Noctran Blade

The Noctran Blades stand as a central element in the interstellar conflict between the Veyd Order and the Draethar Temples, symbolizing not just weapons of war but deep cultural and mystical significance to their wielders. These beam swords, entwined with the essence of their creators and users, exhibit a rich tapestry of arcane mastery, technological innovation, and personal growth or corruption.

Mechanics & Inner Workings

The Noctran blades, with their blend of arcane magic and advanced technology, are marvels of craftsmanship and innovation. Understanding their mechanics and inner workings involves unraveling the layers of mystical energies and technical precision that define these iconic weapons.

Core Components and Their Functions:

• Ardanis/Obiscore Crystal Core: At the heart of every Noctran blade lies an Ardanis crystal (for the Veyd) or an Obiscore crystal (for the Draethar). These crystals serve as the primary conduit for arcane energy, focusing and amplifying it into the coherent energy beam that forms the blade. The unique properties of these crystals allow for the modulation of the blade's properties, including its color, intensity, and vibrational frequency.
• Blood Essence Bonding: The integration of the wielder's blood into the crystal during the forging process creates a unique resonance between the wielder and the weapon. This resonance is key to the blade's operation, as it allows the wielder to channel their arcane energy through the blade with precise control, stabilizing the energy beam and enabling its various capabilities.
• Hilt Assembly with Arcane Circuitry: The hilt contains intricate circuitry designed to interface with the crystal core and the wielder's arcane energies. This circuitry is not electronic in the traditional sense but is instead composed of materials and inscriptions that conduct and modulate arcane energies. It includes mechanisms for activating the blade, adjusting its intensity, and modulating its vibrational frequency for different effects.

Activation and Operation:

• Upon activation, the wielder channels their arcane energy into the hilt, initiating a flow of energy through the arcane circuitry into the crystal core. This energy is then focused and amplified by the crystal, projecting outward as a coherent beam of energy that forms the blade.
• The color and properties of the blade are determined by the interaction between the crystal's natural characteristics, the blood essence bond, and the current state of the wielder's arcane energy. This means that the blade's appearance and capabilities can reflect the wielder's emotions, intentions, and level of mastery over the arcane.

Advanced Features:

• Adaptive Intensity: By modulating the flow of arcane energy through the crystal, the wielder can adjust the blade's cutting power, allowing for non-lethal force or devastatingly lethal strikes as the situation requires.
• Vibration Frequency Modulation: The wielder can alter the vibrational frequency of the blade's energy, enabling it to interact in specific ways with different materials and energy fields, such as cutting through otherwise impenetrable defenses or disrupting electronic devices.
• Energy Absorption and Redistribution: Some Noctran blades are designed to absorb energy from external attacks, converting it into a temporary boost for the blade's intensity or diverting it to other systems, such as the wielder's armor. This feature requires a delicate balance of arcane and technical adjustments to ensure the blade's stability and the wielder's safety.

Environmental Adaptability:

• The combination of arcane energy and the unique properties of the Ardanis or Obiscore crystal ensures that Noctran blades can function in a wide range of environments, including the vacuum of space, without degradation in performance or stability.

The mechanics and inner workings of the Noctran blades reveal a sophisticated integration of arcane magic and material science, resulting in weapons of unparalleled versatility and power. These blades are not only a testament to the wielders' skill and connection to the arcane but also to the advanced craftsmanship and deep understanding of mystical energies that their creation requires.

Manufacturing process

Ritual Preparation: The forging of a Noctran blade begins with a ritual that prepares both the wielder and the materials. This ritual involves meditation, incantations, and the preparation of the Ardanis or Obiscore crystal, aligning it with the wielder's arcane energies.
Blood Binding: The wielder's blood is carefully mixed with the crystal, initiating a bond that ties the weapon's essence to its owner. This process is delicate, requiring precise control over the arcane to ensure the bond is successful and the crystal's power is not corrupted.
Hilt Construction: Simultaneously, the hilt is forged from the chosen alloys, incorporating the wielder's essence and the prepared crystal. Arcane energies are channeled through the hilt, binding it to the crystal and ensuring seamless energy flow when activated.
Arcane Infusion: The final step involves a complex infusion of arcane energy, further solidifying the bond between wielder, crystal, and hilt. This step determines the blade's initial color and properties, reflecting the wielder's current state of mind, emotional maturity, and mastery over the arcane.
Activation and Adjustment: Upon completion, the Noctran blade is activated for the first time, allowing the wielder to adjust its intensity, vibration frequency, and other properties. This initial activation is a moment of great significance, marking the true birth of a Noctran blade.
Through this intricate process, each Noctran blade is born — a unique weapon that is a testament to its wielder's journey, power, and connection to the arcane. Beyond mere tools of war, these blades serve as symbols of identity, legacy, and the unending struggle between light and darkness in the galaxy.

History

The origins of the Noctran Blade trace back to the years following the end of the Reclamation Crusades, as the Veyd were able to finally stablish councils once again and the galaxy began to have a semblance of stability, the Veyd Order seized this opportunity to refine and distance their weaponry from the crude and cumbersome plasma sabers used in countless conflicts. These early sabers, though effective, were hindered by their reliance on external power sources and restrictive physical connections, such as backpacks and tubes.

In their pursuit to distance themselves from the war mongers and warriors of the crusades, the Veyd sought to reimagine their weapons, integrating the arcane into their very essence. The solution came through the integration of the Ardanis Crystal into the blade's design, a breakthrough that allowed for the stabilization of the plasma beam with telekinesis and a bonding ritual that tied the wielder's essence to the weapon. This initiative led to the development of the Noctran blade, a weapon that not only surpassed its predecessors in functionality and mobility but also became a deeply personal artifact for its wielder, reflecting their journey, character, and mastery over the arcane.

This innovation marked a new era for the Veyd, with the forging of the first Noctran Blade, transforming their older tools of war into a symbol of respect, as well as the wielder's power and mastery over the arcane.

The Draethar, ever in pursuit of dominance, adopted and perverted this sacred craft to create their version of the Noctran Blade. Using dark rituals and Obiscore Crystals forged from blood sacrifices, they created weapons of similar power but imbued with the essence of torment and suffering. This divergence in the crafting process highlights the stark contrast between the Veyd's pursuit of harmony and the Draethar's lust for control.

Significance

The Noctran blades hold profound significance within the universe, embodying a fusion of arcane mastery, personal journey, and cultural identity. Their importance extends beyond their physical capabilities, touching on the spiritual, societal, and symbolic realms.

Spiritual and Personal Connection:

• Arcane Embodiment: The Noctran blades are not mere weapons; they are embodiments of the arcane itself. Forged through rituals that intertwine the wielder's essence with the blade, they represent the wielder's mastery over the arcane, making them a direct extension of their will and spirit.

• Blood Bond: The incorporation of the wielder's blood in the forging process creates a unique bond, making each Noctran blade uniquely attuned to its owner. This bond signifies a deep spiritual connection, where the blade is as much a part of the wielder as their own limbs or senses.

• Personal Growth: The ability of the blade to change color in response to the wielder's emotional and moral journey reflects the personal growth and character development of its owner. This dynamic nature makes the Noctran blade a living testament to the wielder's life, struggles, and achievements.

Societal and Cultural Emblem:
• Symbol of Status: Possession of a Noctran blade signifies a high status within societies like the Veyd Order or the Draethar factions. It marks the wielder as a person of considerable power, skill, and importance, respected and recognized across the galaxy.
• Heritage and Tradition: The intricate crafting process, involving ancient rituals and arcane knowledge, ties the Noctran blades to the cultural heritage of their wielders. They stand as a bridge between the past and present, carrying forward the traditions and values of their respective cultures.
• Instrument of Peace and War: In the hands of the Veyd, the Noctran blades are seen as tools for maintaining peace, healing, and protection, embodying their commitment to the greater good. Conversely, for the Draethar, these blades symbolize their power to dominate and their willingness to engage in darker rituals for strength, reflecting the dual nature of power within the universe.

Symbolic Representation:

• Duality of Power: The Noctran blade represents the duality of power — the capacity for great good or great evil, depending on the wielder's intentions and actions. This duality mirrors the broader conflicts and moral ambiguities present in the universe.
• Journey and Transformation: The changing colors of the blade symbolize the journey and transformation of the wielder, highlighting the themes of personal development, redemption, and the complex nature of morality.
• Unity and Division: While the Noctran blades unite members within factions like the Veyd and the Draethar, they also serve as a stark reminder of the divisions between these groups and their conflicting ideologies and methods.

Item type

Weapon, Melee

Creation Date

Unknown - shortly after the ending of the Liberation Crusades.

Raw materials & Components

Ardanis Crystal: At the heart of each Noctran blade lies an Ardanis crystal, a rare and powerful gem capable of channeling and amplifying arcane energy. For the Veyd, these crystals are naturally occurring and revered.
Obiscore crystals: These are sinister counterparts to the Ardanis, created through alchemical processes and dark rituals that involves blood scarifice of countless victims, until finaly forming into blood crystals.
Blood Essence: The forging of a Noctran blade incorporates the blood of its intended wielder, creating a unique and unbreakable bond between the weapon and its owner. This blood essence, combined with specific arcane rituals, stabilizes the blade and imbues it with its distinct properties.
Hilt Materials: The hilts of Noctran blades are crafted from durable alloys known for their ability to conduct arcane energies. These metals are often dark in hue and are adorned with intricate engravings that signify the wielder's rank, heritage, or achievements.

Related Myths

• The Destruction of the Dark