Mindsword



The Mindsword (also known as The Sword of Glory, Skulltwister, and the Sword of Madness) is one of the Twelve Swords of Power featured in the Books of Swords series by Fred Saberhagen.

History
Coming soon.

Appearance
The Mindsword is virtually indistinguishable from the other Swords of Power (barring Soulcutter), with the exception of a white banner engraved on the hilt. It is a one-meter, double-bladed Sword with a black hilt, forged by Vulcan from a meteorite and cooled in human blood. Like the other Swords, Skilltwister retains its edge and luster regardless of use.

Abilities
The Mindsword is one of the more overtly evil of the Swords, as it is difficult to imagine a good cause Skulltwister would be associated with. The Mindsword, when drawn, compels absolute and fanatical devotion to the person holding it. It flashes brightly as if catching the sun, and emits the faint roar of a cheering mob, which cannot be blocked out by covering ears or averting eyes. All who are in visual or aural range are affected. Not even the gods of the Swords universe are immune to its power.

The strength of the devotion is such that one under the Mindsword's power would even throw their life away if so ordered. There is no possibility of resisting or recovery, except for the passage of time. When removed from the Mindsword's presence, a person will gradually begin to lose the unnatural loyalty they felt toward the Sword's bearer and show signs of skepticism and then increasing rebelliousness before finally regaining their own mind. It takes around a week to fully recover, depending on the relationship between the target and the wielder, the wielder's own personal charisma, and the psychological resistance of the target.

The Blade seems to have another, lesser property as well—wounds made from its edge fester, preventing healing and possibly leading to fever and delirium.

When wielded, the Sword makes a noise like a crowd cheering, albeit from far away.

Verse
From the Song of Swords:

"'The Mindsword spun in the dawn's gray light

And men and demons knelt down before.

The Mindsword flashed in the midday bright

Gods joined the dance, and the march to war.

It spun in the twilight dim as well

And gods and men marched off to hell.'"