Between sessions of our TTRPG campaign, I often write stories to my players about what they’re experiencing back in the relative safety of their hometown. Here, orc paladin Orthok purchases a weapon from a store called Wyrmchest, owned by Vipe Crownpeg.
Vipe nods in appreciation of Orthok’s taste.
“Oh, Wolfsboon? She’s a fine blade… I don’t pretend to know how the decisions that get made by the gate watchmen and auditors come to pass, but… I was told by the seller that their team brought in a full treasure hoard off of one contract. For whatever reason, the auditors let him keep his prize. Later in the season, the owner fell on difficult times and needed coin. He told me of this, and I agreed to buy it, but let him know that I’d hold onto it for a season or so in case he could ever afford to buy it back. He agreed, but a few weeks later, he and his team went out on a contract, and never returned.” He picks the blade up out of the velvet-lined drawer and his big hands swivel along the flat of the blade, so that the hilt faces away from the seller, and toward the orc. Orthok can’t help but notice that this practiced maneuver ends with the point of the blade aiming directly at Vipe‘s own heart… but he seems unconcerned.
In Orthok’s grip, there is no doubt in his mind that what he wields is controlled chaos.
The merchant conveys a bit more in a low, respectful tone; he understands his words are common knowledge – yet can’t help but review its finer points with a like-minded customer.
“With a short or longsword, I would be talking you through how the heft of it should feel ‘balanced,’ such that at a given angle somewhere between straight out and straight up, one would feel the weight sit back by the hilt instead of further up the blade. But a greatsword? A greatsword makes no such claims. Much like a warhammer, the majority of its mass is in the blade itself! Wielding it is about overextending your swing and knowing what to do with that momentum. One drives it into a maneuver that hastens the transition into the next maneuver. It’s a bit like a runaway cart; yes, skill comes into play – as does luck… but mostly – one should just hold on tight, and steer as best one can.”