Weapons and Story
/Fantasy worlds are filled with adventure. Heroes go on epic journeys to defeat a villain, save a kingdom, or destroy a ring. They cross worlds filled with dangerous creatures and hostile foes and therefore have a need to defend themselves. Weapons can just be a means for a character to protect themselves, provide an avenue for exposition, or even be a pivotal point in a character’s journey. No matter how an author chooses to use weaponry in their stories, they add to the world and, therefore, are worthy of careful consideration.
If you look at human history, you can see that weapons have changed and evolved throughout time. Different cultures came up with different types of weapons. The Knights of Europe wore heavy armour, and so broadswords, with blunt edges were forged for bludgeoning and stabbing. Unlike the sharp blades of the middle east, where hot deserts prevented their warriors from wearing layers and layers of metal armour. Therefore, what type of weapons each race has within a fictional world can help expand their culture. We can see this type of variety in the Lord of the Rings. Elves have sleek, elegant blades that have been carefully honed by master craftsmen over centuries, while the orcs have crude, misshapen weapons that were made in a hurry. It is a subtle detail that can help flesh out a fantasy world and give the readers another piece to help visualize the world in their minds.
Aragon, from the Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, unsheathing Anduril.
For characters, their choice of weapon can be profound. It can be a pivotal shift in their story’s arc and help solidify their growth or descent. A lot of fantasy weapons have deep histories behind them and therefore come with a heavy burden. Take Anduril, the Flame of the West, from the Lord of the Rings. Aragorn is introduced as a Ranger from the north. A mysterious figure without much knowledge of who he is or where he’s been. But it is then revealed that he is actually descended from Isildur. Isildur was the king of men who, unfortunately, succumbed to the lure of the One Ring, forged by Sauron, and did not destroy it. This act of his ancestors haunted Aragorn, and for most of his life, he denied the throne that was rightfully his. But when the reforged blade of Anduril, which had been wielded by Isildur himself, is presented to him is a crucial moment where he’s chosen to accept his fate and be the rightful king that he was born to be. Anduril, in this case, is a tool to propel a single character’s arc forward and bring it to a satisfying conclusion.
Instead of merely glossing over the weapons that characters use in the stories you write, think about how they can enhance the world your characters live in. How they can add history and dimension to their world, as well as to their stories. They can be a visual representation of a character’s arc, and well, they look pretty cool.
Leah Levert
Leah is currently studying Professional Writing. She loves to write and hopes to be able to use her skills to make the world a little easier to understand. When not studying, she can be found at the stable with her horses, or playing video games.
