The Odomon is a hand-and-a-half sword Remusian sword of great reputation. Said to be able to slice through common steel in the hands of a master, the skill and discipline which go into not only wielding this sword, but making it as well, mean that there are few of them, and they are most often passed within families as heirlooms. Since the death of the great blacksmith Odomon, none have been able to replicate these swords, and so they are considered more precious than gold.

Description. The Odomon is a hand-and-a-half sword of unique construction. It is a single edged blade, the back of the weapon is thicker and flat forming a very thin wedge, which tapers up to a point for stabbing much in the manner of the Remusian Warsword. The dimensions of the blade are dissimilar from those of the Remusian Warsword. It is at least a full ped long, though because blades were tailor made to their owners they can vary quite a bit from this mean, while the blade is a little more than a half-palmspan from the edge to the back. The grip of the weapon is at least a palmspan and a half though some weapons, later examples of Odomon's work, boast a grip of two palmspans. Regardless of length, the grip bears a distinctive "waisted" grip, where the grip becomes wider towards the middle, below the spot where the first hand should sit and above the half-grip for the second hand.

It is unknown exactly what process or technique Odomon used to make his weapons. Gathorn iron is notoriously difficult to work with as well as being highly brittle. The blades all bear a distinctive pattern in the steel, as though they had been engraved with an incredibly fine needle. This pattern, which resembles a series of waves across the surface of the steel, distinguishes true Odomon blades from later imitations.

The guard of the weapon is often quite elaborate, being engraved with some symbol of importance to the owners, or simply the blade's name.

Instead of a crossguard, the Odomon has a guard which traverses the length of the handle and connects at the base of the weapon. When it can be had, fyrite is used to cover the guard so that cold does not cause it to stick to skin.

The grip of the Odomon, wrapped in wison leather, or carteloreen skin, is broken up to be used either one handed, from the back of a horse or with a shield. The second part of the grip, smaller than the main grip below the blade, is for use on the ground fighting two handed or for stabbing motions. The luckiest weapons are said to have grips wrapped in the leather made from a blue Berg pony, one of the strange blue foals that sometimes are born from otherwise ordinary Kor'och Fey Mologh horses. These weapons usually have a matching blue scabbard, and are the rarest of Odomon blades.

Usage. The Odomon is a weapon exclusive to the Remusian men of Northern Sarvonia. The weapons are few and far between and those existing pieces are guarded jealously and passed down through family lines. These weapons often bear names, sometimes inscribed into the guard of the sword or along the blade, often quite poetic. The most famous is the sword of Remusian kings, passed down in an unbroken line for over a century. Called "Scion of Battles" in Remusian, this sword is always passed on to the heir to the throne upon interring the deceased ruler, no sooner. To do otherwise is thought to be an ill omen for the heir to the throne, and is thought to be the will of the spirit of the blade.

Odomon is revered among Remusian smiths for the work he did with steel. Remusians admit that it takes smiths of incredible skill to make something worthwhile out of Gathorn Iron. It would take a master to make useful steel out of the ore, and Odomon's weapons are far more than mere useful steel. Whatever he did with metal, it is said that he traded for materials to make his mystifying swords, with tribes further to the south, wandering elves and even dwarves if he was able.

The saying goes that "It took the world to make the metal, but a Remusian to forge the sword."

Fighting Style. The most obvious advantage to the Odomon is that it can be wielded from horseback or on foot. Those who possess an Odomon are said to be the most disciplined of fighters who need never lose so long as they have trust in their swords. The weapon's strange construction also makes it incredibly difficult to break. The back of the sword seems to be much more flexible than the edge, which resembles conventional Gathorn iron more closely though somehow avoids its brittle quality.

The style of fighting with the Odomon varies whether on foot or on horseback. While riding, the weapon is used much as a sabre would be, cutting from the saddle against foes afoot. While on foot, the emphasis is on the strength of the blow, and the speed at which it is made. Using two hands, making broad swings across the front of the blade, or striking with overhand blows. The tip of the weapon is capable of stabbing charging enemies so that some will use the Odomon like a foreshortened spear, bracing themselves to impale their enemy with the point.

Origin/History. Odomon, after who the swords are named, is said to have been the greatest smith in Remusian history. Despite his somewhat unorthodox practices, Odomon managed to produce swords finer than any other, and true Odomon blades are considered to be the pinnacle of Remusian smith work. Odomon was a devout follower of the old Ice Tribes pantheon, and paid them reverence as he made his blades. He was said to have refused to forge swords for followers of Kor'och on principle. Odomon never married, died childless and had never taken an apprentice. The secrets of his craft he guarded so closely that none had more than the meanest inkling of the process and so the secret of his swords was taken with him to the grave.

Others have since attempted to produce similar results, in part due to the value of true Odomon-crafted swords, but the best imitations have been unable to withstand the same rigors as their authentic counterparts. Some more unscrupulous individuals have even attempted to sell these lesser imitations as true Odomon swords which have often broken horribly under the stress of battle, much to the dismay, and often leading to the death, of their owners. It has since been declared a crime to claim as authentic any imitation Odomon sword, the punishment being to have all of the bones in one hand crushed.

Part of the process of forging such weapons involves prayers to the gods. Of special mention have always been Ertemmir, to make the steel true and sharp, Necteref, to make the edge eager to killing, Peierojon, to kindle the fire within the spirit and Chelinor, to strengthen the arm of the warrior that holds the sword. These prayers were meant to ask the gods to awaken the spirit within the metal and let it have life. It is for this reason that many Odomon swords bear names, since it is considered improper to let something which is alive go unnamed. Odomon is told to have once said to a man who questioned his practice of naming swords "This sword is as a son to me. Would you sir raise a son and send him out into the world without so much as a name?"

Odomon made great ceremony of presenting the sword to its master, often telling him the name of the sword when he did so. It is said that when Odomon forged his last blade he knew that his hands would grow weak, and so not wishing to linger as a weak man, gave his all into the creation of the weapon. When he finally gave this sword to the man who would wield it, he is told to have said "This is the finest sword I will ever make. If, on the field of battle, you should find Kor'och, Kor'och will be cut."And then he died on the spot. The weapon he had forged he had named "Student of War" and it went on to become the blade of many other stories.

It is surmised by modern Compendumists, that this is a harkening back to the Forsaken Blade, and no real spirit is imbued into these otherwise beautiful and deadly weapons. But, the Remusians hold fast to their beliefs. And also their weapons.

It is estimated that a little more than one hundred blades were forged by Odomon before his death. Of these blades, less than one hundred are still known to exist. Though these swords are said to be unbreakable, the weapons have been variously lost, stolen or in some incredibly odd cases sold. One story of an orcish warlord with an Odomon sword is told in quiet voices, as is the tale of the Remusian boy who traveled to kill the warlord and take back his family's sword.

4th Rising Sun 1670 a.S. Information provided by Valan Nonesuch