Many keep up with Big Mamas Nexus News and recently we have all seen the new challenger, Ameise, an ant yokai wielding two twin blades bursting with spiritual energy, their orange blades lighting up with the fire of ancients wowed the audience increasing the match attendance tenfold!
Now what I wondered dear reader is what are these enchanting blades and where can the nexus get more?
(My artistic rendition of Ameise in her debut fight)
The Ancient Art of Spirit Forging
I have read through many a history book looking for anything about these strange magical artifacts, I’ve seen the insides of ancient museums and yet nothing I find leads me to the creator of these weapons besides an old veterans statue from the Great War. I understand many of my audience is too young to remember such a time but when warfare ravaged the hidden city these weapons seemed to be quite common. I researched even further and found a few veterans around the city, as sadly scarce as they may be I finally got an interview with a fine gentleman named Shanty for a mere beer…
Our conversation was very informative despite his laid back demeanor, he lamented of times before the war, till we got to the meat of this Simurgh!
“An old pal of mines father used to forge em, I got one of my old relics at home. The key is for the spirit to actually want to stay with you, keep em clean, form a bond, whatever.” I tried to inquire further but my feathered friend hesitated to give me their supposed “friends” name. After a call and a few more drinks Shanty gave me a number and an address and I got to speak to the last and only known person who practices what Shanty called “Spirit Forging”
The Last Known Forger
I have been asked to not disclose the name or address of this yokai so I shall be referring to them as the forger here is our conversation log over tea:
“So what exactly is ‘Spirit Forging?”
The forger snorted at my question “Well it ain’t exactly called that, it’s just simpler to say than the elemental translation”
“Which is?”
“It’s more of a principle, called Vinculum inter arma vitam et mortem… yeah a little hard to understand but Spirit forging is as good as any name”
“So what is it?”
“…basically a bonding of spirits either past or natural occurring, into an item, there’s lot of different spirits with all differing effects and personalities but overall it’s just magic item creation with purpose”
“Purpose?”
“Most magic items were either made before the war by skilled magic artisans, formed into existence by powers far greater than my own, magic focuses like wands or staffs, or spells infused into items through complete accident, although there are some instances of purposeful magic item crafting in modern times it’s a little ehhhhh. Spirit forging is an agreement between a spirit, an item usually weapons or armor, a forger, and finally a wielder. If you mistreat your spirit depending on the temperament you can either end up with a powerless blade or a bashed in skull.”
[A small segment of this conversation had to be redacted for time and privacy]
“You mentioned personalities and temperaments these things are alive?”
“Ermmm yes and no? Spirits can form either naturally in spirit groves, through a massive loss of life or under some very specific conditions that neither of us would have the time to go over in one day, in reference to their personalities…” they pulled out a chart of spirits at this point which they allowed me to copy down a few details before we moved on from this discussion in particular... Sadly I only was able to copy down the most common colors
Red
- Powers: Conjuration
- Temperament: A range of personalities most border on sadistic in their anger but others are calm and caring for others
Orange
- Powers: Fire production
- Temperament: excitable fire balls, real friendly, keep away from alcohol, hardest to control and regulate
Blue
- Powers: Quick travel (hue of blue effects the power level; lightest travels further distances, darker blues/indigos tend to be able to access realms beyond but are more unstable; a perfect balance allows for a skilled user to access both at the expense of A LOT of energy)
- Temperament: usually more calm but with the same enthusiasm of an orange spirit
Purple
- Powers: Evocation through creation
- Temperament: Logical and calculated a little more introverted tend to lash out if a user is too pushy
Pink
- Powers: Floral control and creation
- Temperament: Calm and connected, bonds formed naturally are strong
“Spirits ain’t very picky about what colors they hang out with eventually forming Spirit Groves, their little communities that usually form in caves, forests, really any dark place in the hidden city, most spirits tend to collect in dark areas and then light up the area by growing a shielding centre tree that protects spirits from detection, but I think the only major example people kind of know about would be the HoneiSukles cherry blossom tree”
“The tree has spirits?!?”
“HoneiSukles is a big district, souls untethered to a belief get lost when they die and if they aren’t getting pulled to a collection of souls in a spirit grove well they head to a place familiar or umm beautiful to them. Plus with the idea that their old queens spirit pulling them to the area is an interesting theory which is… plausible”
“Souls get lost… do you know what happens after death?”
Now the forger paused for a minute and chuckled a bit “No- No kid I ain’t know what happens after death I study spirits I ain’t a deity or anything. I should clarify, souls are yokai that have passed while spirits I use interchangeably but are naturally occurring, I make an effort to only use spirits in forging. When you’ve been on the business as long as I have you can tell if you’re harnessing a creatures power or stealing someone’s after life”
“So what about the religious?”
The forger snorted “I’m not sure to be honest, I’m not even sure if i’m right If you wanna talk about this I’d suggest talking to a theologian on that, it’s all theory… all I know is what I do which is harness.”
“Will you ever sell your blades to say the battle nexus? It would be an amazi-“
“No. The nexus does not and will never have my support. I work for those I know will care for my weapons and the spirits in them.”
“But-“
“No. May we move on?”
“Alright well how do you care for the spirits?”
“Well keeping your weapons clean is always a good idea it’s like cleaning their “room” talking with them, engaging in activities they enjoy blue spirits are quite found of catch while purples may decide they want to play with building blocks for the day, they don’t eat per say but they can be bribed with some glow fruit…”
“Glow fruit?”
“A naturally growing fruit found exclusively in groves, no bigger then a penny, they do as the name implies… glow. Gives the groves their whole atmosphere. Plus wizards and witches love working with the stuff since it increases the volatility of potions.”
“May I request something?”
“Shoot”
“Well you’ve mentioned the spirit groves a few times and I was wondering if you could show me one… for my report”
The forger paused for a moment again and shrugged “Sure… but that’ll have to be another day I have to go pick my kid up from their… wait you’re still recording ain’t you?”
“Yup!”
“Mind turning it off..?“
“Oh right sorry!” *Click*
And there you have it dear reader my research on Spirit Forging! Although my blacksmithing friend may not seem eager to provide weaponry to the battle nexus, you must admit their craft is an interesting study that I’m sure gladiators and spiritual philosophers would both be interested in. Hopefully I’ll return next week with an entry about these “Spirit Groves” that or the research I have done on “The Great War.”
This is G.R.F. signing off!
Published by the U.M. institute of Knowledge and Journalism in the Hidden City
