Tithinian the master smith was the first to receive the new steel, the product of the recently founded Hilsatiri mines. The gnomes were only too happy to provide the iron to make the fine Elvish Steel. He began the complex ritual that accompanied the making of the best of the elvish war-blades. His hammering of the steel followed an ancient proscribed rhythm, one which if followed to perfection would lend the blade the full power and grace of the elvish people.

For hours he worked, the hammering pattern musical and unbroken, until just near the end. His mind slipped, for a moment, but no slips were allowed. His next hammer-strike was off, and instead of the harmonic ring, a discordnant tone assaulted his ears. The blade, once shimmering with magic and harmony, became dark and ugly.

Enraged with himself, he cursed the blade, forgetting for the moment who he was, and where. Still raging, he took the spoiled blade over to the crucible and threw it in to be reforged later. It would be days before he’d be ready to work on the next blade….

Elvish Songblades

The Sarini Elves produce wondrous cold-forged swords in their tree-bound workshops.  Not using fire in their creation appeals greatly to the elves, and also serves to provide advantages when dealing with supernatural powers.

The swords are made using a process of rhythmatic hammering which follows wondrously complicated and strangely beautiful patterns. These blows set up a vibration in the metal rendering it more ductile and workable then is normally the case in more conventional cold-forging. As a result, the blades can be worked into shapes of great complexity without sacrificing strength.  The relationship of the rhythm to the Song of the Universe is such that all blades made in this manner pick up some of the power of creation.  Of course, this power varies depending on how close the smith’s hammering matches the Song.  The Song is of a rather long duration, and to date, no smith has had the skill and endurance to run it to completion.  The legends say that should a smith of sufficient skill and endurance hammer the Song to completion, the resulting blade will help the Elves in the final battle against Chaos.

All hammered blades are considered heirlooms and are never used as trade goods.  Any in the hands of non-elves are either obtained by happenstance, or as gifts (a truly rare occurence).

Magic/Cursed Properties

All Hammered blades retain an echo of the rhythm of their creation.  At the very least, this imparts a minor sawing action (think vibroblade in sci-fie) which increases the cutting ability of the already razor sharp blade. 

With more powerful blades, this vibration can have other properties above increasing damage.  The pommel can be held against solid objects and impart the vibration to them, shaking loose fasteners, causing corrosion to drop away and generating strange sounds.  When multiple blades are used in this manner, they will produce harmonic effects that will increase the effect.  At upper ends of the power scale, they will cause severe vibration to rigid objects touched, similar in effect to an earthquake.

If a pair of such blades are crossed, the harmonics can be used by the wielder to power enchantments using sound as their basis, though this is stressful to the user and greatly sapping of endurance.

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