Sacred Glaive of Saint Riode

The Sacred Glaive of Saint Riode, also known as *Alarion’Thraze*, was one of the many weapons used by Saint Riode Janeiro during his captivity by the Gurubashi. Before being wielded by Saint Riode, the glaive belonged to an adherent of the Loa Shirvallah, Khito.

## **From *History of The Sacred Glaive of Saint Riode***

*Written by Father Kazren Stilltide, Prior of Westridge*

### **Etymology**

The name “Alarion’Thraze'' is a combination of the Zandali words Alarion, meaning “Guardian” and Thraze, meaning “Blade”. Brother Marco Fisc argued that the naming scheme followed the structure of similar troll weapons such as Sang’thraze and Jang’thraze, two legendary blades of the Farakki tribe.

### ***Previous Ownership***

According to Gurubashi missives (On Trolls and Their Relics), the glaive originally belonged to an adherent of the Loa Shirvallah. In these texts, Shirvallah appeared before one of their devoted priests, cited as Khito, and offered them the legendary glaive. The glaive itself was said to have been crafted with a pair of the Shirvallah’s claws and empowered further by the loa’s own blood. With this blessing, it was said that the glaive could cleave through the finest of metals and even slay a loa, though no records indicate this occured. Along with this, the glaive would be separated into two different weapons reminiscent of handscythes, meant to mimic Shirvallah’s claws when wielded in such a manner.

Khito, then a low-ranking priest, found themselves rapidly uplifted through the ranks of their order. Blessed by Shirvallah and now acting as their champion, Khito went on to earn many great victories for the Gurubashi against the Bloodscalp and Skullsplitter tribes. During a raid on Zul’Mamwe, Khito took command of the vanguard forces and was able to carve a path directly through the Skullsplitter force, ultimately securing a victory for the Gurubashi.

As the Gurubashi Empire began to dwindle, Khito’s role shifted from martial to spiritual, though the Champion of Shirvallah still aided in any raids. One such raid was against the fledgling colony that was settled in Blackwater Cove. During this raid, many trolls were slain by Saint Riode and his followers as they defended the town, and Khito was among the many grievously wounded during the assault. The holy fire conjured by the Light wielders negated Khito’s regenerative powers, and ultimately they would lose their left arm due to a botched surgery.

After Saint Riode and his followers were captured by the trolls of Jubuwal, Khito sought to earn their loa’s favor after their defeat at the hands of humans. Angered at having lost so many of their own devout followers in the raid on Blackwater Cove, the Champion of Shirvallah entered the Gurubashi Arena as a combatant with the intent to kill Saint Riode.

The battle itself is noted to have ended quickly. Khito, unable to properly wield Alarion’thraze, was disarmed by Saint Riode. Desperate to end the battle swiftly, Saint Riode claimed the glaive for himself and turned it against the Champion of Shirvallah, ultimately ending in the troll’s death. For his defeat of Khito, Saint Riode was allowed to keep the glaive as a trophy, though records indicate that priests of Shirvallah would continue to join the arena in hopes of reclaiming their sacred relic.

### **Wielded by Saint Riode**

Now wielded by Saint Riode, Alarion’thraze was used to great effect against his Gurubashi captors. Over time, the presence of the Holy Light began to remove the empowerment placed upon the glaive by Shirvallah, effectively rendering the loa’s presence inert. When brought into battle by Saint Riode, records indicate that the weapon could properly withstand the heat of the holy flame he beckoned, allowing him to adapt the Gurubashi glaive to his arsenal without much conflict.

After a rather gruesome battle in the Gurubashi Arena, the glaive was shattered by a troll berserker. Unable to use the weapon, Saint Riode battled on with just his body. Empowered by the Light, he called upon righteous flames to embolden him and his allies, allowing his fists to once more find themselves coated in that holy fire. The battle was ultimately won in Saint Riode’s favor, but it came at the cost of Alarion’thraze.

### ***Rediscovery and Reclamation***

Not much is known of what happened to the glaive after it was destroyed in the arena and its rediscovery by the Order of Saint Riode. Gurubashi records at this period of time are scarce and focus more on war time efforts of the collective tribes, the return of the loa Hakkar, and the outbreak of various plagues in the region instead of the location of relics. Missives sent to and from Jubuwal after the time of Saint Riode’s reported death indicate that many items that belonged to him were interred into a so-called Champion’s Cache, which was a collection of various trinkets and weapons belonging to the various champions of the Gurubashi Arena.

During the events of Operation: Greenwall, a small group of Alliance forces sought out the glaive, as it was believed the holy energies within it could prove useful against the threats within Stranglethorn. Aided by the Order of Saint Riode, the forces defeated various risen champions of the Gurubashi Arena, ultimately earning them the right to the Champion’s Cache. There, one half of the glaive was reclaimed and turned over to the order, allowing them to use it to great effect against the cursed fleet assaulting Booty Bay.

Presently, it is unknown where the other half of the Sacred Glaive of Saint Riode rests. The glaive is currently stored within a reliquary maintained by the Diocese of Westridge.

## References

*History of the Sacred Glaive of Saint Riode* by Father Kazren Stilltide *(Original Documentation)*