Eldarin's Blade by Aikurisu on DeviantArt (original) (raw)

Before Phoenix King Eldarin the Sagacious rose to power and restored the honour of the Phoenix Throne in doing so, he was a revered Acolyte of Rothelim. In this light, he was often spoken of for his mastery in wielding a double-handed blade that few could match in his lifetime. It was because of this that some scholars criticised that Eldarin’s might as a renowned warrior won him the throne through intimidation and fear, despite that it was well-known that Eldarin was beyond such forms of corruption. Regardless, his mastery of the blade became a thing of legend spoken in way that only an Acolyte of Rothelim could preserve without folly: the protection of his people and their way of life. Yet not even the great nelri king could keep them from ruin forever.

After Eldarin’s son, Meiliketh the Mad, ascended the throne, it is oft believed that Eldarin’s fabled blade was buried with him in catacombs deep within Mount Yavararys, before his troubled son robbed it from his tomb sometime later, to further anoint his presence as Eldarin’s successor. Yet it is spoken in hushed voices that when Meiliketh first tried to wield the blade for himself, he collapsed screaming in pain before violently casting it away. No one knows whether this tale to be true, though some say Meiliketh never again grasped the blade and instead spitefully sent it to be melted down into something worthy of his touch.

Fortunately it never got that far, and since that day it is widely believed that the blade was bestowed a cunning magical aura, per once Eldarin's request and admittedly on his deathbed, so that only those with the truly selflessness of heart could wield it without bringing anguish to themselves. Such did the blade become a lasting testament of Eldarin's will to not see his only son succeed him, and added further strength to Rainier the Reborn's claim to the Phoenix Throne, several hundred years later, when he wielded it effortlessly during his final confrontation with the proud son and dragonflight consort to Veszena, Kanen.

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I haven’t drawn an epic blade for a while, so this was a nice change of pace.