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Ilbratha, the "Mistress of Battles", was an enchanted bloodstone-bedecked bronze short sword with a long and storied history. It had the distinction of being part of the royal regalia of two kingdoms, to be carried by their heirs: the Forest Kingdom of Cormyr on land and the merfolk kingdom of Eadraal in the Inner Sea. However, the sword was lost to both realms, its whereabouts unknown but always sought after.

To Cormyr, Ilbratha was one of the Lost Swords of State. It was commissioned by Azoun I and went with him on campaign against the kingdom of Valashar in the Year of the Leaping Hare, 376 DR. Ilbratha rallied the troops, becoming a symbol of power and of Azoun's victory over the Shoon Imperium. But it was lost in the wreck of the prince's ship, Valashar's Bane, then was rediscovered then lost, time and again.

Finally, it went under the waves again, becoming Haalorth, "the Warrior's Fang". It was swung by Tarag, a sea ogre chieftain and builder of the Axe Kingdoms. Then, famously, it was borne by the merfolk princes and princesses of Eadraal for some seven centuries, as the official Heir's Blade. Finally, in the Year of the Gauntlet, 1369 DR, the mermaid warrior princess Jian wielded it in battle against the conquering wereshark Iakhovas, until she was slain and the blade lost to history. (Archive | Read more...)