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T'viir al Hruun

Long story/lore ahead, so I'll write the description first this time. I saw photos of Zulfiqar swords and thought they looked like something straight out of fantasy. So I created a fantasy version. The story just came to me.
This sword is part of my ongoing journey to become comfortable with UV mapping. The grip and guard gave me the opportunity to try on a more organically shaped design.

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The story of Kumar al Dsch'vaani is one of the best known tales on the continent.

He was a human who lived about 500 years ago. Depending on who you ask, he was a great hero, a brilliant strategist and army commander, or a cruel and brutal tyrant who revelled in torturing his victims before executing them, often personally.

The first unusual thing about Kumar is how he is depicted. Usually, paintings and descriptions of heroes are glorified, less flattering features are often adjusted, concealed or simply left out. Same goes for rulers, good or evil. Kumar, however, was painted and described in what seems to be his natural appearance. He was not very attractive, overweight, with almost sickly pale, mottled skin. His nose was overly large and crooked, a feature that is often prominently highlighted. The only possible explanations are that Kumar insisted on his likeness being portrayed truthfully, without any extenuation, or that he was even more ugly than depicted, and this was simply all the painters could do.

The second unusual thing is that he was described as an extremely skilled swordsman. It is unclear how such an overweight and sickly looking man could have been any good at swordfighting, but no matter who describes him, it is always emphasized that he was a fierce fighter who had never lost a duel in his life.
This is partially attributed to his sword, named T'viir al Hruun, which translates into "snake tongue" or "dragon tongue", depending on the interpretation of the old dialect. It is described and depicted as a saber with a strong S-curve and an unusual double tip, which indeed makes it look like a bifurcated tongue.
According to legend, this sword was so sharp that it could cut through rock and metal alike, making any type of armor completely useless against it. It is also said that even the slightest cut would kill a man as if he was bitten by a hundred snakes. In fact, as much as touching the blade was said to cause sickness. Some attribute this to the sword being enchanted with vile magic, others think Kumar simply had made it a habit to poison his blade.

However, that still made it necessary to hit an opponent with the blade, and considering Kumar's appearance, he was not likely to manage this in a duel. Another theory is, that the sword is merely a metaphor and T'viir al Hruun was, in truth, a skilled swordsman who had served as Kumar's second, dealing with any challenges and duels in his stead. Tradition would have it that any victory won by the second would be attributed to the one he served. It is also possible that, if the sword really existed, this second used it instead, and that a lot of its alleged abilities simply stem from this man's swordfighting skills.

Originally I wanted to make the blade blank polished metal, but it looked boring, so pattern-welded it was. Not the modified procedural wood texture I used to use for that, but something that, hopefully, resembles the real thing a bit more closely.

Originally I wanted to make the blade blank polished metal, but it looked boring, so pattern-welded it was. Not the modified procedural wood texture I used to use for that, but something that, hopefully, resembles the real thing a bit more closely.

Bronze handle and guard with ivory scales and gold inlays. The decorations on the blade are engraved or edged and filled with green shiny paint, possibly emerald dust. The gemstone is depicted as a malachite or emerald.

Bronze handle and guard with ivory scales and gold inlays. The decorations on the blade are engraved or edged and filled with green shiny paint, possibly emerald dust. The gemstone is depicted as a malachite or emerald.

A study of the decorations on the sword. The inscription on the pommel disc was often described and depicted, but it seems to be written in an unknown language and script.

A study of the decorations on the sword. The inscription on the pommel disc was often described and depicted, but it seems to be written in an unknown language and script.

My design with the original picture that served as inspiration on the left. I've never seen such a strong S-curve. Too strong, if you ask me, so I had to reduce it a bit. Still think it looks quite dramatic though.

My design with the original picture that served as inspiration on the left. I've never seen such a strong S-curve. Too strong, if you ask me, so I had to reduce it a bit. Still think it looks quite dramatic though.

Took a couple of attempts but finally got it to work on Sketchfab, too.