Approved Melee Weapon VF-013 "Crimson Dirge"

[VesperWorks]

VF-013 "Crimson Dirge"​

OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
Intent: To create a Sith-forged ritual combat dagger, usable by Force-sensitive characters and operatives aligned with dark traditions.
Image Source: MidJourney
Canon Link: N/A
Permissions: N/A
Primary Source: N/A

PRODUCTION INFORMATION
Manufacturer: VesperForge (Subsidiary of VesperWorks)
Affiliation: VesperForge, VesperWorks, Project Vesper, Serina Calis, Atramentum
Market Status: Closed-Market
Model: VF-013 "Crimson Dirge"
Modularity: No
Production: Limited
Material:

• Songsteel Filament Bands: Woven into the blade during the forging process are micro-thin filaments of songsteel, a rare resonant alloy known for its acoustic properties. These bands are nearly invisible to the eye but amplify harmonic resonance when the blade is swung, struck, or used in ritual. The resulting vibrations amplify Force sensitivity through tactile feedback, allowing the wielder to feel the blade's interaction with their environment as if it were an extension of their nervous system. This makes the weapon eerily responsive in the hands of a trained Force user, especially during ceremonial executions or high-emotion duels.
• Blood-Etched Force-Conductive Obsidian Pommel: The pommel is carved from a single shard of Force-reactive obsidian, a volcanic glass harvested from a dead moon once ruled by Sith warlords. Infused with alchemical reagents and bathed in sacrificial blood, the shard serves not just as a counterweight, but as a passive dark side focus. It hums faintly in the presence of Force users, and pulses when near violence. Its obsidian matrix acts as a memory stone, subtly absorbing fragments of emotion and pain from past kills—making each Dirge unique over time.
• Sith-Alchemized Phrik Core: At the heart of the Crimson Dirge lies a rod of raw phrik, a rare metal known for its lightsaber resistance and ability to retain sharpness under extreme stress. But this phrik is not ordinary—it has been subjected to Sith alchemy, tempered in cursed flame and quenched in the blood of the living, undergoing a transmutation process that binds the metal to the Dark Side of the Force. This core gives the dagger both physical durability and spiritual weight, making it more than a weapon—it is a conduit for will, wrath, and ritual.
• Kyberite-Infused Sith Runes: Carved into the blade by hand, the runes are etched using powdered kyberite, a crystalline substance derived from low-grade kyber crystal dust saturated with dark side energy. These glyphs are inscribed during a bloodletting ritual, using the pain and intent of the blade's owner to bind their will to the steel. The kyberite helps amplify Force channeling, particularly during rituals involving death, rage, or sacrifice. Some wielders report the runes glowing subtly when they are near prey or when the Force is invoked.
• Dark Side Edge Sealant: After final sharpening, the edge of the blade is coated in a thin, alchemically reactive lacquer that bonds with the phrik and songsteel beneath it. This dark side edge sealant hardens the blade against lightsaber shear and enhances its penetrative ability, particularly against organic tissue. The sealant is also partially responsible for the dagger's haunting crimson aura, as it glows subtly when drawn with intent.
• Crimson Leather Gripwrap: The handle is wrapped in a supple, deep red leather, sourced from an unidentified species found only in alchemically twisted ecosystems. The leather is treated with Sith oils to resist sweat, blood, and decay, while retaining a slightly tactile warmth—regardless of ambient temperature. The stitching is done in thread blackened by ash, and the entire wrap is designed to mold to the wielder's grip over time, as the blade becomes an extension of the killer's hand.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Classification: Ritual Combat Dagger
Size: Very Small
Weight: Light

SPECIAL FEATURES

• Sith Alchemical Forging
  The Crimson Dirge is forged not in industrial factories, but in ritual crucibles—baths of fire, blood, and the Dark Side. Through alchemical processes, the blade is imbued with spiritual properties, enhancing its connection to Force-wielders and making it more than a mere weapon. The forging rite ensures that the dagger is not only deadly to the body, but corrosive to the soul of those it strikes. The result is a blade that seems to thrum with emotion when held, as if alive with hate, hunger, and memory.
• Lightsaber-Resistant Core
  The phrik spine at the heart of the Dirge grants it significant resistance to lightsabers, allowing the dagger to parry or survive glancing blows without melting. This makes the weapon especially valuable to Sith or dark agents who might engage Force-sensitive opponents. It is not meant to duel—but in the right hands, it can end a duel before it begins.
• Blood Memory Bond
  Each successful kill leaves a spiritual echo within the blade. The Crimson Dirge "remembers" these acts—feeding on death, pain, and intent. Over time, this bond intensifies, allowing attuned wielders to experience heightened precognition, reflex clarity, or brief flashes of insight during moments of violence. These memories are not visions, but impressions—emotional scars that bleed through the hilt during moments of stress or fury.
• Songsteel Harmonic Resonance
  Embedded within the blade are threads of songsteel, which vibrate subtly when the weapon is in motion. These resonances create an eerie hum only the wielder can feel, enhancing their spatial awareness and tactile control during combat. In ritual use, the harmonic feedback can be amplified to aid Force manipulation, such as blood rituals, sacrifice rites, or Sith spellwork.
• Force-Amplifying Kyberite Runes
  Etched into the blade's surface are ancient Sith runes filled with dark-side saturated kyberite dust. These glyphs are more than decorative: they serve as Force-amplifying foci, empowering the wielder during moments of heightened emotion or sacrifice. When Force powers are channeled through the dagger—such as in a ritual or execution—the runes glow with a sinister red aura, feeding off the agony and passion of the moment.
• Obsidian Force Focus Pommel
  The obsidian pommel acts as a passive Force focus, grounding the blade's spiritual resonance. When gripped tightly, the wielder can draw subtle clarity from the shard—heightening awareness, dulling pain, or focusing rage. This makes the weapon useful not only as a knife, but as a tool of attunement in the hands of Sith acolytes or inquisitors undergoing trials of blood.
• Emotionally Reactive Feedback
  The blade is tuned to emotion, responding to the user's intent, intensity, and inner turmoil. It becomes lighter, sharper, or seemingly faster when wielded in anger, fear, or hatred—core Sith tenets. However, the reverse is also true: those who hesitate or suppress their emotions may find the Dirge less responsive, as if resenting them.
• Ritual Compatibility
  More than a tool of war, the Crimson Dirge is crafted for Sith rites, executions, and sacrificial rituals. The blade's dark alchemical charge allows it to serve as a powerful focus in blood offerings, death-empowerment ceremonies, and the forging of talismans. Certain rites—particularly those involving pain, death, or betrayal—are significantly more potent when the Dirge is used as the ceremonial blade.
• Subtle Force-Sensitive Pulse
  When near blood, Force-users, or imminent violence, the blade emits a barely perceptible pulse—a shift in weight, a flicker of heat in the palm, a whisper only the wielder can feel. This makes it not only a weapon, but a sensitive early warning device, a gut-check tool for those who walk paths of treachery and ambush.

STRENGTHS

• Alchemically Infused Force Conduit:
  The Crimson Dirge is more than a blade—it is a focus, a Force-attuned instrument of dark will. The Sith alchemy used in its forging enhances the user's connection to the Dark Side, amplifying rage, focus, and pain into actionable power. When wielded in moments of intense emotion, the Dirge may subtly augment the wielder's reflexes, precision, or even Force potency. In battle or in ritual, it acts as an extension of the wielder's wrath—deadly in both hand and spirit.
• Lightsaber-Resistant Durability:
  Forged with a phrik alloy core, the blade is highly resistant to lightsaber strikes. While it is not meant to engage in long-form lightsaber combat, the Dirge can deflect, parry, or survive contact with energy weapons and lightsabers without suffering damage. This makes it an ideal secondary weapon for Sith duellists or an emergency defense for Force-sensitive assassins operating behind enemy lines.
• Blood Memory Attunement:
  Every kill made with the Crimson Dirge leaves a trace—a metaphysical echo embedded within the blade. These echoes accumulate over time, allowing the dagger to grow in alignment with its wielder. As the attunement deepens, users may feel brief flashes of clairvoyance, heightened sensory awareness during close combat, or a slight predictive edge in moments of imminent violence. The blade becomes an extension of experience and instinct—a diary written in blood.
• Emotionally Responsive Performance:
  Unlike traditional blades, the Crimson Dirge responds to the wielder's emotional state. As a Sith weapon, it thrives on fear, hatred, anguish, and passion. The more the user leans into these emotions, the more fluid and deadly the blade becomes—sharpening perception, accelerating movement, and enhancing the intimacy of each strike. To kill with hatred in your heart is to wield the Dirge in its purest form.
• Ritual Power Amplification:
  Designed for more than combat, the Dirge serves as a ritual implement of remarkable potency. Its kyberite-etched runes, obsidian pommel, and harmonic songsteel lattice enable it to act as a magical conduit during Sith rites—such as sacrifices, initiations, or blood spells. The blade amplifies death-fueled rituals, making them more stable, more potent, and more terrifyingly effective.
• Supernatural Sensory Feedback:
  The Crimson Dirge often "whispers" to its wielder in subtle ways—a shift in balance, a pulse of warmth, a tightening of the grip—when danger is near or blood is close. These intuitive cues are not precise predictions, but instinctual nudges, giving Force-sensitive wielders a mild precognitive edge in high-stakes situations. It is as if the blade yearns to be used and subtly helps guide its user toward that end.
• Anti-Spirit Weapon:
  Though rare and situational, the blade has demonstrated effectiveness as a spiritual weapon when used in alchemically charged conditions. Against spectral entities, Sith-bound spirits, or Force-wraiths, the Dirge can be used in rituals or strikes to anchor, bind, or banish. This makes it a rare and invaluable tool in confronting the mystical horrors buried within Sith tombs or ancient catacombs.
• Visceral Psychological Impact:
  The visual aura and arcane design of the Crimson Dirge instills unease in both Force users and mundane targets. Its faint red glow, Sith inscriptions, and pulsing pommel evoke primal fear. In psychological warfare, this serves as a weapon unto itself—rattling the confidence of enemies, unnerving prisoners, and reminding allies and foes alike that death walks beside its bearer.

WEAKNESSES

• Requires Force Sensitivity for Full Functionality:
  The Crimson Dirge was not forged for the unawakened. Without Force sensitivity—and specifically a connection to the Dark Side—the blade is just a dagger: heavy, somewhat unwieldy, and devoid of its supernatural feedback. It will cut, yes—but its precognitive pulses, emotional resonance, and ritual potential remain entirely dormant. This makes the Dirge a dead weight in the hands of the unworthy, and a dangerous liability if passed outside its intended circle.
• Overt Dark Side Signature:
  The dagger is alchemically charged and saturated with malignant Force energy. It radiates an aura of fear, anger, and death that is impossible to conceal from trained Force-sensitives—especially Jedi. Even sheathed, the Crimson Dirge emits a soft pulse through the Force like a beacon of malevolence. In stealth operations or undercover missions, it will betray its owner's presence unless heavily suppressed by additional powers or artifacts.
• Emotionally Reactive—Unstable in Unbalanced Hands:
  While the Dirge empowers strong emotions, it does not differentiate between focus and frenzy. If the wielder becomes overwhelmed by rage, fear, or grief, the blade may amplify those feelings beyond control, clouding judgment or inciting violent outbursts. In less experienced hands, it can become a psychological parasite—feeding off trauma and escalating situations until blood is spilled, often regardless of intent.
• Incompatible with Jedi or Light-Sided Force Users:
  The dagger is steeped in Sith alchemy and encoded with deeply corruptive elements. Jedi or light-aligned Force users attempting to wield it may suffer disorientation, nausea, or hallucinations. Attempting to use the Dirge for healing, defensive Force abilities, or peacekeeping causes immediate backlash—often in the form of blinding pain, emotional rupture, or an overwhelming urge to destroy. The blade simply rejects those not aligned with its ethos.
• Not Suited for Conventional Combat:
  The Crimson Dirge is a ritual blade, not a battlefield weapon. Its range is short, its weight tailored for close-quarters precision, and its balance optimized for killing blows—not prolonged duels. In mass combat or against heavily armored opponents, the Dirge is at a disadvantage, requiring exceptional positioning, deception, or Force-enhanced speed to compensate. A blaster, longsword, or saber will often be more practical in such engagements.
• Whispering Curse Effect:
  Long-term attunement to the Dirge carries subtle, cumulative psychological effects. The blade "remembers" death and relays impressions of it in dreams, waking thoughts, or intrusive whispers. Wielders may develop insomnia, violent ideation, or obsessive fixations over time—especially if the blade is used frequently. This effect is not instant nor overt, but if ignored, it may erode the user's moral compass or drive them to madness through a thousand small suggestions.
• Cannot Be Repaired or Duplicated Easily:
  The blade's forging process is deeply esoteric, requiring rare components, dark rituals, and a controlled alchemical crucible. If the Crimson Dirge is broken, cracked, or defaced, it cannot simply be reforged in a shop or repaired by a tech. It would require another blood ritual, sacrifice, and re-attunement—which may not even restore the original blade's full character or "memory." It is a singular artifact, not a model.
• Severely Weakened by Force Nullification:
  The Crimson Dirge's greatest strengths—its precognitive resonance, blood memory feedback, and emotional amplification—are intrinsically tied to the Force. In areas subjected to Force-nullification fields (such as ysalamiri bubbles, voidstone-lined chambers, or anti-Force suppression tech), the blade becomes inert. Its runes dim, its feedback silences, and it loses all supernatural properties. While still usable as a mundane dagger, it becomes little more than a well-crafted but non-magical weapon, stripping Sith wielders of their greatest advantages and severing their attunement to the blade's personality and power.

DESCRIPTION

Born in the occult crucibles beneath Polis Massa's crust, in the secret foundries of VesperForge, the Crimson Dirge is a ceremonial combat dagger of profound spiritual consequence. Unlike traditional knives designed purely for utility or battlefield tactics, the Dirge is constructed as a hybrid between weapon and dark side focus, engineered to empower Sith assassins, inquisitors, and acolytes who act not merely as killers—but as instruments of meaning.

The forging process is equal parts metallurgical and mystical. It begins with a core of phrik, shaped under immense pressure and heat, but altered further by Sith alchemy: quenched in sacrificial blood, chanted over in ancient tongues, and engraved with runes of power using kyberite dust bound with ichor. Songsteel filaments are woven into the blade's body, giving it a faint, almost imperceptible hum—an echo of each strike that resonates only with its wielder.

These elements combine to form more than a dagger. The Dirge is a conduit, a blade that not only cuts flesh but communicates—through sensation, through emotion, and through memory. Its harmonic resonance heightens awareness in the middle of violence, while its obsidian pommel, carved from Force-reactive volcanic glass, focuses the wielder's senses and intentions. The more blood it draws, the more alive it becomes. The more rage it drinks, the sharper it strikes.

Wielding the Crimson Dirge is not like carrying a lightsaber or vibroknife. It is not balanced for utility. It is not discreet. Instead, it demands attention, both in the Force and beyond. Even when sheathed, the dagger exudes a pressure—an invisible weight that unsettles the still air around it. In the hands of a trained Sith, it becomes an extension of hate; in the hands of a fool, a temptation toward madness.

Its primary use is not conventional warfare, but ritual execution, assassination, and blood sacrifice. The Dirge thrives in dark chambers, on altars, in silence broken only by breathing and blade. It is used in Sith rites to bind spirits, to unlock the power of agony, or to empower a curse. But it is equally deadly in a corridor ambush or whispered murder behind closed doors.

Over time, the Dirge develops what VesperForge calls a "blood memory." It remembers every kill—not visually, but emotionally. These imprints become subtle feedback loops for the wielder, offering flickers of instinct, moments of surreal clarity, or the sense of déjà vu just before a lethal blow. The blade is always learning. Always watching.

But such intimacy comes at a price. Long-term wielders report side effects—whispers in the dark, dreams that bleed into waking thought, an urge to draw blood where none is required. Whether this is a psychological toll or the echo of something older sleeping within the dagger remains unclear. VesperForge, of course, denies all claims of "sentience."

Still, among certain sects of the Sith Order, the Crimson Dirge is whispered about with a mix of reverence and fear. Some believe it is a test—a blade that takes as much as it gives. Others claim it is a gift from the Dark Side itself, a distillation of purpose too sharp to ever dull.

 

[Delsin Shaw]

VesperWorks

Approved