CRAFTSMEN & WEAPONS

CRAFTSMEN OF THE GODS

INTRODUCTION

After the creation of the Gods, Thuror, alongside the High Council of the Gods, decided to create servants with great powers to forge what would later become known as the Sacred Weapons and the Magic Weapons. In truth, there was not much difference between the weapons that were crafted. The distinction lay in who they were made for. If crafted for the gods, they were called Sacred Weapons. When made for men, they were named Magic Weapons. In terms of power, there was no difference. Thus, the “Five Artisans of the Gods” were created: Morlok, Novax, Jolur, Airfax, and Kaur.

MASTER MORLOCK

The first Artisan of the Gods was Master Morlock. Having spent a considerable amount of time alone, serving only a few gods, Morlock became a reclusive and solitary figure. He was not one for many words, nor did he enjoy being in the company of others. Morlock’s skill lay in working with rare and divine metals. Furthermore, the First Artisan had the power to enhance the capability and strength of any Magic Weapon he crafted. During some projects, Master Morlock was forced to collaborate with other artisans, like Novax, to achieve perfection in both beauty and power, though he did not enjoy such cooperation. However, refusing a god's request was something he simply could not do. Throughout his life, Master Morlock forged numerous swords, shields, axes, and hammers, many of which became powerful Sacred and Magic Weapons for the gods and the First Men of certain lineages—these weapons crossing through ages and worlds in the hands of various heroes. Yet, a few of these Magic Weapons surpassed all others in both beauty and power. Among them are Äyrlath, the White Sword or Sword of Light; Unthôrack, the Black Axe; the Spear of Nurhul, co-forged with Master Novax; and the Hammer of Gerndar.

MASTER NOVAX

The second of Naumathar's Divine Artisans, Novax, was known for his ability to grant a continuous flow of power to the wielder of a Sacred or Magic Weapon. More than just shaping the divine energy used to craft these weapons, Novax could uniquely alter it. Throughout his life, the artisan Novax served the gods and, at their request, certain human lineages as well. But that was not all Master Novax did. At the request of a particular god, and using a much greater power, Novax secretly forged a Magic Weapon of unparalleled strength, a secret that has remained hidden for Ages and Eras, but is about to be awakened by the only being who knows of its existence. And, in the year 2139 of the Time of Thur, according to the Calendar of Ernt-nador, this is about to unfold. Among some of the Magic Weapons crafted by Master Novax are: the Spear of Nurhul, whose power he altered, made in collaboration with Master Morlock; the Sword and Shield of Therbarom; the Bow of Jad, created alongside Master Kaur; and the whips of Maráhadar, the goddess Guardian of the Dark Portals.

MASTER JOLUR

In the early days of his life, Master Jolur, the Third Artisan, worked for various bloodlines, crafting the Medallion of the Gods for some of their descendants. Not everyone within these bloodlines was granted such a privilege. The Medallion, also known as an Amulet much later on, contained a drop of blood from the baby, the father, and the mother. These three drops of blood were fused into the Medallion, which was crafted by Master Jolur, granting its wearer eternal life. In addition, it kept the individual in their prime adult state. As long as they wore the Medallion of the Gods, its bearer would possess immortal life. On one such occasion, while Jolur was crafting a Medallion for the Lineage of Alarorhim, a grave issue arose with the Nosferac bloodline. The tower where the Medallion of the Gods, as many called it, was being made caught fire. The mother and daughter perished in the flames. Master Jolur himself suffered severe burns to his body and face, though he managed to escape with his life. From that day on, Jolur wore a mask to hide his disfigured face. This event left a lasting mark on his life, particularly due to the secret that the Third Artisan of the Gods began to harbor thereafter.

MASTER ÄIRFAX

Master Äirfax, the Fourth Divine Artisan, stood apart from the others, for he worked exclusively with flexible materials capable of absorbing the powers bestowed by the gods and goddesses. Thus, Master Äirfax crafted cloaks, mantles, and all sorts of paper that could absorb and retain such powers for when they were needed. His work was imbued with mystery and finesse. Many of his creations were subtle, often unnoticed because they seemed ordinary or even trivial, like simple cloaks and mantles. However, they concealed powers that made a great difference in various situations. Although Äirfax was an important artisan, he rarely worked alone when it came to crafting actual weapons. He created the Mantle of Olthom, the Cloak of Amagdorum, and the Bracelets of Alisas. However, his masterpiece was a collaborative effort with Master Jolur: The Book of Passages, also known as The Book of Laiëntharin. And in secret, at the request of Maráhadar, Äirfax wrote his magnum opus: The Book of the Nine Black Portals – The Laienürimim. In this book, the master recorded the secret of each portal, including Entharin, the Great Black Portal.

MASTER KAUR

Underestimated at first by other artisans, Master Kaur possessed a unique gift that would later be highly valued. Unlike the others, Kaur, the Fifth Artisan of the Gods, was the only one capable of working with the material extracted from the Tree of Light, also known as the Tree of Power or the Tree of Naumathar, which stood in the center of the main hall of the Castle of Light on Mount Naumathar. The Source of the Gods' Power stemmed from the Tree of Power, the only tree that absorbed power from both the earth and the light of the heavens. And the only one able to touch the tree was Master Kaur. Because of this privilege, he was often regarded as the favorite of the gods and goddesses of Anahkólion. Kaur collaborated on several projects with the other master artisans. Among his works are the Medallion of Akhalar, the Corselet of Unth, the Hammer of Nil, and the Bracelets of Alisas. However, his greatest masterpiece was the Bow of Jad, one of the most revered Sacred Weapons ever crafted in Anahkólion. This weapon became famous in the hands of Reim the Archer, in Ernt-nador. But before that, the Bow of Jad was wielded by someone else.