Origins of an Archetype: Spells Channelled Through Weapons

[InnaBinder]

Full disclosure: I'm working on a story/novel/saga/epic 'thing' with a major character who fits this archetype.  I'm researching the trope to be well-versed enough in it to avoid whole-cloth reinvention of the wheel OR inadvertent plagiarism.

I'm trying to dig up references in literature - with or without a capital L - that exemplify this popular gish trope.  D&D is rife with examples, from Spellsword to Raumathari battlemage and more, but I'm not exceptionally familiar with fictional examples of this from outside the D&D realm.  'Spells' in the subject line can be translated as 'energies of non-mundane origin', not just Arcane or Divine magic.

There's the Tiger & Del trilogy by Jennifer Roberson, which has some similarities.  There's Tatewaki Kuno from the manga Ranma 1/2, and a couple other anime references that I'm not familiar with, I'm sure.  Anime references are fine, but I'd prefer to focus on examples in print.

Thoughts?

[Prime32]

Well, Eragon does this a few times - he discovered his magic by channeling a fireball spell through an arrow. At the end of the book he pulls off a Flaming Sword for no particular reason.

[InnaBinder]

Well, Eragon does this a few times - he discovered his magic by channeling a fireball spell through an arrow. At the end of the book he pulls off a Blazing Sword for no particular reason.

  Oh, dear gawds.  As long as I don't read any more of them than the back covers and reviews, hopefully I can avoid sounding derivative of that cliche-fest.

Thanks for the quick reply, Prime.  Other references, I hope? 

[Solo]

Mace Windu?

If anyone was a BAMF enough to do it, it would have been Mace Windu.

[Prime32]

Well, Eragon does this a few times - he discovered his magic by channeling a fireball spell through an arrow. At the end of the book he pulls off a Blazing Sword for no particular reason.

  Oh, dear gawds.  As long as I don't read any more of them than the back covers and reviews, hopefully I can avoid sounding derivative of that cliche-fest.

Oh, they aren't as bad as some people make them out to be. Actually, the third book suffered from Paolini awkwardly trying to make things less like Star Wars.

Solo, I know you hate it and haven't read it, so don't say anything.

[Solo]

I have not infact said anything about how Eragon is a steaming pile of offal. Nor to I intend to comment on it's derivative and unimaginative quality. I shall keep such off topic remarks, such as the opinion that it is best used to line birdcages alongside the New York Times - that liberal rag - out of this thread, for it is no place to taint with surreptitious mentions of Paolini's pugnacious plagiarism, this forum of words wherein most sacred dialog is exchanged in order to better facilitate the creation of ideas for the expressed benefit of our comrades in gaming.

Now if you excuse me, it is spring and my allergies are acting up. I fear that, due to the pollen, I shall be shedding many single tears.

[InnaBinder]

Mace Windu?

If anyone was a BAMF enough to do it, it would have been Mace Windu.

The Jedi/Sith do have some similarities to the archetype, to be sure, and Mace Windu pwns.  Generally, when I think of the way they're portrayed in the movies (I'm unaware of their style of portrayal in the Timothy Zahn novels, just of those novels' existence), they use the Telekinetic Force powers or Dark Side Lightning with a free hand, rather than through the light saber.  I know the light saber itself is technically a manifestation of their control of the midichlorians Force.  To me, that's still an important differential.  Perhaps I'm splitting hairs. 

I have not infact said anything about how Eragon is a steaming pile of offal. Nor to I intend to comment on it's derivative and unimaginative quality. I shall keep such off topic remarks, such as the opinion that it is best used to line birdcages alongside the New York Times -that liberal rag - out of this thread.

 

[Solo]

I actually added to it while you were quoting. Does that count as Ninja-ing, Batman-ing, or Superman-ing?

[Prime32]

Gourry's Sword of Light from Slayers can do this, though someone else has to cast the spell into it for him. It also amplifies the power of the spell. And he can sometimes absorb spells which are being used to attack him and fire them back at his opponent.

[InnaBinder]

I actually added to it while you were quoting. Does that count as Ninja-ing, Batman-ing, or Superman-ing?

Solo-ing.

Gourry's Sword of Light from Slayers can do this, though someone else has to cast the spell into it for him. It also amplifies the power of the spell. And he can sometimes absorb spells which are being used to attack him and fire them back at his opponent.

Ah, one of the 'couple other anime references' I alluded to originally.  Thank you.

[Prime32]

I started a You Know That Thing Where at TVTropes - that should get you some more examples.

Gourry's Sword of Light from Slayers can do this, though someone else has to cast the spell into it for him. It also amplifies the power of the spell. And he can sometimes absorb spells which are being used to attack him and fire them back at his opponent.

Ah, one of the 'couple other anime references' I alluded to originally.  Thank you.

I have no idea what you're talking about. 

Slayers is a series of novels.

[sendmeanewid]

Off the top of my head, the most direct analogy is that of a ritual implement, like a wand or a staff (the staff example seems somewhat weaponlike), examples of which are common throughout many cultures.

As for actual weapons which are ritual implements, the oldest examples I can recall would be either a vajra or a phurba.  The phurba is probably closest prototype to the "channel spell" idea.

Vajra
Phurba


Hope this helps.

[Chemus]

The Chinese deities had access to a sword that shoots lightning-bolts, and Zeus uses lightning bolts as javelins.

[InnaBinder]

The Chinese deities had access to a sword that shoots lightning-bolts.

The Four Heavenly Kings are actually mirrored in the world I'm working on, so this reference is especially apropos.  Lei Gong's thunder hammer is also a parallel to the archetype I'm researching.  Looks like I'll be spending some more time on Chinese mythology.

Other sources of the trope?

[Prime32]

The Chinese deities had access to a sword that shoots lightning-bolts.

The Four Heavenly Kings are actually mirrored in the world I'm working on, so this reference is especially apropos.  Lei Gong's thunder hammer is also a parallel to the archetype I'm researching.  Looks like I'll be spending some more time on Chinese mythology.

Other sources of the trope?

Well that depends on whether you want spells cast through weapons or weapons which cast spells.

[InnaBinder]

The Chinese deities had access to a sword that shoots lightning-bolts.

The Four Heavenly Kings are actually mirrored in the world I'm working on, so this reference is especially apropos.  Lei Gong's thunder hammer is also a parallel to the archetype I'm researching.  Looks like I'll be spending some more time on Chinese mythology.

Other sources of the trope?

Well that depends on whether you want spells cast through weapons or weapons which cast spells.

Either, though the character I envisage would be defined best as 'casts spells through his weapon, exclusively' - as if his weapon were the only material component he knew how to use, or a holy symbol.

[Prime32]

There were some Celtic weapons that shot fire and lightning, though I'm not entirely clear on which (I believe they were spears).

[veekie]

Everything in here probably counts. Theres also the ritual wooden swords used by some Taoist priests, those probably count too, though they are usually used to hit Not Human things like ghosts and demons and as spell focus in general.

EDIT: Ah, theres the material type, Peach wood swords