Blade Hands
The crowd erupted in a bright flash of multi-colored light, red and green flashing once each blinding those to near. The clash of metal on metal rang over the dinn of the voices of the market place. Cries of a fight swept through the streets ending up at the ears of the city watch.
“Someone broke a seal again. Thats to bad, as I didn’t want to have to kill anyone today.”
- Corporal Watesan, 2nd Shift of the day watch. Cerb City, Cerb.
Full Item Description
Blade hands are nothing more extravagant than red silken ribbons tied about the scabbard of swords, or tieing weapons to packs or belts. The addition of a black wax seal completes the enchanted seal and binds the weapon to its place. The wax isn’t magical but when the official seal is pressed into the hot wax, sealing the ribbin and the weapon to it’s current holder, the seal is then magically enchanted to alert the watch when one is broken either by acident or in anger.
History
Quite simply known as the Seal, blade hands were designed as a safe guard for the city watch to cut down on murders and leathal fights within the city. When the city tried to ban weapons, travelers began traveling around the city to other ports in fear of loosing their weapons if checked at the gates and the hassle to get them returned once checked.
In fact, by banning the weapons, a market for weapons went up on the streets quickly and tempers began flaring quicker with more deaths as a result. Riots also began escalating throughout the city with more and more citizen being killed by the swords of the watch than by each other.
The magistrate was charged with finding a solution before social order broke down and the city collapsed on itself. He contacted a quiet, slip of a man who few knew to have a gift. He was skilled in creating small and seemingly mundane mystical items that few people cared for. Some say he was just an old alchemist who had lost his sensibilities and so few sought his services.
He was told to allow everyone the choice of keeping their weapons, but restrict them from being able to use them. So he toiled and created the Blade Hands. originally for swords only he was easily able to adapt them for other, odder weapons.
The blade hands, or seal as they are commonly called, is a set of items, only one of which actually holds any magical energies but when combined together the perfect, inexpensive control tool. Whenever anyone enters the city they must claim all their weapons at the gate in which they entered. Their sword scabbards are then bound with this silken ribbon and wax seal. Other weapons that have holsters are bound in a similar fashion while odd weapons are bound to belts or packs or saddle bags to make their use near to impossible as a weapon.
All are tied with the same red ribbon and the black wax. It is then pressed over the knot with the granite seal of the Bladed Hand. The pressing of the seal is what empowers the wax and ribbon. Its energies course through the wax and ribbon constantly, looking for a break or a tear.
If anyone is caught breaking the seal on purpose they are imprisoned for three days. If they are found to have broken the seal by fighting, they will be judged accordingly on how much damage was done and they will be physically punished in concordance with the damage.
If they cut someone, they are cut as well. If they kill someone, they are killed in the same manner in public display of a violation of the law of the Bladed Hands.
Magical Properties
If anyone were to cut the cloth, break the wax seal, or attempt to weild the weapon other than carrying it, the seal will shatter in a high pitched whine that echos from the broken wax for a period of four seconds. The item that was bound will then begin to flash a bright colored light until a granite seal is placed on the item to remove this minor enchantment.
The item will flash a bluish white if the breaking of the seal was accidental.
The item will flash green if the breaking of the seal was in self defense.
The item will flash red if the breaking of the seal was on purpose or the item was used in anger while under the seal.
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? Responses (27)
I actually had to read this twice for some reason. After the second reading I realized I loved it! 'an edge' for the city guard is rare. Obviously helps curb crime (thats not why the city is named 'cerb' is it?) :)
one nagging thought. It seems that there are no issues with the amount of these items that can be created...correct? mass production so to speak.
Is there anything stopping Cerb from farming these out to any city that orders a shipment? I mean which town wouldn't want these right? So a cottage industry forms perhaps. Does Cerb become the most prosperous town in all the land? :) Am I making sense, or did I miss something?
these are not criticisms, just thoughts that come to mind.
overall great idea!!!! I have a pc, that refuses to 'check' his weapon at any city-gate regardless of the consequences. This weekend he will be going to Cerb. Thanks!
It is possible for these to be producted in mass, obviously the ribbon and wax is common. It is the granite seal that is so special.
In my world, magic items are no longer being created so there is a hunt for items of magic of any kind. So no this city will not be giving these out to anyone.
In your world however, make them available. I would think that because of their popularity among the watch and the rulers, they would be a highly costly item if the way wasn't known to create them. Remember, it is not the ribbon or the wax that is special but the seal itself. So anyone can copy and impliment a way to make it seem like it is working, but only the true and original way stands the test of time.
In my city there are three gates open to the outside of the city, the city is walled on three sides, with the fourth side being blocked by a cliff face where the palace is housed. There are only about fourteen of these left in the city. Some being lost, broken, and even stolen over time.
I see. Actually I wont be doing that in 'my world' either. I just wanted your thoughts on mass-production. I understand re: the seal being special, was wondering if more seals could be made (and how easily). You have now answered that question however.
In fact your one sentence...'In my world, magic items are no longer being created so there is a hunt for items of magic of any kind' is an AWESOME idea, in and of itself. I will be shamelessly stealing it! (just for my campaign world). No copyrights in place for borrowing that for a game session right? :)
You cant copyright something that doesn't exist. But yes you can use it.
Nice idea, one that could be quickly implemented in a lot of campaigns or worlds to solve weapons problems. There's something a lot like this in the WOT Series (Don't know if this was intentional or not), and it's a nice way to give people a reason why cities haven't degenerated into crime-filled dens, while also providing an effortless and realistic way to keep player's hands off their sword-hilts for a few flaming seconds.
Similar in that in the book it was more just a tied rope wasn't it? I don't remember it's been a long time since I have read the books. I didn't think of the idea from the Wheel of Time, although now I do remember something about it being in there.
I was driving home from work and though of the saying, 'The tie that binds the sword!' and it went from there.
I think this is a rather cool idea. I was wonding what happens if it is self defence, but you answered that at the end. ;)
Actually, that is a great way to ensure the proper people are punished, and that those that need aid will have the guard around shortly.
Might be cool to make somthing like that that people can use when they need to call the guard, if they use a weapon or not. Just a band that can be worn on the wrist, for example, for the elderly, childeren and others that can't defend themselves.
Its a great way to keep the wrong doers pay closer attention to what the yare doing. Of course until you get the smart one who pulls a weapon on someone and then takes their weapon.
But that is for the courts to decide who is in the wrong at that point. Unless the color transposes onto their hand.
This is a solid idea, though the whole flashing lights depending on the factor of seal breakage seems a bit over the top for me, seeming more like a sword powered disco light show. A magical verson of peace-tieing swords. Not quite as effective on maces, bows, and other weapons that do not have sheaths or scabbards
Hence why these weapons are secured to belts, baggage, saddle bags etc...
And possibly not a flashing, but maybe just a continuous glow perhaps to alert those within viewing distance one was broken perhaps.
Bows can be 'bonded' by simply putting the seal two places, one in the pull zone of the string and another on the string. Actually if they require the bow to be unstrung in the city, then you just have to put the seal on one of the ends of the bow.
Crossbows, put it on the cock or seal the wire to the stock.
Maces, staffs, spears could be a problem. Can not legislate staffs. However, it does eliminate some of the basic weapon problems of the city.
I totally forgot about the unstringing of the bow, but the crossbow did cross my mind until the 'accidental' discharge of it. Without a bolt insert of course. But good points.
A nicely thought out item. It is logical. You could see someone making it and the reasons why. It is useful (and still is useful), which means it rings of realism (after all why make items that are not really useful... what a waste of time). And the write up is well written.
Two paws and a tail up
A very good way to allow weapons whilst keeping crime down. The USA should bring in a tech version of this in real life.
Amendment II
A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.
Love it, Hate it, Think it is archaic, such devices would impinge Amendment II. Thus it would be a fight.
How true. However, the 2nd Amendment wasn't even thought of during the fuedal system, and definately not on my world. I have no Declaration of the Public May Uprise and Overthrow the Government documents if treated poorly.
Great item that produces a lot of random ideas. Also a fine candidate into the Generic Magical Items.
- of course, there will be still murders done with a knife or unregistered weapon.
- in a world with more magic, a broken seal could leave some magical 'residuum' on all present lifeforms, for later tracing by ritual magic teams. That could be also dispelled, etc, etc.
- there can be arenas for entertainment of the masses, or duels (which is the same) where the seals of the weapons are publicly broken first. In some cases, it is useful to provide a legal outlet for bad feelings. Just state in the law 'A fight is legal if fought publicly in ______'.
So true. There is no outlet for eliminating crime without killing off the entire population and replacing it will drones or undead.
However you are very true about the legalized fighting in which case some of my cities have public arenas that are setup just for that very reason. There is also one day a year that anyone who has debt owed to someone may challenge them, or a second if they are unable, to fight to clear the debt. There are rules in volved but if you win your debt is cleared.
An interesting item. Useful, magical, yet with that practical zing.
If I stole this idea for my private fantasy setting, would you want me to pay you if I publish?
Quite usable this item(s). As for the spear, mace, axe problem, it should be relatively easy to seal a "bag" of sorts to cover them. Any brutal use would result in breaking the seal and thus raising alarm...
Excellent post, I like worlds and ideas that have some practical use for magic.
I like it. A good use of magic to peacebond weapons. I would think that a thriving industry would spring up making them.
As stated earlier in the comments, the seals that bind the magic to the ribbons or ties are not being produced anymore. That is in my world/ system. You can however alter to fit your own as you see fit.
I like this one. Very well thought-out creative use of small-scale magic, although the flashing bit might be too flashy :)...
Perhaps a neighbouring land's wizards want to get their hands on a seal to 'reverse-engineer' it (or whatever it is you do to magic items.). Or maybe forget to return the thing. I vaguely recall reading that something similar happened (with ordinary MSS of course) between Athens and the library at Alexandria.
I like this one. Very well thought-out creative use of small-scale magic, although the flashing bit might be too flashy :)...
Perhaps a neighbouring land's wizards want to get their hands on a seal to 'reverse-engineer' it (or whatever it is you do to magic items.). Or maybe forget to return the thing. I vaguely recall reading that something similar happened (with ordinary MSS of course) between Athens and the library at Alexandria.