Drizzt's Sword Icingdeath
Drizzt Do’Urden found this scimitar after defeating the white wyrm, Ingeloakastimizilian. The blade is made of silver with a diamond edge. It has the ability to absorb heat and consume fire, one of the reasons for its name.
Icewind Dale Trilogy
R.A. Salvatore
Drew Zirbel
Image Source URL: http://images.entertainmentearth.com//AUTOIMAGES/UC500514lg.jpg
Novel
Eragon's Sword Brisingr
Brisingr, meaning fire in the Ancient language, was created by Rhunön and is a hand-and-a-half (or bastard) sword. Brisingr had a leaf-shaped steel cap on the end of a dark blue scabbard and it had a lighter iridescent blue blade. There was also a large blue sapphire in the pommel of the blade. Whenever Eragon said the blade’s name the sword would burst into blue flame.
Brisingr (First Appearance)
Christopher Paolini
Alysia Derry-Chavez
Image Source URL: http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2011/024/9/4/items_of_alagaesia_by_corellastudios-d37xg3x.jpg
Novel
Sword of Gryffindor
The Swrod of Gryffindor, a goblin-made sword owned by the famous wizard Godric Gryffindor, is said to be made of from pure silver and decorated with rubies. It also has Godric Gryffindor's name engraved beneath the hilt. This sword will reveal itself to any worthy Gryffindor student in their time of need.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (First Appearance)
J.K. Rowling
Alysia Derry-Chavez
Image Source URL: http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20091224113857/harrypotter/images/1/15/Gryffindor-swordG.jpg
Novel
Lirael's Sword Nehima
A blade infused with Charter marks, Nehima was created by the Wallmakers and bears the inscription "The Clayr saw me, the Wallmakers made me, my enemies Remember me". The Charter marks also give the blade power against the dead.
Lirael (First Appearance)
Garth Nix
Alysia Derry-Chavez
Image Source URL: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/512TFDP5T9L.jpg
Novel
Alanna of Trebond and Olau's Sword Lightning
Lightning is doubled edged like a broadsword, but is said to be much lighter. The hilt is studded with gems and topped with a crystal. Said to be a relic of the Old Ones, Lightning also has mysterious magical properties. These magical properties are first shown when the sword saves Alanna from death.
Alanna: The First Adventure (First Appearance)
Tamora Pierce
Alysia Derry-Chavez
Image Source URL: http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/518W7A1ZWDL.jpg
Novel
Crisis Engine
Utensils & Tools
After conducting research on how to restore flight to a wingless garuda through the use of crisis energy, Isaac Dan der Grimnebulin completed his design for a Crisis Engine. The engine, through advanced thaumaturgy and precise scientific mathematical equations, is able to channel crisis energy in the form of torque and become an unlimited fuel source. During the Summer of Nightmares in New Crobuzon, Grimnebulin constructed the first Crisis Engine in an attempt to defeat the Slake Moths he inadvertantly released while researching crisis energy.<br /><br /><em>"The Crisis Engine is only limited by the thaumaturgy, science, and materials used in its creation. With the right equipment and scientist, the Crisis Engine could reach an unlimited potential." </em>
Isaac Dan der Grimnebulin
<em>Perdido Street Station</em> by China Mieville
Unknown
Dillon Dwyer
Justinoaksford. "The Crisis Engine." Drawing. <em>Deviant Art.</em> Deviant Art, 2011. Web. 1 Dec. 2014.
Peculiar Doll
A hidden item in <em>Dark Souls</em>.
A worn, featureless doll found tucked away in the Undead Asylum. The body and limbs are thin and angular, and the sickly green coloration gives the impression of age and rust. The item's description implies that the doll once belonged to an "abomination" that was drawn into a "painted world." The item is not able to be directly used, but having it on the player's person allows them to enter the Painted World. The Painted World is, as the doll's item description says, "cold and lonely." The only entity within it that isn't immediately hostile is a woman named Crossbreed Priscilla, the child of a human and a dragon. This information, combined with the fact that she lives in the Painted World, implies that she was the owner of the Peculiar Doll. <br /><br />Aside from a likely owner, little is known about this doll. It is not known how it acquired its world-traversing powers, it is not known how it made it out of the Painted World, and it is not known how it got into the fortified and isolated Undead Asylum. The Peculiar Doll almost serves as a microcosm of <em>Dark Souls</em>' style of story telling. Vague pieces of information are given through a discovery the player makes on their own, and the player is left to fill in the blanks.
Hidetaki Miyazaki
Dark Souls
FromSoftware Inc.
Damian Kortus
Video Game
Fantasy
Abyss Greatsword
A greatsword that once belonged to Knight Artorias.
A grey greatsword tainted with blue and black splotches - presumably corruption from the Abyss. It can be seen wielded by Knight Artorias the Abysswalker in his boss fight. If Artorias is defeated, the player obtains his soul, which can then be used to craft the Abyss Greatsword. When the player wields the Abyss Greatsword, its strength increases as the player's Humanity statistic increases. <br /><br />Artorias, the original owner of this greatsword, was once a great knight that served the ruler of the land, Lord Gwyn. However, when a threat known as the Abyss began to encroach, Artorias went into it in an attempt to stop it. When the player encounters Artorias, he cannot be pacified or reasoned with. The once great knight lost his sanity trying to stop the Abyss. This is analogous to <em>Dark Souls</em>' concept of going hallow. Judging by references from in-game dialogue, to go hallow is to lose one's humanity, similar to Artorias' fate. <br /><br />The connection between humanity and Artorias' fate is made literal by the gameplay mechanics of his sword. The Abyss Greatsword growing stronger as the player's Humanity increases seem to imply this would be the case for Artorias. However, it is clear that he failed in his fight against the Abyss, and he ultimately ended up a weaker shell of his former self. He lost his humanity and his drive to continue, which is what resulted in his failure and descent into madness. By maintaining their humanity, the player can maintain their strength and determination, using the Abyss Greatsword to fend off the dangers of <em>Dark Souls</em>.
Hidetaka Miyazaki
Dark Souls
FromSoftware Inc.
Damian Kortus
Video Game
Fantasy
The Lordvessel
An item critical to the progression of <em>Dark Souls'</em> story.
A large, bowl shaped object with engravings around its side given to the player by Gwynevere, the daughter of Lord Gwyn. After it is placed on the Firelink Altar, a large flame ignites inside it. From then on, the Lordvessel acts as a Bonfire. Obtaining the Lordvessel is necessary for progressing through <em>Dark Souls</em>, and its importance is highlighted by multiple characters. According to Frampt, an ancient creature that acts as the player's guide, acquiring this item signifies that the player is to be the successor to Lord Gwyn, the previous ruler of the land. In this way, the Lordvessel acts as a physical symbol for a metaphorical passing of the mantle of rule. With the common theme of fire and the Lordvessel's specific connection to fire, it is easy to call its acquisition a passing of the torch. <br /><br />With the idea of fire in mind, the Lordvessel's symbolic significance is highlighted. Much of <em>Dark Souls</em> revolves around lighting fires to continue forward and prolong the end of this world the player exists in. The Lordvessel being obtained halfway through the player's journey and containing one of the larger fires in the game makes this purpose apparent. It serves to give the player a sense of accomplishment after all they have gone through, as well as give them a push forward to see the journey to its end. The Lordvessel uses and builds upon the idea of fire being a symbol of hope.
Hidetaka Miyazaki
Dark Souls
FromSoftware Inc.
Damian Kortus
Video Game
Fantasy
Humanity
A usable item and resource in <em>Dark Souls</em>.
An item vaguely resembling the silhouette of a human with a white outline around them. In game, the item is described as a "sprite." When used, this item floats in the player's hand. The player then crushes it in their hand, greatly restoring the their health and adding to the Humanity statistic. There are many ways to obtain Humanity, but most notably, the item is often found on corpses or dropped by slain enemies. This implies that these tangible items are a representation for the abstract concept of humanity. However, the game reveals little about the nature of this item. <br /><br />The idea of one's humanity is another that is important to <em>Dark Souls'</em> themes. Purveying the whole game is the threat of "going hollow." It is often theorized that one goes hollow in this world when they have fully given up. To connect this to a theme, the player by default is considered "Hollow." However, by offering the Humanity item to a Bonfire, they can become human. This would imply that giving up and going hollow is the antithesis to humanity. This is to say that the essence of humanity as a concept is the drive to continue fighting. One only loses their humanity when they have given up. This connection is further enforced by the gameplay elements of the Humanity item. <br /><br />Upon using a Humanity, the most noticeable effect is the player being healed. By consuming Humanity, the player is able to take more damage and thus fight longer. One could consider this to be the player's hope being restored through their humanity, fending off the threat of dying and going hollow. The other effect the Humanity item has is increasing the player's Humanity statistic. This statistic, when increased with more Humanity, likewise increases other attributes of the player. Most notably, the player's resistance to particular status conditions increases. This reinforces the connection between humanity and the ability to persevere. By acquiring more Humanity, the player can push through otherwise debilitating conditions to continue their journey. One's ability to persevere is determined by their level of humanity, and vice versa.
Hidetaka Miyazaki
Dark Souls
FromSoftware Inc.
Damian Kortus
Video Game
Fantasy