Swords of the Ancients
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The Swords of the Ancients is a fantasy creation of fantasy artists and weapon designer Kit Rae. It started as as a series of ten swords designed by Kit, with the first two swords originally released by United Cutlery in 1997 [1]. It expanded to a series of fantasy swords and many related fantasy knives and weapons, a series of fantasy paintings[2] by Kit, and a story, The Tale of the Swords of the Ancients and Other Blades of Power[3], written by Kit. The Swords of the Anceints have become somewhat famous in the world of sword collectibles, being one of top sellers in the decade from 1997-2007. The first sword in the collection, the Sword of Darkness, is one of the top selling production fantasy swords, with numerous copies. Prior to the release of this sword there were very few "fantasy" swords on the production sword market. The Swords of the Ancients series helped to create a new market niche in the US and worldwide for "fantasy swords".
The story was told in unfolding chapters[4] that were included on printed parchement[5] with each sword or weapon. Together they told a fantasy tale that spanned 10,000 years, over five Ages, told the story of the creation of the world of Ammon by the Anath, the twelve Ancient Ones and their people, the creation of enchanted weapons bestowed with magical powers, and the Mithrodin warriors sworn to protect them. It was later expanded to include the Blades of Chaos. The principal lands the story are told in are the Kingdoms of Lumenia, Deylund, and Dagorlund. The principal races were the Ancient Ones, Men, Elves, and the Uldurin.
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[edit] The Ten Swords
The primary Swords of the Ancients in the tale were ten swords created by the Ancient Ones. They are [6]:
[edit] Kilgorin
The Sword of Darkness. It gave the wielder power to bring darkness and enchantment over ones enemies. It derived its strength from the Neverworld and was possessed of a great evil by many years of use by the Dark One.
[edit] Elexorien
The Sword of War. It gave the wielder strategic power and command to unify great multitudes for a single cause. Forged by Mahgnim, it was used in the Black War by Queen Vaelen.
[edit] Morthoseth
The Sword of the Shadows. It influenced mortals by its power over the shadow world of thoughts and dreams. It was wielded by Vardor and Borloth in the War of the Shadows.
[edit] Luciendar
The Sword of Light. It revealed to the user that which was hidden and showed the true nature of creatures, both natural and enchanted. It was wielded by Barlodir in the War of the Shadows.
[edit] Anathros
The Sword of the Earth. It gave the user power to reshape the earth and its elements and was wielded by the king of the Uldurin and later by Aluen in the Shadow War.
[edit] Valermos
The Sword of Fire. It gave the user the ability to command creatures in spirit form and created and controlled the flames of Ammon. It was wielded by Vardor in the Shadow War.
[edit] Cinthorc
The Sword of Justice. Cinthorc had the power to deal just punishment to wrongdoers, seen through the eyes of the wielder as being wrongful. It was wielded by the sorceress Morgolien in the extermination of the Mithrodin, and later by Vaelen.
[edit] Molotoch
The Slayer Sword. The user received boundless skill and speed from the sacred blade, as well as great focused rage to beat down an enemy. Mere mortals could not even lift this enchanted weapon. It was wielded by Naegolus in the slaying of the Mithrodin.
[edit] Avaquar
The Sword of the Deep. Avaquar held power over the waters and seas. It was forged by Mahgnim and was the mate of Anathar. Vaelen wielded it in the Last Battle.
[edit] Anathar
The Sword of Power. The last of the Ten Swords to be forged, Anathar held within it a part of each of the powers of the other nine. It was forged by the elf Toukol and wielded by Naegolus in the Last Battle.
[edit] Primary Characters
The principal characters in the tale are:
Evruc - Also known as the Dark One by mortals and elves. One of the Ancient Ones who was cast out in the First Age. Said to be father of the Sorcerers. Responsible for the Black Elves.
Vaelen - A queen and Mithrodin warrior.
Aluen - A Mithrodin Warrior. Stolen daughter of Vaelen.
Navros - A Sorcerer in service to The Dark One and Navros.
Vardor - Son of the Dark One, born from on of his concubines after his death.
Naegolus - Son of Navros and Vaelen through Navros' deciet when Vaelen was imprisoned in the Neverworld.
Morgolien - Sorceress. Exiled mother of Luthol, and husband to the lost king, Almaeth.
Methuscia - Sorceress, immortal daughter to an Ancient One, cursed by the Ancients. Became an Oracle for mortals. Slain by Naegolus.
Luthol - Prince of Deylund and commander of its armies. Slain by the Dark One.
Borloth - Son of King Aethelred. Corrupted by Vardor and imrisoned by his people.
Barlodir - Elder son of King Aethelred. Slain by Navros
[edit] Story Synopsis/Timeline
The following is a summary of events in Kit Rae's tale told in chronological order by year[7]:
First Age - Of Creation: The Anath, enchanted beings, create the world of Ammon.
Second Age - Of Immortals: The Anath desire to create beings like unto themselves and so they conceive the Ancients Ones and allow them to dwell in Ammon. They are made immortal and each is given a special power of creation.
Third Age - Of Mortals: The Ancients are saddened and alone, thus the Anath give them the power to create mortal creatures and charge the Ancients to rule over and protect them. Elves are the first to be created. Men are second. Uldurin, are third. The Ancients create the Temple of the Anath, hidden in the frozen realm of Ulaine, where they dwell in its great halls and watch over their creations.
Fourth Age - Of Chaos: Mortal creatures multiply and many wars are fought. The Great Realms are explored and conquered. The Ancient Ones create the Blades of Chaos, steel bestowed with great powers to restore order but they fail. They unbalance the world and the Uldurin are corrupted by them and turn evil. The first Ancient One, Thorcan, is killed by a mortal. The Uldurin wage war upon Men. Elves move underground away from the conflict and become Dark Elves. In the underworld of Barkonia (later called Lokonia) they discover the mystery of steel. The blade Umethar is carefully forged by the Ancients to restore order. The Orwenoch, mysterious dark beasts, first appear and dwell in the underworld. The Avaquar Dagger is forged by Mahgnim. The Dark One recruits Agnemmel and corrupts him.
Fifth Age - Of Order: The Ancient Ones command the Dark Elves of Barkonia to forge the Ten Swords to which the Ancient Ones embody with great powers of dominion over all mortal creatures and create harmony and order in the world. Toukol forges Anathar. The kingdoms of the Great Realm arise, Deylund, Amunach, and Deylindor. The Uldurin are defeated by Men and driven to the Northlands. The blade of chaos, Nasek, is concealed in the desert of Dagorlund. One of the Ancients, Evruc, defies the others and steals the sword of darkness, Kilgorin, and allies with the Orwenoch. He is known as the Dark One by mortals.
1: Beginning of recorded history of the Fifth Age. The Swords of the Ancients are forged. The Battle of the Ancients is fought against the Dark One, who has allied with the Orwenoch. Six of the remaining twelve Ancient Ones are killed in the battle. The Ancients hunt the Dark One and the Orwenoch for many years after. Men drive out the Uldurin and create great kingdoms.
82: The Ancient Ones find the Dark One in Ulioc where he is subdued by Anathar’s influence, the sword of power. He betrays the Orwenoch hiding place to them, in the Tellorien Mountains East of Deylund. The Ancient Ones open the Neverworld to imprison him and the blade Umethar is made its key. The Orwenoch are driven underground into Lokonia, but they kill three of the remaining Ancient Ones. The Dark One’s sword, Kilgorin, is not found. The nine remaining swords are dispersed throughout the lands.
133: The order of the Mithrodin, mortal warriors, are created by Toukol and Estea, under the guidance of Atnal.
135: Toukol forges the first Mithrodin sword and becomes the first Mithrodin armorer. Estea becomes the first Mithrodin leader. Mithrodin are charged to keep order over the Ten Swords and the three remaining Ancient Ones. They reside in Deylindor, where most of the Ten Swords are hidden, but they have many temples throughout Ammon.
333: The Ancient Ones battle the Orwenoch and rid their kind from Ammon. One of the three remaining Ancients are killed in the battle. The Orwenoch are banished to the Neverworld, but when the gate to the Neverworld is opened with the Umethar to let them in, the Dark One secretly escapes, in spirit form.
402: The Dark One reappears in Ammon, whole once again. The first immortal sorcerers appear in Nasnandos, in the Land of Dagorlund, one of which is Methuscia, a daughter to one of the Ancients. She is cursed by the Ancients for using sorcery. The last of the two remaining Ancients are killed by the Dark One in Ulaine with the sword of darkness, Kilgorin, and their kind pass from the world. The Dark One acquires many of the remaining Ten Swords and hides them from mortals. The Mithrodin spread their members throughout Ammon, seeking the swords. Mithrodin recover the Umethar and place it in a secret chamber of the hidden Temple of the Anath in the realm of Ulaine, never to be used for fear of releasing the Orwenoch from the Neverworld.
418: The Mithrodin succeed in defeating the Dark One with the sword of power, Anathar. He is not destroyed, for he is the last of the Ancients. They lay waste to his body and banish his spirit to the underworld of Lokonia, where he thenceforth appears to mortals only as a dark shadowy form, a spectre. The Dark Elves are charged to keep his spirit from escaping the underworld. His sword Kilgorin is hidden by the Mithrodin. The sword Anathar is also hidden. Mithrodin establish Kingdom of Lumenia in the Great Realm to watch over the Dark One. A secret community of sorcerers forms in Nasnandos. Navros, the child sorcerer, is born there.
419: The Dark One regains some of his former power by influencing the Dark Elves and causing much mistrust in their great families. Most of the Elves leave and return to the surface of the world, but some stay in the underworld of Lokonia, under the Dark One’s power, and they are the Black Elves. Sorcerers spread throughout Ammon. The nameless Blade of Chaos, or the Sorcerer’s Dagger as it later became known, is brought to Nasnandos.
724: The Elves from Lokonia migrate to the Realm of Ammunach along the great river Ragendeld that runs from the Tellorien Mountains to the Southern Sea. Many great Elven houses arise in the forests on the banks of the Ragendeld.
1014: The Dark One breeds many terrible creatures in the depths of the Underworld. The Sorcerer’s Dagger, a nameless Blade of Chaos, is passed to Navros in Nasnandos and he becomes the King of Nasnandos.
4027: The Dark One Breeds the first Baelin and uses them to cause the weak to submit to his rule for fear of death.
4049: The elf Anvari slays Folkor, greatest of the Baelin, with the Blade of chaos, Archeros. Anvari creates the four-bladed weapon Adrasil from the dead Baelin’s armor and gives it as a gift to the Nattan. He trains the Nattan in the ways of Elven fighting.
4080: Baelin ravage the lands of Ammunach and kill many Elves and Men. Baelin destroy the house of Nattan on the Isle of Eldinyed and most of its warriors are slain. Before he dies, the Duke of the Nattan gives Adrasil to Atteniel. The Elf Anvari and Atteniel escape to Deylindor and join the Mithrodin.
5001: Atteniel is the first female mortal to become a master of the highest level of the Mithrodin cadre. She teaches other Mith in the fighting style of the Nattan, trains them to slaughter the Baelin. The Adrasil is adopted as the primary weapon of the Mithrodin for close combat.
5005: Atteniel marries the Elf Anvari. They fight along side each other in many battles.
5053: War between Deylund and Lumenia. The immortal sorcerer Navros aids Deylund in the war. Anvari is slain in the war, fighting on the side of Lumenia. Atteniel invents the Valdris and it becomes the primary weapon of the Mithrodin for close combat. All Mith are trained in the art of its use and must forge their own before becoming a Mithrodin of the warrior class.
6002: The Dark One emerges again, aided by the sorcerer Navros who has given him a corporeal body once again, and wages war with his Baelin against Deylindor, the homeland of the Mithrodin. Atteniel, the ancient Mithrodin master, is slain and her great weapon Adrasil is broken. Deylindor is destroyed and made a wasteland, but most of the Mithrodin escape to other lands. Its many treasures, among which are the sword of shadows, Morthoseth, and the sword of fire, Valermos, are taken by the Dark One. They are hidden with Baelin left to guard over them. Morthoseth is hidden in the realm of Loringel and Valermos is hidden in Anundos of the realm of Dagorlund.
6003: The Dark One wages war on Lumenia and Deylund. The Mithrodin give the sword of justice, Cinthorc, to the king of Deylund to aid in the battle. The Dark One is driven back to Lokonia, his forces not strong enough to battle the great numbers of mortals now in the Great Realm. Cinthorc remains in the Realm of Deylund, passed from king to king for the next four thousand years.
7302: The Dark One breeds the first Barumen, as he desires to be master over his own subjects and is in need of great soldiers. He is aided by the sorcerer Navros, who uses magic in the creation of the Barumen, spawned from mortal men and apes of the north, and born of wolves.
7982: The Battle of the Northern Realms between Elves and Uldurin. The Uldurin posses the ancient blade of chaos, Umethar. Uldurin are defeated and driven back to the frozen Realms of the North, where the Elves rule over them for a time with the sword of the earth, Anathros, given to them by the Mithrodin. The blade Umethar is lost or destroyed the realm of Ulaine.
8228: The chiefs of the Great Realms are divided due to the Dark One’s treachery. Dark Elves make allegiance with him and recover the sword of darkness, Kilgorin, which the Mithrodin had secretly hidden on an isle in the Abelard River almost 8000 years earlier. The Barumen spread throughout Ammon.
9007: The Uldurin battle the Elves in the northern realm of Ulaine once again and defeat them, taking the sword of the earth, Anathros. The Elves are enslaved.
9066: The sorcerer Navros secretly resides in the realm of Deylund for a time and stirs much malcontent among the peoples with his witchcraft. He is discovered by the king’s men but escapes capture, fleeing to Lokonia.
9068: King Almaeth of Deylund banishes his mother, Morgolien, from his Kingdom for practicing the dark arts and using her power to influence the throne. Morgolien, who was corrupted by the sorcery of Navros, establishes the city of Nokomis in ruins of Deylindor. Many wizards, witches, and users of the black arts gather there.
9092: Vaelen, a Mithrodin cleric, becomes a queen by marrying King Eadred of Lumenia. The Sorcerer Navros offers his services to Eadred but is refused. The Dark One’s Barumen have grown great in number and have many fortresses hidden throughout the Great Realm.
10,000: The Black Legion of Barumen arise and leave Lokonia to decimate the Great Realms, at the command of their master, the Dark One. King Almaeth of Deylund, fearing the Barumen power, departs across the sea of Valesthia on a quest to find the sword of power, Anathar, in Dagorlund. He is most knowledgeable about the Ten Swords’ power, for his kingdom has held the sword of justice, Cinthorc, in its guard for almost four thousand years. Almaeth departs in his fleet of ships with Cinthorc and never returns. King Eadred becomes sick and Queen Vaelen assumes the throne.
10,004: The Sorcerer Navros offers to cure King Eadred as a token of good will between the peoples of Lokonia and Lumenia, but Vaelen refuses, fearing treachery. King Eadred dies.
10,005: Vaelen bears the daughter of King Eadred but the child dies shortly after birth.
10,015: The homeless child Aluen is found and brought to Lumenia. Aluen trains with the Mithrodin.
10,020: Vaelen is given the sword of war, Elexorien, by the Mithrodin.
10,021: Aluen slays a Baelin in one on one combat.
10,022: Vaelen unites the realms of Deylund and Lumenia, once enemies, with Elexorien’s powers. The Black War or War of the Black Legion is fought by the Dark One with the sorcerers of Navros against the Great Realms.
10,026: Great Realms join and defeat the Black Legion, the Dark One is finally destroyed, and Vaelen is imprisoned in the Neverworld. Aluen recovers the Dark One’s sword, Kilgorin, and it is returned to the Mithrodin. Navros escapes the final battle and hides in Nokomis with the sorceress Morgolien.
10,027: Vardor, the Dark One’s son, is born in Lokonia and taken to Dagorlund by the sorcerer Navros. King Aethelred is chosen to replace Vaelen as ruler of Lumenia. Navros finds the sword of shadows, Morthoseth, in the realm of Loringel.
10,066: Navros gives Vardor the sword Morthoseth and he becomes Lord of the Shadows. Vardor rears a new, greater breed of Barumen, the Shadow Army.
10,076: Vardor sends the Shadow Army across the sea of Valesthia to infiltrate the Great Realm, and a new evil arises. The Mithrodin send Aluen, now a warrior, on a quest to find a blade of the Ancients that can free Vaelen from the Neverworld.
10,078: King Aethelred of Lumenia sends his sons, Barlodir and Borloth, to find the origin of the new evil. Borloth finds Navros, is corrupted, and slays the King with Morthoseth. Shadow Army overtakes Lumenia with Borloth’s aid. Barlodir seeks counsel from the oracle Methuscia of the Dead City, who tells him to seek the sword of light, Luciendar, on the isle of Eldinyed in the south, in order to defeat the Shadows.
10,079: Barlodir slays the ancient Baelin of Eldinyed and finds Luciendar. The Shadow Army overtakes many cities in Lumenia, Deylund, and Ammunach. Aluen learns of the Umethar from the ancient texts in the Realm of Loringel.
10,080: Barlodir retakes Lumenia from the Shadows with Luciendar, but dies in the battle. The Mithrodin recover Morthoseth. Borloth is imprisoned, but the Shadows still cause havoc in the Great Realm. Prince Luthol of Deylund seeks counsel from the sorceress Morgolien to defeat the Shadows. She creates the Shadow Slayer blade for him. Luthol sends a quest party to find the sword of justice, Cinthorc, which she requested as payment. Mithrodin warriors temporarily lead Lumenia until a new king is chosen. They decree that the Ten Swords must be found and protected to prevent chaos. Aluen finds the blade Umethar, one of the Blades of Chaos, in the frozen Realm of Ulaine.
10,081: Prince Luthol uses the Shadow Slayer to call forth the Orwenoch spirits from the Neverworld. The Orwenoch destroy the Shadow Army for Luthol but refuse to return to the spirit world. They demand that Luthol take them across the sea to Dagorlund for revenge against Navros, the spawn of the Dark One, whom they have a long-standing grievance with since the beginning of the Fifth Age. Aluen, with the aid of the Elves, conquers the Uldurin and finds the sword of the earth, Anathros, and the Uldurin’s rule over Ulaine is ended.
10,082: Luthol’s forces and the Orwenoch attack the Shadow Army in Annundos but they are defeated. Luthol’s men betray and kill him. Aluen arrives to see the end of the battle and assembles some of the remaining troops for another assault. She raises Luthol’s dead army from the ground with Anathros and brings them to life with the Umethar, but they are undead. She assaults Morgadurin with the undead army and slays Vardor, but Navros intervenes and takes Valermos, escaping. Aluen and the remnants of Luthol’s army return to Deylund, having defeated the Shadows.
10,084: Navros resides in Nasnandos and finds the Nasek, a blade of chaos from the Fourth Age. There he also finds the remains of the lost King Almaeth and takes his sword Cinthorc, the sword of justice. Navros gains control over the winged serpents.
10,086: Luthol’s quest party at last finds the resting-place of King Almaeth in Nasnandos. Navros gives them Cinthorc and journeys with them back to Deylindor to give the sword to Morgolien.
10,087: Navros kills the quest party and gives Cinthorc to Morgolien. With the Umethar Morgolien opens the door to the Neverworld for Navros where he takes on the form of Prince Luthol and seduces Vaelen. She bears him a child, Naegolus, and Navros takes him from the Neverworld.
10,095: Morgolien begins to hunt down and exterminate the Mithrodin and finds many of the Ten Swords. She creates an army of sorcerers to take control of the Great Realm away from mortals by force of magic.
10,101: Morgolien creates a great keep in Nokomis to hold the Ten Swords. Her army of Sorcerers all but destroys the Mithrodin. The Great Kingdoms fall under her power.
10,102: Navros casts a spell upon Morgolien and removes her power. He declares himself ruler of Nokomis and gives his son Naegolus the slayer sword Molotoch. Naegolus continues the slaughter of the Mithrodin. He battles the warrior Aluen and Aluen is captured and imprisoned in Nokomis.
10,103: Morgolien releases Vaelen from the Neverworld with the Umethar and tells her of Navros’ deeds. Vaelen battles Naegolus and is defeated. Aluen is slain by Navros. Vaelen is secretly taken to the Dead City by Morgolien’s agents and she is enslaved by Methuscia. Navros learns of Morgolien’s treachery and imprisons her.
10,114: Naegolus and his sorcerers exterminate all but one of the Mithrodin, Vaelen. Naegolus kills Methuscia and Vaelen is freed. The wolf Scylla becomes companion and protector to Vaelen. Morgolien is freed. Naegolus acquires his fathers six swords of the Ancients.
10,115: Naegolus battles the golems and finds the sword of power, Anathar. Nokomis is destroyed by Vaelen and Scylla kills Morgolien. Vaelen finds Avaquar on the Isle of fire and there she battles and kills Naegolus. The island perishes and all of the swords of the Ancients are lost with it, save Anathar. Vaelen returns to Lumenia and becomes ruler over all of the Great Realms.
