Item #54: Phoenix Blade or The Ultimate Fire Sword

 For context on the world, please see the Intro post and context on the Excalibur collection please see Item #51.

The second sword in the Excalibur collection that I was tasked to find was the Phoenix Blade, a sword given onto The Mighty Phoenix and was the fourth sword made by Hephaestus.

When discussing Item #51, I already went into the history of the Excalibur collection. So, I will directly dive into explaining the making and background of this sword.

As mentioned, the Immortals gave Hephaestus full freedom on designing and creating all of the swords, except the Humans’. But The Mighty Phoenix forced Hephaestus to work with her and Hephaestus had to first get approval on everything he wanted to add to the sword. Hephaestus allowed her to dictate how the sword would look, because he knew that she wouldn’t accept anything less, and could possibly lead to him losing his job and the deal with the Immortals to leave the dwarves alone.

To make this easy on himself, Hephaestus, showed The Mighty Phoenix a list of materials he wanted to use. With this, a plan was formed and alongside The Mighty Phoenix, Hephaestus, made a sword that was not only practical, but stylish as well.

It is said that this took almost a year and that (if the rumours are true) The Mighty Phoenix and Hephaestus had an affair! Hephaestus was married to Aphrodite, the daughter of The Lady of the Lake and Brother Life, whom Hephaestus met and fell in love with when he first presented the Glacies Gladio to The Lady of the Lake.

This rumour started because Hephaestus and The Mighty Phoenix bonded over their mutual love and understanding of fire magic. This rumour was further fuelled by the fact that when Hephaestus was finished with the Excalibur collection, it was The Mighty Phoenix who, with no hesitation (which is uncharacteristic, for anytime she was given a job she complained and tried to get out of it) said that she will see to it that the dwarves will have the freedom and isolation that they desire.

The Might Phoenix met with the dwarves and gave them a home deep in the planet’s core. The core is filled with magma and flames that are almost as hot as the sun! But The Mighty Phoenix assured the dwarves that she froze a part of the core and with the help of Mother Nature and The Lady of the Lake, they turned it into a sort of “biome” that is suitable to sustain life. She also assured the dwarves that this will protect them from any potential enemies for they will be surrounded by the intense heat of the core.

This suggests that The Mighty Phoenix wanted Hephaestus close to her - for the core is also her home… 

Now let’s examine the Phoenix Blade and break down the materials. First is the hilt. The hilt is made from fire opal that is cut into the shape of a phoenix and wrapped in the skin of a fire salamander.

The Mighty Phoenix chose the fire opal because it is made from ancient magma that was submerged in water. But she specifically chose fire opal that was formed when she met and fell in love with Lir, the former king of the Ocean and the eldest son of The Lady of the Lake. 

It is said that Lir met with The Mighty Phoenix in secret and every time Lir touched The Mighty Phoenix, the magma and flames on her body turned into the most beautiful fire opals, which The Mighty Phoenix kept as reminders of their time together.

This relationship was kept secret, because Lir was married! But the affair was made public because The Mighty Phoenix fell pregnant and gave birth their son Grannus, who inherited the power to control both fire and water. This made Aoife, Lir’s second wife very angry.

Aoife had no children with Lir, but after the death of her sister (and Lir’s first wife) Aebh, Aoife was forced (by her father Bodb) to become the step-mother of the several children Lir had with Aebh. Aoife had to abandon her own son Connla to fulfil this duty, leaving Connnla in the care of Bodb.

And now Aoife had to become a step-mother to another child, and a bastard child at that! Aoife realized that Lir didn’t love her and out of her anger she turned all of Lir’s children into swans, except for Grannus, who was saved by The Lady of the Lake and hidden away.

The Mighty Phoenix swore revenge on Aoife and vowed to kill her, but the other Immortals stopped her. For even though Aoife cursed the children to forever be swans, she at least didn’t kill them. The other Immortals understood Aoife’s actions, but still deemed it unacceptable. So, to please Lir and The Mighty Phoenix, Aoife was imprisoned in the dark forest known as the Land of Shadows.

Lir and The Mighty Phoenix were also punished for their adultery. Lir was stripped of his title as the King of the Ocean. The title of ruler of the Ocean was given to the lovely Queen Yemaya. The Mighty Phoenix was forbidden from ever seeing her son Grannus ever again. Grannus was sent away to the barren frozen isles in the North-west of the world. There Grannus uses his abilities to control both fire and water to create healing hot springs.

The Mighty phoenix brought her special fire opals made from hers and Lir’s union as a tribute to her son Grannus and a reminder to first kill Aoife when she is allowed to use the sword in the final days of Magusterra!

The hilt is also covered and attached to the blade with fire salamander skin. A fire salamander is also known as the six-legged salamander, because of well… it has six legs.

The six-legged salamander is related to the fire birds, which are descended from fire dragons. But unlike the fire birds, the six-legged salamander didn’t evolve to have wings, instead the wings evolved into legs and that is where the extra two legs in the middle of their bodies came from.

Hephaestus, did first consider to use the feathers of the fire birds, which are similar to a phoenix, but they aren’t the same. For one, there is only one phoenix and that is The Mighty Phoenix.

Although both the phoenix and the fire bird can set themselves on fire, they both do this for different reasons. The Mighty Phoenix engulfs herself in flames to change her form from her true form, the phoenix, to her “Human” form. She also engulfs her body in fire to either age herself up (with orange fire) or to age herself down (with blue fire).

Now the fire bird or zhar-ptitsa as it is called in the eastern lands of Russkaya zemlya, where it comes from, are birds that resemble three types of bird species: the peafowl, swan and eagle. Their feathers glow a beautiful blue flame colour when they are born and grow more orange as they grow older. You will often find them in the homes of the rich, illuminating the gardens of their big mansions, but I am going off topic…

Anyway, the zhar-ptitsa also engulf themselves in flames, but not to be reborn or age, but to clean themselves from any parasites that they might have picked up.

Hephaestus decided to not use them because the beautiful glow and power that the feathers hold disappears when it is plucked from the zhar-ptitsa. But the zhar-ptitsa’s cousin, the six-legged salamander, doesn’t have this problem. Although the salamander can’t engulf itself in flames, it is however fire resistant and the skin retains this property even after it is taken off of the lizard’s body.

The six-legged salamander is born from a soft egg that is laid and left on the edge of a volcano. When they hatch, they immediately fall into the lava and stay in there until night time. They sleep during the day and hunt for food (small insects and frogs mostly) at night. The salamanders also have two types of sweat glands that they can control at will. One excretes milk that puts out fire and the other a toxin that adds fuel to the fire, making it burn brighter and hotter.

Because they live in volcanos and only come out at night, sightings of the six-legged salamanders are rare. But some Humans and elves farm or herd them, as the salamander’s skin is used to make fire proof cloaks, suits and most importantly: book covers.

This is important because when the Great Library of Alexandria burned down, destroying all the books it housed, Lady Wisdom started her own private farm of six-legged salamanders. She uses their skins to protect her incredible collection of ancient books and scrolls. It is said that Lady Wisdom made a deal with The Mighty Phoenix to be given the best and most beautiful species of six-legged salamander. 

In exchange, Lady Wisdom gave The Mighty Phoenix the Eternal Flame, an ancient object that gives anyone brave enough to bathe in its flames incredible power and knowledge. But unless you are a fire elemental, you will burn up and die in the fire.

Hephaestus told The Mighty Phoenix to get one of the salamanders from Lady Wisdom’s herd. This was easily obtained, for Lady Wisdom (who was still imprisoned for her crimes) was just happy to have company. Lady Wisdom gave The Mighty Phoenix the strongest six-legged salamander from her herd as a gift.

The Mighty Phoenix was also surprised to learn that Lady Wisdom’s salamanders have been bred to be used in a special spell invented by Lady Wisdom herself. This spell requires the skin of a six-legged salamander (preferably from Lady Wisdom’s herd), a pine branch and a written incantation (only known to Lady Wisdom, The Mighty Phoenix and Hephaestus) that is carved into the skin of the living salamander. This allows anyone who is holding the skin to control fire at will and if the user can already control fire, it increases their control and power tenfold!

Next is the blade. This is made up of three parts. The main part is made from the bottom half of the Spear of Ra, which came from The Mighty Phoenix’s (and also Brother Life’s) son, Ra.

Ra is The Mighty Phoenix’s eldest and favourite son. Ra resembles his mother closely, for he has a Human body, but the head of a falcon and can also engulf himself in flames, to keep himself young. The Mighty Phoenix put him in charge of protecting the sun she created from anything that seeks to destroy it.

And to help Ra in this task, The Mighty Phoenix gave him a spear, that is equal to her Flaming Sword (her primary weapon), known as the Spear of Ra.

To make sure that Ra’s attention is always on protecting the sun, The Mighty Phoenix made sure that he doesn’t have to worry about food, drink or any other supplies. To do this The Mighty Phoenix has tasked her weaker son, Helios, to regularly make a supply runs to help Ra stock up.

Helios does this by driving a gold flaming chariot, (full of provisions that Ra may need) pulled by four horses that were born and raised on the sun by The Mighty Phoenix. 

The Mighty Phoenix agreed with Hephaestus that the spear would be a good incorporation into the Phoenix Blade’s design. So, The Mighty Phoenix went to see her son, Ra. She arrived, by being chauffeured by Helios in his chariot. She would have gone by herself, but Hephaestus insisted on tagging along and The Mighty Phoenix had no other way to get him to Ra’s fortress without burning Hephaestus up in her phoenix form.

Ra was all too eager to serve his mother and gave up his spear without any hesitation. Hephaestus tested the spear and approved that it would be more than adequate for the construction of the Phoenix Blade. But The Mighty Phoenix didn’t want to take away Ra’s only weapon that could help him protect the sun from any foe that wanted to extinguish it. So, she compromised and cut the spear in half and took the bottom half. Leaving Ra with the part of the spear that had the spearhead, turning the Spear of Ra into the Short Spear or Javelin of Ra. But don’t underestimate Ra, for the spear might be shorter, but it is still equal to The Might Phoenix’s Flaming Sword.

But to compensate for the fact that Ra now lost the advantage of using long range attacks, The Mighty Phoenix sent Ra (on Helios’ next supply run) two wolves Sköll and Hati, to help him protect the sun and keep him company. Hephaestus, melted down the bottom half of the Spear of Ra, reshaped it into a curved blade and heat treated it in the Eternal Flame.

The second part is in the middle of the blade, which was hollowed out and filled with a quartz crystal from the fire giant’s kingdom of Muspelheim, found west of the world and deep underground of the thick forest of Volcano Island. 

The formation of quartz crystals is simple. Deep under the planet, magma gets pushed into weak parts of the earth and cools down. As it cools down it crystalizes. But what makes the quartz special in Muspelheim, is that it is made from an ancient powerful magma, that was used by the Mighty Phoenix to create the sun! But The Mighty Phoenix had to use all of this magma that was available on the planet and the only traces left of this magma are the quartz crystals that formed before it was used to create the sun.

The quartz crystals are known a sun diamonds and are heavily protected by the fire giants. This is because, although crystalized, these sun diamonds still hold a lot of power within them and can still be activated by a skilled fire elemental. Which is why The Mighty Phoenix ordered the fire giants to bring the biggest sun diamond they have to Hephaestus’ workshop. There, Hephaestus cut, shaped and fitted it in the middle of the blade.

Third and last piece of the sword can be found on the spine of the blade and funny enough it is actually a spine. Hephaestus wanted to incorporate a lighting element into the sword. But like the six-legged salamander, he needed a body part from a creature or being that can be used to summon lightning even when it is no longer attached to the creature or being!

During Hephaestus’ research he came across the Bul-Gae, a type of fire dog found in the far eastern lands of Goryeo. But although they can withstand and live in places where there is extreme heat, they are not very powerful. But the more Hephaestus looked into them he found that, like the six-legged salamander that was born from the zhar-ptitsa, the Bul-Gae also had a more evolved cousin, the Raijū.

Raijū are a type of blue wolf-like creatures that can control and summon lighting at will. They are also found in the far east on the island of Yamato-koku, but they live in clouds.

Raijū and Bul-Gae anatomy are interesting because both of their powers and abilities come from their spines. The Bul-Gae can set their backs on fire, but that is all. They can’t shoot the fire off or even control it. It, much like a cactus, is just there for protection.

Now the Raijū are similar, in that they and summon and create lighting on their backs. But unlike the Bul-Gae, the Raijū’s spine (or “lighting rod” as some call it) allows the Raijū to control the flow of electricity and even allows them to shoot lightning bolts at their enemies. The Raijū’s spine, can be used the same way even when it is detached from the creature.

For this The Mighty Phoenix went to see Mother Nature who owned a pack of Raijū wolves to help her control the weather. The Mighty Phoenix was given a Raijū that was retired and on its last legs. For Mother Nature adored and loved her Raijū pets and refused to give one that was still healthy or young. 

So, Mother Nature and The Mighty Phoenix consulted with Sister Death to determine which Raijū in Mother Nature’s care was about to pass on. When Sister Death pointed out an old male Raijū, the three Immortals, comforted, spent time and gently held the blue wolf, until his time was up as determined by Sister Death. After Mother Nature held a funeral for the retired Raijū, The Mighty Phoenix took him to Hephaestus, who added its spine to the sword, giving it the ability to create, control and shoot out lighting blots.

After Hephaestus forged the sword, he presented it to The Mighty Phoenix, who named it after herself, which is why it is called the Phoenix Blade. To keep it safe, The Mighty Phoenix give it to her youngest, but most powerful and feared son: Surtr, the king of the fire giants and The Mighty Phoenix’s chosen warrior.

Surtr was tasked with protecting the sword. The Mighty Phoenix has also instructed Surtr that if she should perish before she could get the sword, that Surtr would be the one who fights in her stead in the final war. Because of this, Surtr is often spotted carrying the sword with him wherever he goes. Always in waiting and always ready to fight.

I was sent to collect the Phoenix Blade after the Glacies Gladio, due to the concern that Surtr was growing impatient for the final war to start and might start attacking prematurely. So, I went to Muspelheim, where Surtr lives. There I was greeted by two fire giants. 

I could tell they tried holding back laughter at the sight of me, for I was wearing a protective suit made from the six-legged salamander, that made me look ridiculous. But it was either look funny or instantly burn to ash as soon as I step out of the Ark’s door!

The fire giants lead me to Surtr’s throne room, where Surtr sat, impatiently tapping his nails against the sword. He glared at me as I entered. I showed him (with trembling hands) the letter sent by The Lady of the Lake and co-signed by his mother The Mighty Phoenix, instructing me to retrieve the Phoenix Blade. The room went silent as Surtr read the letter.

Then Surtr gave an irritated sigh and reluctantly placed the sword into a special cast iron box and ordered the two fire giants to take it to the Ark. The two giants followed me and placed the box next to the Glacies Gladio’s display case.

As the two fire giants left the Ark, I quickly closed the door and collapsed with relief. I took a few moments to calm down. It felt like my heart was about to burst out of my chest. But as soon as I got out of my fire resistant suit, my heart beat calmed. But this relief was brief. For as soon as I was able to breath normally, a new letter was sent to me.

But, my heart beat kept steady, for the next sword in the Excalibur collection was item #52: Physeis’ Wrath or Nature’s Wrath.

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