Louis-Philippe Giroux wrote:

I must admit I was impressed at the responses I got from this very very
short fic.  The most common comment I got besides, 'You should continue
this' was 'But Ryoga didn't do the dance and chant'

   "For thy heart, for thy heart, thou hast wronged me!..."

   Hmmm...  Would Woundhealer cure a Jusenkyou curse?  It did cure the
damage done to Yambu by Soulcutter.  And it *did* destroy Shieldbreaker, so
that would make it the most powerful Sword.

I don't think so.  A Cursed Springs curse doesn't actually *harm* the
victim, it just makes things inconvenient.  I don't recall Woundhealer
ever being used as a generic spellbreaker.  It just cures damage.

It would fix Mousse's eyesight, and probably help the Kunos as well. 
But I don't think it would break the curse.
 

While it does seem necessary, I would point those of you who made this
comment to the lost swords book.  (I can't remember which one) in which
Farslayer is destroyed.  A guard merely drops the sword after pulling it

>from Mark's body and offers a prayer that it strike down whoever threw

it.  No dance, no chant, and the sword goes flying.

   In the last Book, Amintor is killed by Farslayer after Almathea
double-crosses him.  She apparently didn't sing the rhyme, or Amintor would
have been warned (not that it would've helped).  But remember the price of

She may have repeated it mentally.  The real problem with the scene is
that Ryouga didn't *mean* for Ranma to die; he was just making an idle
comment.  The Swords aren't like djinns; they don't try to actively
trick their owners.  Some of them are unreliable, and some are
dangerous, but they always play by the rules.

   The only way Ranma could survive was if he was wielding Shieldbreaker or
if he was stabbing himself with Woundhealer at the time.  Maybe Doomgiver
could save him as well - Farslayer could then be turned back against its
caster.

I don't think Doomgiver works against Swords, just people.  Besides,
Farslayer already has a poetic justice clause.
 

   Sad thing that all the Swords were destroyed (except for the Mindsword -
that one was an evil critter).  Doomgiver was the most underdeveloped Sword
of the bunch, IMO.  It at least got a story in "An Armory Of Swords", but
it's my belief that it could overpower *any* other Sword, except
Shieldbreaker, of course.

I had the opposite impression.  It's probably the most versatile Sword,
but I don't think it could stand up to any other Sword in that Sword's
particular power.

I'd like to see a Swords fanfic, but I think Slayers would be a better
choice than Ranma.

- The Sword of Chance -

Coinspinner.  

Two powers.  Causes chance events to benefit its owner.  Can indicate
which alternative presents the best odds.

One limitation.  Will remove itself from its owner's possession after
some random interval.

- The Sword of Justice -

Doomgiver.

One power (that I know of).  Will impose a sort of "poetic justice" when
drawn.
 

- The Sword of Heroes -

Dragonslicer.

One power.  Automatically kills dragons when wielded.

- The Sword of Vengeance -

Farslayer.

One power. Will kill any one person when thrown.

Two limitations.  Remains in the body of victim.  "Poetic justice"
clause prevents thrower from personally benefitting from death.

- The Sword of Mercy (aka The Sword of Love) -

Woundhealer.

One power.  Heals anyone whose flesh it penetrates.

One limitation.  Useless as a weapon.
 

- The Sword of Glory (aka Skulltwister) -

The Mindsword.

One power.  Causes fanatical adoration towards its wielder in anyone who
sees it.

Three limitations.  Effect is temporary.  Those under its spell become
hostile towards those who aren't.  Those under its spell become addicted
to its effects.

- The Sword of Force -

Shieldbreaker.

Two powers. Automatically defends its wielder.  Destroys any weapon
brought against it.  (except Woundhealer)

Two limitations.  Wielder cannot drop weapon while it is active.  Sword
will not harm those unarmed.  (Not the best weapon to use against
Ranma.)

- The Sword of Stealth (aka The Sword of Disguise) -

Sightblinder.

Two powers.  Causes those encountering owner to see someone they know
and like.  Increases perception of owner, to the point that he is not
affected by sense-altering spells.

One limitation.  Disguise chosen is not always appropriate.

- The Sword of Despair (aka The Tyrant's Blade) -

Soulcutter.

One power.  Causes those present to feel an overwhelming sense of
hopelessness.  Does permanent damage to the ego.

One limitation.  Wielder is not protected from the Sword's power.
 

- The Sword of Siege -

Stonecutter.

One power.  Can cut through stone.

- The Sword of Fury -

Townsaver.

One power.  Will automatically defend any unarmed group from attackers.

One limitation.  Wielder may drop dead of accumulated wounds after the
battle.

- The Sword of Wisdom -

Wayfinder.

One power.  Will guide its owner to any requested goal.

One limitation.  Will choose a short, dangerous path over a long, safe
one.
 
-- David