The Last White Sword

This epic poem is identified as part of the foundation myth of the Kingdom of Liotain.  The powerful and cursed Twelve White Swords are forged by the dark magician Aldoro in order to trick the angels of God, who instead turn them down and destroy eleven of the twelve blades.  The twelfth sword, named Solhynian, is passed through the hands of six heroes, destroying all in their turn, before coming to the hands of the humble farmer Vydas, who throws the sword into the sea, breaking the curse and being crowned the first king of Liotain.

## Authorship

**The Last White Sword** is usually attributed to an author going by the name "Algirdas." Almost nothing is known of this author, and literary experts believe that it may be a nom-de-plume.

## Date

*The Last White Sword* probably dates to around 1330 CE, with the latest possible date for publication being 1350. Many literary critics believe Algirdas simply wrote down, in verse, a pre-existing story, as elements of the tale are possibly referenced as early as 1210.

## Characters

* **Vydas**: a farmer and vineyard owner.
* **Vasilkas**: a close friend, neighbor, and companion of Vydas.
* **Solhynian**: the last of the Twelve White Swords, inhabited by the spirit and magic of a feja.
* **Trigaila**: an enchantress who lives in a cave by the sea.
* **Aldoro**: a dark magician who creates the Twelve White Swords.

## Plot

### Part I

The dark wizard Aldoro has come to rule the land through his unnatural knowledge (implied to be demonic) and mastery over both humans and spirits (feja). Aldoro's reign, however, is interrupted by the twelve archangels, who are sent by God to restore order in the land.

Aldoro hides his rage and pretends repentance to be spared immediate judgment, but once he feels safe once again, he begins plotting his revenge. He uses his sorcery to forge twelve swords from a pure white metal drawn from the deepest depths of the earth by Aldoro's servants. However, the twelve swords are all cursed, designed to subtly corrupt their wielder and doom them to self-destruction.

In a ceremony, Aldoro presents the twelve swords as gifts to the archangels, who aware of Aldoro's treachery. Eleven of the twelve swords are destroyed, while the twelfth sword, coveted by one of the lesser angels, is cast to earth, where it falls into the hands of unwitting human heroes. Aldoro himself is imprisoned and chained in the remote wilderness, but through his sorcery continues to survive.

### Part II

The last white sword, named Solhynian, is given to a series of human heroes, who carry it to battle against invaders, or use it to inspire and create kingdoms. The sword consistently appears as a divine blade, giving the wielder amazing power, with an aura of holiness. However, the curse works subtly in the background, and slowly destroys each of the six heroes who carry it.

### Part III

After destroying its sixth wielder, Solhynian is found by a humble farmer and vineyard-owner named Vydas, who picks up the blade and becomes entrapped in its fate. Vydas believes the sword has come to him to do great deeds, but he spends time praying in a small olive grove on his land. In a vision, he sees unsettling images of the future.

With the power of the sword, Vydas soon is hailed as a great hero by folk from the surrounding countryside, but his time of prayers is always disrupted by unsettling visions. He feels led to ask his friend and neighbor Vasilkas to accompany him on a journey to find the origin of the sword. The two companions travel to a sea-cave where they have heard rumors of a wise prophetess named Trigaila who might help them.

### Part IV

Trigaila reveals what she knows about the history of Solhynian, and Vydas realizes he has fallen under its curse. Unable to surrender the blade, he continues to use it to protect the people, who build him a palace and proclaim him king. Vydas makes Trigaila his wife, although she loses her ability to speak when she leaves the sea.

However, Vydas continues to have terrible visions, which he shares with Trigaila. They realize they will soon be destroyed by the curse of the blade. Vydas returns to his old farm and prays in the olive grove, receiving a final vision to take Solhynian to a mountain in the wilderness.

Vydas, Vasilkas, and Trigaila begin the journey into the wilderness.

### Part V

The party arrives at a mountain in the wilderness, where they discover Aldoro imprisoned in a cave beneath the summit. All of Vydas's people gather at the base of the mountain while Vydas, Vasilkas, and Trigaila climb to confront Aldoro at the peak.

Aldoro tries to deceive Vydas, revealing that Trigaila is his daughter, and Solhynian was forged with the entrapped spirit of an undinėlė, Trigaila's mother. Aldoro says that if Vydas destroys Solhynian, he will not have the power to defend the people from the demons Aldoro has summoned to destroy them.

Vydas realizes he has been fully ensnared by the curse of the blade, unable to surrender control. He threatens to kill Aldoro with the sword, but a frantic Trigaila intercedes and stops him. Vydas considers killing her, but Vasilkas stops him, reasoning that Aldoro has enticed him into this deed.

Vydas now realizes that the cursed sword will never be destroyed until the bearer gives it up of their own free will. He informs Aldoro that he will cast away the sword and trust that God will protect the people; this enrages Aldoro, who attempts various ploys to prevent it. Vydas, finally exhausted, uses all his strength to throw it from the mountaintop. It falls to the sea far below, strikes the water, and is shattered like glass.

With the destruction of the sword, Aldoro's magic is undone, and he is dragged to Inferno by his own demons. Before the demons can turn on Vydas, Vasilkas, and Trigaila, the archangel Remiel appears and causes them to flee.

The trio descend the mountain, and Vydas addresses the people. He believes that without the sword he is no longer fit to be their king. However, the people disagree, claiming that by giving up Solhynian, he proved his worth to be their king. Vydas eventually accepts, and becomes the first king of Liotain.