Diablo and the 12 Swords of Power

Based on the Swords books by Fred Saberhagen mixed in with the Marvel comic book universe (616).

The Gods forged the 12 swords to use in their games, planning to distribute them amongst the foolish humans and watch them lie, steal, and **** their way to power with them. The problem was their toys worked too well and even the Gods were **** to them. Each sword, once drawn, has its own power and vulnerability.

Coinspinner, the Sword of Chance has the power to make impossibly lucky things happen for its owner, but beware. Coinspinner has a mind of its own and will pick a new master at its own whim. The weapon can also be used in anyway a normal sword can.

Doomgiver, the Sword of Justice has the power to make its victims face the punishment most fitting the manner they have dealt with others. It makes no pretense of right or wrong. It simply will do unto you as you have others. The weapon can also be used in anyway a normal sword can.

Dragonslicer can cut the nearly invulnerable scales and hide of any dragon like a hot blade through butter. The weapon can also be used in anyway a normal sword can.

Farslayer can slay any enemy anywhere. Once launched, it will fly to their heart, but there is its vulnerability as well. The blade does not return to the one who cast it and can be used by anyone with physical contact with it. This weapon proves that vengeance not tempered with wisdom is as deadly to they who take it as it is to the victim. The weapon can also be used in anyway a normal sword can.

Woundhealer, the Sword of Mercy can heal any physical or psychological injury or illness up to the brink of ****. The sword, however, can not be used to harm any living thing so is worthless as a weapon, per se.

Skulltwister, the Mindsword will immediately and completely overwhelm all beings within 100 meters of the drawn blade with absolute love, loyalty, and devotion to the wielder. A minute or two of exposure will capture the hearts of most people for at least 3 days. Stronger willed folks may free themselves in a day or two. If the victim were where they were rethinking their commitments, then the spell may hold significantly longer or even become permanent. Several repeated exposures or extremely long exposures of several days may also bind the victim permanently. The weapon can also be used in anyway a normal sword can.

Soulcutter, the Tyrant's Blade, when drawn, causes everyone within 100 meters to experience soul wilting apathy and depression. Some exposed long enough died from a lack of will to breath. Even the wielder is **** to its power. The weapon can also be used in anyway a normal sword can.

Shieldbreaker, protects its wielder against any weapon or power used against them. Any weapon that comes in physical contact with it is immediately destroyed. Even the other swords are **** to its power. It one weakness is it can not harm unarmed and powerless opponents. It will also not allow the wielder to let it go if they are in danger, so if they draw it on unarmed normal people they will not be able to put it down or use it to help them.

Sightblinder, the Sword of Stealth, allows the wielder to appear as whatever the observer either most fears or most desires, as the situation merits. It also grants limited immunity to the power of the Mindsword and Soulcutter. The weapon can also be used in anyway a normal sword can.

Stonecutter, the Sword of Siege can cut through any stone as if it were wax. The weapon can also be used in anyway a normal sword can.

Townsaver, the Sword of Fury will use the wielder to protect the helpless. When drawn against a hostile ****, the wielder will be an invulnerable berserker under the swords spell until either all the attackers or the unarmed victims are gone. Once the helpless are either safe or gone, the wielder will experience the damage that they would have felt if not protected by the sword.

Wayfinder, the Sword of Wisdom will help the user find what they most want. Unfortunately, each time it is used, it will increase the risk of the user’s quest, so a wise wielder will use it no more than needed. The weapon can also be used in anyway a normal sword can.

If you want to learn more of the 12 Swords of Power, check out the following links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Saberhagen#External_links

http://www.berserker.com/FredsSwords.html

****

Diablo idly sang the song he heard when he pucked these toys from the dimension of their origin. He admired how they were securely bound in his pocket dimension. All it would take is a thought and he could summon any or all of them to his hand. Of course, he knew that some of them held their own dangers and a couple could as easily slip into another’s service, yet he was confident that he could recover them if the need arose. Again the song rang through his mind.

Who holds Coinspinner knows good odds

Whichever move he make

But the Sword of Chance, to please the gods

Slips from him like a snake.

The Sword of Justice balances the pans

Of right and wrong, and foul and fair.

Eye for an eye, Doomgiver scans

The fate of all folk everywhere.

Dragonslicer, Dragonslicer, how d'you slay?

Reaching for the heart in behind the scales.

Dragonslicer, Dragonslicer, where do you stay?

In the belly of the giant that my blade impales.

Farslayer howls across the world

For thy heart, for thy heart, who hast wronged me!

Vengeance is his who casts the blade

Yet he will in the end no triumph see.

Whose flesh the Sword of Mercy hurts has drawn no breath;

Whose soul it heals has wandered in the night,

Has paid the summing of all debts in ****

Has turned to see returning light.

The Mindsword spun in the dawn's gray light

And men and demons knelt down before.

The Mindsword flashed in the midday bright

Gods joined the dance, and the march to war.

It spun in the twilight dim as well

And gods and men marched off to hell.

I shatter Swords and splinter spears;

None stands to Shieldbreaker.

My point's the fount of orphans' tears

My edge the widowmaker.

The Sword of Stealth is given to

One lonely and despised.

Sightblinder's gifts: his eyes are keen

His nature is disguised.

The Tyrant's Blade no blood hath spilled

But doth the spirit carve

Soulcutter hath no body killed

But many left to starve.

The Sword of Siege struck a hammer's blow

With a crash, and a smash, and a tumbled wall.

Stonecutter laid a castle low

With a groan, and a roar, and a tower's fall.

Long roads the Sword of Fury makes

Hard walls it builds around the soft

The fighter who Townsaver takes

Can bid farewell to home and croft.

Who holds Wayfinder finds good roads

Its master's step is brisk.

The Sword of Wisdom lightens loads

But adds unto their risk

The Mage smiled evilly as he plotted his next encounter.