Karrigan'Xalda
Daughter of the Karishzar
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
Intent: Give Xalda a unique personal weapon.
Image Source: Here. Here.
Canon Link: Based on Force Imbued Blade. Force Cloak, Senflax, Force Stealth, Force Fear, Tutaminis.
Primary Source: N/A.
PRODUCTION INFORMATION
Manufacturer: Firemane Industries & Technology, Karrigan'Xalda.
Affiliation: Karrigan'Xalda.
Model: N/A.
Modularity: No.
Production: Unique
Material: Force imbued durasteel, leather, Senflax imbuing.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Classification: Sword
Size: Average
Weight: Average
SPECIAL FEATURES
The Blade of Shadows is Force imbued. As a result of this, it has greater cutting power than a conventional blade, can deflect blaster bolts, resist lightsabres, and damage or destroy ghosts, dark side spirits, demons etc. Aside from these standard qualities of a weapon of this class, it possesses some unique traits. The blade is imbued with Tutaminis. The enchantment is specifically designed to provide protection against lightning. This enables the blade to deflect Force Lightning, though it cannot store it.
Due to being enchanted with Xalda's power, the weapon is invisible. Likewise, Force-users cannot sense its presence. This is the shadow mode. Xalda can actively switch to a darkness mode, in which the blade becomes visible, but generates an aura of night around it. This means that if there is any light in the vicinity, it is reduced to the level of a natural cavelight. This aura extends to ten to fifteen metres. In this mode it also manifests a Force Fear aura. Moreover, the blade is coated with Senflax poison, a potent neurotoxin.
Strengths:
- All the standard strengths of a Force Imbued Blade. In addition, it can deflect Force Lightning.
- The weapon can switch between a shadow mode, in which it is invisible to sight and cannot be sensed by Force-users, and a darkness mode, in which it is visible, but generates an aura of night. The latter causes any light in its vicinity to be reduced to the level of natural cavelight. This aura extends to ten to fifteen metres. Moreover, this mode projects an aura of Force Fear, though this does not go beyond personal range. Switching between these two modes requires concentration on Xalda's part.
- Poison. The Senflax can induce paralysis in the body's primary muscles, provided it meets open flesh.
- Unlike a lightsabre, the weapon has mass. Its weight and mass of the blade gives it greater kinetic energy in combat.
- The invisibility granted by the shadow mode obviously does not negate noise generated by its use or Xalda carrying it around. It also does not override the danger senses and precognitive abilities of Force-users. As a result, Force-users can still draw upon these to fight Xalda if she uses the blade against them. Non-Force-users obviously lack preternatural precognition, but could still anticipate strikes by following Xalda's bodily movements, as upper body and arm motions can telegraph a strike before it happens. This applies even more so to sophisticated droids such as HRDs. In the second mode, lights and special vision equipment can pierce the darkness, but are greatly diminished. They are dimmed heavily so that visibility is still low, but not to the point that most humans would be wandering in the dark. Force techniques such as Force Light, Blind and Flash can illuminate it, with the degree of illumination depending on the caster's skill. Active Force Sight can also help a foe work through either mode.
- The weapon loses its supernatural qualities within a ysalamiri field or when exposed to Voidstone. In such a scenario it becomes a well-made, but otherwise mundane sword.
- In contrast to a lightsabre, the Blade of Shadows is a physical weapon and thus has mass. This gives it greater mass and kinetic energy in combat, but also has a downside. While not unduly heavy, this has implications in duels, as it will be slower than a lightsabre. This also makes more difficult to deflect blaster salvoes.
- Though its cutting power is superior to that of a conventional sword, it is still beneath that of a lightsabre. It cannot be used to cut through a blast door like Qui-Gon did, melt a solid wall or vehicle plating.
The Blade of Shadows was designed for Xalda as a reward for her bravery during the Tephrike campaign. Xalda was an active participant in the Second Battle of Fortress Purity. She fought alongside Laira Darkhold, a squad of Resistance operatives and a mixed contingent of Firemane soldiers, battling the Dominion of Light. The battle against the fanatical Dominion, a Jedi-led theocracy in the mould of Atris and C'baoth, was a harrowing one, but she distinguished herself in combat and was awarded the Phoenix Cross for her bravery.
Later she helped defend the Scarlet Destiny after the Vaderites summoned a horde of spirits and demons to retaliate against Firemane's bombardment of their castle. Xalda had been one of those who were possessed during the fight, but managed to expel the demon and aid her allies in taking down an abomination summoned by the Sith's leader.
The sword represents her graduation to becoming one of the warriors of Siobhan Kerrigan. In terms of design, one can compare it to the Force imbued blades of yore. Xalda's people, the Xioquo, never developed lightsabres, but could fashion weapons that were empowered with the Force for their best warriors. As a result of the enchantment, the blade has a sharper cutting power than conventional swords, can deflect blaster bolts and resists lightsabres. It can deflect but not store Force Lightning. As is typical for Force imbued blades, it can damage or destroy dark side spirits, apparitions and so on. While a bit situational, this feature is quite important for Xalda due to her own experiences while battling the Force constructs summoned by the Disciples of the Vader. Moreover, she has also had to face entities like this in the depths of the Underealm.
However, the blade has been given a personal touch that reflects the heritage and preferred methods of its wielder. Xioquo are children of the dark who have excellent nightvision and prefer to strike from the shadows. They are not fond of the sun and other bright lights. The blade has been enchanted with Force Cloak, an ability that renders its user invisible by bending light around them, and Force Stealth.
These stealthy qualities manifest in one of the blade's two modes. 'Switching' between them requires concentration on Xalda's part. In the shadow mode, the blade has innate stealth due to the nature of its imbuement. This turns it invisible. Moreover, Force-users cannot sense its presence. This also means that Xalda can carry the weapon without being spotted. However, this obviously does not negate noise generated by its use or the Xioquo warrior carrying it around. Xalda herself is able to perceive the blade due to it being bonded to her.
It is pertinent to note that its invisibility does not override the danger senses and precognitive abilities of Force-users. As a result, Force-users can still draw upon these to fight Xalda if she uses the blade against them. Non-Force-users obviously lack preternatural precognition, but could still anticipate strikes by following Xalda's bodily movements, as upper body and arm motions can telegraph a strike before it happens. After all, the enchantment only cloaks the blade, but not the person using it.
In darkness mode, the blade is visible, but generates an aura of night around it. This means that if there is any light in the vicinity, it is reduced to the level of a natural cavelight. This aura extends to ten to fifteen metres. The picture here demonstrates the level of light during this mode. Moreover, it manifests an aura of Force Fear, though not beyond personal range. The effect of this Force ability depends on the willpower of the victim, their level of training and familiarity with countering such mental techniques as well as Xalda's own power. Like with all imbued weapons, the blade loses its preternatural qualities inside a ysalamiri field. In such a situation it becomes a well-designed, but mundane sword, until the offending lizard has been removed or Xalda steps out of the field.
Another special ability the blade has is to poison opponents, provided the blade meets open flesh. This is in keeping with methods typically employed by Xioquo assassins and warriors. To this end, it has been imbued with Senflax, a potent neurotoxin used by the Huntress and her posse to capture Darth Bane by sedating him. It numbs physical sensation and induces paralysis in the body's primary muscles, though it does not affect vital organs.
