This is the first sword in the series inspired by the idea of a soul trapped within a blade, and I wanted it to vissually look like the kind of sword a wizard might actually wield. I wanted the hilt to be wrapped in a spell scroll, while the ricasso would take on the shape of an owl to represent the Herald of Knowledge, a god in my fantasy world.
I also wanted the sword to have round holes that allow the wielder's index finger to rest comfortably against the blade, making it easier to point the sword forward, almost like brandishing a wand. I love the idea of a sword becoming a magical focus that a spellcaster uses to channel their magic.
That concept always reminds me of Terry Brooks' The Sword of Shannara, where the sword is less of a traditional weapon and more like a magical nuke. I've also always loved the idea of magically sentient objects.
This sword has a bit of a kooky personality. I imagine it speaking with a Received Pronunciation accent, like a goofy old wizard who trapped his own soul inside the blade. I've also always associated purple with royalty and wizardry, so I leaned into that by reflecting purple and aqua throughout the steel.
The glowing runes woven into the spell scroll were also a lot of fun to design.
I interrupt the regular broadcast to bring you The Herald’s Beak! This sword houses the spirit of the wizard who forged it. That’s me!
Once an Arch Mage of the Pillar of Prophecy, I forged this blade as a phylactery to protect myself from the death which I also happened to have foretold. Unfortunately, the same spell meant to extend the thread of my life unraveled it instead!
The Heralds' Beak was long thought to be simply a legend to warn of the dangers of glimpsing your own fate; however, this blade is all too real, and while it is still very much a warning, whoever is lucky enough to wield this sword–that’s me again–will definitely benefit from the ages of knowledge that the kooky spirit trapped within this blade brings.
Wait, I’m not kook, I’m very wise. Who wrote this?
