[ WP ] You have been given a magic sword . It has a reputation of getting it 's owners killed .

I said I ’ d be different. This thing, this magic: it wasn ’ t going to get the best of me. People said an awful lot about curses, and hexes, and charms, but even if I didn ’ t know much magic, I knew there was always something stronger. That fact was well proven when I found the sword, its blade shimmering despite the gore of battle. The guy holding it was already dead and gone, a poleax carving out a nice hole in the center of his chest. 
 
 I was alone, as much as I could be. The dead were there, but I didn ’ t really count them as a dedicated audience. I found the sword alone, and I picked it up, cleaning it on a shirt before moving to return to the camps. Knights and paladins littered the killing grounds, but most of their armor had already been picked off. We scavengers were a hungry lot, let me tell you. All the same, I could feel the thrum of magic in the hilt of the sword, and as I made my way back to the middle of camp, more than one person noticed the brilliance of the blade. I could feel myself growing more confident, but I stopped myself before that ridiculous thought got too far. Can ’ t be too careful with magic. 
 
 Among my close friends, I was lucky enough to have a soothsayer; she knew enough about the spirits of the world, and the languages of the world, to translate the saying along the blade. 
 
 “ This sword is enchanted. The usual deal: victory. Fame. Strength. But- “ 
 
 “ But? ” I questioned, turning the blade over. “ What about this side? ” 
 
 The soothsayer frowned, trying to shoo me away from the hilt. “ This sword will kill you. ” 
 
 “ How? ” 
 
 She shrugged. “ It doesn ’ t say. But it will. ” 
 
 “ I need one of your charms. The one for luck. ” 
 
 She laughed at that, but handed over the trinket, watching as I fastened it on the cord around my neck. “ My magic is nothing, compared to this. You might as well join the king ’ s raiders. Earn some glory before it turns on you. ” 
 
 “ Oh, no. I won ’ t be like the others. ” I shook my head, gripping onto the hilt of the sword once more. “ Magic swords have power, if you know how to use it. And how do you stop a sword? ” 
 
 “ You don ’ t. ” 
 
 “ With armor. ” I nodded, glancing toward the horizon. “ Something can beat this sword. And I ’ m going to find it. ” 
 
 + 
 
 Sure, I had a limited budget. But I found enough people willing to feed and clothe me for a bit, just to see a genuine magic sword, and I did my best to practice with the blade. I might not have been a knight, but I had seen enough battles both real and pretend, and I found that the movement came more easily than I thought. Within weeks I was spinning, thrusting, hacking with the sword at any vulnerable tree that crossed my path. However, each soothsayer I visited said the same thing. 
 
 “ This sword will kill you. ” 
 
 “ Then give me protection! ” They couldn ’ t argue with my reasoning, but each of them had a suggestion. First, I found Arimatheus; he was kind enough to donate another charm, a stronger one. Charms were nice, he said, but look for Falathea. She had a lovely enchanted scroll, but Peragnath ’ s boots were better. They fit me nicely enough, although a bit heavy, but Peragnath recommended Mignae. She, too, had a wonderful set of gauntlets to carry the thing, but she pointed me onwards to Elethon. Each leg of my journey grew longer, and even more difficult, but I got better with the sword, and I grew stronger with my protection. 
 
 I began joining nobles, becoming their bodyguards through the treacherous woods and swamps. I couldn ’ t lose, not with my sword and my protection. For those who asked about the letters along the blade, I ignored them. The sword had vowed to kill me. But I had vowed to defeat it. 
 
 Each successive soothsayer grew greater in power, ever more mysterious and secretive than the last. I journeyed over mountains, through rugged valleys, past the temptations of siren-hawks and the lures of peaceful beaches. I couldn ’ t stop until I had the best. I needed to protect myself. I couldn ’ t let this sword kill me. Finally, I kneeled before the cave of Thenum, listening for the whisper of his voice within. No one had seen the old magician for many years, but he still granted boons, to those brave enough to ask. 
 
 “ I need protection. ” 
 
 “ That sword… ” 
 
 “ Will kill me. I know. But I ’ ll break the spell. ” 
 
 A quiet hum; it probably wasn ’ t the wind. “ I can give you a helmet. But Gwenyth-no. I can not. ” 
 
 “ Tell me! ” I started to get to my feet, distracted as a battered helmet rolled out on the grass. “ What does Gwenyth have? ” 
 
 “ You want to defeat the sword? ” 
 
 “ Yes! Of course I do! ” 
 
 “ Go to Gwenyth. They will give you what you seek. ” With that, my visit was over, and I joyfully picked up the helmet in order to rush back down to the road. Could my quest at last be over? After a bit of research, I was ready to head out, and I made my way to the base of the mountain where Gwenyth was last spotted. 
 
 The path was difficult, but my gauntlets lent me strength. The wind bit at my nose and hands, but the helmet worked its magic, preventing me from catching ill. I was invincible-almost. I just had to find Gwenyth. I climbed up steep walls of ice, using the rigidity of my borrowed armor as makeshift ice-picks, and finally, at last, I could see the top. The greatest magician, with the best form of protection? I could nearly taste the sword ’ s defeat! 
 
 After such a long journey, I could feel the weight of my armor dragging on me. I ignored it, thanks to the helmet ’ s power, but when I tried to grab for another handhold, I proved unable to lift myself. My arm had given out, although I couldn ’ t feel it. I cursed, scrabbling at the rock, and turned to study my surroundings. I was high up on the cliff face, and I nearly grew dizzy with the sight, but something else caught my attention. The sword-it had been strapped to my back, but now it dangled loose. I couldn ’ t lose it! Not now! Ignoring the rock, I reached out to try and secure the sword and its scabbard again, only to find it swinging dangerously in the wind. With one hand to secure me to the cliff, I tried to maneuver to catch the sword again, watching it dance in the air. Finally, I managed to swing forward slightly, catching the sword with the tips of my fingers before feeling something give. 
 
 First it was the gauntlets-they ’ d been too big to begin with, but they were heavy and awkward. My hand slipped from one, while the sword slipped from the other. I began to fall backwards, but I knew I wouldn ’ t die. I had the helmet from Thenum, and Falathea ’ s scroll, and- 
 
 The wind changed from nowhere, and the sword slammed into the cliff face before jamming in the ice. I cursed, feeling myself fall, but I grabbed at the hilt just in time. However, the force of my fall didn ’ t even budge the blade, and I swung dangerously for a moment. On my feet, I could feel something sliding, moving steadily down, and before I knew it my boots were lost, disappearing in the thick snow of the mountain. For the first time, I could feel fear again, and I kicked frantically at nothing. This sword was everything now; gritting my teeth, I swung back and forth, trying to dislodge it. My efforts only knocked loose my various accoutrements, the band of charms around my neck loosening before falling into the ravine below. With one last push, I pulled on the sword, and it finally came free to shimmer brilliantly in the single ray of sunlight, high above the clouds. 
 
 I ’ d never seen the sword do magic. I ’ d hardly even seen it glow, or anything. But as it came free, I swear I could see the letters along the side pulsing with a life of their own, outshining the sun. As I fell, I cursed the thing-but it hadn ’ t killed me yet! I plunged through nothingness, going blind with the speed, but I grabbed for the sword. It had to be falling with me. Finally, I felt the chill of steel on my fingers, and I pulled the blade close before cradling it with my body. 
 
 I ’ d forgotten that I would have to land sometime. And with naked steel already pressing against my chest, well… 
 
 I should be grateful that my death was painless. 

