At 02:10 -0400 29/06/98, David Homerick wrote:

   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.

   I guess you have a point...

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

  Mousse with good eyesight...  Now that could be good!

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.

   Oh, well in that regards, you are correct.

   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.

   Untrue.  Doomgiver *does* work against the other Swords.  It turned
Wounhealer's power against Aphrodite (she fell in love with Dennis).  In
"An Armory of Swords", it successfully protects Keyes against Soulcutter's
effects, turning them against Mars and Apollo.  *Although*, it may only
have worked because Mars' intent was to see Soulcutter's effect on Keyes.

   It also successfully turns back a demon in "An Armory of Swords".

   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.

   In light of what I read in "An Armory of Swords", I think it could do
havoc against the other Swords:

   Farslayer:  Return the Sword against its wielder?
   Coispinner:  Bring the owner bad luck?
   Soulcutter:  Turn the power against the one who drew it...  but it might
have been a fluke in "An Armory of Swords".  See above remark.
   Townsaver:  Unsure...  That Sword's purpose is more noble than the
others'.  I'm not sure if Doomgiver *can* overcome it.  Maybe if you're the
attacker against Townsaver?...
   Wayfinder:  Point in the wrong direction?
   Sightblinder:  Cancel the Sword's effect?
   Mindsword:  Causes Skulltwister's wielder to adore himself?

Doomgiver.

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

   Well, it's more like any harm intended upon its wielder will "rebound"
against the attacker.  It acts a bit like Shieldbreaker in that regard, but
unlike the Sword of Force, it works against *any* threat, armed or unarmed
(its one exception being Shieldbreaker).

- The Sword of Force -

Shieldbreaker.

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

   Weapons, spells, demons, everything.

- 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.

   Not necessarily someone they like.  It can be someone they greatly fear
too.  In the last Book, Stephen wields Sightblinder and Shiedlbreaker at
the same time and Vilkata sees him as Orcus, then as Mark...

One limitation.  Disguise chosen is not always appropriate.

   Very true...

- 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.

   Overexposure can also lead to physical damage (remember Yambu?)

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

   "The only Blade you would give to an enemy."

- 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.

   Or, in other words, Townsaver will protect the weak, but without any
regards to the wielder.

   Nice synopsis, David!


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