The Sword that Sings

Lae’zel marched a few steps ahead, her boots ringing steadily against the natural stone bridge. The rest of us followed in loose formation, the faint glow of luminescent moss painting the arches in shifting shades of blue and violet. The main path continued straight toward a wide area, but a narrow side trail branched off to the right, winding upward between clusters of oversized fungi and jagged rock formations.

I caught Kagha’s eye and nodded toward the detour.

She tilted her head and offered a small smile. “That fauna looks different from the rest. I request a brief study” Without further question she turned onto the side path and I followed. The bridge gave way to a gentle incline, the air growing still and quiet. Karlach fell in beside me, engine humming low and steady. Lae’zel adjusted course without comment, though her sharp gaze flicked back once or twice. Shadowheart brought up the rear, silent but watchful.

A minute later the trail opened onto a small, elevated plateau. At its center stood a weathered stone altar, simple yet ancient. Embedded deep in the rock was a longsword—Phalar Aluve. Its blade caught the ambient glow and gave off a soft golden sheen of its own, almost luminous against the dark stone.

I stopped a few paces short, letting the others draw closer. “Well, would you look at that?” I said, keeping my voice aloof.

Shadowheart’s brow furrowed as she studied the blade. “Who leaves a perfectly good sword just lying around in the middle of nowhere? That’s never a good sign.”

“An obvious trap,” Lae’zel said flatly, eyes narrowed. “No true warrior abandons a weapon like this.”

Kagha’s eyes gleamed at the sight, her voice soft, almost reverent. “What great surprises these lands hold…”

Karlach’s eyes lit up the instant she saw the sword. “Outta my way!” she boomed, already striding forward. “I could use a new blade!” She rolled her shoulders, planted her feet wide, and wrapped both massive hands around the hilt. “Come on, you stubborn bastard. I’ve pulled bigger things out of worse places.” She heaved with everything she had. The blade didn’t budge. Karlach grunted, tried again with a louder growl, then finally stepped back with a breathless laugh. “Okay, fine. It’s stuck good.”

Lae’zel stepped up next, jaw set. She gripped the hilt, braced her stance, and pulled hard enough that the leather of her half-plate creaked. Nothing. She tried a second time, muscles flexing along her arms, then released the sword with a sharp click of her tongue. “Pathetic. A blade that refuses Githyanki strength has no place in a proper fight.”

Kagha approached last, moving with her usual fluid grace. She placed one hand on the hilt and the other flat against the stone, as if listening. After a long moment she gave a deceptively strong tug. The sword remained exactly where it was. She withdrew her hand and offered a gentle smile. “It seems raw strength won’t be enough.”

I let the silence sit for a moment, then tilted my head toward Shadowheart. “Why don’t you give it a try?”

Shadowheart blinked at me, expression shifting from surprise to open skepticism. “You’re joking? After watching the three of them fail so spectacularly, you want me to try?”

I simply nodded. “Humor me.”

She exhaled through her nose, clearly unconvinced, but walked over anyway. The sword’s golden glow reflected in her green eyes.

“A little offering might help,” I suggested lightly. “Like what you’d do for Shar.”

She gave me a long, measuring look, then pressed the edge of the dagger to the hidden scar on her palm. Three slow drops of blood fell onto the blade.

The moment the blood touched metal, Shar answered.

Heresy

Shadowheart’s breath caught sharply. Her back arched as a fierce spike of pain lanced through her arm—only for the corruption to seize it and twist the sensation into molten pleasure. A soft, involuntary moan escaped her lips. Her thighs pressed together hard, knees trembling for a heartbeat as a wave of near-orgasmic bliss rolled through her. Her cheeks flushed crimson.

[Shadowheart: Corruption +1]

The sword began to hum.

She reached out with a shaky hand, wrapped her fingers around the hilt, and pulled.

Phalar Aluve slid free without resistance, smooth as silk.

For a long second the plateau was silent except for the faint, melodic ring of the blade accompanied by the ragged breaths of Shadowheart.

Lae’zel stared with wide yellow eyes. “Your goddess approves,” she said, voice low with genuine respect.

Karlach let out a surprised bark of laughter. “Well damn. The Shar worship might not be so bad after all. I might sign up if that’s her approval.”

Kagha gave a knowing laugh, her gaze flicking to me. She clearly suspected I had something to do with the reaction, even if she didn’t know exactly how. I kept my expression neutral, carefully avoiding eye contact so I wouldn’t start cackling out loud.

Shadowheart stood there, still gasping, cheeks flushed as she stared at the sword in her hand. She gave it an experimental swing—awkward, clearly not used to wielding a blade—then paused, head tilting as if listening to something only she could hear.

“Sing..” she murmured, voice quiet with wonder. “..And Shriek.” A faint, almost shy smile curved her lips. “It can bolster allies nearby… or add thunder to strikes. If I stay close enough, your hits would inflict more pain.” She looked up at me, something new and steady shining in her gaze. “Yet another blessing…”

She turned the blade once more, testing its weight. As the last traces of the orgasmic afterglow faded, she stood a little taller. “I may not be proficient with longswords,” she admitted, “but this… this ability I can use.”

Karlach grinned wide, fangs flashing. “Well damn. Looks like you’ll have to stay nice and close from now on.” She shot Shadowheart a playful wink.

Lae’zel gave a short, approving grunt. “Again you share your prize. A valuable strength.”

Kagha’s eyes softened with quiet delight. She glided a half-step closer, voice low and smooth. “How wonderful. Then I’ll stay close by and hidden. Ready to strike the moment anyone dares to come near you.”

As the girls gathered around Shadowheart and her softly humming blade, it was clear she held the sword with the careful grip of someone more accustomed to a mace. Still, the magic woven through Phalar Aluve suited her far better than swordmanship ever could. As the blade gave another faint, melodic hum in her hand, the quiet confidence in her posture was impossible to miss.

“Looks like the scenic route was worth it. Good eye, Kagha,” I said lightly.

She answered with a radiant nod, if a touch theatrical.

The group slowly drifted away from the altar, boots crunching softly as we made our way back down the narrow trail. The stillness of the hidden plateau faded behind us, replaced once more by the distant echoes of the Underdark. A few minutes later, we stepped back onto the main path, the vast dark stretching endlessly ahead.