Crystallic Weaponry

Crystallic weapons were first utilized in the wars leading up to the end of the first empire. These weapons were infused with defensive and offensive spells to aid in combat. Crystallic weapons soon became one of the major superweapons powering the tides of the conflict. It is rumoured that the weapon which killed the Red Emperor himself was a crystallic sword. 

Crystallic weapons need to be charged same as most pieces of crystallica. However in this case, the spells embedded into the material must be carefully carved into the crystal as the weapons work best when the spell is a recurring one. Smaller weapons such as knives or arrow-tips can only hold one spell, but larger weapons such as swords can be carved in such a way as to hold numerous spells. These spells are activated using different motions and release words. 

Multi-spell crystallic weapons require great skill to create. Since multiple spells being set off all at once can have disastrous consequences even at the best of times, mistakes in the carving will most often result in the death of the castor or the death of the first person to use the weapon. These inherent risks are one of the main reasons that larger crystallic weaponry is so rare. 

The following is a list of the more common and most notable of the crystallic weapons:

Arrowheads

Crystallic arrowheads are rarely created outside the context of war since they are one-use weapons which will immediately fall into enemy hands if the target is missed. 

Because arrowheads are so small, and because the likelihood of losing them is high, these crystallic weapons are enchanted similar to an ordinary crystallica shard (a one-use spell is infused into the shard without the use of carving). This way, even though the empty shard will be tainted with the magic type that was stored in it, no one will be able to tell which specific spell was stored inside. In order to use the arrowhead again it will have to be purified, which process cannot be done during the battle. 

Traditionally these weapons were created using the leftover shards from the carving of larger crystallic weaponry. However, outside of war, using crystallica shards to create this weapon type is considered a waste of good crystallica. 

Note: Following the invention of the crossbow in Uria, attempts have been made to create a crystallic crossbow which can infuse spells into non-crystallic arrows, but thus far no attempt has been successful. 

Axe

Not many modern-day warriors use crystallic axes. Even in ages past it was rare to encounter a warrior wielding this type of crystallic weapon. This may be due in part to how complicated the forging process is. Unlike other multi-spell crystallic weapons, it is not the magic portion which proves the most complicated. Instead, it is the complex way that metal and crystal are interwoven within the axe-head itself that the challenge lies. 

Despite being an effective weapon as a whole, the crystallic axe is not quite as effective at delivering offensive spells. Any strike taken from an axe will often cause enough damage to not warrant the need for spells, so the crystallica is used for defensive or less direct spells such as wide dispersal blasts, electrical shocks, and personal shielding. Because crystallic axes do not rely on spells to execute damage, less crystallica is needed for this weapon. This again makes the crystallica the least-complicated and least-expensive aspect of the weapon’s creation. 

The way in which crystallic axes are made is well-documented. This is because the process is often too difficult for any but a master smith to attempt. For simplicity of reading, I have outlined each step in as concise a manner as possible considering the original book-length manuscripts: 

1. A special mould is created which will accommodate both crystal and the classic metal of the axe-head. The metal of the axe will hold the crystals in place so that the crystals will be given access to the opponent at the same time the metal is. 
2. The second step is to take four to five crystallica wands (meaning, chunks of crystallica that resemble a wand in size and shape), each one-third the length of the axe head and having the circumference of a coin, and make sure they are emptied of the majority of their raw magical energy. These ‘wands’ are then shaped and sharpened to enhance their hexagonal shape while giving the tips the appearance of a rough double-edged knife. 
3. The emptied and shaped wands are then placed within the mould, and molten steel is poured overtop. Great care is taken to ensure that the metal does not leak onto the other side of the crystals, and that the metal does not cover them entirely. Once the metal has cooled enough to keep the wands in place, it is shaped and sharpened. The wands knife-like tip serves as the basis for sharpening the tip of the axehead. Additional sharpening of the crystallica shards are done last. (The goal here is to be able to see the shards from either side of the axe so a magic user can carve spells into the ‘wands’. You can actually tell the quality of a crystallic axe based on how clean the lines between crystal and metal are.)
4. With the axe-head put together, the next step is setting it into a handle. Crystallic axes can be set into wood, bone, or metal. The type of handle used is left up to the wielder’s taste. 
5. The final step is carving the desired spells into each piece of crystallica and refreshing the energy to activate the spells. 

Crystallic axes are among the most beautiful of crystallic weapons, and can hold the largest amount of spells. Yet since their complexity of construction outweighs their effectiveness in battle, they often take a backseat to the more inherently flashy weapon types. 

Daggers and Knives

The crystallic dagger was likely the first crystallic weapon to be made. Because of the size of the average dagger, most can only contain one spell. Larger varieties may have one spell carved into each side of the dagger, with specifics added to indicate which edge of the dagger the victim must be cut on to trigger which spell. 

The process of creating this weapon is rather simple: A shaped slice of crystallica is set into a detailed and often ornate handle, with the spells then carved into the blade. Occasionally a smaller piece is set into the hilt-tip to provide an additional spell such as a shield or minor healing spell. 

Crystallic daggers are one of the most common and highly-favoured crystallic weapons. They are also one of the few varieties that can be commonly seen in the hands of everyday non-magic users. 

Outside of military use, the crystallic dagger is often used as a show of status or influence. Crystallica is not a cheap material, so having an ornate dagger can be a show of wealth or prosperity. It also ups the visual danger-levels of the wielder, leading to fewer aggressive confrontations on the street. 

Halberd & Poleaxe

Forenote: Because both halberds and poleaxes are created and used in much the same fashion, I will refer to them as halberds in the following description and address the differences between the two afterwards. 

The crystallic halberd is just as complex as it’s predecessor (the axe), but contains the added bonus of a spear-tip and an additional weapon on the opposite side of the axe-head. 

As expected, spears are never used for crystallic weapons due to how easy it is to break or lose a spear to the enemy. However, because a halberd remains closer and more tightly in-hand, it removes the disadvantages of the spear while retaining it’s benefits (specifically, an increased reach). 

These crystallic weapons are among the most highly-favoured, due not only to the effectiveness of the base weapon, but also to how many spells can be added into it. However, being halberds, they also require greater skill and strength to use effectively. 

The main difference between the halberd and the poleaxe is that the poleaxe is a little heavier and includes a hammer on one side, whereas the halberd can be made a bit longer and has a hook on the other side of the axe-head. The poleaxe’s hammer and the halberd’s hook both rarely contain any crystallic elements, so practicality and personal preference are what dictate whether a warrior will wish to use a halberd or a polearm as the base for their crystallic weapon. 

Sword

Even though they are not common, crystallic swords are probably the most iconic of all the crystallic weapon types. They were created before the crystallic axe, and retain much of the same design elements and construction as it’s predecessor (the dagger). However, crystallic swords will last for far longer, can hold a far larger amount of energy, and can utilize multiple spells with ease. They also offer the advantage of reach, being swords, and thus allow wielders a far wider range of attack. 

Crystallic swords can be created in many different sizes and shapes, they can be one-handed or two-handed,  a longsword or a shortsword, etc. (The thinnest sword types have proved too thin to hold the crystallica effectively, so they are not used.)

Crystallic swords have, like their predecessor, a base of pure crystallica. Unlike the dagger, however, the length of the sword includes a metal frame along the centre of the blade to keep everything in place and add more strength to the strike. Steel is often ineffective at bearing the weight of a large piece of crystallica, so titanium has become the preferred metal of choice. Not only does this hold the crystallica with little trouble, but it maximizes the strength and durability of the sword and helps it to better withstand the ages as a whole. This combination of rare and expensive materials means that the crystallic sword is the most valuable and expensive to make of all the crystallic weapons. As such, only the wealthiest of individuals or the greatest of thieves will ever obtain and use this weapon type. 

Due to the artistry involved, I have decided to quote the methods used in this weapon’s creation. Similar to my description of the axe, below is an outline of each step: 

1. First is the painstaking process of obtaining a suitable piece of crystallica. It must be length of the total desired sword length, and a little over the desired width to allow for custom sizing of both the blade and the base of the blade -which will be set into the hilt. 
2. Next is the shaping and loose sharpening of the crystallica, molding it into the desired sword shape. The edges of the sword do not need to be fully sharpened at this point, it only needs to be the right shape and have the proper balance and symmetry. This process is the simplest, but usually takes the longest. Along with the shaping, holes are drilled into four locations along the length of the crystallica. Pieces of metal will go through these holes and attach to the metal on either side so as to help keep the crystallica in place and firmly connected to the frame and hilt. 
3. The hilt is created much like a regular sword hilt, though of course additional heat is required to melt the titanium. An wide opening is created at the top where the crystallic blade will be slid into and set into the handle. Additionally, extra space is left at the base of the hilt for a smaller piece (or pieces) of crystallica to be inserted. These extra pieces usually come from the trimmings of the blade. This separation is to prevent wielders from accidentally touching the main crystallic blade and being effected by the same spells they wish to inflict on their enemies.
4. More titanium is used to create two sheets of metal which will press and hold the sides of the crystallica to the hilt below. These two pieces of metal will reach all the way up the side of the sword, stopping short just over a hand’s-width away from the point. The tips of each sheet of metal will be sharpened into their own version of a blade. This is done in case the tip of the crystallica is broken in the middle of a battle. It also gives the crystallic blade the impression of a crystal spike growing out of and dividing another sword in half. A trademark look of this unique weapon. Additional customization lies in how the two sheets of metal blend into the hilt. Some choose to have the transition be smooth and streamlined, others want it extended and wrapped around the hilt to give it additional weight and grip. Still others prefer to have the metal branch out into unique and impressive designs that also serve as handguards. One such example of this is in the ornamental branching and weaving found in some of the royal crystallic swords of Gurner, which not only help protect the hand of the wielder, but also add an additional elegance to the blade’s design. 
5. The second-last step is to sharpen the blade and install the additional crystallica into the hilt of the sword. A defensive spell in a rounded or square piece of crystallica is most commonly set into the bottom of the hilt of the sword. The user has only to tap on it to activate a healing or shielding spell. Because these pieces of crystallica will naturally be on the smaller side, they usually have a max of two uses before needing recharging. For those who expect to have to battle equally-matched opponents, an energizing spell is usually set into the bottom of the hilt to help the wielder outlast their opponents. 
6. The final and most dangerous step is to of course carve the desired enchantments into the completed crystallic sword and then fill it with the necessary energy to activate the spells. The danger lies in the ever-present possibility of miscarving a spell. This can be a problem even with the smallest of shards, but miscarving into such a large piece of crystallica can result in the death of the castor or the first person to try to use the sword. Thus great care is taken to ensure no spells interfere with any of the others, and that each spell does exactly what is desired. Following this, the crystallic sword can prove to be one of the most valuable assets to one’s personal arsenal. 

This concludes the list of the more common and notable of the crystallic weapons. All are greatly-valued, rarely made, and highly sought-after -even in this more peaceful age. One can only hope the peace lasts, so that none will have to go into battle against an opponent wielding such an effective magical weapon.