The Ruin of Kings

The Ruin of Kings
Production information
Manufacturer:	Unknown Dark Jedi
Type:	Alchemically Forged Sword
Cost:	N/A
Possession Item:	ID 78132
Technical specifications
Size:	89.1cm
Range:	Melee
[ Source ]

The Ruin of Kings was a weapon forged during the Hundred Year Darkness by an unknown Dark Jedi. Ranked among those who fought in the war as a powerful alchemist and smith, his creation was a key to controlling and subduing The Fang, a semi-sentient fortress intended to imprison their enemies. In an act of irony, the creator of both the fortress and weapon would be entombed within his own prison after his allies grew to fear his growing power. With the prison abandoned as the war turned against the Dark Jedi, the weapon was lost for a time. It would remain lost within the castle's lower levels throughout the rise and fall of both the Republic and New Republic, only being found once a group of Jensaarai claimed the fortress as a base of operations. As the Fang reawakened it would call out to them, trying to test and judge each to see if they were also Dark Jedi, before settling on Sirra Werd'la as the being that drew them most parallels with its creators. It would guide her to the blade and, after some examination by Nikora Rhan, would be used to deactivate the Fang as it turned upon them. The group would retain the weapon after departing the fortress, recognising the potential danger it posed if it fell into the wrong hands.

History

The exact history of the weapon remains unknown, as only splintered fragments of what originally took place have been recorded. Even the name of its builder has been lost to the ages, and much of what is recorded has been taken from only semi-reliable sources. Nevertheless, it is believed to be largely true given the other elements which have been discovered since the loss of the Fang. The weapon was forged during the worst fighting of the Hundred-Year Darkness, by a group of Dark Jedi that required a prison to capture its foes. Some believe that this location was used as a lab and prison in equal measure, serving to hold their greatest enemies while also devising new Sithspawn to support their war. To create the greatest level of security possible, the Fang was forged with these methods and turned into a semi-sentient monolith capable of fully defending itself and commanding its creations in battle. Because all servants of the Dark side of the Force fear the power held by those beneath them, a weapon was forged as a means to subdue the castle and nullify its defences entirely. The Ruin of Kings was forged as this weapon, with the twin role of being both a warden's scimitar in battle and a key to subdue the Fang if it betrayed them.

Whatever the intent behind the Ruin of Kings' forging, its creator was betrayed shortly after completing his work. His allies feared his power more than they did the Jedi he was tasked with holding, and turned his prison upon him. Throwing him into the deepest of its dungeons, he was sealed away to rot within its depths, locked outside of the universe and unable to break his bonds. Whatever plans they might have had for him, whatever intentions were held for the Fang, these were lost in the centuries that passed. In value in the weapon or the location it was bound to was never recorded, even by the victorious Jedi. As the Vatali Empire emerged to hold ultimate authority over the worlds and Trepus was colonised by new arrivals, the Fang was avoided due to both its location and ill omens surrounding its presence. It would only be with the arrival of Ka Tarvitz and Nikora Rhan that this would change. Seeking a stronghold to utilise as they fought to preserve the teachings of the Jensaarai, they were able to claim ownership of the Fang in exchange for slaying a monster that plagued its owner's life. Handed the deed to its territories, they were able to eventually find and purge its grounds of the beasts that called the place home.

The sword's supposed creator.

Both Tarvitz and Rhan found success in their ventures, certain of the Fang's unusual nature but unaware of its origins. Seemingly benign in nature and with no text yielding answers on its creators, they accepted its quirks for the moment, instead focusing upon far more pressing problems. As it was awakened and renewed by the presence of the Force users, the Fang was nevertheless uncertain of their nature. While aspects of the Sith could be seen in their ideology and style, it nevertheless saw traits and traditions that conflicted with the values of its creators. Eventually focusing its efforts on the one whose traits it could most recognise, it attempted to test and communicate with Sirra Werd'la. Her history and violent nature drew easy parallels with its creators, and it attempted to form an attachment via telepathy, using feelings and even occasional images in its efforts. In a test it would lead her to finding the Ruin of Kings in a shattered chamber hidden in its lowest depths. Although curious of this, Sirra had been taught enough to view such things with distrust, and could feel a bloody history as she felt the sword through the Force. Nevertheless, as it lacked the inherent taint of typical creations of the dark side, she opted to retrieve the weapon, using her cape to carry it back.

Sirra would hand the weapon to Rhan for examinations, and the Nautolan would be just as perplexed by its nature. Unsure of its exact history or design, Rhan would keep the weapon held under lock and key, turning examinations of its design into a pet project. Although her history as a smith of weapons gave her some edge in comprehending its possible age, and drew a number of parallels with the Force-imbued blades of the oldest cults. It had also been built with humanoids in mind as its wielders, but anything beyond this rapidly became guesswork. The scripture about its edge was archaic even by the standard of ancient Sith, and while it radiated with Alchemical energies, they lacked the same taint expected of most creations. If anything, Rhan's attempts to peer through into its core brought about nothing; a total abyss of energies that lacked the substance of other creations. It would remain a point of curiosity for months, but she would become very suspicious of certain design traits.

The group would only become certain of its origins when, reacting with hostility to their presence at last, the Fang summoned hundreds of creatures to attack, kill or entomb those that had occupied its walls. With Tarvitz rallying the defenders, Rhan opposing it through her telepathic skills, and Sirra shadowing those taken captive, the Jensaarai were able to steadily push back and assault the dungeons where their members were being taken captive. Sirra was unable to understand much of the castle's messages, but made vague messages and contacts as she probed it for information, until realising something of the presence's nature. It wasn't a truly sentient mind, or even an organic one. It was the Fang itself, partially awakening and acting under ancient orders. This ended as Tarvitz and Rhan's group breached the lower levels, but it opened the way to further inside the dungeons. Many previous barriers had been removed, leading to an area that resembled a temple pedestal. Telepathically messaging her information to Rhan, the two were able to slide the sword into place, ending the threat it posed.

Some further interrogations were made of the castle while it was responsive but showed no open hostility toward them. While the group came to understand much of its ultimate history, albeit with significant blind spots, they could nevertheless not trust their home with safeguarding them. It had been given life with specific orders to defend itself no matter its views on those occupying it, forcing the Jensaarai to evacuate the fortress. After some consideration, the decision was made to bring the Ruin of Kings with them as they withdrew. The Fang would remain hostile to all outsiders, and its interests lay almost entirely within defending its walls. Leaving it active would either allow it to defend against others seeking to use its power or gradually fall dormant once more.

Design

One of the most curious qualities of the Ruin of Kings is its changing nature. The blade's design alters to best suit its era or user, while also remaining clearly of an ancient design. This is the origin of its many names, which seems to transform and alter depending upon who views it. While the runes about the blade's edge never changes, each individual gazing upon it is granted a clear word in their head, ranging from the complex, such as the Sephi-translated That Which Unlocks the End in all Things to the more basic such as the Frostward. It has been thought that the name might stem from whatever provokes the most fear, but it has been believed it is instead whatever elicits the most useful emotional reaction from those viewing it. Whether this is useful to the sword or those that wield it has yet to be understood.

Its steady alterations and design shifts are a trace element that the weapon shares with the Fang, and the few depictions found in carvings found indicate that the weapon's baseline structure has been reworked many times over. Nevertheless it always remains a bladed weapon, typically of approximately 80 to 110cm, sometimes with a link to an animal of some form. Nevertheless, it has solidified on a general impression among the Yastobaal's crew, that of a short scimitar with an angular pointed head. Short enough to be easily carried and utilised within narrow confines, the build is clearly intended to benefit slashing motions but nevertheless holds an edge at its far end, making it suitable for forceful stabs. Weighted and with a hilt that can easily be held in a loose grip without losing any power, it strikes an odd compromise between style and practicality. One of the most curious qualities is how the blade itself seems to shift between having a near mirror sheen to a dulled edge that avoids catching the light, depending upon the hour of the day.

Both the hilt and the sheath reflect a somewhat aquatic or serpentine design, with some indication of scales and fluid motions. It was thought that this might be due to its long-term exposure to Rhan following her examinations, but its lack of changes following rediscovery indicates that this has been taken from the minds of each observer. It is unclear if this will remain stable, or if it might shift once again should it be handed to another individual.