There are few objects more regarded and curious than the sword given to Mortimer by king Solus. As the center cog of a large wheel of a community, and the master of a growing empire of resources, Mortimer had become quite accustomed to be given gifts. And so it was that this self-described 'king,' when he came to see Master Mortimer, gave, or more accurately, conveyed ownership, of the sword. He had actually been trying to sell it in the marketplace, and it sort of just came to Mortimer as a result of circumstances. The king had only planned to stay an afternoon, and was headed elsewhere, and had left many objects in the marketplace, assuming that if they didn't sell, would go to whoever saw fit to carry them home. 

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But this arrangement wasn't exactly clear to the master of the marketplace, so when the king was gone, he noticed, and went to look over the remaining goods. He spotted the sword, setting it aside as a reflex.

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It was some days later that the king showed up at his door. He had left a basket of things that Mortimer had retained, and with it, the sword. And having already intended to part with it in the marketplace, the king insisted that the wizard maintain ownership.

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So when he was gift a sword by the supposed king, he hardly thought anything of it. Rather, it was in the other things he conferred that gave him pause to see meaning in the gift. 

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He was given braces for his wrists, and a ring. The ring was that of a phoenix, the symbol of death and rebirth. His brother had worn a ring much like it, only Benjamin's was that of a silvery cobalt skull with wings behind it. His brother had always been one for shiny things, and so had Mortimer, but for some reason, Mortimer had never taken to any jewelry for any length of time. He retained their family heirloom, the ring of the five pointed star bequeathed to him by their father as the oldest son (even if only by minutes).

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He was also given a necklace, that of a brass lion. His brother had been given a complementary silver encased eye of labradorite, which shone tarpaline blue in the sun, but for whatever reason hadn't been a fan, preferring to find and choose his own tokens, so Mortimer kept it as well.

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Once Mortimer had adopted these treasures from the king, Benjamin had conveyed the cobalt ring to his brother.

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Ben tended to cycle through jewelry, and had decided his brother needed more death in his life, and that the ring ought to be the counterpoint to the phoenix. Mortimer knew that it meant more than this, as Benjamin had held on to this ring for quite some time. But as the ring of their father had fallen to Benjamin, Ben had determined to give this to Mortimer. Practically, Ben had determined to where the pentacle ring more, and being a bit of a dandy, didn't think want the skull to compete with the pentacle. The ring was special, and Benjamin did not want it to go to waste, so the cobalt skull also became a gift to his brother.

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Initially Mortimer was given a shield. Not by the king; he had had a shield, in his possession, however the king had not been inclined to give it to him for some reason.

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Later Mortimer would realize he had been given something better in the sword.

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He would stab his enemy, but they wouldn't die. Rather, the spirit that possessed the recipient of the blow would have a choice; either let go of the spirit, or die along with it.

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But later Mortimer would recognize that the blade would burn hot, and this would scorch the spirit before the blade touched the combatant, and would flee more readily with no harm to the one possessed when Mortimer could channel the right energy, and the sword would pulse with hot, white light.

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But this sword was not all that peculiar or strange at first sight. It was in the use of it where its remarkable power lay. Some would say it is a demon slayer, and that, it is. But its true power lie in the intentions of the wielder, and only one with the proper training and understanding can wield a weapon so unique and particular.  Not that it didn't have utility simply as a sword. It could hack of arms and pierce the thickest armour like the rest of them. But its greatest power came in the hands of a discerning and care-filled warrior who saw himself properly as a guardian of all things good, and destroyer of all things bad. His greatest power lie in how he used the sword, not in the sharpness of the blade. If he used it properly, it could both slay demons and spread jam on a peanut butter sandwich. It slice through an antagonistic witch or give a close shave to a pirate. But if not properly taught, the swords power would wane, or lie dormant until a trained and powerful swordsman or woman would pick it up.

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In fact, this sword wasn't all that unique, for others eventually were made just like it. Having studied the careful art and science of alchemy, Mortimer Blackburn came to recognize the unique properties that were held within the blade, and sought to understand and forge weapons to provide to his friends, and those who sought to defend the places, people, and purposes he did. But he found in the crafting that the weapon was not enough. It required training and teaching and application and discovery of a thousand different things before the wielder could unlock the power latent within the blades he would forge. And good thing; they were dangerous, and required a deft hand. These blades were not to be handed out willy nilly to just any warrior wizard; he withheld them only for those who sought them. It was a simple test. They just had to know they existed and inquire of him. But only then would training begin, and not at the hands of the wizard. Sure, he gave instruction. But most of the learning came as the trainee sought to apply the things he or she was taught. Herein lay the most challenging part of the process. But Mortimer was there all along the way, ready to offer ideas and help to the seeking student, always willing to spar with and make corrections when the student veered one way or another as they struggled to learn the necessary lessons. But he didn't expect perfection, and reminded the students that it was in the seeking that perfection was accomplished. They would get there one day. Just keep at it.