Your Character's Weapons/Artifacts and How They Acquired Them

[Dat Oni]

It's a fact of life: Everyone in Eorzea seems to be toting a sword, or a spear or a bow, etc. No one is empty handed, and the personal armories run the gamut from slightly prepared to armed to the teeth. 

But exactly why do we carry around these weapons all the time? How did our characters come across them? Are they of sentimental value? Are they unique specimens not unlike Relics?

 

That's the topic for today. Does your character carry an intensely personal weapon/artifact, and why so?

 

Let me start things off with Edgar's own equipment.

 

Edgar possesses but one weapon and one artifact which he inherited when his parents were brutally murdered. 

 

The weapon is his Father's spear, Drakkeneater, which owes the majority of its construction to draconic anatomy. The shaft of the spear itself has a tube running through it, and inside that tube is a hefty collection of Dragon bone marrow. This is because Edgar's father believed by imbuing his weapon with the humors of a Dragon, it would produce an aura that would benefit his agility and Jumping prowess against the beasts. 

 

The artifact he inherited is none other than The Precautioned Pocketbook of Wicked Portend Regarding Manners of Voidly Manifest, a wicked pocketbook containing an intense array of information on the Void, and known for having wrought great misfortune during its creation. For some reason, nothing bad has happened to its current owner...Yet.

 

 

Both are of great sentimental value to him, and he utilizes them when appropriate.

[Coatleque]

Coatleque's sword was a commissioned winglet she had made after she officially swore her oath to the Sultana. It is a bastard sword with a fairly average looking blade that shines with a slight blue tinge. The steel has been aetherically enhanced with ice crystals to harden it and gives it a perpetually cold touch (not as cold as ice, but definitely cooler than normal).

 

She calls it Halone's Ire.

 

It's not a 'magic' sword, mind you. The enhancement only helps to keep the edge keen longer than simple steel. Otherwise it is truly a Paladin's weapon, with an ornate mahogany handle set with gold filigree and a hefty pommel for balance.

[ZindelloTarantella]

"Hi, Tarot here--you want to know about my gear? Well my spear is less a spear and more of a way to get around. It actually is a nifty little bit of technology I got from Gar--ah, from some tinkerers. Basically, it starts off as a pole, highly flexible and amazingly perfect for vaulting over gaps or keeping my balance on a narrow walkway, but, should the need arise--" He twisted the haft with a flick of his wrist, "The tip opens up into a lovely lance head! Neat, no? Pain in the ass to get back in though..."

 

"As for artifacts--heh, well, let's just say that I am awash in artifacts since that's my trade! Nothing fancy though--ain't got a Garuda-buster on my person. But a lot of little things to help me get around. Ankle bands that keep my bare feet protected from cuts, scrapes and stings while running around, a few baubles here and there to help with my treasure hunting and late night acquisitions around a town or settlement, things like that."

 

The artifact he inherited is none other than The Precautioned Pocketbook of Wicked Portend Regarding Manners of Voidly Manifest, a wicked pocketbook containing an intense array of information on the Void, and known for having wrought great misfortune during its creation.

 

 

Both are of great sentimental value to him...

 

"I suppose that means that you'll just be a hard sell on handing over that book, huh? No matter--more than one way to skin a coeurl."

[C'kayah Polaali]

C'kayah owns an oversized Coeurl tribesman's hunting bow, an Ul'dahn gladiator's sword, as well as a Duskwight dagger.

 

The bow is very plain, and is made to look like the bow he bore when he first left his tribe and came to Ul'dah. It's larger, partially because he's no longer a boy and partially because he just likes it.

 

The sword was a gift from his old mate, Natalie. It's of very solid, workmanlike design.

 

The dagger is very ornate, a testament to some nameless Duskwight smith's skill.

 

Of the three, the only one he wears constantly is the dagger. Consequently, he occasionally loses it. His current dagger was purchased as part of a lot purchase from a Duskwight smith. It replaced a similar one from the same smith, which replaced a similar one from a different smith, which replaced one he stole when he was eighteen.

[Melkire]

Most of Osric's... tools... are either standard-issue Immortal Flames gear, or are otherwise run-of-the-mill knives, daggers, dirks, etc. that he acquires through legal and illegal means. He also owns a pair of brass knuckles for when he needs to beat someone down without fatally wounding them.

 

He does, however, possess two weapons of intense sentimental value.

 

The first is the rather ornate axe that his father left behind for him (model used for it is Eisentaenzer). It's not a tool he uses often, for a number of reasons. First: his father committed suicide, and he inevitably associates the axe with his father and thusly his father's cowardice. Second: Osric spent somewhere between six months/moons to a year/cycle as a marauder at sea, but that was hardly enough experience for him to become comfortable, let alone very adept, with the thing. In point of fact, he took up the axe recently for a time precisely because he isn't any good with it (if he'd gone with his knives instead, he might've gutted his friends).

 

The second is a distinctive knife with a wooden handle and a wickedly serrated edge. This blade has a rather long and personal history with Osric: it's instantly recognizable to those who knew him as Dirk Problemsolver, as the knife and that identity are inseparable. It was his signature weapon, calling card, etc. for a long time while he worked as a free agent. It's the ghastly momento he's entrusted to the keeping of the one person he loves most, to serve as a warning: this is Dirk's woman. You touch her, you die.

[Lillith Cale]

Lillith's weapons are fairly simple in both design and origin, even though her goals are anything but.

 

Her main, and really only, weapon is a large, yew bow. It is of Gridanian design and is actually the bow her father used to wield. Upon his retirement(he is still alive and well, living in bentbranch), he passed the bow to Lillith, explaining that it had seen him through his share of hard battles, and it was his hope it would do the same for her. So far, it has.

 

Other than that, she carries a hunter's knife, used for skinning, chopping, boning and generally doing anything her Bow can not. It's less a weapon and more a survival utility but it is visible on her person none the less.

[Aya]

Aya does not carry a weapon or any artifacts :-X

 

She owns a lance, kept hanging above her closet and hidden in her room in the Hourglass.  Her "artifacts", as they were, are nothing more than the jewelry she loves and treasures

 

Oh, oh, right, she does have something of a stiletto, more an over-sized letter opener she carries on her person sometimes. The most dangerous thing on her, at most times, would be her heels. Something Ser Natalie McBeef learned the hard way!

[Nero]

Nero's typical armament when travelling in a city is a simple pair of cobalt knuckledusters; they are particularly brutal in that they have several jutting, ridged protrusions that are not quite piercing spikes, but are still shaped in such a way to fracture bone. He had them made for him in Limsa Lominsa, upon his return from his thaumaturgy studies. Knives spill too much blood, axes and lances are too hard to conceal, swords require proper training to use effectively, especially in tight quarters, and he's never learned to use a bow.

 

For raids or pitched combat, a simple steel bardiche serves him quite handily. Function is more important than form, and thus it is devoid of any elaborate markings or decorations. Nero also favours the lance, as "having a longer pointy thing than your enemy's pointy thing increases your chances considerably." He does not carry any personal versions of these weapons, however, and will typically grab whatever is nearby.

 

For thaumaturgy, however, Nero carries an ornate silver scepter with an emerald embedded in it. The head of the scepter has some elaborate patterns carved into it and the emerald is of fairly obvious value, but otherwise it lacks any other significant features or adornments. There are no identifying marks of any guild or craftsman, suggesting that he fashioned the scepter himself.

[Val]

Val has a spear that he received while hired out by the IF and keeps it. They don't really realize that it was missing, what with them being mass produced and all.

 

For daggers, he uses whatever he can find. That's.. pretty much it =x nothing fancily made and nothing specially named. Just weapons.

[FreelanceWizard]

Sure, L'yhta's quite proud of her collection of artifacts she's dug up from ancient tombs and ruins, and she likes to show off the reproductions she's had made of clothing from the Fifth Astral Era and earlier. She enjoys preening with magicked jewelry as much as the next vain adventurer, and she has a collection of heavily modified magitek she uses to make up for her physical weaknesses. However, these aren't her real treasures; they're just stuff. No, the equipment she treasures most is:

• Her master's map -- One of the possessions he gave to her before his death, when she was just his apprentice, was a set of old maps of Eorzea on fine vellum, with lines of Aetheric flow mapped out along with markers of ruins, rumoured caches of Allagan rarities, and notes on past adventures. Passed on from master to apprentice for at least a century and stored in a simple ivory scroll case, it represents a connection to her past and carrying on her master's memory.
  
• Her Book of Shadows -- This thick leather-bound journal with a spot for a reservoir pen and a small pouch of pigmented charcoals was a gift from one of her teachers during her apprenticeship. While the intent was for her to sketch the world around her, L'yhta isn't even a passable artist; instead, she uses it to take notes on topics ranging from metaphysics to shopping lists. It's essentially a record of her life from the time she arrived in Limsa Lominsa to the present day, and as her constant companion and confidante, she considers it of utmost importance.
  

L'yhta's not an especially private person, but she generally keeps both of these items hidden from practically everyone (including her best friends) and downplays their significance in the hopes that'd keep people from taking an untoward interest in them. She's absolutely terrified of them getting stolen or lost.

[Warren Castille]

I've been thinking over how to explain Warren's weapon and shield. The lore-friend in me hates that he's walking around with a Curtana, but the vain part of me thinks he looks damn good being all huge with a huge sword and huge shield and huge.

 

I've fluffed it on the fly before as only being made in the same image as Curtana but any real artificer would be able to tell they weren't the same, but that feels cheap to me! It's not a replica, it's not meant to be That Sword, it just looks neat and I want to keep it.

 

Someone give me a quest or something. Do my writing for me. :cactuar:

[Eva]

Eva's weapons, armour, and tools are quite ordinary.  She lost most of her worldly possessions with the Calamity and since that time hasn't placed a lot of value in 'things'.  The one exception to this would be a spear that is a bit too heavy for her to wield herself without being awkwardly cumbersome.  This weapon belonged to her father and adorns a wall in her room because she thinks it's beautiful - cast from an unknown crystalline material that resembles a blue glass and reflects light in a way similar to a prism.  While this was admittedly a nod to accomplishments from FFXI, for XIV the weapon has no name and apart from being something of a curio, serves no other purpose than as a decoration for her home and reminder of her father and his time spent as a dragoon knight of Ishgard.  She does have a staff (which she has regarded as a prayer staff and not anywhere as significant/relevent as the Thyrus we are given through the game's storyline). She also has a number of variously-designed polearms which are about as fascinating as anything else wrought of wood and metal.  One additional note - she always keeps a dagger in a sheath strapped to her thigh as well.  This is as plain a weapon as one can be and has needed to be replaced on at least one occasion.

 

 

 

Blynbhar's weapon on the other hand is much less mundane.  He has little regard for worldly possessions, but his great-axe is a thing he had forged after a figure whom he believes was Nymeia came to him in a dream and gave it to him as a gift.  He awoke and had the weapon crafted to those same specifications.  There is some artwork we had commissions of him wielding it (but I'm at work now and will post a link later if I remember).  He calls it 'Threadsplitter' and while it is just metal and wood forged by a smith based on this dream, he considers it to be something divine.

[Verad]

Verad's smile is weaponized. He carries it everywhere and openly displays it at every opportunity.

 

He says he has a bow, but it's not clear what it is, where it is, what it's made of, what arrows he uses, or how dangerous it is, or if he's referring to an artfully-folded piece of ribbon.

[Faye]

2ItKF3xyci8

[Val]

 

2ItKF3xyci8

 

 

This is why I love the Hound.

[Faye]

Okay, okay--I'd say on a more serious note, but the previous video clip does accurately summarize my legitimate feelings--more relevant to the topic and the questions posed, Faye has a simple staff. Nothing fancy. How'd she get it? With money, of course! I use Thyrus's model solely because I like the looks, but it's not meant to actually /be/ Thyrus or any sort of imitation/relative. Do wit and charms count as weapons, though?

 

For X'unmei, she had a bow she received from her tribe to hunt, but she lost it/it was stolen somewhere during the time she was wondering about as a vagabond. Since then Cyrus has bought her a simple new bow to replace it. Perhaps sometime soon she'll procure a summoner/scholar book--likely as a gift if it happens, as she wouldn't have the funds for one on her own.

 

Aelius has an axe and a few daggers, and a sword he never carries because he's more proficient with an axe. I suppose back in Garlemald he probably has some fancy technologically advanced axe/gun hybrid likely that his father procured for him, but I haven't cared to give it enough thought to nail down the specifics.

 

Kitty uses... whatever she can to fight. Her fists, pugilist's knuckles, daggers, the nearest beer bottle... Being somewhat of a street rat, she doesn't usually have anything fancy; she generally only uses what she can steal/find... and that's until someone else steals it from her. If/when musketeer is released, however, I plan on making her one.

 

Shadiyah doesn't have a weapon; certain circumstances lend her the ability to cast powerful magicks without the use of a foci. While not quite a weapon, she does have a choker she wears at all times that seems imbued with some sort of strange magic.

 

And Beberri... is indeed empty-handed.  She has no weapons; cannot fight in any manner. However, she is beginning to study alchemy.

[Nebbs]

Gosh.. yes, and I'll start with 

 

Bard - weapon bow called "Sorrow"

This was a bow of legend that came to be owned by her Farther, who took it from a Siren. He and the Siren battled a number of time before it was lost at sea.

Nebula had a long RP that took Months to go through, involving the Ghost Whale and eventually facing down the Siren in a final battle.

 

I had the bow broken so she still does not have it, only the pieces.

 

Paladin - weapon sword 

Nebula uses a captured Garlean sword as it is strong yet lite. It is probably quite capable and special, she just knows it works well for her.

 

I use te Lightning Sword for this image of sword

 

Casting - various focus

Nebula feels the weapons casters use are just to help focus, so she has them but they are basic in nature.. like a twig for conjurer.

 

Other weapons are just mundane.

[Raz]

Cenric isn't really much for sentimentality, but there are two things he won't sell off for a bit of change. The first is an old, run-of-the-mill sailor's knife which was given to him by the pirate crew that sort-of raised him. It's old and has probably changed hands countless times. It has no special properties, save for the few weathered and likely worthless gems inlaid in the hilt.

 

The second is an old grimoire given to him by the Arcanist who taught him most of his letters. Beyond that, Cenric likes his jewellery and trinkets (which are not stolen, thank you very much). And his hats. He is very protective of his hats.

[Zhavi]

Zhi has a dagger that she purchased with the money Melkire gave her after a job. She wouldn't mind seeing it sheathed in his back. Steel, wood handle with a leather grip. Simple thing made for killing.

 

 

 

Otherwise she just has a knife. A simple steel knife with a cheap wooden handle that is grimy and gross. It's a tool, she uses it to cut her food, open things, a touch of leverage where necessary. . .anything, really. It's modeled after my SO's knife, and she uses it in the same way. Like his knife, it is rarely washed. Less often than his is at any rate; she doesn't have anyone who gives her a horrified look whenever she attempts to use it on food.

[Guest Ragnar]

For Ragnar, his axe is passed down through his family, always given to the eldest child. Each generation reforges the axe to suit their own needs, so there's really only a little of the original left. It's the thought that counts, right?

 

The only item of sentimental value Alexei keeps is a book on poisons his teacher gave him. Containing poisons found in many other volumes, it also contains poison recipes that his teacher created and is the only copy in existence. It was passed on to him when his teacher retired, and Alexei values it mostly because learning was the only part of his past that he remembers fondly.

[Shayrei]

Andralyn is the only one with any sort of story to one of her weapons. Daphine and Rhysa just bought or created their own.

 

Andralyn has a dagger, it's simple, bought with money and holds no sentimental value, just something to use when in need. She also has on her at all times a pair of brass knuckles that have been cast and treated to hold a tint of pink. She's wrapped them in lace to 'disguise' the fact that they are weapons and merely look like ornaments on her belt. This gift was given to her by her 'father' and it's something that she treasures dearly.

[Dat Oni]

The artifact he inherited is none other than The Precautioned Pocketbook of Wicked Portend Regarding Manners of Voidly Manifest, a wicked pocketbook containing an intense array of information on the Void, and known for having wrought great misfortune during its creation.

 

 

Both are of great sentimental value to him...

 

"I suppose that means that you'll just be a hard sell on handing over that book, huh? No matter--more than one way to skin a coeurl."

 

"You do not want this book. Trust me."

[Sounsyy]

In Sounsyy's younger days, she wielded her father's Ala Mhigan partisan. After joining the Ala Mhigan Resistance in the fight to reclaim her home, Sounsyy named the spear "Liberator." However, the Garleans never relinquished their hold on Ala Mhigo and the Resistance was crushed, and the spear's name became a terrible pun. When Sounsyy was fourteen, she gifted Liberator to her best friend Ceirtette for safe keeping.

 

Since that time Sounsyy has learned to use shield and sword on the Bloodsands. She owns two blades, which she uses depending on her situation. The first is a standard-issue Lominsan Shortsword, which she received upon joining the Maelstrom. It's composed of an 18 ilm cobalt blade with a 6 ilm hilt. The hilt is wrapped in buffalo leather with a heavy pommel. She uses this sword almost exclusively for battle, preferring its heft and power over her second sword.

 

The second sword is a Falchion styled blade often used by Ishgardian Templars. This was her favorite type of weapon to use on the Bloodsands for its length, weight, and utility. When she became an officer in the Maelstrom she commissioned a blade forged by her own design and preferences. Her falchion is a single edged, tempered cobalt blade, 2 fulms in length with a 1 fulm hilt. She prefers this blade for dueling and training as she can use it both as a single handed blade with her shield or two handed.

 

Neither of these swords were ever named. Sounsyy now believes doing so would further jinx her.

[TheLastCandle]

Yvelont's sword is a fairly unremarkable steel bastard sword, though forged exceptionally well by a talented Ishgardian smith commissioned by his father upon becoming a knight. (Vintage Bastard Sword)

 

His lance is a family heirloom with a long lineage - first wielded by Yvelont's namesake, a knight from the time of Haldrath who was called "Ser Yvelont the Bear," but the weapon itself carries no grand title. Tip and vamplate are both forged of darksteel. This he recovered from its previous owner - his brother, Percevains - after his death. (Champion's Lance)

 

Finally, I RP that his longbow and quiver were both awarded to him upon becoming a lieutenant of the Yellow Serpents. (Serpent Lieutenant's Bow)

______________

 

Kendha'to has two weapons of note; a short bow decorated with hawk feathers, made by his own hands from yew and backed with sinew.

 

The other is a hunting knife recovered from the body of an ixal he'd slain. When Rogue comes out (finally) I imagine he'll be acquiring a mate to it!

[QueenFrejyalen]

Queen's personal belongings, with her at all times:

• one of her collection of staves; some are ceremonial while others are for actual combat/black magic work
  
• a bag of wolf bones; these have been plucked over time from her homeland (never killing the wolves herself), and "charmed" to ward off voidsent and other ghouls that do not belong in this realm
  
• a pouch of loose-leaf tea; one of the only things her family was able to bring from their ruined kingdom was their tea leaves and plants, regrown now in Ul'dah (with much difficulty and little reward)
  
• her various pieces of jewelry; some of these have been bought since coming to Ul'dah, others were crafted in her kingdom long ago and are royal heirlooms
  
• Ruyalen Royal Circlet; a headdress crafted in her mountain kingdom home, passed down through every family to the Witch Queen of that era