Pact Blades

The Ten Pact Blades are powerful artifacts created following the Second War of Expansion. Ten years after hostilities ended between Kentor and Malachar the two nations signed a new contract, separate from the initial peace accords. This contract became known as the Honor Pact, a promise between the two countries to remain allies and avoid further conflicts in the future. To solidify the Pact each country gifted the other five swords, forged by the most skilled craftsman in the world and enchanted with powerful magics. Karina Leighton, Queen of Kentor, and Laurel Elaris, High Commandant of Malachar, exchanged these Blades, each one keeping a single Blade for themselves and giving the other four to various warriors, lords, and champions. Though the exact powers of the Blades are unknown, legend holds that they are 10 of the finest and most powerful weapons forged in Irolas in the last century.

Kentori Pact Blades
These five Blades were forged by Malachar and gifted to Karina Leighton. She kept one in her possession and gave the other four to those she felt were most instrumental in bringing peace to Kentor during the Second War of Expansion. Each Blade is forged of the finest Elvish Steel and legend states that each Blade was tempered in a different material, granting the Blade unique power.

Oathmaker
The Blade kept by Karina, Oathmaker was tempered in an unknown magical potion of great power, infusing the Blade with alchemical energy. Though Karina technically accepted the sword as her own, Oathmaker was primarily wielded by the Captain of her Queen's Guard, especially in the later years of her rule. Oathmaker was handed down from monarch to monarch in Kentor, and is currently held by King Ode IV.

Dawnsinger
Rumor states that this blade was tempered in Holy Water, blessed by the Otiki High Priests of Larethian themselves. The Blade glows with a radiant light at all times, but burns as bright as the sun when wielded. Dawnsinger was gifted to Elodie Lancaster, a close friend and adviser of Queen Leighton, as well as a prolific healer in Crystalfin. It's current location is unknown.

Stormcaller
This Blade was gifted to Leo the Hordebreaker, a Kentori Keeper of the Realm vital to the war effort. He was said to be the greatest warrior in all of Kentor. It is said that Stormcaller, true to its name, could summon lightning storms on a whim. During the forging process the Blade was set out upon a platform during The Greatstorm (the largest hurricane in recorded Kentori history) and the rains of the storm tempered the Blade, infusing it with the energy of the The Greatstorm. Stormcaller is currently possessed by Baron Dantis of Windcrest.

Spellbreaker
The slightest of the Pact Blades, Spellbreaker was said to have been infused with the strangest variety of magics as it was forged. In fact, the Blade was apparently tempered in water gathered from the Elemental Planes themselves, giving it strange powers. This Blade was gifted to the College of Guiden, a sign of friendship between Kentor and Guiden, as well as a thanks for their aid during the war. The College named Vicorm Hernarus as Blade Keeper, due in part to his rank, as well as his close relationship with the court in Kentor. The Blade still remains in Guiden, in the hands of the College.

Flamedancer
Perhaps the most famous of the Kentori Pact Blades, save Oathmaker itself, Flamedancer is said to have been tempered in the blood of a slain dragon, infusing it with the heat of a thousand fires. This Blade was given to High Lord Alver Thorne, who in turn named Alexandre Crowlen Blade Keeper. Flamedancer remained in the Thorne family until it was seized by King Ode II, and it is now carried as a symbol of title for the High Commander of the Brightguard.

Malacharan Pact Blades
These Blades were forged by the Kentori, each of a different material, and were named after the Elvish Five Aspects of Self. They were given to Laurel Elaris who in turn gave each to a trusted friend or ally, save one for herself.

Honor
The primary Blade of the Malacharan set, Honor was wielded personally by High Commandant Elaris until her death, at which time it was passed on to her son. The blade was forged on Aurian Steel, though it is commonly mistaken for gold. Honor is still carried by the High Commandant of Malachar.

Soul
This Blade was forged by an entirely unique, and extremely rare, alloy. The artists who created Soul were said to have forged Alchemical Silver with another, unknown metal, though many theorize it to be Adamantine, making it even stronger than steel while still retaining Alchemical Silver's magical properties. Soul was given to the Warforged people as an apology from Malachar. The Warforged chose Iron Lord Sylroc as the wielder of the Blade, and many assume it was passed down by each Warforged leader to the next. Soul is likely still somewhere on Polemos among the Warforged, though its exact location is unknown.

Strength
Forged of Adamantine, Strength is the largest of the Pact Blades. Witnesses claim it to be over six feet long, but was magically enchanted to weigh even less than the average longsword and could be wielded in one hand. It was given to the First Champion of Malachar (a title given to a soldier which carries no official rank or authority, but rather designates the soldier as the greatest fighter in Malachar). For a short time, both Honor and Strength were wielded by the same man, High Commandant Dalinar Elaris, who was both High Commandant and First Champion of Malachar. Strength is still carried to this day by whomever bears the title of First Champion.

Joy
Perhaps the least well known of the Pact Blades. Joy was forged from Mithral, a metal as strong as steel, but as light as a feather. It is unknown to whom Laurel Elaris gave the fourth Blade and its current location is a similar mystery. Many suspect that she gave the Blade to her son in secret, and, generations later, the family was forced to melt down and sell the weapon during the Elaris decline.

Shadow
The final, and most mysterious Pact Blade. Shadow was forged of Cold Iron and rumor holds that enchantments placed on the Blade banish the souls of its victims directly to the Abyss. In an act that shocked all of Irolas, Laurel Elaris gifted this Blade to Kentori Keeper of the Realm Recknar Tramaer, the man who killed her father, and predecessor, High Commandant Kazimir Elaris. At the time of the Honor Pact, Keeper Tramaer had only recently completed his sentence of exile to Malachar. The location of Shadow today is unknown.