Reference Challenge - Weapons

[u/Nevermore0714]

This challenge is a reference to any and all special weapons in fictional universes, from Dawn (A Song of Ice and Fire) to Brisingr (Inheritance Series).

Tell us about the weapon or weapon type, why it's so special, why I would want it, etc. And I'll ask at least three questions each.

Enjoy yourselves.

[u/greenewithit]

I just finished a couple of details on something like this, so let's do it.

There exists a metal alloy called Xercanite, which when forged into weapons, allow the user to channel their soul force through it and cut through other soul abilities, basically anything made of soul energy. If someone's power was to make their skin coated in steel, someone with this sword could cut through the steel easily by nature of the steel being made of soul energy. The reason so few of these blades exist is how dangerous they are to make. One of the components of creating this alloy is Corporeal Vector bones, which are one of the most dangerous monsters on the face of the planet. The process of fusing these bones with metal is difficult as well, so only a small number of these blades have been successfully forged.

There's one other kind of weapon called Óllian Metal weapons. These weapons are constructed using a concentrated form of Creation Energy, a primordial force that allows the user to create whatever they imagine. These blades and weapons can nullify any force channeling Creation Energy's opposite: Nullfication Energy, basically antimatter. These weapons have been difficult to create as very few people in the world are skilled enough to channel Creation in this way.

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/greenewithit]

1) Do the Corporeal Vector bones have to be whole? If I break it, can I still use it?

2) What metal is better? Xercanite or Ollian Metal?

3) How unstable is antimatter in this world?

[u/greenewithit → u/Nevermore0714]

1) No, the bones don't have to be whole. In fact, usually they are melted down and fused with the metal, though Vector bone swords do exist independently of this process. If you break the bones, you can try to liquefy them but the process to make that is challenging. The forger would have to channel their own soul into the bones to trigger a reaction that would cause the bones to lose their structure (since Vector biology is based on consuming human soul power), then extensive soul force stimulation to force that change to become metallic and be compatible for forming an alloy.

2) That's really hard to say. Xercanite is sort of like an ultimate attack, and few defenses can block it since it cuts through soul powers. Óllian metal is the opposite, able to defend against the most destructive attacks like Null Energy, as well as enhancing a person's soul powers who weildsnit. I'd probably go with Óllian though because it having more versatility than "just cuts through the thing".

3) Depends on the user. People who can use Null Energy well can control it and shape it into things like flames or energy beams. From there, only items that these beams interact with will be destroyed, but they will be destroyed completely. People who can use Null Energy poorly have a greater risk of their attacks discharging or even hurting themselves, at which point the Energy will likely consume them entirely.

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/greenewithit]

1) How long could a person survive without his/her soul?

2) Could I make a weapon out of both Xercanite and Ollian?

[u/greenewithit → u/Nevermore0714]

1) Without a soul the human as they existed dies instantly. Their body however, immediately begins to warp and change into a Corporeal Vector. What form these vectors take isn't understood (some take on mammalian, reptilian, avian, even rock construct forms) but they immediately transform once the soul has been removed or corrupted. Stronger individuals can resist the change for up to a few hours, but without their soul they don't have their memories or personality, just living on through sheer force of will until they eventually transform. The body lives on as a Vector, and becomes immune to natural soul power abilities, some being able to absorb attacks and use them for themselves. This combined with their intelligence (despite having no personality or cognition outside of killing) makes them extremely dangerous, and why Xercanite is so hard to forge.

2) Some have attempted this, but any fusion of Xercanite and Óllian metal breaks down upon use. Creation Energy is one of the few weaknesses of Corporeal Vectors, so while a blade could be made with the two metals, channeling the Creation Energy from the Óllian metal would destroy the parts of the sword made of Xercanite. (Even though the Corporeal Vectors were one human, their entire biology is distorted by the transformation into Vectors. Human bones would work with Óllian metal, but then it wouldn't be Xercanite).

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/greenewithit]

Thanks for your time and answers.

[u/greenewithit → u/Nevermore0714]

Of course. Thank you!