Maethor'ithil

Known colloquially as the Moon Blade, this elegant weapon is a personification of the The Aeturnum Elves: It and its sibling blades are the pinnacle of elven crafting and magic, are closely held in their mythology, and almost none of them still remain in elvish hands.
Maethor'ithil is now a rare exception to the latter point. Millennia ago, when The Antecean Empire waged their war of conquest against the elves of the north, they sacked the city of Lar'Nimloth, which would later be known as Crucible, and in so doing, looted the blade from the city's defenders. It would sit unused as a trophy and conversation piece for wealthy Antecean nobles until it eventually found itself in an expansive vault; locked away with other priceless treasures. As fate would have it, its sequestering meant that it survived the Empire's collapse, and was eventually freed over a thousand years later as an adventuring party delved into the ruined vault in search of other treasure. It was picked up by the elf Evan, the estranged princess of the kingdom of Laminar. At first, the blade would not bond with her, but as she attuned with it and learned of its past, it became clear that she would need the blessings of the Aeturnum elves, which surprisingly, they offered. Despite Laminar being a wholly separate kingdom from the old kingdoms of the Núr'uir, they were just happy to see the blade again in the hands of an elf, and one who would wield it for noble purposes, no less.
Now, Maethor'ithil shines as a beacon of connectivity between the two old elven kingdoms and serves as a reminder that not all is completely lost to the elves, and that one day they may even reclaim what was lost to them.

Mechanics & Inner Workings

Moon Blades draw their power from runes inscribed upon the blade. Elven tradition dictates that a new rune is inscribed each time the blade changes hand. Maethor'ithil is emblazoned with four such runes, the most recent one having been inscribed with Evan's formal attunement with the blade. These runes grant the blade a razor-sharp cutting edge, a supernaturally light weight, an almost-sentient propensity for landing vital blows, and the ability to summon the spirit of an old elvish warrior.
The sword is also imbued with the spirit of its original craftsman, who can communicate telepathically with its wielder, which it uses to push them towards accomplishing goals that would better the lot of all elvish people.

Significance

Historically, these blades were only wielded by elven kings, their closest hands, or warriors of legend.

Item type

Weapon, Melee

Creation Date

circa 3,600 AC

Rarity

It is believed there were no more than a dozen Moon Blades crafted by the Aeturnum elves at the apex of their civilization.