the Sword of Despair, or the Tyrant's Blade. Unlike the other Twelve Swords, the Soulcutter's blade is a dull color lacking all luster that actually seems to draw light into itself, creating a pocket of localized gloom when drawn. It is also unique in that it bears no symbol or other marking on its black hilt.Soulcutter's verse in The Song of Swords describes its power as follows:
- The Tyrant's Blade no blood hath spilled
- But doth the spirit carve
- Soulcutter hath no body killed
- But many left to starve.
When drawn, the Tyrant's Blade projects a field of total apathy that spreads to cover a fair-sized battlefield. Any creature caught within Soulcutter's sphere of influence immediately loses all interest in life and slumps to the ground in a state of profound depression
Clinical depression
Major depressive disorder is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and by loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities...
. They are incapable of movement and take no notice of hunger, thirst, or exposure
Hypothermia
Hypothermia is a condition in which core temperature drops below the required temperature for normal metabolism and body functions which is defined as . Body temperature is usually maintained near a constant level of through biologic homeostasis or thermoregulation...
to elements. They will eventually die of deprivation
Deprivation
Deprivation may refer to:* Poverty* Relative deprivation* Sleep deprivation* Maternal deprivation...
if the Sword of Despair is not sheathed.
The critical drawback is that not even Soulcutter's wielder is spared this effect. In fact, once they draw the weapon, they cannot find the motivation to sheathe the Sword, making the choice to use the Sword of Despair the last one they make. If by some extreme intervention, like a person bearing Shieldbreaker entering the scene and covering the cursed Blade, Soulcutter's possessor will have aged at an extremely advanced rate, and still suffer severe long-term depression. Woundhealer can dispel most of the lingering mental effects, and some (but not all) of the physical deterioration.
Because of the horrific effects of the Sword, and the personal cost to the one employing it, Soulcutter is rarely drawn. Instead, it is used as a threat, where the mere knowledge that one possesses the Tyrant's Blade deters attack. Most actual uses have been out of extreme desperation or as an act of last defense. Soulcutter has also been drawn to counteract the Mindsword's influence, and it should be noted that Soulcutter "prevailed" in the sense that while the fanaticism of the Mindsword's wielder and his followers were somewhat shielded from the worst of Soulcutter's effects, eventually even they were defeated by despair.
For the bulk of the series, Soulcutter is hidden away by the god-like Emperor in an extremely remote location. Even when asked, the Emperor refuses to permit Soulcutter to become active again, citing its extreme danger to all involved.
Shieldbreaker and Soulcutter together would render a person for all intents and purposes invincible. Indeed, this very scenario occurs at the climax of the series, and is defeated only by the ability of Woundhealer to "heal" Soulcutter's damage immediately.
Stonecutter
Stonecutter is also called the Sword of Siege. It has a wedge driving into a block engraved in white on its hilt.Stonecutter's verse in The Song of Swords describes its power as follows:
- The Sword of Siege struck a hammer's blow
- With a crash, and a smash, and a tumbled wall.
- Stonecutter laid a castle low
- With a groan, and a roar, and a tower's fall.
Stonecutter's use, like Dragonslicer, is highly specialized. It carves any stone of whatever thickness or density as easily as soft butter. When it is being used to this end, it emits a distinct hammering sound (like the sound of a chisel chipping away stone), which is louder or softer depending on the scale of its use.
As its verse suggests, Stonecutter can be used to topple castle walls, but it can and has been used by artists to sculpt fine art (or even to cut fine gemstones). Like all of its fellow Swords, the Sword of Siege makes an excellent conventional blade in addition to its magical properties. It also appears to be the only sword besides Dragonslicer that does not have a major drawback or any known weaknesses.
Townsaver
Townsaver is also called the Sword of Fury. It has a sword raised above a stylized segment of castle wall engraved in white on its hilt.Townsaver's power is defending unarmed people in a fixed position. When its wielder draws it for this purpose, the blade emits a screaming sound and takes over control from the user, moving his arms with superhuman speed and power to defeat any attackers. It is not an overstatement to say that Townsaver can singlehandedly defeat an entire army.
Townsaver's verse in The Song of Swords hints at its power and peril, and is as follows:
- Long roads the Sword of Fury makes
- Hard walls it builds around the soft
- The fighter who Townsaver takes
- Can bid farewell to home and croft
Unfortunately, unlike many of its fellow Swords, such as Shieldbreaker, it does nothing to protect the actual wielder. In fact, it will use the wielder's body to deflect and absorb ranged attacks and other blows, if it is practical to do so and if the action will result in the protection of the people it is trying to defend. Townsaver will keep its wielder alive until the battle is over. If the user has sustained serious wounds during the battle, they can and often do die.
In addition, Townsaver will not allow its user to drop or relinquish its power once the battle has been engaged. The user is totally committed once Townsaver is drawn. It will take no action to defend the user if he stands alone.
Of course, countermeasures have been developed to offset Townsaver's weaknesses somewhat. Giving the user strong armor is one that has been used with success. Since it is not the user's speed and power driving the weapon, it is possible to burden the wielder with heavy armor that would ordinarily be a fatal encumbrance.
The Song of Swords also hints explicitly at the destiny for the Sword. While the phrase is typically taken to mean that the wielder is unlikely to survive a battle, when Mark's half-brother Kenn dies wielding it early in the series, Mark takes Townsaver and leaves his village to find his destiny.
Townsaver was destroyed when its wielder confronted the god Vulcan, who was wielding Shieldbreaker during a siege. The God was heard to mutter "that was Townsaver by its cry...curse all humans who destroy my property!" (Third Book of Swords).
Wayfinder
Wayfinder is also called the Sword of Wisdom. It has an arrow engraved in white on its hilt.Wayfinder's verse in The Song of Swords describes its power as follows:
- Who holds Wayfinder finds good roads
- Its master's step is brisk.
- The Sword of Wisdom lightens loads
- But adds unto their risk.
Wayfinder's chief power is guiding its bearer to whatever it is they seek. Not only will it lead one to their ultimate goal, it will also intelligently guide them to things that are required to successfully accomplish its mission. Wayfinder seems to do better and be more kind to its user when the request is broad and general, and less so the more specific the user is. Its main drawback is that while it picks routes that will eventually lead its master to success, it never picks the safest route, if one exists. It is the opinion of many of the past owners of the Sword that it actually picks the worst, most dangerous path for its user to follow. Thus the Sword does indeed "add unto their risk."
Wayfinder's other weakness is that it only will lead someone to one thing at a time. Many times, the wielder will change his mind or have confused priorities that cloud the usefulness of the weapon.
For example, if one were to seek great wealth, Wayfinder might lead one to a bank vault. But before doing so, it would lead one to the world's best safe cracker, and then the equipment he would need to break into the vault. If the safe cracker would need some sort of special compensation to cooperate, it would help one find that as well. Also, because of Wayfinder's tendency to seek risky paths, it would most likely lead one to a heavily guarded and protected vault. When it is operating in this type of "seeker" mode, it quivers when it is being pointed in the right general direction, also subtly steering its possessor's arms as a kind of divining rod.
In addition, Wayfinder can also act as the ultimate Magic 8-ball
Magic 8-ball
The Magic 8 Ball is a toy used for fortune-telling or seeking advice, manufactured by Mattel.-Origin:While Magic 8-Ball did not exist in its current form until 1950, the functional component was invented by Albert C. Carter, who was inspired by a "spirit writing" device used by his mother, Mary, a...
, answering questions such as, "Which of these plates of food is poisoned?" or "Which of these men is lying to me?" It is unnecessary to vocalize these questions; a mental query is sufficient. Just like when it is in seeker mode, it indicates the correct answer by quivering when its blade is pointing in the correct direction. This is the chief reason Wayfinder is also dubbed the "Sword of Wisdom".
Woundhealer
Woundhealer is also called the Sword of Mercy, and less frequently, the Sword of Love, and even more infrequently, the Sword of Healing. It bears an open human hand engraved in white on its hilt.Woundhealer's verse in The Song of Swords describes its power as follows:
- Whose flesh the Sword of Mercy hurts has drawn no breath,
- Whose soul it heals has wandered in the night,
- Has paid the summing of all debts in death
- Has turned to see returning light.
Woundhealer is the only Sword incapable of killing, though it can cut and hack inanimate matter as well as any of the other Swords. Instead, when living flesh is pierced with the Blade, it has a powerful healing effect. The Sword can knit broken bones, heal disease, fix genetic disorder
Genetic disorder
A genetic disorder is an illness caused by abnormalities in genes or chromosomes, especially a condition that is present from before birth. Most genetic disorders are quite rare and affect one person in every several thousands or millions....
s, regenerate
Regeneration (biology)
In biology, regeneration is the process of renewal, restoration, and growth that makes genomes, cells, organs, organisms, and ecosystems resilient to natural fluctuations or events that cause disturbance or damage. Every species is capable of regeneration, from bacteria to humans. At its most...
lost limbs, and repair mental or psychological problems (including the effects of Soulcutter). Properly employed, it can enable its user to sustain extensive damage without dying. Its healing effect can prevent amputation of entire limbs if the Sword is in active use; the blade heals the wound before the attack can complete its path across the limb, and before the wound can start to bleed.
The sensation of Woundhealer cutting or piercing an individual is described as a sort of exquisite pain. When in action, Woundhealer emits a sound similar to a human sigh. Woundhealer works on any living thing, human or animal. It is not known to restore the dead to life
Necromancy
Necromancy is a claimed form of magic that involves communication with the deceased, either by summoning their spirit in the form of an apparition or raising them bodily, for the purpose of divination, imparting the ability to foretell future events or discover hidden knowledge...
.
Woundhealer is not explicitly stated to project a healing aura
Aura (paranormal)
In parapsychology and many forms of spiritual practice, an aura is a field of subtle, luminous radiation surrounding a person or object . The depiction of such an aura often connotes a person of particular power or holiness. Sometimes, however, it is said that all living things and all objects...
. In most cases, the blade must come into contact and break the skin of the person being healed. Woundhealer can be self administered. The time of effect depends on the severity of injury or sickness, and proximity of the Blade to the problem area. While Woundhealer can eventually repair a broken leg by being stuck into the patient's heart, the healing is instantaneous when it is sliced through the affected limb. At one point, a character plunged the Blade into his chest, rode his horse off a high cliff
Cliff
In geography and geology, a cliff is a significant vertical, or near vertical, rock exposure. Cliffs are formed as erosion landforms due to the processes of erosion and weathering that produce them. Cliffs are common on coasts, in mountainous areas, escarpments and along rivers. Cliffs are usually...
, survived the fall, used the sword to heal both himself and his horse, and rode away. In another incident, though it took several weeks, it completely regenerated the lost arm of Jord the Smith after a single application.
At least one short story in An Armory of Swords seems to suggest that Woundhealer does project an air of good health. That is, while it does no actual healing unless actively employed, long-term proximity to the blade will make a person healthier than otherwise. This is only implied, though, and not stated.
Woundhealer is the only Sword that has survived an encounter with Shieldbreaker, although the circumstances were unusual. The Sword was plunged into the heart of Prince Mark, the son of the god-like Emperor, at the time Mark's opponent attacked with Shieldbreaker. Instead of destroying Woundhealer, Shieldbreaker was obliterated. The result was explained as occurring because Woundhealer was combined with the strongest weapon of all, the human heart. Many readers were dissatisfied with this outcome and explanation, which served as the climax of the entire Book of Swords series. It is unclear whether the outcome would have been the same if the tactic was tried by a character of less distinctive lineage, or by an evil character. Another possibility is that since Woundhealer is incapable of harming anyone, it is hardly a weapon, despite its appearance. Under this definition Shieldbreaker's ability to cancel and destroy all other weapons would not apply. Finally, there is the possibility that Shieldbreaker, having been hurled at its victim and so not otherwise being wielded, considered Mark to be its owner after piercing his flesh. As a result, it became a weapon threatening its own wielder and, as a consequence of its powers, destroyed itself. Under this theory, Woundhealer's only role was in keeping its bearer alive during this process. This last possibility is unlikely, as Vulcan the Smith once wounded himself with Shieldbreaker while fighting unarmed opponents.
At the end of the Swords series, Woundhealer is the only one of the Twelve remaining in existence, the rest having been destroyed by Shieldbreaker.
It also is called the Sword of Love. At one point the Sword was thrust through the heart of two people. While the two remained in love for the rest of their lives, it is unknown whether the Sword was responsible.